Fireworks Of My Heart

Desperate Search

Oliver sat at the head of the large conference table, his gaze fixed on the presentation screen. His sharp features, usually etched with an air of indifference, were now marred by a growing irritation. A persistent ringing disrupted the solemn silence of the meeting, the insistent vibration of his phone a big intrusion.

With a sigh, Oliver reached for his phone, his fingers hovering over the screen. The caller ID flashed, but he ignored it, disconnecting the call without a second thought. The ringing persisted, undeterred by his dismissive gesture. Again, he silenced the intrusion, his annoyance growing each time.

The third time the phone rang, Oliver's patience snapped. He snatched the device, his eyes narrowing as he saw the caller's name. A flicker of recognition crossed his face, but it was quickly replaced by a cold indifference. He silenced the phone once more, determined to focus on the meeting at hand.

The meeting continued, the air thick with tension. Oliver's mind, however, was elsewhere. The persistent phone calls had disrupted his focus, leaving him agitated and distracted.

Just as he was about to delve deeper into the presentation, his assistant, Roy, appeared at the doorway, his face etched with urgency. He held up his phone, a silent plea for Oliver's attention. Oliver, annoyed by the interruption, shot a glare at Roy, dismissing his silent plea.

Roy, undeterred, continued his silent protest, waving his phone insistently. The room fell into an awkward silence as everyone's eyes shifted between the two men. Finally, Oliver, unable to ignore the persistent distraction, snatched his phone.

A text message, highlighted in bold, caught his eye. "Emergency. Call back immediately." His heart beater erratically as he quickly unlocked his phone and dialled the number.

As the call connected, a wave of fear washed through him. He knew that whatever the emergency was, it would undoubtedly disrupt his carefully planned schedule and throw his world into chaos.

Oliver's heart sank as he answered the call. Butler James's voice, usually calm and collected, was filled with panic. "Master Oliver, there's been an accident. We can't find Grandma Florence."

Oliver's mind raced, trying to process the alarming news. He had entrusted his grandmother's care to his cousins and the butler. How could they have lost her?

"What do you mean you can't find her? Where were you last? What happened?" Oliver demanded, his voice rising.

"We were at the Queens Mall," Butler James explained, his voice trembling. "We lost track of her. We've searched everywhere, but there's no sign of her."

Oliver's anger and fear were now growing stronger. He abruptly ended the call, his mind swirling with a whirlwind of emotions. Without a word, he stood up and stormed out of the conference room, leaving his employees glancing at one another.

His usually composed demeanour had been shattered, replaced by a raw, primal urgency. He had to find his grandmother, no matter the cost.

Oliver and assistant Roy arrived at the Queens Mall, a sense of urgency pulling them forward. As they stepped out of the black car, they were met by the sight of Butler James and his cousins, Luna and Laura, standing outside the mall, their faces itched with worry.

Luna, the more excitable of the twins, immediately launched into a breathless explanation. "We were shopping, and then we went live, and then I got hungry, and then we turned around, and Grandma was gone!" She paused for breath, her eyes wide with fear. "We looked everywhere, but she's nowhere to be found!"

Laura, a bit more composed, tried to calm her sister down. "Luna, please, let's just focus on finding Grandma." She turned to Oliver, her voice filled with apology. "We're so sorry, Brother Oliver. We didn't mean to lose her."

Oliver, his face hardened with concern, listened intently to their explanation. He could see the genuine fear in their eyes and knew that they were genuinely distraught.

His twin cousins are a case!

Oliver, his patience wearing thin, demanded to speak to the mall manager. "I want to know how my grandmother could have vanished from this mall!" he demanded, his voice echoing through the mall's surroundings.

A group of security guards approached, their faces etched with concern. One of them, a middle-aged man, stepped forward. "Sir, we're still investigating the matter. We found an elderly woman feeling unwell earlier today. We assisted her and took her to the manager's office. However, we haven't been able to locate her since."

Oliver's heart sank. "The manager? Who's the manager? Where is she?"

The guard hesitated. "The manager, Miss. Harris, hasn't been seen for a while either."

And now a wave of confusion washed over Oliver. His grandmother and the mall manager, both missing. The situation was becoming increasingly confusing and alarming.

Just what is happening?

“Aren’t you guarding the security? Which means you were supposed to protect the people of this mall right? But then how come my grandmother is missing just like that?” Oliver yelled with flaring nostrils.

The middle-age guard came forward trying to calm the man with his suggestion, “ How about we call the manager's cell phone and see?” The man said hoping the angry young man in front of him would give head to his suggestion.

Oliver though said nothing again after hearing the old man’s words which the old man of course took the man’s action to be a go ahead.

The manager’s cell phone was dialled immediately by the head of the guards but unfortunately it didn’t go through as the woman’s phone was switched off.

Oliver, his anger rising, demanded the address of the manager's house. The guards, sensing his growing frustration, quickly provided the address.

Without a word, Oliver turned to Roy. "Call the authorities. We're filing a missing person's report and a lawsuit against this entire mall."

The guards, taken aback by his accusation, protested their innocence. "Sir, we're just doing our jobs. We had no idea what happened to the woman."

Oliver, however, was not convinced. He believed that the mall staff, including the manager, were involved in some sort of conspiracy. He suspected that they had orchestrated the entire incident, perhaps to steal from his grandmother or to use her for some their own purpose.

And soon Oliver and his group headed towards the manager's house, ready to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.