Checking the time on her watch, which was encased in gleaming gold with a strap made of genuine crocodile leather, Isabella saw that it was three in the afternoon. "If I drive fast enough, I could reach Havenbrook by 5 p.m. and get back to my hotel room before 9 p.m. Right, Alexa?" "Yes, Isabella, you're absolutely correct. If you drive fast enough, you will indeed be at HavenBrook by 5 p.m., and that's the perfect time for your father to arrive at the FlavourFusion Bistro restaurant. And if you drive that fast when coming back, you could get back to Eldridge before 9 p.m." "Great!" Isabella exclaimed like a child who had just discovered her passion. Immediately, she reached into her fancy bag once more and pulled out the pistol, handling it like a seasoned fisherman reeling in a prized catch. As she stared at it for a moment, she took a deep breath and muttered, "That little, tiny leg reporter b*tch, you better not try me. I've never pulled the trigger before, but I won’t hesitate
As Alexa uttered those words, Isabella fixed her gaze on her phone screen and slowly raised her hand to press the "play" button."At around 12 p.m. this afternoon, we received a report stating that a car had been parked outside Ethan Mark’s grand mansion since the previous night. Inside the car was a man named Mr. Davis John, who had been sacked from Woodmark Industries a few days ago. The question that remained was, Why was he waiting at the front gate of Ethan Mark’s mansion?"Upon hearing this, Isabella's attention was immediately drawn to the screen, as if pulled by a magnet. She couldn't believe that Davis' car was now being shown on the news, and his name was now repeatedly coming out of the reporter's mouth."Mr. Davis John was reported to be stalking Ethan Mark. This report outlines how this conclusion was reached and provides a view of the incident." the reporter stated. Right away, a video was shown in which Davis stepped out of his car upon spotting Ethan Mark and his escor
Immediately, in a movement too swift for even the camera to capture, like a fleeting shadow in the moonlight, Mr. Smith reached Davis and wrested the gun from his grip. Hence, in a manner that defied explanation, Mr. Smith then forcefully pushed Davis to the ground and loomed over him like a wrestler determined not to relinquish his hold easily.Although Mr. Smith had successfully pinned Davis down, he refrained from punching his face as if it were a punching bag. Instead, he maintained his position, securing Davis's arms to the ground like a vise, unyielding and unwavering, his gaze fixed on Davis in a dangerous stare.At this moment, the only words that escaped Mr. Smith's mouth were, "Master Mark, please return to the car. Standing out in the open might be perilous; we can't be certain if Mr. Davis John has accomplices lurking nearby."Following this directive, without a word to Davis, Ethan opened the rear car door and slipped inside like a whisper of silk, disappearing into the s
Being confused, like a cat in a room full of mirrors, Isabella wondered why the video had suddenly gone blank. Hence, she tried to play the video again, and the video began again from the real beginning."What is happening?" Isabella asked herself with a low voice, sounding more or less like a whisper. Thus, she said again in the same manner, "That could not have been the end of the video, right, Alexa?""That is the end of the video, Isabella," Alexa voiced, her words certain about the video."But how? How can a video just end by going blank? What kind of report is this from GNN?" Isabella asked again, curious, like a lost bird in the middle of the desert."Why do you think the video should not have ended like that, Isabella?" Alexa spoke again, her voice gentle, like that of a dove quietly signaling the serenity of dawn."The male reporter was asking a question, and the video ended after his question. There is a continuation somewhere; it's just not here.""You are right, Isabella.
Even so, despite Isabella already flaring up, it didn't mean Alexa wasn't going to ask another question. In that moment, as Isabella kept her eyes on the road and drove so fast, resembling a racer on the track, and sped past each different car on the road like a bullet racing through a tunnel, Alexa voiced again,"I apologize for this question I'm about to ask, Isabella. But I've been wondering about this for a long time, even before we became partners. So, now that we are partners, it's only right that you clear my doubts so I can know, right?" Alexa waited in this instance for a response from Isabella, but if she got any, it was a lie.And even though Isabella said nothing at this moment and only maintained her focus on the road, Alexa pressed further like an erring kid who was not ready to listen to instruction after several warnings."What if Davis wasn't so controlled by his mother, and he was just the kind of man you wanted? You would have gotten married to him in this short tim
"Who the f**king hell are you?" Isabella yelled once more. But even at that, the voice on the other end of the call took it as a joke, and immediately, the voice laughed like a cheesy cat amused by the death of a thieving rat. "Hahaha... why are you so eager? Did you offend someone?" The voice asked, while the voice still kept laughing amidst her words and continued, "I will give you two options to pick from." Am I the reporter? Or am I Alexa, the most brilliant Artificial Intelligence in the world?" It did not matter what the voice said at this moment. Isabella was not in for this anymore, and thus, she only yelled back like a bullied kid who was tired of all the bullshit happening to her suddenly amidst the onlookers around her. "F**k you, and I am going to hang up the call right now if you won't tell me who you are." "Are you threatening me? I should be the one to do the threatening. So, let's start again." The voice responded. Even so, if Isabella would respond to that, it wa
Even when Alexa continued to talk, Isabella termed everything she said nonsensical words as she paid little to no attention to it. Hence, even when Alexa expected a response from her, Isabella only gave her perfect silence as she only focused on the road.Now, at this moment, Isabella has arrived at Havenbrook and indeed at the FlavourFusion Bistro restaurant where her father was to meet her.The restaurant exuded a charming ambiance that seamlessly blended indoor and outdoor spaces. At the top of the building, which was painted a shining gray color, Isabella saw that the name of the restaurant was perfectly designed in a 3D design, which read "FlavourFusion Bistro."Similarly, the restaurant was at the tip of the road, with passersby going to and fro in front of the restaurant. Among those who walked to and fro were a few who decided to grab a seat at the outdoor spaces of the restaurant and, hence, placed their orders with one of the waiters while they conversed.Another thing Isabe
Without further delay, Isabella listened to Alexa and walked to the trash can near her car like a detective closing in on a vital clue. Hence, she opened it and searched inside, seeing a scarf just as Alexa had told her she would.Immediately, she turned to the left and glanced around like a wary fox assessing its surroundings. Seeing that no one noticed her, she used the scarf on her hair to cover her head, concealing her face as if it were a secret.With the same determination, at this very moment, she put on the sunglasses she had picked up from her car trunk. And she looked like a blind woman intent on keeping her eyes hidden without revealing her irises.Once again, she glanced at her dad from a distance, observing how he continued to look both to the right and left, obviously anticipating her arrival like a ship spotting a lighthouse in the distance. Without hesitation, she began to walk, approaching him with quick strides like a sprinter nearing the finish line."Isabella, if y