His eyes never left the front gate, observant of who came in and out. Almost thirty minutes had passed since Mr. McDonell's car had gone into the premises and parked in the main parking lot of the college. He had seen Mr. McDonell and Carly through his binoculars, get out of the car and walk into the main building with a few college students walking about. He had been on their tail since morning when they had left the McDonell mansion. Mr. Walter's had ordered him to keep tabs on Carly.
So far, he knew Carly had switched colleges, with the help of Mr. McDonell, of course. He had also followed them from Carly's old college until they came here to one of the most prestigious colleges in New York. Mr. McDonell must really be paying a lot to help Carly out, the man thought.
A red Mercedes car drove out through the main gate. While the man continued on his lookout, his phone on the dashboard rang. He took his phone and looked at the caller ID. Mr. Walters was calling him. With his eyes back at the gate, he picked up the call.
"Yes?"
"I want you to stop whatever you're doing right now," said Mr. Walters.
"Why? I've just gathered enough info about Carly. Some of which you aren't aware of yet."
"As much as I want you to continue with what you're doing, the Red Lion called. He said he wants Carly sooner than we thought."
The man raised his eyebrow. "How soon?"
"We wants her by tomorrow and he wants his men to do the job."
"Is that so?"
"I'm afraid so. You can stop what you're doing and let his men handle it. You don't want to get in the way of the Red Lion."
The man thought for a moment. He couldn't be doing all this work for nothing. There has to be something he could do.
"What if I can deliver Carly at his doorstep today?" he asked.
"Huh?" Mr. Walters coughed out loud. He must have been sipping on something that he had choked.
"Ahem," Mr. Walters cleared his throat. "What do you mean you can deliver Carly to him today?"
"I can. And I will. Like I told you, I have info about Carly's whereabouts that nobody knows about. I can deliver her to him. You know I can."
"I don't know. The Red Lion won't like this. But if you want to give him an early Christmas present, this is the perfect time to do so. He's been really cranky lately."
The man's lips raised into a smile. "Is that a go ahead, then?"
"Yes, but I'll talk to him and get back to you. If he refuses, you've no choice but to do so, okay?"
"Understood." Mr. Walters on the other end, cut the call.
The man in his car noticed movement at the college main building and he quickly took the binoculars on his laps and looked through them. Mr. McDonell had just walked out of the building and was now heading to his car. This time, he was alone.
The man behind the binoculars smiled. He knew what this meant. Capturing Carly wasn't going to be as complicated as he thought.
***
Angel was drying her hair with a hair blower as she looked at herself in the mirror. She had just taken a bath some minutes ago and she was now in her bath robe, seated in front of the mirror.
As soon as she was done and had switched off the blower, she heard her phone ring behind her on her bed. She put the blower aside and stood up to get her phone.
When she checked who was calling, she couldn't believe it. It was Mark Dean, her boss at the editing company.
She felt paralyzed at the moment as she continued to look at her phone. She snapped out of it and quickly answered it.
"Hello, Mr. Dean," Angel greeted her boss.
"Come on, Angel, I told you there should be no form of formalities between us," said Mr. Dean. "Besides, calling me Mister makes me feel old."
Angel blushed. She had been told several times by him not to call him that and only call him by name. She usually forgot because he was her boss for the time being and she loved keeping formalities.
"I'm sorry," she said as she hit her forehead. "I usually forget."
Mark chuckled and that made Angel blush even more. If only he could see her now.
"Never mind," said Mark. "I heard you got discharged. I figured you had gone back to the hospital after the funeral."
"No, I didn't." Angel scratched the back of her head. "Sorry, I forgot to tell you."
"It's fine. I'm just glad you're okay."
"Thank you, by the way. For visiting me at the hospital a few times and for being there at the funeral."
"No need of thanking me, Angel. We aren't very close friends, but I really care about you. A lot."
Angel looked down at her toes, still blushing. "Still, I have to thank you, don't I?"
Mark chuckled again. "You should be thankful that you're alive. I really shouldn't have allowed you to have a day off that day."
