Chapter 5

Confident and determined. She placed the case file on his desk, smiling professionally.

"Here's the case file, Mr Damian," Laylah said. "I've completed all the necessary research and analysis on the assault case of Mrs Basil."

Damian looked up from his computer, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"I'm not authorized to accept this," he said, his voice firm. "You need to take it to Collin yourself."

Although it was unprofessional, she had hoped to escape any confrontation with him but it was nearly impossible.

Her eyes dropped in disappointment, but she tried to keep her cool.

"Okay, I'll take it to him," Anny said, trying to sound calm and professional.

Damian nodded, his expression unyielding.

Laylah exhaled deeply as she walked to Collin's office. She could feel her anxiety spiking as she approached his door.

She took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and stepped inside.

Collin was swirling in his office chair, a look of intense focus on his face. He looked up as she entered, his eyes locking onto hers.

"Ah, Anny," Collin said, his voice smooth. "I see you've completed the case file."

Anny nodded, trying to keep her cool. "I go by the name Laylah sir."

"And yes, I have completed the task," Anny said, handing him the file.

He scanned through the file, his expression unreadable. After a few moments, he looked up at her.

"This isn't what I'm looking for. Are you an amateur? You vouched that you knew how to get the job done," he said, his voice critical. "I need you to work on it again."

Laylah felt a surge of anger, but she tried to keep it in check with a fake smile plastered across her face.

"Okay, I'll work on it again and I do know my job," she said, trying to sound calm.

He nodded, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"I expect to see a revised version on my desk by tomorrow morning Miss Laylah and probably a cup of coffee. You should wait behind for my review," he said.

She nodded, feeling a sense of frustration wash over her.

As she left Collin's office, she couldn't help but feel like she was running around an endless maze.

She was tired, but she refused to show it. She handed Collin the revised file, her fiery gaze meeting his.

Collin's gaze drifted from her eyes to her neck, where sweat beads glistened on her skin. His eyes lingered on the delicate curve of her neck, and then moved down to her arms, which were exposed since she wasn't wearing her coat.

Laylah's tired expression was somehow... pretty. Collin felt a sudden sense of attraction, which he quickly suppressed. He didn't glance through the file, instead pushing it back at her.

"Rework on it," he said in a flat tone, standing up from his chair. "I need to see more depth in the analysis."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded. "Okay, I'll work on it."

He felt a sudden urge to get out of the office, to clear his head. He felt... seduced, although she hadn't even made an attempt. It was as if her very presence was enough to unsettle him.

"I need some air... Get out and close the door behind you," Collin muttered, grabbing his jacket and striding out of the office.

As he walked out, he couldn't shake off the feeling that she had somehow gotten under his skin.

Laylah stormed back into her office, slamming the door shut behind her. She gritted her teeth, her frustration boiling over.

She banged her hands on the table repeatedly, the sound echoing through the office.

"Why does he have to be so annoying and childish and stupid... Arrrgh?" She screamed, her voice muffled by the closed door.

She cursed out loud, using every profanity she knew to describe Collin.

As her rage slowly subsided, she collapsed into her office chair, spinning it around in a slow circle.

She kept swiveling, her eyes fixed on some point on the wall, until finally, exhaustion took over.

Her head drooped, and she fell asleep, her chair still spinning slowly, her body limp with fatigue.

The office was quiet, the only sound the soft hum of the computer and the occasional creak of the chair as it spun around.

Laylah fell into what seemed to be a dream, she was crying, hands tied but she was still trying to escape some goons but they soon ran past her to chase after her friend who was running back to save her.

"Run Natalie! Run for your life." She screamed and she heard a gunshot.

Collin had taken a bullet and Natalie was beheaded, she screamed and jerked up from the dream.

Soon she took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down. She rubbed her eyes, feeling the familiar sting of tears.

She stood up, smoothing out her wrinkled clothes. She glanced at the clock on her computer and was surprised to see that she had slept for a few hours.

As she stretched, her mind began to clear. She thought about the case file and the revisions Collin had asked for. She gritted her teeth, feeling energized and rejuvenated.

