Chapter 5: Breathless Fears

Tears welled up in Amanda’s eyes, and her voice cracked as she spoke. She wiped her eyes quickly with the back of her hand, trying to hold herself together. “I didn’t know what they were going to do. They just took the keys and handed them to one of the others, who went straight to the safes while the rest of them kept pointing their guns at us. I couldn’t even breathe... I thought they were going to kill us all.”

Anita’s eyes were wet with unshed tears, her heart breaking for her sister. She reached out and placed her hand gently on Amanda’s, squeezing it softly for comfort. “Amanda, I’m so sorry you had to go through that,” Anita whispered, and her voice was  filled with worry.

Tony’s face twisted in outrage. “Those cowards. How did they know about the keys?”

Amanda shook her head. “I don’t know. It’s like they had inside information.”

Anita’s eyes widened. “Did they…harm anyone?”

Amanda faced down, like she was looking for something she couldn’t found and her voice was barely audible. “No, but they took everything of value. The safes were emptied.”

The room fell silent, the only sound was Amanda’s quiet sobs

Anita’s heart pounded as she couldn’t understand. She shook her head now and then, "Mobsters? How did the fire start?"

"I don’t know," Amanda said with trembling voice. "I think they set it on purpose. The smoke... the sirens... it was chaos. But everyone got out safely, thank God."

Anita reached across the table and squeezed her sister’s hand. “You did the right thing, Amanda. You kept everyone safe. That’s what matters. The police will catch those men.”

“They have to,” Tony said, finishing his coffee. “Detective James takes these cases seriously. Sooner or later, we’ll hear something.”

Amanda nodded, tears filling her eyes. “I just wish it didn’t happen at all. I keep thinking if I could’ve done something different.”

“You did what you had to,” Anita reassured her. “We’ll get through this. And maybe one day, those men will be caught.”

“They will,” Tony added.

Amanda managed a small smile, feeling comforted by her husband’s words. “I hope so.”

“So, what did the police ask you?” Anita asked.

“They wanted to know if I recognized any of the men or their voices, even though they were wearing masks. They also asked why I gave them the safe keys; like it wasn’t obvious I was scared. They wanted to know how the robbers knew I had the keys. I told them I didn’t know.”

Before Anita could respond, Danny ran in. “Mom, I cleaned up my toys! Aunt Anita, can we play the card game again today?”

“Sure, Danny, right after I finish talking to your mommy,” Anita said, smiling.

“Okay, I’ll wait!” Danny said, bouncing out of the room.

Just then, Anita’s phone beeped. “Oh! Sylvania won ‘The Best Fashion Designer Award’ again!” she exclaimed. “Vivian just texted me. Our boss is thrilled.”

“She won last year too, right?” Tony asked.

“Yep, she did! Sylvania is so talented,” Anita said proudly.

After finishing her breakfast, Anita looked at the clock. She needed to leave soon to be at work.

“I have to go,” Anita said, standing up. “I’ll be late for work if I don’t leave now. I have to be there by nine”

Amanda looked at her sister with a sad smile. “I wish you could stay longer.”

Tony nodded. “We were hoping you could spend more time with us.”

“I wish I could, but work’s waiting,” Anita said, shrugging.

She turned to Danny. “Danny, I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to play today. I have to get to work.”

Danny’s face fell. “No, really?”

Amanda put a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Aunt Anita will come back soon, and you can play then.”

Danny looked up. “Okay, Aunt Anita, promise you’ll play next time?”

Anita laughed softly. “I promise. We’ll have a great game next time.”

Tony checked his watch. “You don’t have much time left, Anita.”

“You’re right,” Anita agreed. She rushed off to take a quick shower and get ready. In a few minutes, she was dressed in her beautiful black suit and ready to go.

She returned to the kitchen with a smile on her face. “Alright, I’m off. Danny, be good for your mom and dad, okay?”

“I will, Aunt Anita! Drive safe!” Danny called out, grinning.

Anita hugged him quickly, waved goodbye to Amanda and Tony, and hurried to her car. With a final wave, she drove off.

At the other part of the city, Sylvania was just waking up, and she immediately reached for her phone. She saw four missed calls from Russell and sighed. “I wish I hadn’t missed them,” she muttered, feeling a little guilty.

But there wasn’t much time to think about it. She had overslept and was already late. Her alarm had been ringing for a while, and she quickly silenced it. Just then, she heard Coco scratching at the door. “Alright, Coco, I’m coming,” she said, hurrying to open it.

Coco looked up at her, clearly ready for breakfast. Sylvania smiled and filled his bowl with food, watching him eat hungrily.