There was a silent pause between them as Angel didn't know what to say next. She didn't like the fact that Mark was blaming himself for what happened.
"Don't blame yourself," she said as she sat on the bed. "I shouldn't have left the office that day."
"Well, I still feel responsible."
"Don't be. I was somewhere I wasn't supposed to be."
"I'm just glad you're okay. I was wondering when you will be coming back to work."
Angel couldn't help but feel horrible. She didn't know how she was going to tell him that she had been offered another job somewhere else.
"Ummm," she hesitated. She sighed before continuing to say, "I don't know how to tell you this, but it's best I tell you in person."
"How about we talk about it over lunch? That's if you're okay to move around."
"Don't worry. I'm better now. I was planning to come back to work tomorrow, but I have to tell you something first."
"I guess I know what it is, but in case it's something else we can still talk about it over lunch. Do you agree?"
"Ya, sure," Angel rubbed the back of her neck with her free hand. "We can talk about it over lunch."
"Great!" Mark sounded like an excited kid and Angel found it quite charming. "How about I come pick you up?"
"Really? It's not necessary. Besides, we kind of moved some place else."
"I don't mind. Just tell me your location and I'll come over."
"I'll text you the address."
"I can't wait to see you again. I've really missed you a lot, Angel."
"Ahh....," Angel didn't know how to respond next, so she said, "see you later, Mark."
"Okay, then. See you."
Angel cut the call and she soon found herself falling back on the bed with a sigh, hands splayed above her head on the bed. She had a bright smile on her face. She hadn't talked to Mark in a while and hearing from him made her heart flutter for some reason.
***
"Ummm," the Red Lion muttered to himself as he had his phone to his left ear and his free right hand tapped against the surface of the table. "What are you trying to prove to me, Walters?"
"Nothing, nothing," said Mr. Walters over the phone. He sounded a little nervous. He always did when he proposes something to the Red Lion. "The man's good and he said he could bring Carly to you today."
The Red Lion stopped tapping his fingers on the table and he looked up at his two comrades, standing before him. They were just about to leave to try and figure out a way to get Carly. But it seems Mr. Walters had other plans.
"So, what do you say?" Mr. Walters asked. "He won't get Carly if you tell him to."
"You said he has collected information about Carly's whereabouts, right?" the Red Lion asked.
"Yes. Right now, he knows where she is."
The Red Lion rubbed his stubbled chin with his free right hand as he thought. It wasn't a bad idea for Carly to be brought to him today. He needed to convince her to be available on Wednesday. And collecting her tomorrow might not be so convenient if they didn't know about her whereabouts on time.
"Alright," said the Red Lion. "I'm entrusting him to bring Carly to me, today."
"Oh, thank goodness," said Mr. Walters. The Red Lion could hear the man sigh in relief. "He's willing to do it and I trust he will."
"For you to trust him, he must really be good at what he does."
"Yes, he is."
"In that case, give him the signal to go ahead. I want her here today as soon as he collects her. If he fails to do so, he won't be the only one facing a heavy price on his head."
Mr. Walters gulped as he knew what the Red Lion meant. "Don't worry, he won't let you down. I will tell him right away."
The Red Lion cut the call and put his phone on the table. He looked up at his two trusted comrades.
"I'm sorry, boys," he said. "Someone else will be collecting Carly for me."
"What? Who?" Carlos asked.
"Walters trusts that the man he hired will do a good job. I hope he's right."
"So, what do we do now, boss?" the other man asked.
The Red Lion had his eyebrows raised as he smiled. He leaned back in his seat. "We sit back, relax and wait," he answered.
***
Carly had just walked out of her first History lecture and through the busy open corridor. She still wasn't familiar with her new environment and according to her new timetable, she had at least an hour before her next lecture. That meant, she can get lost for a little while she familiarized herself with the place.
