Mayor Carney’s face curled into a smirk that spelled the very words that he had in his mind - I told you so.Mayor Carney soon got to his office rooms and everyone was busy with analysis. Various men in suits were taking note of data and potential vote probabilities in various localities. It was a busy environment and the moment Mayor Carney walked into the office hall, two men in suits followed behind him awaiting instructions.“Get me secretary Elaine right away,” Mayor Carney instructed one of his aides.His aide returned after a few minutes, his face looking pale and it was clear that there wasn’t any positive news.“Where is she?” Mayor Carney queried. “I am sorry sir but she is nowhere to be found at the moment,” the aide responded.“What do you mean by that?” Mayor Carney asked, his temper rising gradually. “I need my secretary right now. Where could she possibly be?”The aide didn't want the mayor to get more upset so he went back again and checked around for the secretary.
Ms. Elaine started breathing heavily soon again the moment she heard Alan’s booming voice.It soon dawned on Alan that perhaps he had talked in a way that made her uncomfortable again. “So sorry, Elaine. Please continue, but are you sure about this? Do you work for the mayor? I thought you got a job as a librarian?”“Oh, that is in the past now. I resigned as a librarian only 3 weeks after I got the job. I started working for Mayor Carney since then and I quickly rose through the ranks until I became his secretary. I am sure of what I am telling you because I am one of those who work closely with him.”Alan was beginning to have ideas drop in his head. Was it all a ploy by the mayor to lure him? But from the way Elaine sounded, Alan could tell that she was genuinely scared because of what she might have heard or seen.“I am very sure of what I am saying, Mr. Greyson. I owe you a lot from previous years when you saved my daughter and that is why I am telling you this. I also think that
Ms. Elaine gritted her teeth in frustration as she struggled to deal with the reality. That was the moment she needed the torchlight the most. How could she leave such a dark environment without illumination?It wasn't even like the light from her phone was bright enough to overcome the darkness in the alley but at least it was something. It was better than having nothing.She turned to her right but it was all pitch-black darkness. When she moved to her left, it was the same darkness that greeted her. Soon, there wasn't even anything popping on her phone anymore as it had switched off on its own.How would Alan now get through to her in case he had something to say? It felt like every source of help had been cut off from her at that moment. What even made her think that it was wise to follow Mayor Carney and Officer Rostos into such a delicate location? Even though she had escaped Officer Rostos’ suspicion, she had to grapple with getting herself free from the terrible place.Havi
She was soon with the phone in her hand as she figured out the spot through which she would escape.Just as she was about to climb the fence through which she would get into the final route of escape, she heard a voice booming from the darkness.“Hey! Who is in there? Come back now!”Ms. Elaine’s heart leaped out of her chest in terror and her eyes widened with terror as she heard the menacing voice.She immediately clawed and climbed over the fence, her breath coming in short, gasping bursts as she fought to get away from the danger that lurked in the darkness.Her mind was a blur of fear and adrenaline as she quickly escaped through the fence and ran without looking back until she finally got into the offices.Ms. Elaine’s hair was a tangled mess and her clothes were soaked with sweat and grass particles from where she hid in the bushes.Her hair was plastered against her face as she walked through the offices, her footsteps silent and careful as she sought to avoid detection. Her
“Hey, isn't that the secretary to the mayor? I think she is the one. Or am I wrong?”“You might be right, man. Let’s get back and greet her.”“No, calm down. Can't you see how rough she looks, she can't possibly be the secretary?”“But I think I know her face. I can't imagine that she would look like that but my guys tell me she is the one.”“I’m done with this, let me go back and check.”“No, man. Just leave her alone, let her be. It's not our business anyway.”The woman’s breathing was slow and rapid as she crept through to stay several steps ahead of the men. On a normal day, they were newbies that she would be so delighted to speak to or even scold should they do something that wasn’t so pleasurable but in this instance, she had to make sure that they don't notice her.She landed in a corner that was very close to the restroom. She narrowed her gaze ahead and saw another group of staff coming over - two men and one woman. She quickly dived into the bathroom, slamming the door beh
Ms. Elaine was about to get upset. Why would a man be raising her voice at her in such a demeaning manner? But she soon recalled that she was the one in a disadvantaged position. She was the one who was hoping that she wasn't caught and she wasn't about to ruin her chances of getting the recorder out of there so she maintained a pleading and innocent look.Ms. Elaine’s eyes darted back and forth, her mind racing as she struggled to come up with a lie. “I—I felt a very strong wave of nausea and had to leave my office to find a quiet place to stay.”“Are you kidding me?” Kellogg’s words were sharp with a deadly edge of irritation. “You went to look for a quiet place to stay and you didn't go to the restrooms closest to your office.” “You didn’t go to the empty offices close to you but instead you went all the way here. I’m sure you know that this place is a restricted area. You are the secretary for damn’s sake so you can't tell me you don't know.”Ms. Elaine would have taken things o
Ms. Elaine soon opened the door anxiously and walked in slowly.Mayor Carney’s face twisted with rage the moment he saw Ms. Elaine, his body tense and rigid as he struggled to keep his composure. “Are you now too big that you can just go missing for almost an hour while I look for you everywhere? Are you so foolish that you would put me under such a state? Don’t you know your job anymore? You are my first point of contract and you chose to abscond just like that.”Ms. Elaine’s body was tense and coiled as she awaited the end of his wrath, her hands clasped together in silent prayer as she sought an occasion to apologize amidst the raining anger.“Don’t you know that you are supposed to be at your desk all day? That’s what I pay you to do and you receive your pay every month so why will you default in your responsibilities? Why?! Why would I spend so much time looking for you like you are some special staff,” Mayor Carney’s voice was a venomous storm of anger.“Is it because you are t
Kellogg’s body became tense in an effort to answer the question as he turned his gaze towards Ms. Elaine. He sought to find a way out of the awkward situation but he knew that there was no way that he could avoid answering the question.“Erm, I was just passing when I found her in the hallway,” Kellogg finally responded.“Oh, so she just appeared from nowhere right?” Mayor Carney turned toward Ms. Elaine to show that the question was directed toward her.Ms. Elaine just stood frozen, her eyes staring blankly in confusion as she was devoid of words. There was nothing that she could say that would appease the mayor so it was best that she kept quiet.“Anyway, where is the recorder?” Mayor Carney asked.Ms. Elaine felt her pulse quickening as she realized the gravity of the question. Her mind was racing with a hundred possible answers to his question and her body trembled with effort.Ms. Elaine wasn't even sure of what Mayor Carney meant but she consoled herself with the relief that if