She was going to finish the revisions, no matter what. And she was going to make sure they were perfect.

With newfound resolve, Laylah sat back down at her desk and began to work.

"Hello?" Anny said, trying to keep her voice steady as she answered the incoming call.

"Anny, it's Daddy," her father's voice sneered through the phone, his tone cold, menacing, and heartless. "I've been trying to reach you all day but I guess you've enjoyed your freedom and thus... Became a naughty girl."

"...miss daddy? "

Laylah's skin crawled as she heard her father's voice.

"What do you want from me Don Marco?" She spat, trying to keep her emotions in check.

"Oh, I think you know exactly what I want," her father said, his voice dripping with malice.

"You see, I've been watching you, Annabella. And I know all about your little job at Smith & Co. And I know all about your friend Natalie and your new identity as Laylah." He spat sarcastically.

Laylah's heart sank as she heard Natalie's name.

"What have you done to her? Don't you dare touch her you monster or I'll rip you into pieces regardless of if you're my father or not " she threatened, trying to keep her voice from shaking.

"You've really stooped so low... a Mafia princess working as a slave in some establishment. " He said Mockingly.

"It's called a job sir, you'd have known if you had the brain of a human and not that of a Devil... That little brain of yours" She spat back.

"I've taken your little friend, Anny and there's nothing you can do about it... I guess my little brain is creative hmmm," her father said, his voice mocking her.

"And if you don't do exactly as I say, I'll make sure she suffers a slow and agonizing death. I'll skin her alive, probably sell each of her body parts, Anny. I'll make her beg for mercy. And I'll make sure you watch every minute of it."

Laylah felt a wave of horror wash over her. She didn't know the limit to her father's cruelty and heartlessness.

"What do you want me to do? What do you want from me you son of a bitch?" She asked bitterly, pacing to and fro.

"I want you to come to the old warehouse on 5th and Main," he said. "And I want you to come alone. If you bring anyone with you, Natalie will be the one who suffers."

Her mind was racing. She knew she had to save Natalie, but she also knew she couldn't trust her father.

"I'll be there," She said, trying to sound calm.

"Good girl, Anny," her father said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'll be waiting for you. And don't forget, Annabella... I always keep all my promises."

Laylah's eyes widened in horror as she heard Natalie's screams in the background. They were muffled, but unmistakable.

"Natalie!" She shouted into the phone, her voice trembling with fear.

Her father's laughter echoed through the line, cold and menacing.

"Ah, Anny, my poor child," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "You should have thought of that before you crossed me."

His laughter stopped abruptly, and the line went silent.

Laylah waited, her heart pounding in her chest, as the silence stretched out.

And then, her father's voice came back on the line, cold and menacing.

"I'll be waiting for you, Annabella," he said. "Don't be late."

The line went dead, and she was left standing there, her heart racing with fear.

She rushed out of her office, her mind racing with thoughts of Natalie's safety. She didn't have time to think, she just needed to act.

As she ran down the stairs, she suddenly remembered that she needed a weapon. She quickly changed direction and headed to the cafeteria quickly.

"Hey, Cook Agnes!" Laylah called out, rushing into the kitchen. "I need to borrow a sharp knife."

The cook looked up at her in surprise, taking in her disheveled appearance. "Uh, okay... what's going on?"

She didn't have time to explain. She grabbed the knife from the cook's hand and quickly examined it. It was sharp, just what she needed.

The cook stared at her weirdly as she turned to leave. "Hey, be careful with that!"

She nodded and rushed out of the cafeteria. She quickly made her way to the bathroom and locked herself in a stall.

With shaking hands, she tore her tight-fitting midi skirt into a mini, the sound of ripping fabric echoing through the stall. She didn't care; she needed to be able to move freely.

As she emerged from the bathroom, she hailed a cab and jumped in, praying that Natalie would be okay.

"Where to Madame?" the driver asked, eyeing her in the rearview mirror.

Laylah took a deep breath and gave him the address of the old warehouse. "And hurry," she added, her voice tight with urgency.