DAISY JOYCE
As soon as I finished the last sip of my orange juice and placed my used plate in the sink, I headed to my room to get dressed. Damond could come home at any moment since he didn't have a set schedule. But first, I needed to call the agent.
With a sense of urgency, I grabbed my cell phone from the kitchen counter and dialed the agent's number. The call connected almost immediately, and a voice broke the silence.
"Hello, Miss Daisy," he greeted in a professional tone. "I'll be on my way shortly."
"Where should we meet?" I asked, clutching the phone tightly.
"We should meet at the first coffee shop on Oxford Street. It's quite a popular place; you shouldn't have trouble finding it," he replied.
"Okay, I'll make my way there shortly," I said, feeling a rush of adrenaline.
"I'll be waiting for you," he confirmed before the call ended.
Stepping out of the grand mansion, with its cold, imposing architecture that always felt more like a prison than a home, I was struck by how unfamiliar the surroundings had become since I moved in. The once vibrant neighborhood felt like a distant memory. Realizing I needed some guidance, I decided to use my phone's GPS for navigation.
Just as I was about to leave, I bumped into Aliya, my maid, who was tidying up the entrance.
"Madam, where are you off to?" she asked, looking curious.
"I want to visit a relative," I replied, trying to sound casual. "Since moving into this cold mansion, I haven't had a chance to go out and keep in touch." I lied.
"You never mentioned having relatives," she remarked, her curiosity piqued as she raised an eyebrow.
I was momentarily caught off guard.
"But does the Second Young Master know about this?" she pressed, her eyes darting anxiously in the direction of the mansion.
"I didn't get a chance to tell him, unfortunately," I said.
"Alright, be careful and don't be late, Daisy," she urged.
"I promise, I won't be late," I assured her, already feeling the need to head out.
"Wait!" she called, stopping me in my tracks.
"What is it?" I turned back, curious.
"Hmm, take the right path," she suggested, pointing to a fork in the road.
"Why?" I questioned.
"You might run into the Second Young Master if you go left; the right path is safer," she advised as she waved me off.
"Thanks for the heads-up," I said with a smile as I set off.
When I finally reached my destination, I spotted Assistant Moore, Damond's right-hand man, and quickly ducked behind a building.
Oh no, I almost got spotted! Once I saw he was gone, I hurriedly continued on.
Thankfully, I made it there without a hitch. Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I pulled out my phone again to dial the agent's number. It rang only once before he picked up.
"Look to your right," he instructed.
I turned and spotted him waving at me from within the cozy glass-walled coffee shop, a simple but effective gesture for our meeting.
"Oh," I breathed, the tension easing slightly as the call disconnected. I walked inside, where he greeted me with a slight nod and a warm smile. We exchanged pleasantries, and soon after, we ordered coffee to break the ice and settle into the conversation.
We quickly got down to business. "I'm looking for a prime location for my boutique, and if you know of any built shops for sale in a high-traffic area, I'm ready to make a purchase," I stated.
"Miss Daisy, let's take it easy. It doesn't work quite that way. I will show you some spacious stores that would be perfect for a boutique—places that will attract not just regular customers but also elites and celebrities. However, be prepared for a hefty price," he explained.
"Understood. Let's see what you have," I said, trying to maintain my composure.
He pulled out his tablet, the screen illuminating with vibrant images. "Here are some stores currently on the market," he said, showing them to me one by one.
As I scrolled through the options, my eyes lit up at one particular property. "They're all impressive, and each has fantastic views, but this one really catches my eye—it's quite large and situated in a prime location. Wow, I'm drawn to this!" I pointed at the picture, my heart racing with excitement.
"I must say, you have great taste, but just so you know, it costs significantly more than the others. If you want to buy it outright, it's 15 million dollars, or you can opt to rent it for five hundred thousand dollars per year."
"I need to see the store in person before making any commitment," I insisted, trying to wrap my mind around the staggering numbers.
I glanced at my wristwatch. "Oh no, I'm running late! I need to get home before Damond arrives."
"I'll give you a call when I'm ready to continue this discussion," I said, standing up to leave.
"But which property are you interested in?" he asked.
"The large one I pointed out," I replied hastily and hurried out of the coffee shop, waving off a cab as if I were running from time itself.
DAMOND CHRIS
What is happening to me? A suffocating darkness has wrapped itself around my senses. Is it dark outside, or has something shifted in my world? My vision seems to be fading. I called out for Moore, my assistant.
"Sir, you called for me," he replied, his voice steady despite the uncertainty that hung in the dimly lit office. I glanced out the window, trying to determine if darkness was already beginning to creep in.
"No, it's not dark outside just yet," he said, looking toward the horizon where the sun hung low, casting elongated shadows across the room. "But the light is fading quickly. It's 5:45 now. Is everything alright, boss?"
"There's a problem. We need to move; I've got to see my doctor. Let's head to the family hospital," I instructed.
"Understood, sir. Let's go."
We made our way to the garage and climbed into the car. Moore started the engine, and we set off.
What is happening to me? What's going on? I can't wrap my mind around it anymore.
I've been blind for 20 years, never truly experiencing the light. Now, even with what little vision I had, everything feels like it's slipping away. I remain enveloped in darkness—a life without light.
Now my blurry vision has entirely vanished, I reflected in silence. The car came to a stop in front of the hospital.
"Boss, we're here," Moore said, pulling me back to reality
.
As I walked down the hospital corridor, I caught a glimpse of my doctor's voice echoing through the space.
"Great, Moore. Please go inform him that I'm waiting in his office."
"Absolutely, boss. I'll be right back."