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"James? Why am I being followed?" I asked, my voice quivering with uncertainty. I took a step back as they closed in on me.
"Because you have been acting sneaky," James replied calmly. "What were you doing at Laura's house this late, Anthony?"
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say.
"Well, you followed me from the club, didn't you?" I asked, trying to sound confident.
James sneered. "Oh, so you saw the car. That's good. Now tell me, what were you doing following her around?"
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "I was driving her home," I said finally. "She asked me to."
James raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? And why didn't she just take a taxi?"
"I don't know. It was late and she needed to stop by her apartment for some things," I said, shrugging. "Maybe she just didn't feel safe."
James nodded slowly. "I see. Well,Iam in charge of Laura's safety, and I also wanted to check up on you. Maybe you should mind your own business next time, Anthony."
I felt a wave of anger wash over me at James's words, but I forced myself to stay calm.
"What is this really about, James?" I asked.
"Now is not the time to be unreasonable, Anthony," James said firmly as he turned and headed back to his car. The other men followed, and soon they were driving away into the night.
I stood there for a moment, watching them go. When they were out of sight, I let out a long, deep breath and climbed into my car.
As I pulled up to the front of my house, I couldn't help but feel relieved that my daughter was safe and sound next door at Mrs. Tom's house. I had pleaded with her to let my daughter sleep over, and she was glad to help. I honestly did not know what I would do without Mrs. Tom. She had always been a kind and loving neighbor. And she was like a second mother to my daughter—well, actually more like a first mother—and I knew Amanda was in good hands.
I looked over at Mrs. Tom's living room window and I noticed it was pitch black inside. I checked my watch and saw it was about one in the morning. I stepped out of my car into the chilly air and rushed into my house, eager to collapse onto my bed.
But as I entered the house, I couldn't help but notice the mess. It seemed like a tornado had hit the place, with laundry piled high and dishes overflowing the sink. I knew this week had been overwhelming, but I didn’t realize it had been this bad.
I collapsed on the couch, feeling drained and exhausted from the long day. I closed my eyes and tried to relax, but I couldn't. My mind kept replaying all that had happened.
People like James were known bluffers—always trying to intimidate people with their tough talk and aggressive demeanor. But I wasn't one to be easily intimidated. I had been through my fair share of disasters and come out on top, and I knew that I could handle whatever was coming my way.
But still, there was a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach, a sense of unease that I couldn't shake. Was there something more to this situation than I realized? Was I really in danger? What exactly had James meant by “unreasonable”? Did I even have a chance with Laura?
As I considered these questions, I couldn't help but think about the stakes. This wasn't just any situation—this was my chance to make a life for myself and finally achieve the success and security I had always dreamed of. I had worked hard for this opportunity, and I wasn't about to let it slip away.
I knew that I could get what I wanted as long as I was willing to fight for it.
I stood up and looked around the house again. It had been a long day, and the last thing I wanted to do was clean. But I also had a lot on my mind to clear, so I began the arduous task of scrubbing away at the dirty dishes and wiping down counters.
By 2 a.m., I had made good headway in the kitchen and decided to move on to the laundry. I attacked the pile of dirty clothes on the floor, tossing them into the washing machine one by one. As the machine hummed to life, I took a moment to sit down and catch my breath. There was still so much left to do.
I looked around at the cluttered living room and decided that a little rearranging was in order. So, I began moving furniture around, trying to create a more open and inviting space. By 3 a.m., I had managed to create a more welcoming living area but my energy was waning.
I made my way to my bedroom as my mind began to shut down. I collapsed onto my bed, feeling utterly spent.
The sound of my phone jolted me awake. I groggily reached over to answer it, not recognizing the number. But when I heard James’ voice on the other end of the line, I knew that my day off would not be what I had hoped for.
"Good morning, Anthony. Boss would like you to make a package delivery today. I know it's your day off, but the boss will make it worth your time," he said as I remained silent.
"6 a.m., Anthony. Be here," and the call ended.
They left me with no choice. I stumbled to the shower, my mind racing with thoughts of what the day would hold, but mostly I hoped I would get to see Laura again. But then I reminded myself I needed to return by the time my daughter woke up to pick her up from Mrs. Tom’s.
As I walked through my workplace, I realized was unlike any office building I had ever seen before because it really wasn't. The high ceilings, marble floors, and crystal chandeliers of the boss’s mansion all seemed out of place for a regular place of work. But then again, nothing about this job was regular.
