Cath

"What do you think about this storyline for the next volume, Cath?" I was snapped out from my dazed state by Janice's sudden question.

"Ah. Yes. Uhm. Sorry. I mean. I like the storyline but I would like to have a rough draft of the dialogue first, so I can iron out any inconsistencies in the flow of the story." I barely answered, trying to get my head back in the game.

I looked across the table to Gavin and he immediately mouth 'Are you okay?' as soon as our eyes met. I nodded to him and tried focusing back on the meeting.

I looked at my phone as soon as the meeting finished. I has been vibrating non-stop through out the week. They came from different numbers, but after answering a few of them in the start of the week, I know exactly who was calling. Our parents. I can't change my number easily because all of my account are connected to this number, so it really has been a nuisance to block and drop their phone calls multiple times for a day.

"You okay?" Gavin suddenly asked, and that's when I realized that we were the only ones left in his office.

"Yeah. Its nothing Gav. Really. You don't need to worry about it." I said, giving him a faint smile as I stood up from my chair, arranging all the papers in front of me.

"You sure?" He asked again doing the same with his papers and I just nodded.

"Thanks." I said as I moved away from the chair and head to the door.

"Cath." He softly called out as I was about to open the door. I turned around and raised my eyebrows at him, waiting for whatever it is he has to say to me. He stood there, maybe trying to sort out his thoughts before finally speaking up.

"You know, I'm here if..." He paused for a moment. I think he's having second thoughts and was trying to pick out the right words for what he wants to say.

"If you want someone to talk to. Ah. About anything... I mean, it could be about work or outside work, its fine." He continued with a bit of a stutter then shook his head. I tried so hard not to let out the giggle that was building up in my throat. He looks so cute when he's all shy like this.

"What I'm trying to say is, I'm a good listener. If ever you want someone to talk to, or listen to you about anything, I'm here to listen." he finally finished, rubbing the back of his head shyly and looking at everything in the room except to me.

"Thanks Gav. I'll keep that in mind." I said to him, smiling a bit widely that I intended to. I guess I just can control the giddy feeling in my stomach. He smiled back at me and I finally left the room.

It was very sweet of him to offer to hear out my problems, and if it was another problem, I'd gladly take that offer, but not this one. I don't want him to be burdened with my family drama. Its complicated, confusing, annoying and its just something that I want to avoid the best I could. And there's also the issue that no one, except Andrea, knows that I came from THE Aragons of the Business world and I plan to keep it that way.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Andrea asked as we were in the middle of lunch. I was snapped out of my thoughts and noticed that I was rolling around my baby potatoes in my plate. I looked up at Andrea and she gave me a questioning look as she continued chewing the food on her mouth.

Its been a while since we had lunch with just the two of us. Everybody else was busy with their own workload, and honestly, I think I like it this way for now. I just thankful, I guess, to have a bit of peace and quiet with everything that I have on my mind.

"Something is up with Zab." I blurted out as I was chewed the fork in my hand.

"What do you mean?" she asked again, taken aback by the seriousness in my voice.

"I don't know. I mean. Don't you find it weird that she suddenly had permission from our parents to stay with me while she's doing her internship?" I asked her and she shrugged at me.

"Maybe they saw it fitting because your place is closer to her internship?" She said, popping in another mouthful.

"Really. I don't what to be pessimist but I have my doubts on why Zab suddenly appeared on my doorstep." I replied to her.

"You're just overthinking again Cathy. Aren't you glad that you get to spend time with your sister again?" She asked me.

"No. It's not that. Don't get me wrong. I love having Zab around. I love her to bits, but I just can't shake off the feeling that there's something more happening that what she's letting on." I tried explaining to her.

"What makes you think that?" She asked and I just told her everything that I overheard in Zab's phone conversation.

"There's a big chance that she's dating someone secretly. Your parents found out and they don't approve of the boy." She said, trying to make sense of what I just told her.

I slowly nodded, and digested everything that she just said. I does makes sense that my parents would do that. And getting out of that house was probably the best decision she could come up with so I just dropped the topic altogether, but there's still this gnawing feeling at the back of my head that knows that something doesn't add up. I just can't put a finger on it.

I laid my back to the back of my chair and stretched out my whole body. My eyes started to adjust and I just noticed that the lights in our office are already dimmed. I looked around and saw that I was the only one left on my floor.

With all the thoughts running around my head the whole day about Zab, all the meetings that I had to attend earlier, my workload piled up and until now I'm still backed up.

It was almost midnight, and with the emptiness, quietness and dimness around the office, a sudden chill run down my spine and fear crept into my mind, followed by the memories of that despicable night. I felt my panic sink in and I quickly packed my stuff and shoved them inside my bags, saved all the work that I did on my computer then shut it down and sprinted to the elevator with the fear that Luigi might pop-up from anywhere in the office.

My heart continued pounding in my chest as I waited for the elevator to get on my floor. I rushed inside as soon as the doors opened and continued pressing the close button. I tried calming myself down as I clutched my bag to my chest, pacing my breathing the best I could, shaking off the panic in my system.

"Come on Cath, you're fine. You're gonna be fine." I kept mumbling to myself and when the elevator doors finally opened at the basement parking I had my breathing under control.

I walked out of the elevator, rummaging through my purse for my car keys, as I head to my car that was parked in the middle of the parking lot. I was still going through my bag, looking for my keys when all the hair on the back of my nape stood up. It felt like my every move is being watched. I stopped at my tracks and looked around the parking lot and saw no one but it didn't give me any assurance at all.

Then I noticed that the only cars left in the parking is my car and a black SUV three spots away from it. I eyed the other car suspiciously, but I sense no movement at all. I guess I'm just being silly. I took a deep breath and continued walking to my car. I was half way through the parking lot when the headlights of the SUV suddenly turned on and I felt like a deer in headlights as the car's engine started and as I predicted, it started coming towards me.

I tried running to my car and just get out of there as fast as I could, but it was too late. The car stopped between me and my car. My feet felt like they where glued in place, and the next thing I knew, two men in familiar black suits started dragging me towards the car. One open the car door, as I struggled against the other one but he was not budging. They pushed me in the back seat and before I can even react a familiar voice spoke up.

"Good evening honey!" greeted by a cheery voice that I was also familiar with.

"Mom?" I almost screamed, facing the smiling woman besides be at the back seat.