She turned round the corner down the corridor and she saw other students out in the open seating on stone benches on the lawn. Some studying individually, some in groups. Others were simply having a good chat with close friends. Carly admired that. How she wished her friends back at her old college were with her. But at the thought of Miranda, she quickly shook her head to shake off the thought of her once best friend. She told herself that it was a good thing she left. Miranda was nothing but a distraction. Out of the old, in with the new.
As Carly slowly walked down the corridor, admiring those in the wide open spaces, she felt a hand on her shoulder from the back. She quickly turned around and who she saw, made her gasp in surprise.
"Carly? What are you doing here?"
"Robin?" Carly grew dumbfounded for a second. "You're here too?"
Robin, the bartender who worked at Mr. Walters' club, couldn't help his surprise as he pulled Carly into a hug. Carly, shocked with the gesture, soon wrapped her arms around him as well. A few seconds later they broke away from each other.
"I'm so happy to see you here," said Robin. "I never thought that I'll see you ever again."
"Me neither," said Carly as she smiled at him. She hadn't seen him in a while that she realised that she had missed him. "I really missed you."
Apart from Miranda, Robin was another good friend Carly had made when she was working at the club. Even though they seemed to be busy most of the time, they always had a moment to chat when Robin was on a break because he was always on the front line when it came to serving drinks to the customers. Sometimes in the early hours of the morning and Robin gets the chance to knock off, he would walk Carly to her home and he would always make sure she gets there safely.
"I missed you too," said Robin. "What brings you here? I thought you attend the same college with Miranda."
"I did," said Carly, irritated by the mention of Miranda's name. "But I'm here now. I just got transferred today."
"Oh, cool. I thought I would never see you again, you know, after what happened that day at the club."
"Ya. I'm never going back there again."
"Well, you haven't showed up to that place for a while. How's your sister?"
"She's doing great. She's so much better now."
"That's good to hear. Pass on my regards to her. That's if she can still remember me."
"I bet she hasn't forgotten. Weren't you the one who helped her get to me at the club?"
"Ya. That was some freakish day. I also heard about your mother. My condolences."
Carly gave Robin a little smile. "Thanks. After what happened that day, I told myself that I wasn't going to go back there."
"It's good you didn't. That place wasn't right for you to begin with."
"Anyway, I'm glad I've been given a fresh start. So, how long have you been here?"
"This is my fourth and last year. Studying philosophy."
"Okay, that's cool. Since I'm just new here, may you show me around? I fear I might get lost, that's if you aren't having a lecture at the moment."
"Don't worry. I have two free hours till my next lecture. Come on."
Carly smiled as Robin led her down the corridor. She didn't have to worry about fitting in at her new college with Robin around. Her first day was going on pretty well.
***
Leo's heart almost jumped to his mouth when the door to his office flew open and Eric came bursting in. Leo looked at his cousin with a look on his face.
"Goodness, Eric," said Leo. "You almost gave me a heart attack. You should have knocked first."
"Sorry," said Eric as he closed the door behind him first before he came to settle in the chair in front of Leo's desk.
Leo looked at Eric and he couldn't help but notice that his cousin had a worried look on his face and he also looked rather ill.
"What happened to you, man?" Leo asked. "You don't look so good."
"Of course, I'm not," said Eric as he loosened his tie around his neck with his left index finger and he slumped down further in his seat.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"It's..., it's..." Eric hesitated as he looked like he was out of breath and also out of what to say.
"Come on, Eric." Leo now looked really worried as he stood up from his seat and went to stand right beside his cousin. "Tell me, what's going on with you?"
"It's Angel," said Eric as he looked up at Leo.
"What about Angel? Did something bad happen to her?" Leo asked as he leaned in further to look at his cousin.
"No. Nothing happened to her. She's going out on a lunch date with someone."
"Huh?" Leo straightened up, confused as ever.
"Yes. I asked her out on a lunch date and she said she's going out with somebody else. And it's a man."
"That's what you're worried about?" Leo asked furiously as he sat on his desk staring at his cousin like he was going to tear him apart. "I thought something bad had happened to her."
