Secrets In A Bottle

Since three months ago that Carissa returned to America, sadness became an ocean, but she forced herself to swim, so she could see Ivory being happy again. And after Ivory dead, Carissa drowned.

“Dear Carissa, we are sorry that Jackson company can’t accept your submission despite your good qualification. Try again next year. Thank you.”

Carissa read out and discharged a deep, disappointed breath. Jackson company was her last hope because it was the fifteenth company she applied to and the other fourteen companies have rejected her.

She shifted the chair back a little and placed her head on the table with her head touching the laptop keyboard.

When Carissa was twelve, she won a scholarship from an unknown organization and they sponsored her throughout her education years. After she graduated from the most expensive university in New York as the best mass communication student of the year, the organisation secured her a job in Spain and she moved to Spain.

When her parent died, she couldn’t come to America for their burial, and after five years of hard-working and savings, she returned to America to take care of her two sisters, Ivory and Emily. But she was surprised and sad to meet Ivory, her sister, who used to be everyone, especially Carissa’s sources of happiness, all cozy and sad. 

Till Ivory's last minute, a day barely passed without Ivory telling Carissa that revenge will hit her hard and she might spend the rest of her life in sadness because she would reap what their father sowed. 

A month ago, Emily fell deathly ill, and she spent all her savings on her. And Ivory died a week later because of the hit-and-run accident.

While Carissa was still mourning Ivory's death, resenting herself for being the one behind her death, and hating herself for not being next to Ivory till her last minutes, the loan shark knocked on her door and informed her about her father's debt she has to pay within three months, or they would seize the house.

Carissa didn't want the bank to seize the house because it was the place where all her memories of her precious ones were buried. Besides, it was still the only things Ivory tried to protect till she passed away. And since then, she has been submitting application to different companies, but they kept rejecting her.

She took her head from the table and picked her phone. She dialed Zuri's number, but Zuri ended the call before it could even ring. She dialed the number again and the same thing. She put the phone back on the table and stood up on her feet. 

As she wanted to close her laptop, a mail from Rolland company arrived in her inbox, but she hissed and didn't bother to check it.

“Small company rejected me. Why will Rolland company accept me?” She said and closed her laptop.

She walked to the small cabinet beside the bed and picked up her purse. She opened it and took the last cash in it.

“This should be enough for some snacks.” She put the purse down and walked out of her room, rounding her waist in her hands.

THIRTY MINUTES LATER...

Carissa walked into her room, exhausted. She fell weakly on the bed, putting the nylon-wrapped-snack beside her. 

“I need to eat first and walk out to the street to find a part-time job.”

She stood up and saw her phone blinking the green notification light. She picked her phone to see ten missed calls from Zuri.

“O-oh! my...” she opened her mouth in disappointment, frowning her face. She was angry at herself for not taking her phone with her. 

She dialed the number again, and it didn't ring twice before Zuri picked it.

“Hey dear, let's chat on W******p. There is this son of bitch sitting next to me.” Zuri said immediately she picked the call and she quickly hung up before Carissa could say a word.

Carissa quickly turned on her mobile data and sent a message to Zuri.

Carissa: Hey!

Zuri: (sent a picture) do you know this man?

Carissa: Yes. The chairman of Lexx company.

Zuri: Good. You have to meet him right away. He has an assignment and needs an intelligent lady to do the work. He is ready to pay any amount you want.

Carissa: which kind of assignment?

Zuri: you will know when you meet him.

Carissa: when are you coming so we can go together?

Zuri: you are going to meet him alone and you are going right now. Stand up and dress up.

Carissa: but...

Zuri: don't be afraid. I have told him a lot about you and he likes you already. Just be your real self when you get there and everything will be alright.

Carissa: but...

Zuri: but what again, dear? I believe you fit best for this assignment and I am giving it to you because he have the price for success.

Carissa: I spent my last cash on a snack. I don't have transport fare.

Zuri: (reply after three minutes) I have sent you more than enough for transport. Stand up already.

Carissa: (after the alert notification) thank you, love youuuuuu.

Zuri: love you too. I will stop by at your place later in the day. I have a gist. Especially about this dude I stumbled into.

Carissa turned off her mobile data and quickly rushed into the bathroom with excitement written all over her face.

ONE HOUR, THIRTY MINUTES LATER...

The car arrived in front of Jackson company and Carissa got down. She gave her card to the cabman, and he mistakenly debited thrice the amount of the transport fare.

“What's it?” She queried, seeing the exclaimed look on the man's face, but he couldn't answer her out of shock.

A debit alert came into her phone and seeing it, she quickly understood the look on the man's face and she wore a cute smile.

“I see you made a mistake, don't worry. Since you didn't do it intentionally.” She collected back her card and returned it to her bag.

“Thank you so much. I will pay back next time we meet.” The man appreciated.

Carissa bowed her head and walked into the company while the man drove away.

