"Alice, it's great to see you. It feels like it's been forever," Dave said as they settled in."I know, right? I missed you so much. How's everything with you? Alice responded with a smile."I hate to cut the night short, but it's getting late and I have an early flight tomorrow. I have to call Mike to come and drive me off," Dave said."Woah, wait, already? I didn't realize it was that late. Let's get you back to the house," Alice said, motioning for the waiter to bring the check.As they stood up from the table, Dave felt a sense of exhaustion wash over him. It had been a long day of travel and catching up, and he knew he needed to rest.As he took his last few strides towards the exit, a sudden commotion caught his attention. A clash of ceramic plates echoed through the restaurant, followed by a splattering sound that seemed to slow down time.In what felt like an eternity, Dave's eyes widened as he witnessed a catastrophe unfold before him.Amelia had accidentally dropped a tray f
Mike joined him on the couch, his presence a reassuring anchor in the midst of the whirlwind of feelings. "It's been quite a day," Mike agreed, his voice gentle. "But you know, we've managed to handle it all just fine."Dave nodded, his eyes opening to meet Mike's gaze.A faint smile played on his lips, gratitude and fondness reflecting in his eyes.I couldn't have asked for a better partner in all of this," he admitted, the weight of his words carrying years of shared experiences and support.The maiden, Jessica, entered the veranda with a tray in hand, bearing glasses of ice-cold water. Her calm presence was like a soothing breeze, offering relief from the sweltering heat. With a polite smile, she placed the tray on the table between Dave and Mike."Good afternoon, gentlemen," she greeted them, her voice a gentle melody."Good afternoon, Jessica," Dave replied with a nod, his appreciation evident in his eyes.Mike, always the one to appreciate life's simple pleasures, couldn't help
"Hello, good evening, inspector Ava," Dave greeted her when she picked up. "Thiago called me and informed me to call you. Is there any problem at the moment?"Good evening, Dave," Ava said, her tone serious. "Yes, I told him to inform you because I was very busy at work."Dave's heart rate quickened. It wasn't often that Ava would call him with urgent news. He sat up straight and prepared himself for whatever it was that she had to say. "What's going on, Ava? Is everything okay?"Ava took a deep breath before she spoke. "Dave, today the unexpected almost happened," she began. "After lunch, a person dressed like an old man came to my office, acting like he wanted to see Ethan and Nelson at the prison cells."Dave's mind raced as he tried to make sense of what she was saying.Ethan and Nelson were now inmates who had caused a lot of trouble in the past.They were known for their violent tendencies and connections to dangerous people in the city now."What?" Dave exclaimed. "I hope nothi
We are indeed in tough times," he muttered softly to himself, the gravity of the situation evident in his furrowed brow. With a sigh, he made his way to the dining hall, a haven where he sought solace through his meals.As he sat down, the clinking of cutlery against plates seemed to echo the persistent ticking of the clock on the wall.Dave glanced at it, a forlorn expression momentarily crossing his features. Time had become a tricky companion, teasingly moving ahead yet feeling as if it were miles away.The hands of the clock seemed to mock his predicament,A slight cough disrupted his reverie, a reminder of the fragility of his own existence.He cleared his throat, attempting to brush aside the discomfort that had momentarily enveloped him.Pushing his plate away, he picked up his phone, a modern lifeline that connected him to the world beyond the walls of his thoughts."Jessica," he murmured, the name a whispered invocation.His fingers danced across the screen as he composed a me
Dave lay on the bed, covered with a warm bedspread that provided a comforting cocoon against the night's chill.He looked over to the room where Alice was standing."Alice, why are you acting like you don't know what I mean? Dave's voice was soft but laced with concern. He searched Alice's eyes for a response.Alice exhaled slowly, her features illuminated by the soft glow of the bedside lamp.She met Dave's eyes, her expression a mix of contemplation and understanding."Oh, I get your question now," she finally replied, her voice carrying a gentle undertone. "I will head back to the house tomorrow morning. If it's possible, I'll call my driver to come and pick me up."Dave's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he absorbed Alice's words. "Pick you up? By this time?The incredulity in his voice was palpable, and his concern was growing more apparent.Alice's lips curled into a faint smile, and she nodded in response to his questioning tone. "You know it's late and dangerous out there. I'm n
"Amelia, please," Emily said softly, concerned with lacing her voice, "Mom needs you downstairs; the breakfast is already served."Amelia remained silent, her gaze fixed on some distant point. Emily took a tentative step closer, her heart aching for her sister's pain."Amelia, what's the problem? Emily's voice trembled slightly. "Please talk to me. You don't have to go through this alone."Emily slowly sat down on Amelia's bed, giving her sister a moment to gather her thoughts.She could see Amelia's eyes were puffy and red, evidence of the countless tears she had shed.It was clear that her sister was struggling to cope with the aftermath of that humiliating incident.As Emily sat there, a sense of helplessness washed over her.She wished she could take away Amelia's pain and erase the hurtful memories that seemed to haunt her every waking moment.She longed to see her sister's vibrant spirit return and witness that infectious smile that had the power to brighten even the darkest of
Maria sat at her desk in the office, her attention riveted to her laptop screen as she sifted through spreadsheets and reports.The soft hum of computers and the distant chatter of colleagues provided a familiar backdrop to her workday.With her glasses perched on her nose and her fingers dancing across the keyboard, she was fully engrossed in her tasks.The soft glow of her computer screen brightened her focused expression.Amidst the concentrated silence, her phone suddenly blinked to life, drawing her gaze away from the laptop.She reached for the device, her fingers tapping against the smooth surface to unlock it.As her eyes scanned the message that had just popped up, her eyebrows knitted in surprise and concern. The message was from her boss, Dave."Maria, I'm not feeling well today, so I can't come to work. Please take care of the task you're supposed to handle today. I will forward the rest of the files through PDF, and it will be sent to the company's email."The weight of t
Confusion clouded her thoughts for a moment before the realization hit her—it wasn't Dave on the line."Hello," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of uncertainty. The traffic jam around her seemed to fade into the background as she focused on the call."Is this Maria from Dave's office?" the woman asked, her tone professional but warm."Yes, that's me," Maria confirmed, her brow furrowing. She wondered why someone from Dave's office was calling her at this moment."This is Alice, Dave's wife," the woman continued, and Maria's surprise deepened. She hadn't met Dave's wife before and was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected call."Oh, hello," Maria responded, her voice tinged with surprise and curiosity."I apologize for reaching out like this, but I couldn't get through to Dave's phone, and I know he's been unwell today," Alice explained. "He needs the file you've worked on at the office; he mentioned that he needed some important files from it. I was wondering if you could he