MasukEnzo:I didn’t even realize when the sun came up. My eyes hurt, my fingers shook for the umpteenth time, carrying the piece of paper to the light. I had tried all night to read the writing on it.The picture lay on the table, ruined, its back and front layers peeled apart, revealing a hidden pocket that held the paper. Why did it look so yellow? I stood up and tore open the curtains, hoping that the morning light would help me see better, but it was no use. I wasn’t seeing things. There was something written on the paper. If there wasn't, why did Vincent go through all the hassle to hide it so carefully? It was he who hid it, right? Was this what the Red Mafia were after?“What did you get yourself into, Vince?” I groaned, rubbing my eyes and yawning. Calling in sick would have been the best approach for today, but I had an array of meetings that couldn’t be moved. I had to come in. I stared at the paper harder. There was something written there. My small black notebook had two page
Tabitha:I couldn’t sleep. How could I? Especially now that I was in the home of the witch, especially when I knew that she had a gun that only she could use. It was still dark out, and I had caught myself staring into the darkness at the drawer where it was held and replaying the conversation of the police officer in my head. His voice rang so clearly in my head. “...it is all up to you. Keep us updated on any new developments…”Keeping them updated meant staying here another two days. I pulled the covers up. I wasn’t sure if I could. I missed Enzo, and I still hadn’t gotten a call or text from him. My phone lay beside me. I sighed, looking at the blank screen, not even bothering to open it. I had called him, and he had ignored all of them. He was upset. He had to be. The way he walked out from my office that day still plagued me. Thoughts were spinning in my head, and I finally decided to grab my phone. “Hey Enzo. I can’t sleep. I hope you’re okay. I haven’t heard from you since
Enzo:I had just finished eating when I saw Tabitha’s calls come in. My heart had skipped a beat; every part of me wanted to grab it and hear her voice, but I stopped myself. I was still mad at her, and as much as I loved her, talking to her right now was only going to cause problems for me and was going to make me forget why I was hurt. It was a difficult decision that I battled with over my dinner. I wasn’t sure I was ready to have her in my home. I needed some space from her for a few days. I had already texted Natasha, and she was okay with it. Not my best decision or choice, but she was the only person that I knew and trusted to an extent. And maybe some time with her might change Tabitha’s attitude. I paid the check and tipped. The waiter came by, and his eyes bulged at the figure I wrote, and he hurried away after many bows and thanks.I had about ten minutes or less before he told the rest of his colleagues, and they swarmed me with unwanted service and even brought the chef
Tabitha:“Didn’t you hear me the first time?” she asked, turning around and looking at me, her hand still out for the wine bottle. I glared at her, my hands shaking in my lap. “No. I am not giving you any more wine," I said firmly. “We should be thinking about how to save Andrew.” It was taking everything in me not to launch at her. “I know that,” she replied, rolling her eyes, “but I said already, he is going to be fine. So I would suggest that you stop acting like a sore-wort.”She snatched the bottle and poured herself another drink. The TV blared louder with a new show that she was quickly engrossed by, smiling to herself as she pulled hers up closer and cozied with her refilled glass. I wanted to believe that this was a facade, that she was acting this way to hide the worry that she was feeling. She had already told me that she hated Andrew, and I knew why; she also said that she would never kidnap Andrew and that it was beneath her. If that was the truth, why wasn’t she doing
Tabitha:“That bitch is infuriating," I mumbled as I dried my hair and pulled on my clothes. The silk dress that was left on my bed fit me perfectly. I looked in the mirror and did a little spin. It was stylish and comfortable. A smile nearly crept onto my face, but I fought it back. I was still mad. She pointed a gun at me as a joke. The drawer was still open, but the gun was no longer there. But the longer I stared at it, the more it felt like it was still there and I could reach out and touch it again. “Yeah. No. I’m glad that it is over.”My phone sat on the bedside table. The screen was silent. There were no texts or calls from Enzo yet. I made a face; I thought that he’d call by now. I picked it up and wrote out a text, my hands shaking slightly as I did. I had seen the way that he had walked out of my office. Was he really mad at me?Just as I hit send, Natasha’s voice came rumbling, nearly making me drop my phone. “What the hell is taking you so long?!” She screamed. I made
Tabitha:I stared at it; every alarm in my head was going off. It was really a gun. A real… gun.“M-Maybe… Maybe it is fake. L-Like a prop or decorative piece or something?”I swallowed hard, reached out my hand and touched it. I recoiled almost immediately. The barrel was cold. Ice cold, metallic and hard. I looked at my fingers, watching them shake. I touched… a gun. Was it used to kill someone? My… My fingerprints are on it now. Did that make me a criminal, a suspect? My hands flew to my mouth. “Oh, my…”I reached out to grab it, but I stopped myself. Should… should I wash it? I… I can’t have my fingers on a weapon. Maybe I should… no, that wouldn’t work. That would make things worse. What if I…“Tabitha?” There was a knock at the door and then a soft click as it opened. “What the fuck is taking you so long. The meal is here, and I don’t want your Daddy calling me and asking why I hadn't fed his…”I turned to Natasha, who was standing near the bed, clutching her coat and a refille
Enzo:“Tell me more about this piece of technology.”I smiled and reached for my glass of water. Mr. Bolden was a traditional man. He believed in the environment, and so did I. It was one of the reasons I knew that this was going to be a deal that would benefit both of us. “My company has been doi
Enzo:Mr. Bolden stretched his hand out to shake mine. For a man his age, his grip was strong. He smiled at me and gave a thoughtful nod to Tabitha, who was at my side. “My daughter was the one who set this all up.” His voice was surprisingly clear for a man his age as well. “I’m not really all f
Enzo:It was almost 6 pm. My phone buzzed; the driver was waiting downstairs. I sighed. I was able to get some work done, but every time I remembered that I was supposed to have dinner with Natasha and her father, my energy was siphoned. If only I could skip this part of my day. The driver was qu
Tabitha:Emily bugged me on the phone for almost an entire hour and even offered to come visit me. I declined repeatedly, which made her feel almost offended. “You nearly died, and you don’t want me to see you. It’s serious, isn’t it? You don’t want me to see you because the injury is so serious.