Knowing that she had no time, Sylvania rushed into the shower. She turned on the tap and water splashed fast over her skin. She dried off quickly, threw on a white blouse, tied a green scarf around her neck, and slipped into a fitted green skirt. She smiled after she took a look at herself in the mirror, but there was no time for all of that.

She didn’t even have time for coffee, and she walked out of her house and straight to her garage.

Sliding into her car, she drove out, joining the noisy morning traffic.

Her eyes flicked to the dashboard. “Only twenty minutes. Let’s go.” She pressed the pedal, weaving through cars, dodging potholes and slow taxis. Her phone would buzz, probably a message from Russell, but she had not time; she was already late.

At last, she pulled into Style Studios.

“Only three minutes late,” she breathed out, feeling relieved.

She parked next to Anita’s car, locked up, and hurried to the door, not even noticing the empty spots that usually weren’t there.

The moment Sylvania stepped through the door, a burst of colors and cheers greeted her. Shiny balloons floated near the ceiling, streamers were spread out on the walls, and a giant flag stretched above her head, large letters spelling out:

"CONGRATULATIONS, SYLVANIA!"

She barely had time to take it all in before Vivian came running toward her with excitement. “Sylvania!” she screamed, throwing her arms around her in a tight hug. Her curly brown hair bounced as she rocked Sylvania from side to side. “Did you see the decorations outside? We’re setting up in ten minutes! The party’s in the parking lot tonight!”

Sylvania laughed, feeling the energy of Vivian’s joy. “That’s amazing!” she said, a beautiful smile spreading across her face.

Before she could say more, Anita swooped in, her long earrings swinging as she pulled Sylvania into another hug. “Wow, Sylvania! You’re a star!” she said, squeezing her tightly, and her wide smile made her dimples more visible.

Sylvania was really happy, as she couldn’t believe what was happening. She placed a hand on her chest, taking a deep breath. “Thanks, guys,” she said with a soft voice. “I couldn’t have done it without all of you.”

Just then, a loud and welcoming voice cut through the chatter. “Well done, Sylvania.”

Sylvania turned to see Mrs. Tashil Simons, their boss, stepping forward. She was a woman of class, always serious, but today, there was a rare smile on her face. She opened her arms and gave Sylvania a brief but meaningful hug. “You’re the reason we’re trending!” she said, her eyes shining with approval.

The room erupted into cheers. “To Sylvania!” everyone shouted, clapping loudly. The sound of applause filled the air, making Sylvania’s heart beat with pride.

Mrs. Simons raised a hand, bringing the noise down. “Alright, everyone, back to work! We have a party to look forward to tonight.”

Laughter rippled through the group as they returned to their tasks, but the excitement remained. Sylvania stood there for a moment, taking it all in…the love, the support, and the celebration.

She had never felt so proud, so seen.Top of Form

Bottom of Form

She sat at her desk with a smile and she couldn’t wait for the evening. Before she could touch anything, her phone buzzed; it was a message from Russell: “Morning, love.”

Her hear fluttered. “Good morning, Russell! How was your night?” she typed back.

Russell replied almost immediately. “I couldn’t sleep after we talked.”

“Really? You must be joking,” Sylvania teased.

“I’m not joking about you. Are you free tonight? I can pick you up.”

“There’s a party at work tonight. Come if you can. It would be nice to see you.”

“I wouldn’t miss it. Should I pick you up?”

“Sure, that’d be great. Party starts at seven.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Can’t wait!” Sylvania typed with a smile on her face.

Vivian walked in, carrying a stack of fabric patches. “Is that Russell?” she asked, noticing Sylvania’s smile.

Sylvania chuckled. “He really wants to stay in touch. He’s coming to the party tonight.”

Vivian laughed. “I knew it! He’s serious about you. But for now, let’s get back to work.”

Sylvania nodded, her heart fluttering with excitement as she focused on the day’s tasks, and she couldn’t wait to see Russell later that evening.

Back at his house after texting Sylvania, Russell Thompson felt more alive than ever. Lying in bed, he couldn't stop smiling. His heart felt light, and he stretched his arms above his head, letting out a satisfied sigh. The soft morning light streamed through his window, making the room look much beautiful.

He glanced at his phone again, rereading the message he had just sent to Sylvania. His fingers tingled, and a rush of excitement filled him like the day had just started with endless possibilities.

Turning onto his side, he chuckled to himself. “She really has a way of making my day better,” he murmured, running a hand through his hair. His grin widened as he stared at the ceiling, already thinking about the next time he’d see her.

It was fifteen minute past nine in the morning and he had just met the woman of his dreams. Sylvania was smart, funny, and beautiful, and he couldn’t believe his luck when she gave him her number last night.

Russell stretched as he got out of bed, unable to shake the smile off his face. He quickly showered with a whistle, dressed, and headed to the dining table, where his breakfast was already waiting. His sister, Charlotte, sat across from him, reading the newspaper.

