74
At seven in the evening, the moon hung high in the sky, casting an eerie glow over Nelly as she made her way to Morris Corporation with Chris’s project team. The air was thick with an unnatural silence, broken only by the sound of their footsteps echoing off the walls.
As Nelly reached her car in the desolate parking lot, a shiver ran down her spine. She couldn’t help but feel a pair of intense eyes watching her, their gaze piercing through the darkness. Every time she turned, expecting to confront the unseen presence, there was nothing but shadows dancing in the pale moonlight.
“What troubles you, Ms. Jackson?” Tommy asked, his voice laced with concern.
Nelly’s voice quivered slightly. “I have this eerie feeling that someone is following me.”
The others exchanged uneasy glances, unsure how to respond. Tommy attempted to rationalize her fears. “Perhaps it’s just your mind playing tricks on you, exhaustion taking its toll.”
Nelly remained silent, her unease refusing to abate.
“Do not worry, Ms. Jackson,” Tommy reassured her, his voice laden with machismo. “With the three of us by your side, no suitor or stalker shall harm you. We’ll stand as your shield and guard.”
Nelly shot a glance at him before tossing her car keys in his direction. “You drive.”
Tommy climbed behind the wheel, catching a glimpse of her sitting in the backseat through the rearview mirror. “I feel like a chauffeur with you sitting in the back, Ms. Jackson.”
“One could argue that you are a chauffeur. But do not think for a moment that you own this vehicle,” Ross interjected, securing his seatbelt.
Tommy glared at him, his eyes burning with intensity. “If not for the fact that you speak the truth, I would have knocked you senseless.”
“Enough bickering,” Ross commanded. “Just drive.”
With that, the car departed from the desolate parking lot, blending into the moonlit night. Nelly settled into the plush comfort of the backseat, her mind wandering as Chris sat beside her.
Her fingers traced the screen of her phone, pausing as a message appeared before her eyes: “I’m at Moonwalk Pack. How about we meet up?”
In response, she swiftly texted back: “Do not bother me,” before promptly blocking the number.
Restlessness permeated the air, manifesting in Chris’s constant fidgeting. He shifted in his seat, his eyes darting between the surroundings and the papers he clutched tightly.
Growing irritated by his movements, Nelly questioned him. “What are you doing?”
“Oh, nothing!” Chris responded, his voice betraying his nerves.
“Are you nervous?” she pressed, her words dripping with curiosity.
“Just a little,” he confessed, apprehension etched on his face.
Ross turned around to face Chris, a raised eyebrow suggesting amusement. “This isn’t your first rodeo, Chris. Why the nerves?”
“We’re dealing with Morris Corporation this time,” Chris emphasized, his voice tinged with anxiety.
Ross let out a chuckled, his laughter filling the silence. “We must remain calm precisely because we face Morris Corporation. The contract has already been signed; success or failure is predetermined. It’s not as if our lives are on the line.”
“Could you offer some comforting words?” Chris snapped, his frustration evident.
A smirk stretched across Ross’s face. “I jest merely to lighten the atmosphere.” He then turned his attention to Nelly, admiring her composure. “Look at Ms. Jackson, as cool as the night air.”
Nelly remained engrossed in her phone, her voice devoid of any emotion. “Even if we fail today, it will not be your fault, Chris. It is to be expected.”
“Why?” Chris inquired, confusion etched on his face.
Her gaze locked onto his, intensity burning within her eyes. “It would be because of me,” she said, leaving no room for interpretation.
Chris was taken aback by her words, his surprise evident. In contrast, Ross couldn’t help but laugh, amusement dancing in his eyes.
“I have thoroughly examined the project outline,” Nelly continued, her voice steady. “There are no issues. If we fail, it will be due to Lara’s manipulation. There is no need to dwell on it. This project requires patience and a slow approach.”
Chris visibly relaxed at her words, smoothing out his shirt with newfound confidence. “In that case, I am prepared.”
Meanwhile, Nelly continued to block incoming messages on her phone, her mind preoccupied.
After what felt like an eternity, the car finally arrived at Morris Corporation. As they took the elevator to their destination, they found someone patiently waiting outside.
“Are you the representatives from Prosper Technologies?” the person inquired.
“Yes,” Chris confirmed with a nod.
“Our deputy general manager is on his way back. Please allow me to escort you to the conference room.”
The news hardly surprised any of them.
“Let us proceed,” Nelly murmured, leading the group towards the conference room.
“Please wait here. The deputy general manager will arrive shortly,” the assistant stated before closing the door behind them.
Chris took a seat, voicing his frustration. “Why did they schedule this meeting when they knew they couldn’t make it on time?”
Ross placed a comforting hand on Chris’s shoulder. “We anticipated this, my friend. Let us exercise patience and wait.”
Nelly remained unfazed, her attention fixed on her phone.
Unbeknownst to them, in the dimly lit underground parking lot beneath Morris Corporation, a figure clad in black approached Nelly’s car.
Slipping to the side, the figure crouched down and began tampering with the vehicle, a malicious grin etched on their face.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.
Meanwhile, a beautiful woman in her mid-twenties, exuding an aura of trendy elegance, sat in a car across from Nelly’s. Her eyes widened as the signal on her phone vanished.
Thalia furrowed her brow, her voice laced with frustration while wearing her earphones. “I was this close to finding him!”
Her contact on the other end responded nonchalantly. “Perhaps he intentionally led you there.”
“It’s a possibility. He wouldn’t reveal his location so easily,” Thalia analyzed.
“Continue your search. He must be lurking somewhere within Moonwalk Pack.”
“Roger.”
“And once you locate him, do not alert anyone. Inform me of his whereabouts, and I will confront him face-to-face.”
No response came from the other end.
“Lia? Thalia? Are you there?” she called out, growing concerned.
“I’m here.”
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
Thalia’s smirk widened as she observed the scene before her. “Nothing major. I’m just witnessing a potential crime in progress.”
“Is it some sort of reality show?”
“No, it’s all too real!” Thalia exclaimed, her voice rising. “There’s a heavily armed individual tampering with a Phantom.”
Her contact showed little interest. “Do not interfere or jeopardize your identity.”
“I know, but it’s such a shame to see such a beautiful car being ruined.”
“Want one? I can arrange it.”
“Can you give me something money can’t buy?”
“Like what?”
“A man.”
“I can arrange for a few to visit you tonight.”
“I meant someone who genuinely cares for me.”
“Do not make things difficult for me.”
“Then we have nothing further to discuss.” With that, Thalia abruptly ended the call.
Below Nelly’s Phantom, the figure emerged from beneath the vehicle. A sinister grin played on his lips before he disappeared into the night, leaving behind nothing but mischief in wake.
Thalia stowed her phone in her bag, her thoughts returning to the orders she had been given. She obeyed, driving away from the parking lot without giving the scene a second glance.
Back in the conference room, Nelly and the rest had been waiting for what felt like an eternity, the silence suffocating them.