Abducted
“What did you just say?”
The girls turned in the direction of the voice, and upon seeing its speaker, they froze.
Unknown to them, Charlotte George had been standing on the side for a while. Upon hearing Veronica’s last sentences, she couldn’t help but be dazed.
She approached them on her heels, asking keenly, “Vee, what did you just say? Who is married to who?”
Veronica bit her lip and glanced at Mia. What was she to do now? She had inadvertently exposed her friend’s secret. Guilt washed over her.
However, Mia offered her a gentle smile, acknowledging that every secret would eventually come to light sooner rather than later.
She turned to face Charlotte, saying, “Actually, I’m married, Ma’am. I’m married to Shawn Mandez of Beats Corporations. I know I should have told you… It’s just my personal life… I wanted to keep it a secret-”
Before she could finish, Charlotte rushed forward and engulfed her in a tight warm hug.
Mia froze, exchanging confused looks with Veronica.
After a while, she was released from the hug. The woman took two steps back. “So, you’re not in a relationship with Damien?”
Mia was confused, “Not at all.” She shook her head.
Charlotte’s eyes brimmed with tears, “I thought… But I saw both of you hugging that night…”
Mia’s mind wandered down memory lane, and she smiled upon realization, “Oh, that… He suddenly hugged me-I don’t know why; it just happened that way. There really is nothing between us.”
Charlotte George gasped as tears of joy streamed down her face. Mia and Veronica simply continued staring at her in silence and confusion.
It took a while before she finally collected herself. “I’m so sorry. I’m sincerely sorry. I’ve been unpleasant to you since you came here… I let my emotions get the better part of me, Mia. I’m really not someone like this; I just…” She broke down in fresh tears, “I love him.”
Everything suddenly began to make sense to Mia and Veronica. Charlotte George was in love with Damien Davis. She must have assumed Mia was in a relationship with Damien, leading to her mean behavior over the past few days.
“I’m sorry; I hope you don’t hate me now.” Charlotte sobbed softly.
“There’s no problem at all; I don’t hate you. I can’t hate my role model.” Mia smiled.
“Thank you.” She hugged the girl again and then embraced Veronica too.
Glancing over Mia’s shoulder at her desk, guilt immediately washed through her. “Leave the scripts and go home now. I’m sorry for making you work excessively.” She sighed.
Charlotte made sure to wait behind until Mia had packed her stuff, and the three of them entered the elevator together.
By the time they arrived outside the building, Damien was already waiting for his niece in the car. Veronica waved goodbye and got in.
As he drove off, Damien briefly locked eyes with Charlotte, breaking eye contact a few seconds later and pressing more on the accelerator.
Now, Charlotte pieced everything together. He must have seen her that night and hastily hugged Mia in order to avoid her.
She smiled.
Veronica glanced at her uncle beside her and couldn’t help but wonder if he also still harbored feelings for his ex.
It had been three years since they broke up, yet she had no idea what happened between them.
__________
Back at B. Y TV’s entrance, Charlotte apologized repeatedly to Mia, promising to make it up to her, before zooming off in her car.
Although she offered to take Mia home, the girl refused, saying, “I have someone who’ll soon be here to pick me up, thank you.”
Following Charlotte’s departure, Mia observed as Jasper pulled up to her front. She opened the car door and got in. “Good evening, Jasper.”
Unbeknownst to her, it wasn’t Jasper behind the wheel.
As soon as she settled into the car’s backseat, a laced handkerchief was thrown over her nose. From the pressure, Mia soon lost consciousness.
__________
“What do you mean you lost her?” Shawn’s large strides faltered.
His wife hadn’t been herself the past few days, due to his mother’s request. Whenever he returned home from work, she was always fast asleep.
Due to the both of them working overtime at their respective places of work, he let her rest without disturbing her. As days went by, their interactions dwindled, and he soon realized she was avoiding him. On purpose.
So tonight, he intentionally left work early to wait for her at home before her arrival…
However, just as he stepped foot into the lounge, Jasper’s call came in. “I lost her, Sir.”
Automatically, Shawn turned around and swiftly headed out of the house.
Jennifer, who was sitting in the lounge, stood up immediately and quickly followed behind her son. “What’s wrong? Where are you going again?”
As Shawn stepped into the vehicle, he turned and glanced at his mother. “Mia’s been abducted.”
Jennifer gasped, her legs weakening at once.
Her legs remained rooted to the ground as she observed the car speeding away from the residence.
A cascade of emotions surged through her, causing her heart to beat erratically. Despite her reservations about the girl for her son, concern for Mia lingered in her thoughts.
Mia was like a daughter to her, providing companionship, sharing stories, and easing her loneliness during the time she was in a coma. How could she not hold a special place for her in her heart?
Silently praying, Jennifer slowly made her way back inside. The idea of anything unfortunate happening to Mia weighed heavily on her conscience. She wouldn’t be able to forgive herself if anything bad were to happen to the girl.
Could it be that the accident’s instigator was behind Mia’s disappearance? She wondered.
*
*
The Thompson Family’s Residence.
“Baby, it’s sorted.” Barbara grinned triumphantly upon entering her daughter’s room.
Vivian, with furrowed brows, looked up from her phone, puzzled. “What’s that?”This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.
“The only issue in your life, I’ve taken care of it.”
Initially confused by her mother’s cryptic words, realization dawned on Vivian after a moment.
“What did you do?!” She leaped from her bed in alarm.
Barbara was surprised by her daughter’s reaction; she had expected gratitude.
“Mom, tell me, what did you do to her? Where is she?” Vivian’s voice carried a sense of urgency.
“I had her abducted,” Barbara admitted.