Chapter 10

I looked outside my office through the transparent glass and I could see that the sun was gone. Dark clouds formed, heavy with rain and thunder rumbled at intervals. 

The air felt cold.

I lowered my eyes once more to my laptop and I continued with my work. I was trying to finalize the article which I was writing for the papers tomorrow. 

The Truth behind Susan Collins's divorce with Evans Lockwood, Revealed. 

Every paper company in New York knew that securing an interview with Susan was near impossible. I was glad when she called my number requesting to have one for the Times Paper. I guess the rumors concerning her divorce from her ex-husband were beginning to affect her career, and she had to clear the air. 

There was a knock on my door, so I looked up to see Cassie popping her head inside my office. 

"Hey, just want to let you know I'm clocking out for the day.“ 

“Oh, what time is it?“ 

"It's six o'clock already and I'm pretty sure the weather is not going to be friendly this evening." 

“Alright, I'm just going to stay back for another hour and complete this write-up."

“Okay, don't stay too long. Make sure you get home before it begins to rain.“ 

“Okay, Mum," I answered back before she shut the door. 

Two hours later, I finished writing the article on Susan's divorce and emailed it to Leslie. Her final approval was needed before any article could be printed. I stood up from my chair, stretched my bones and looked out through the transparent glass to see that it was drizzling already. 

I shut my laptop down, grabbed my pea coat and purse that was hung on a coat rack, and walked out of my office. I slid into the elevator and waited for it to hit the first floor. 

Joe, the security guy was watching over the main entrance for tonight. He looked intimidating with his buff exterior and shaved hair. I've known him since I started working here and we eventually became door buddies. 

“Hey, Joe, you're sleeping on the job again?“ I joked 

He chuckled, “Working late?“ 

"Yeah, you know how it is around here. Lots of deadlines to meet every day." I replied 

"That's terrible I don't think I can survive a day doing your job," he wrinkled his nose, making me smile. 

"I don't think so either. You would probably just scare the clients away," I laughed.

"You know me too well, Miss Price," he grinned at me and I couldn't help but smile back. 

I turned to look outside and saw that the rain hadn't stopped yet. I forgot to bring my umbrella along with me. 

“Ugh, how am I supposed to get a cab?" 

“Here Miss.“ It was as if Joe had read my mind. He handed me a black umbrella with the company logo on it. 

I took it, grateful for the gesture, “Thanks so much for this. Hope you won't be needing it?“ 

“Miss Price, I'll be here all night and I highly doubt that it's still going to be raining by morning." 

“Okay, if you say so. Do have a lovely night," I said to him before I carefully exited the building, endeavouring not to slip. 

I walked a bit further until I reached the corner of the street, so I could hail a cab on the main road. Fortunately, I was able to get one without much effort and I jumped in immediately, relaying my address to the cab driver. 

The rain was still pouring heavily when the cab dropped me twenty minutes later at my apartment building. I opened the door to my house and stepped in. I shrugged my pea coat off before closing the door and went to my room immediately. I stripped off my clothes and went into the bathroom to have a warm bath 

The cold outside was terrible.

I turned off the shower and grabbed my towel to dry myself Then, I came out of the bathroom and put on my pyjamas before making my way to the kitchen to get a hot cup of chocolate and something to eat for dinner. 

After I had my dinner, I was on my bed going through my I*******m feeds when I heard plate-clattering sounds. I stood up abruptly from my bed as I listened around for the source of the sound and noticed it was coming from my kitchen.

Is there a thief in my house? 

I went out of my room cautiously, not forgetting to take my torch as my defence weapon and sneaked into my kitchen. 

But as soon as I reached it, I was too shocked to move. 

My kitchen was in chaos. It looked like an earthquake occurred in it. There were broken plates on the floor, and broken eggs and flour covered every surface. 

What the hell happened in here? 

I took a step further inside the room after regaining my composure and the door closed behind me, making me jolt in shock. My head tilted upwards as I heard the sound of metals clinging. Pots and spoons were clinging, and it made me weary. The rain stopped a few minutes ago, so there shouldn't be any wind. 

Why are my utensils clinging, then? 

I shrugged off any negative thoughts that were about settling down in my mind and proceeded to inspect my kitchen. I dropped the torch on the aisle and grabbed a brush to clean the pieces of the broken plates on the floor. But the coffee machine went on and started sprinkling black liquid everywhere.

What the hell? 

I rushed towards it immediately and tried to switch it off but then I noticed it wasn't even plugged into the socket.  

I was beginning to freak out. The light bulb above me began oscillating and the blender turned on making me gaze at it in shock. 

What in God's name is happening? Am I being hunted by a vengeful ghost? 

These were the thoughts going through my head as I ran out of my apartment and took the elevator down to the lobby. To say I was scared was an understatement. I was terrified out of my wits. 

I rushed out of the elevator as soon as it hit the first floor and I made my way to security.

"Hi, I think someone broke into my apartment."