"Please! You wouldn't even care if she got ran over by a bus," said Eric as he straighten up in his seat. "This matter is serious to me."
"You're worried that she is going out with some guy? I'm surprised that she even has a boyfriend."
"She doesn't have a boyfriend. Carly told me so."
"Okay, let me rephrase that. I'm surprised that she even has a suitor pursuing her. He must be as stupid as you for falling for someone like her."
"To make matters worse, it's her own boss that she's going on a lunch date with."
Leo folded his arms, surprised. "Huh? Who knew she would capture the heart of her boss?"
"Leo, this isn't funny. What if she's falling for him or something?"
"Why do you even worry if she falls for him or not?"
"I worry because I like her a lot. You know that."
Leo looked up at the ceiling then back at his cousin. "Sorry, I forgot."
"I really shouldn't be talking to you. You're clearly not helping."
"Oh, really? Who else can you talk to about this stuff apart from me?"
Eric looked at his cousin. "No one."
Leo smiled at his cousin as he stood up from his table and headed back to his chair. "Besides, I guess she's going to have a talk with her boss to discuss something important. She hasn't reported to her workplace for a while, has she?"
Eric thought with his mouth open as he thought of what Leo said. "I guess you're right."
Leo felt content with what he said and was glad that his cousin had calm down. But as soon as he sat down on his seat, he then remembered something.
"Oh, no," he said.
"Hey, what's with that face?" Eric asked.
Leo didn't answer his cousin as he got lost in his thoughts. Maybe Angel was meeting with her boss because she was going to tell him that she was quitting her job to work for his family. He couldn't believe his assumption, but if all of this was true, he had to do something about it. But wait. What if he was just overthinking it? Besides, he had never asked Angel if she was going to take up the job or not. And if she had told his grandmother, Amanda would have told him already. Maybe she didn't know about Angel's decision or did she?
"Hey! Earth to Leo!" Eric had his hand waving in front of Leo's face. Leo looked up at his cousin who was now standing next to him, with a confused look on his face. For a moment, he didn't realise that he was in his own office.
"What? What is it?" Leo asked.
"You kind of went to another galaxy or something," Eric answered. "I was calling out to you but you didn't seem to listen. What's up? Now you're the one who seems worried."
Leo rubbed his eyes and then his temples to try and keep his cool. Should he tell Eric about Angel? No, he shouldn't. What if he was wrong and Angel doesn't decide to work at their company?
"Leo, come on." Eric held his cousin's shoulder. "Right now, it looks like something is really bothering you."
This time, it was Leo's turn to loosen his tie as he couldn't breathe.
"It's about Angel," Leo answered as he nervously looked at Eric.
"Huh? What is it now? Why do you think about her when you don't even like her like I do?"
"Don't blame me. You're the one who came with this Angel-meeting-her-boss business in the first place."
"Okay, okay. You're right. But what is it then?"
Leo covered his face for a moment and he rubbed his cheeks before looking up at Eric. "I don't know how to tell you this, Eric," he said, "but don't let anyone at home know, especially my mum. You shouldn't confront grandma and my dad about it either."
Eric raised his right hand. "I swear I won't tell," he said. He soon dropped it. "Spill it. What's going on?"
Leo bit his lip. "Grandma and dad offered Angel a place for her to work here at the company," he said.
Eric's eyes looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets.
"What!" Eric exclaimed.
Leo sadly nodded his head. On the other hand, Eric seemed excited.
"Wow! Why wasn't I told this?" Eric asked. "This is awesome. That means I'll be closer to her every day."
"No, it's not okay," said Leo as he put his hands on the table and he lowered his head towards them. "I don't want her to work here. If mum knew about this, she would freak out too."
"Wait, if Angel is coming to work here, then her lunch date with her boss must probably be her chance to tell him that she isn't going to work for him. And it's why you're like that because you don't want her working here."
"Ya," Leo nodded his head, still bent over the table.
"This is great! I don't have to worry about that guy then. He will be long gone."
"I'm glad you're much better now, buddy."