“You’re in a good mood today,” Charlotte said, looking at him as he sat down.

“Can’t a guy be happy?” Russell smiled, sipping his coffee. “It’s a beautiful day.”

“I don’t know what’s going on with you, but you’ve been acting strange since yesterday,” she teased.

“Nothing strange about it. Rus Meals made some good sales this week,” Russell lied, trying to keep things normal.

“That’s great! Oh, I wish I could’ve been at Flora Gardens last night. The news says Sylvania Scarlett won again. She’s so young and talented,” Charlotte sighed, putting down the paper.

Russell grinned. “It was pretty amazing. I’m glad I was there.”

“I’ve got to go now,” Charlotte said, standing up. “I have exams at eleven.”

“Good luck. I know you’ll do great,” Russell said as she left.

He had a staff meeting to run in twenty minutes and needed to find something to wear for tonight’s event afterward. He quickly finished his breakfast and walked out to his black sedan.

Driving through the busy streets, he reminded himself to stay focused on work before thinking too much about the evening.

Later on, Russell stepped into the office, greeted by the easy noise of keyboards clicking and quiet conversations. There was a light scent of fresh coffee, and his team was already deep in their tasks. As he walked toward the conference room, he heard quick footsteps behind him.

“Good morning, Russell,” Natasha said, with a tone of hope in her voice. She looked beautiful with her dark eyes, and she stretched a smile across her face.

Russell turned, offering a polite nod. “Morning, Natasha.”

She hesitated for a second, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. “How was your weekend?” she asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“It was fine, thanks,” Russell said with a small smile. He kept his tone neutral, careful not to encourage anything. He knew Natasha’s feelings for him, but he couldn’t give her what she wanted. “How about you?”

“It was good,” she said, though her smile faded slightly. Then, gathering her courage, she looked up at him. “I was wondering if you wanted to grab lunch together?”

Russell’s expression froze for a moment before he forced a small sigh through his nose. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he also couldn’t lead her on. “Sorry, Natasha, I’ve got a lot to do today. Maybe another time.”

For a brief moment, disappointment flickered in her eyes before she quickly hid it with a small nod. “Of course. Maybe next time,” she said, her voice softer now.

Russell felt a pang of guilt as she turned away. He knew she deserved someone who could return her feelings, but that person wasn’t him. Pushing the thought aside, he continued toward the conference room, his mind already shifting to how he was going to start the meeting.

Entering the conference room, he took his seat at the head of the table. “Good morning, everyone,” he greeted the team.

“Good morning,” they replied.

“We’ve got big projects ahead,” Russell said, starting the meeting. “Our clients expect nothing but the best, and we need to deliver.”

He outlined the main goals, plans, and methods. A slender woman in her early thirties held up her hand. "Are we going to meet our expectations?"

Russell confirmed her, "Yes." "Please inform me if there are any problems. The secret is to communicate.

The team nodded in agreement, and after going over the details, Russell ended the meeting. “Let’s give our best. I know we can achieve great things together.” With that, everyone got back to work.

Once alone in the room, Russell checked his phone, hoping for a message from Sylvania. Nothing yet. He knew she was busy, so he didn’t worry. Deciding to head to his restaurant, Rus Meals, he figured he could grab a bite and check on things there before the party.

After a traffic-filled drive, Russell arrived at the restaurant. The familiar smell of food hit him as soon as he walked in, and he smiled at the sight of happy customers. He greeted some of them before heading to the kitchen.

“Everything running smoothly?” he asked Mrs. Allison, the head chef.

“All good, boss,” she replied. “Your usual meal is ready.”

“Great, thanks,” Russell said, checking the time.

Sitting down in a corner table, Russell dug into his favorite steak and mashed potatoes. He checked his phone again; still no message from Sylvania. Trying not to feel disappointed, he reminded himself she was likely busy.

After finishing his meal, Russell took a quick walk around the restaurant, making sure everything was running smoothly. “Keep up the good work, everyone,” he told the staff before heading back to his car.

Now, it was time to get ready for the party. Russell drove to a shopping district and tried on several outfits until he found one he liked; dark jeans, a light white shirt, and a new wristwatch. He wanted to impress Sylvania.

Once home, Charlotte was in the kitchen with Wendy. “I’ll skip dinner tonight,” Russell said. “I’m heading out.”

“Another conference?” Charlotte asked, cracking eggs into a pan.

“No, just meeting up with some friends,” Russell said, leaving the room.

He quickly showered and dressed in his new outfit. As he looked in the mirror, he smiled, and he took a deep breath. He pictured Sylvania’s smile, imagining holding her hand. Tonight was going to be special.

Ready to go, Russell grabbed his keys and headed out.