Richard
I sat there, phone in hand, my finger hovering over the call button. My mind was a mess, torn between what I should do and what I wanted to do. The meeting had dragged on all afternoon, and I was still undecided. But then, just as I was about to talk myself out of it, the door to the conference room opened, and my grandfather walked out, grinning from ear to ear like he'd just won the lottery.
"Congrats, my boy!" he said, clapping me on the back with a grin that could light up the entire building. "The company loved your little public outing today. They've decided to appoint you as acting CEO. I'm retiring at the next AGM."
I blinked, still trying to process the whirlwind of his words. "Wait, what? Acting CEO?"
"Yep! Acting CEO," he chuckled. "You're the future, Richard. I'm just an old man now." He winked, and I swear he pulled out a small, discreet bottle from his coat pocket. "I'll let you figure it out as I head to the convenience. Being CEO's gotta come with perks, right?"
I couldn't help but laugh, shaking my head. "Perks, huh? Like... being able to pee in peace at a moment's notice?"
"Exactly!" He beamed, throwing his head back. "You've gotta enjoy the little things while you can!" He slapped me on the shoulder and then waddled off with that unmistakable old-man swagger.
As the door closed behind him, I stared at the phone in my hand, my grandfather's words echoing in my mind.
Acting CEO.
If this was really going to happen, I needed to start making some big decisions.
I took a deep breath. Time to stop hesitating. I brought my phone back up and dialed the number. This call was one of those critical decisions.
*****
Selena
"Well, well, well," came a familiar voice from the doorway. "Speak of the devil and she appears on TV."
I jumped, not realizing Victor had come out of his study. My mother straightened up, forcing a smile. "I didn't hear you come in," my mother said, her tone strained.
Victor ignored her, his gaze fixed on me, cold and calculating. "I believe I now know where you work, huh?" he said, stepping into the kitchen with Clara trailing behind, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "You work for our enemies now, trading our company information, right?"
My stomach churned, but I kept my voice steady. "I don't know what you're talking about." I met Clara's gaze briefly; she was watching me like a hawk, her suspicion burning through me.
"Save the speech for those who didn't see you on TV," Victor snapped, waving a dismissive hand. "Actions have consequences, you know."
My hand instinctively reached into my pocket, pulling out the car key and placing it on the counter with a sharp clink. "I believe this is what you wanted to talk about this morning," I said, keeping my voice level. "Is there anything else you'd like to discuss before I head to my room?"
Before he could answer, my phone rang, cutting the tension like a knife.
I pulled the phone from my back pocket, noting the unregistered number flashing on the screen.
"Why not pick up the call and prove us all wrong?" Victor's voice sliced through the air, his eyes glinting with a mischievous spark.
I hesitated, even though I knew I had nothing to hide. My thumb hovered over the screen, but I chose to ignore the call until it eventually stopped ringing.
"Coward!" Victor taunted, a triumphant edge to his voice. "I was right all along."
My mother looked at me. "Why didn't you pick up the call?" she asked, her voice almost too soft.
As I stared back at her, a chill ran through me. Something had happened while I was away, something I couldn't yet piece together.
"Because I don't know who's calling," I muttered, shrugging as I adjusted my backpack over my shoulder. "If there's nothing else, I'll be in my room, studying."
I turned to head up the stairs, but just as I moved, the phone rang again. Before I could reach for it, Clara's hand shot out, snatching it from my grasp. She answered the call and pressed it to speaker.
"Hello, Miss Lawrence," a voice crackled through the speaker. The moment I heard it, my blood ran cold, and I muttered under my breath, "For chrissakes!"
Clara shot me a sly smirk, her eyes glinting as she mimicked my voice, "And who is this?"
"It's me, Richard," the voice replied, smooth and calm, as if this was all perfectly normal. "Richard Anderson. We met at the city library today, remember? I just wanted to know how you're doing."
I felt the blood drain from my face. The name 'Richard Anderson' hung in the air like a ghost.
Clara raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "What do you want?" she asked, her tone suddenly turning sharp.
There was a brief silence before Richard's voice returned, his words slow and deliberate. "Listen, I'd like to see you again, Selena. I enjoyed our conversation today... I'd really like to speak with you again, maybe get to know you better."
Victor's wicked grin stretched wider, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction as he watched the whole exchange unfold.
Clara's expression flickered, but she quickly masked it. "Get to know you better?" she repeated, her tone cold. "And you think that's something I'd be interested in?"
Richard's voice was smooth, almost coaxing. "Maybe... Maybe not. But I think you're worth the risk. Why don't you let me take you out? We could talk more, figure things out."
I could feel Clara's eyes on me, her gaze cutting through the room like a knife. "I'm not sure what your game is, Richard," she said, voice steady, but with an edge. "But you're making a mistake."
Victor's laughter echoed in the background, a low, mocking sound that seemed to linger in the air, making everything feel even more suffocating.
"Well, I guess I was right," Victor chimed in, his voice sharp. He motioned for Clara to end the call, his grin widening. "Now we have a lot to discuss."
The room went still. Tension thickened in the air as I locked eyes with Victor.
The silence shattered when my phone buzzed again, the screen flashing with the same number. My heart skipped a beat as I snatched my phone from Clara and ran to my room.
When trouble calls, there's no hiding from it.