"Hey, I don't get why you think of this in the wrong way," said Eric as he rubbed Leo's back.
"Because I don't want her here," said Leo as he raised his head.
"You need to go to a therapist and work on your issues."
"I really hope that all this is just an assumption. She didn't tell me if she really is coming to work here or not."
"Oh." Eric paused for a bit as he thought. "Anyway, I wouldn't mind if she came to work here. In fact, I'm going to pray about it and hopefully, it would be answered."
Eric patted his cousin on the back and he soon left the office, feeling happy and positive. Leo, on the other hand, was left sad and miserable.
***
Angel looked at herself in the mirror, at the white summer flared dress she was wearing. It was sleeveless and the hem reached above her knees, revealing her stunning slender legs. She smiled at herself, feeling satisfied with her outfit. She felt like she was going on a date, but she told herself it wasn't. Looking presentable was important no matter where she went. And that was what she had in mind.
She was fixing her hair in curls with a hair toner, this time seated in front of the mirror, when she heard a knock on the door. She stood up, switched off the toner, placed it on the mirror table and she went to the door to open it.
Amanda was on the other side of the door when Angel drew it open and she couldn't help but laugh with joy upon seeing Angel's stunning appearance. Angel couldn't help but blush.
"My, oh my," said Amanda. "You look stunning, Angel."
"Thank you, Amanda."
"May I ask what the special occasion is?"
"Nothing special. I'm meeting my boss, the one I work for at the publishing company."
Angel stepped aside as Amanda came into the room dragging her wheelchair.
"Really?" Amanda asked as she stopped by Angel's bed and turned the wheelchair around to look at Angel. "He must be some special boss for you to meet him."
"Ah..., no, he isn't," said Angel. "He isn't just my boss. We're also friends."
"Mmm." Amanda raised her eyebrow as she smiled. "I bet he likes you for him to want to meet you. Did he arrange for the meeting?"
"Yes, he did. I thought this was the perfect time to tell him that I won't be coming back to work for him."
Amanda smiled. "It makes me so happy that you will be working with the family, dear."
"Thank you. I hope you don't mind, though. I would like to start work tomorrow."
Amanda was overwhelmed with joy that she stretched out her hand to grab Angel's. Angel looked at Amanda and she knew how much the news meant to her.
"Of course, dear," said Amanda. "My son will be happy when I tell him this."
Angel smiled. "Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I'll be at my absolute best at work."
"No doubt about that."
"I better find my shoes," said Angel as Amanda let go of her hand. "Mark could be here in any moment."
"Mark, huh?" Amanda asked. "No formalities between you two?"
"He hates that. Whenever I do so, he always reminds me."
"Well, it will be easier for him to be around you now that you won't be his employee anymore. He must really like you."
"I can't say. He's kind of a play boy."
"Even a player finally settles for a woman who is as good as an angel from the inside. You know, you're one, right? Even on the outside, you're look just like one."
Angel let out a little laugh. "I better get on looking for those shoes."
Angel went to her closet which was already opened and she went on to look at the shoes neatly piled on the closet floor. She had to find a fitting pair to match what she was wearing.
"You know, I wish Leo could find someone like you," said Amanda as she looked at Angel's back.
"He will find someone worthy of him," said Angel as she brought two lovely pairs of white high heeled shoes. "He's difficult. But even people like him find their match at some point."
"Well, I hope so."
Angel sat on the bed so as to put on her high heeled shoes. Amanda, who was on the other side of the bed, looked at Angel. Angel was putting on her other shoe when she felt Amanda's eyes on her.
"Is something the matter, Amanda?" Angel asked as she looked at Amanda.
Amanda quickly shook her head as though she was trying to shake off a thought. "Oh, oh, nothing, dear," she said.
Angel didn't ask further as she went on to putting her shoes on. She soon stood up from her bed and went to stand in front of Amanda.
"What do you think?" Angel asked as she twirled around. Her flared dress moved around gracefully by her movement.
