CHAPTER TWO
1175 Words
THE COMPANY SHE ONCE DREAMED OF
Amelia barely slept that night.
The message on the strange phone remained on her mind.
Your husband's death was not an accident.
She had read it so many times that the words seemed permanently burned into her thoughts.
Beside her, Nadia slept peacefully.
Amelia watched her daughter for a long moment.
Nadia was twelve now, old enough to notice when something was wrong but still young enough to deserve a childhood untouched by fear.
Amelia quietly placed the phone inside a drawer.
She would not tell Nadia.
Not yet.
The following morning, sunlight entered through the thin curtains.
"Mummy?"
Amelia turned.
Nadia was sitting on the bed with a sketchbook on her lap.
"What are you drawing?"
Nadia smiled.
"You."
Amelia walked over.
On the page was a beautiful pencil drawing of a woman standing beside a window.
The likeness was unmistakable.
Amelia stared at it.
"Nadia..."
"You like it?"
"I love it."
Nadia smiled proudly.
"You always told me I should keep drawing."
Amelia sat beside her.
"I did."
"Because you're an artist too."
Amelia's smile faded slightly.
"I used to be."
Nadia looked at her.
"You still are."
Those words touched something deep inside Amelia.
Years ago, she had dreamed of becoming a professional artist.
She had imagined exhibitions, galleries, beautiful paintings hanging on white walls.
Then reality had arrived.
Her family couldn't afford art school.
Bills came first.
Survival came first.
Later, marriage came.
Then motherhood.
And slowly, her dream disappeared.
But perhaps it had never truly died.
---
After breakfast, Amelia left Nadia with a trusted neighbor and went into the city looking for work.
She carried a folder containing her old certificates and a few drawings she had kept for years.
She had no idea where they would lead her.
Then she saw the building.
VALE ARTS GROUP.
Amelia stopped walking.
Her heart gave a strange little jump.
She knew that name.
Everyone did.
The company belonged to Adrian Vale, one of the wealthiest and most influential businessmen in the city.
He owned galleries, design studios, publishing interests, and an internationally recognized art foundation.
When Amelia was younger, she had dreamed of working there.
She had once kept photographs of Vale Arts Group above her bed.
She had imagined walking through those doors as an artist.
Now she stood outside them with a worn folder in her hands.
She almost laughed at herself.
That dream belonged to another woman.
A younger woman who still believed life would give her everything she wanted.
Amelia turned away.
Then she noticed a poster in the window.
ARTISTS WANTED.
She stopped.
Her fingers tightened around the folder.
Maybe one more attempt wouldn't hurt.
She walked inside.
---
The receptionist looked at her drawings.
"You want to apply for the junior artist program?"
"Yes."
"You'll need to submit your portfolio."
"I have one."
The receptionist smiled.
"Good. Leave it here."
Amelia handed over the folder.
As she turned to leave, a commotion came from the hallway.
Several employees moved aside.
A tall man walked toward the elevator.
Dark suit.
Calm expression.
An air of authority that made everyone lower their voices.
Amelia recognized him immediately.
Adrian Vale.
The CEO.
Their eyes met for only a second.
Adrian's gaze moved to the portfolio in her hand.
Then to her face.
He said nothing.
The elevator doors closed.
Amelia released the breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
She walked outside.
She didn't know that Adrian had watched her through the glass until she disappeared into the crowd.
---
Inside the elevator, Adrian looked at his assistant.
"Who was that woman?"
The assistant glanced toward the lobby.
"Her name is Amelia Carter. She submitted an application."
Adrian's expression changed.
"Carter?"
"Yes."
Adrian looked toward the elevator doors.
"Find out everything about her."
His assistant hesitated.
"Everything?"
"Everything."
---
That evening, Amelia returned home with mixed feelings.
She hadn't found a job.
But she had submitted her portfolio.
For the first time in years, she had done something for herself.
Nadia was sitting at the table drawing.
"Mummy!"
Amelia smiled.
"How was your day?"
"Good."
Nadia held up her drawing.
"I drew a building."
Amelia looked at it.
The building was tall and elegant.
At the bottom of the page, Nadia had written:
VALE ARTS GROUP.
Amelia stared.
"Where did you see this?"
"I saw the name on your folder."
Amelia laughed.
"You're very observant."
Nadia smiled.
"I want to work there one day."
Amelia's heart tightened.
"Maybe you will."
Neither of them knew how important those words would become.
---
Across the city, Adrian sat alone in his office.
A file lay open before him.
AMELIA CARTER.
He turned the page.
Her photograph stared back at him.
His expression became unreadable.
The assistant stood across the desk.
"There's something unusual."
"What?"
"Her late husband's name."
Adrian looked up.
"Daniel Carter?"
"Yes."
Adrian leaned back.
"What about him?"
"He had connections to several people involved in the investigation you asked us to keep confidential."
Adrian's eyes hardened.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Silence filled the office.
Adrian closed the file.
"Keep watching her."
"Do you want me to contact security?"
"No."
"Then what should we do?"
Adrian looked through the window at the city lights.
"Nothing."
His voice was quiet.
"Not yet."
---
That night, Amelia was washing dishes when she heard something outside.
Footsteps.
She stopped.
Nadia was in the bedroom.
Amelia wiped her hands and moved toward the window.
A shadow stood across the street.
She couldn't see the person's face.
Her heart began beating faster.
The figure turned.
Amelia stepped back.
A moment later, the street was empty.
She locked the door.
Then she checked the windows.
Everything was secure.
She returned to Nadia's room.
Her daughter was asleep.
Amelia sat beside her.
She gently brushed Nadia's hair away from her face.
"I'll keep you safe," she whispered.
Her phone vibrated.
Amelia froze.
Another message.
She opened it.
You went to Vale Arts Group today.
Her breathing stopped.
A second message appeared.
You should have stayed away.
Then came a photograph.
It was Amelia entering the company's building that morning.
Someone had been watching her.
Amelia stared at the screen.
Then the phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered cautiously.
"Hello?"
Silence.
"Who is this?"
A man's voice finally spoke.
"Amelia."
She recognized the voice.
It was the mysterious man she had seen near the murder.
Her heart raced.
"How do you know my name?"
The voice became quieter.
"Because I know what happened to your husband."
Amelia gripped the phone.
"Who are you?"
A pause.
Then:
"Someone who is trying to keep you alive."
The call ended.
Amelia stared at the phone.
Behind her, Nadia suddenly spoke.
"Mummy?"
Amelia turned.
"Yes?"
"Why are you crying?"
Amelia touched her cheek.
She hadn't realized tears had fallen.
She looked at her daughter.
Then at the locked door.
Something had followed them to their new life.
And somehow, it was connected to the company she had dreamed about since she was a girl.
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