She got to the second floor and walked nervously closer to chairman Lexx's office door. She stopped walking because her heart was pounding fast at the peak of its rate. She placed her hand on the left side of her chest and discharged a long-deep-breath.

“I can do this, right?” She asked herself and without giving herself a second to answer her question, she hurriedly took her step one after the other and bang into the office without knocking. 

Chairman Lexx was shock and pen fell from his hand because of the manner she opened the door and the shock aura her arrival created.

She quickly bowed her head and apologized. “I am sorry, sir.”

Chairman Lexx sighed and picked up his pen from the table. “It is fine. Never seen this face. Who are you?”

“I am Carissa.” She answered.

He put the pen on the file and concentrated on her. “How can I help you?” 

“Sir?!” She raised her eyebrows in shock. She didn't expect that question since Zuri told her she has told the chairman a lot about her.

She quickly embraced herself and created an appropriate line. “From Zuri, she told me you planted success in your compound and I come here hoping it is ripe enough to pluck.”

He raised his gaze in a slow motion and fixed it on her. He was impressed by her words and he quickly like her more.

“Zuri must be right, you are the perfect lady for the assignment,” he nodded, excitedly, adding, “my lady, there are a lot of success in my compound to pluck, but only if you are ready to pay the price.”

“What's the price for success?” She asked confidently. 

Chairman Lexx took out his phone and opened the gallery app. He tapped on a guy picture and showed it to her. “Do you know this guy?”

She scoffed and answered. “Rolland Kayden, the star of America. The youngest rich billionaire that ever exists. Who won't know him?”

“Zuri told me you came back to the state not too long. How did you know him?” He asked.

“Yes, but no international news comes out without one of his newly unlock achievement been in the headline.” Carissa beamed.

“Carissa, I want you to destroy this guy.” He voiced out.

Carissa's eyes widened in shock and she out-stared him for a few seconds. “Destroy who?”

“Rolland Kayden.” He answered in a low voice, occupying the left part of his mouth with a smile.

“Bu-t...” her voice stammered in a mixture of shock and fear. 

“Calm down, Carissa, I want you to destroy him just to get justice for the dead, innocent souls that lost their lives.” He explained.

“What do you mean?” She asked, curiously. 

“Ever heard of operation MX24#12?” He raised a question, and she nodded.

“The Rolland family was behind it. They were the one that collided with the foreigner that made hundreds of civilians lost their lives.” He spoke out. 

“Why will they do that?” Carissa asked. 

“Because it involved a huge amount of money. Rolland family is the wealthiest family in America, but dear, the rich will never be satisfied. They will keep wanting more and they are ready to do anything to get more.” He tried to poison her mind.

She slowly shook her head, frowning her face at him in opposition. “These can't be true.”

“It is dear. Why do you think the government closed the case so quickly?” He wanted to make a point.

“Not sure, but I believe it is for the best of people.” Carissa spoke her mind.

“The government didn't close the case for people's benefits, they did so because Rolland family have a great impact on the state economy and no arm of government will want to face the consequences of going against them,” he enlightened. 

“Carissa, no one knows what happened to do victims' family that protest then, but I witnessed them lying against some and sent them to jail. They killed some and the little that remained died because of various reasons and as a result, those that are alive and aren't in jail are living a worthless life...” he furthered and a tear dropped from his eyes. 

He wiped the tears and continued. “There are many people that know the truth, but none can voice out because they are afraid. But I am ready to give it my all, even if it will cost my life. I am ready to make justice reign!”

Hearing chairman Lexx's last line, thunder rattled in Carissa's head. It was the last thing Ivory told her to do. Before Ivory dead, she told her to make justice reign.

“Please, help me. I can't do this alone. I need your help. Please.” He pleaded, and the tears he caged in his eyes rolled out uncontrollably.

“Are you sure about this or you are cooking up all these lies because Kayden is your rivalry in business?” She queried.

“Kayden isn't my rivalry. He is my savior. He is my soon-to-be son-in-law. I am supposed to protect him, but I can't continue to watch wickedness reigns,” he said and hit his chest, weakling. “It's killing me from within,”

He went on his knees and begged. “Carissa, doing this is like killing two birds with one stone. You will pay the price for success and be a voice to the voiceless. Pathfinder to the weak and justice realm founder. Please, help me. We can do this.”

Carissa let tears pumped out of her eyes for three minutes, she wiped it and inhaled till air blocked her lung.

Her eyes turned red like a beast and she let out, “stand up. Let's begin right away. Let the wickedness suffer. Let shield light to the world. Let free the innocent and make Kayden suffer.”

“Are you sure about this?” He asked.

“What's your plan?” She asked.

“Let's meet here by 12 PM tomorrow.” He said.

She stood up and bowed her head before walking towards the door.

As she laid her hand on the door handle, his question came from behind. 

“Carissa, are you sure about this?”

She looked back and nodded with confidence. She filled a part of her mouth with a hardened smile and crossed her heart. “Yes. From now till I, John Carissa, destroy Rolland Kayden, no more rest!”