"Just like a princess," said Amanda with pleasant smile on her face.
A knock came at the door and Angel told the person to enter. One of the house help was at the door, Mandy was her name, a Mexican.
"Sorry if I disturbed you," said Mandy. "Someone is here for you, Angel. He goes by the name, Mark."
"Oh, yes," said Angel. "Thank you, Mandy. I'll be right there."
"Yes," Mandy said with a smile on her face. "And may I say, you look very stunning."
"She's going on a date," said Amanda.
"That's not true," said Angel as she blushed. "Well, kind of. Thank you, by the way. But it's not really a date."
"Seems like it to me," said Mandy. "The gentleman outside looks charming and he's smartly dressed."
"I need to see this man for myself," said Amanda. "Mandy, dear, come and help me out here, will you?"
"Of course," said Mandy as she stepped into the room and went to help Amanda with her wheelchair.
Angel grabbed her white purse on the bed and she made sure to check if her phone was in it. She made her way out of the room with Mandy pushing the Amanda's wheelchair following right behind Angel.
Angel found herself in the foyer and she noticed that Mark wasn't alone. Standing with him was Mrs. McDonell and they seemed to be engaged in a small conversation. Mark noticed Angel's presence and he stopped talking when he drew his eyes on her. Mrs. McDonell followed his eyes and when she saw Angel, she was also out of words herself.
"Oh, Angel," said Mrs. McDonell, gathering her composure. "I was just having a chat with your friend, Mark. He is pretty charming."
"Thank you," said Mark, replying to Mrs. McDonell's comment, but his eyes still fixed on Angel.
Amanda and Mandy soon came into the foyer. They found themselves settled beside Angel.
"Ah, well, who is this kind gentleman?" Amanda asked.
"Mark Dean," said Mark, replying quickly to Amanda as he took a step towards her, bowed a little so as to take her hand and place a kiss on the other side of her palm. "A pleasure to meet you, Mrs...."
"You can call me Amanda," said Amanda. She giggled like a little girl upon Mark's gesture. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mark."
"Likewise." He straightened up and he took a look at Angel in front of him that he couldn't help but smile. "I hope you don't mind, Amanda, but I would like to take this beautiful lady out for lunch."
"Ah, you don't need permission from me," said Amanda. She giggled again.
"Yes, Mark," said Mrs. McDonell behind him. "You really don't."
"Well, he asked me because he knows how very fond I am of Angel like she's my very own daughter." She gave Mrs. McDonell a glaring look and then to Mark, a loving cheerful one. "You may take her out for lunch as you please. I don't mind at all."
Mark gave Amanda a smile as he held out his arm to Angel. "Shall we?" he asked.
Angel smiled at him and with her left hand, she wrapped it round his arm. The two of them walked out of the foyer, towards the open door and out of the house.
"Have fun you two," Amanda called out to them.
Mandy went over to close the door. Mrs. McDonell sighed, still staring at the door, that Amanda looked at her.
"I hope you aren't day dreaming about a man who is way younger than you," said Amanda.
"Well, you can't deny that he's handsome and charming," said Mrs. McDonell. "And have you seen his car and his cashmere suit? I wonder how Angel managed to grab him. They work together, so, I guess that's how."
"Whatever. It's just a lunch date."
"Well, I hope they decide to be a couple. They look quite good together."
Mrs. McDonell made her way up the stairs, probably heading to her room with Amanda at the bottom of the stairs throwing daggers at Mrs. McDonell's back with her eyes. Mandy came to join Amanda.
"Should I take you to your room?" Mandy asked Amanda.
"Take me to the porch at the back," Amanda answered as she looked at Mandy. "I need the fresh air."
Mandy soon took hold of the handles of the wheelchair and took Amanda out of the foyer and straight to the kitchen. As they made their way to the back door, Amanda couldn't help but think of what Mrs. McDonell said about Angel and Mark being a couple. Amanda didn't like the idea of that happening. She thought and asked herself why. And as she sat on the porch, the fresh air finally gave her her answer.
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