Chapter Two: Doom Looms
1200 Words
Isabelle's POV
I stood in that parking garage for ten minutes after the man left. My legs wouldn't move and my brain couldn't process what just happened.
I pulled out my phone with shaking hands and called her. It rang three times and I could've sworn that I died and woke up those three times it rang.
"Hello?"
"Mom." My voice cracked.
"Isabelle? Honey, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just... are you okay?"
"Of course I'm okay. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Where are you right now?" I asked again
"In bed. Richard and I were just about to turn off the lights. Sweetie, what's going on?"
"Nothing. I just wanted to hear your voice."
"You sound upset. Did something happen at work?" She asked
"No. Everything's fine. I'm just tired." I replied
"You've been working so late. Maybe you should take tomorrow off."
"I can't. I have a big project."
"Bryan's not overworking you, is he?"
I almost laughed, overworking was the least of my problems.
"No, Mom. It's fine. I should go. I love you."
"I love you too, honey. Get some rest."
I hung up and breathed a sign of relief. She was safe, that was all I needed to know.
I looked at my destroyed car again.
"Miss Carter? I got your call about the vehicle damage."
I turned around as an older man in a security uniform climbed out.
"Yeah. Someone slashed my tires."
He walked over and looked at my car. His face went pale.
"Jesus. Who would do this?"
"I don't know."
"We'll need to file a report. Check the security footage."
"The camera's broken." I pointed up.
He looked and frowned.
"That's weird. I checked all the cameras this morning. They were working fine."
"Well, it's not working now."
He pulled out his radio and spoke into it.
"This is Garcia. I need maintenance to check camera seven in the executive parking garage. The lens is damaged."
While he made the calls, I looked around the empty garage.
The Uber I had called arrived twenty minutes later, I got in and gave the driver my address.
As we drove through the city, I pulled out my phone and searched
"Sarah Chen Mark Enterprises."
But nothing came up.
I tried "Sarah Chen intern."
Still nothing.
I even tried "Sarah Chen Bryan Mark."
But the results were all about the company, business articles and press releases. Nothing about any intern.
We pulled up to the mansion and all the lights were off except the one in the master bedroom.
"Thanks," I told the driver and got out.
I walked up to the front door slowly. Looking around.
Was someone watching me now?
I unlocked the door and went inside. Locked it behind me.
The house was quiet but I could hear a TV playing upstairs. Mom and Richard were still awake.
I sat on my bed and stared at my phone when I got a text message that read;
Tomorrow at noon. Conference Room B.
Someone wanted to meet me, and I wondered if it was the same person who called me? Who threatened my mother?
Or someone else?
I should tell Bryan. He's the CEO and he could help.
But what if he didn't believe me? What if he thought I was making it up for attention?
Or worse, what if he was involved somehow?
The man said Bryan destroyed Sarah Chen.
What if Bryan was the one threatening me?
No, that didn't make sense. Why would he s***h my own tires in his own parking garage?
Unless he was trying to scare me into quitting.
My head hurt trying to figure it all out.
The next morning came too fast as I got up at five. Showered, got dressed and made coffee.
Mom came down around seven and she looked worried.
"Honey, you look exhausted. Did you sleep at all?"
"A little."
"You need to take care of yourself. This job isn't worth your health."
If only she knew it wasn't the job I was worried about.
"I'm fine, Mom. Really."
Richard came down next and he smiled when he saw me.
"Good morning, Isabelle. Ready for another day at the office?"
"Yes, sir."
"Please, call me Richard. We're family now."
Family? Right.
"Bryan mentioned you're working on a big project. Something about market analysis?"
My stomach dropped. Bryan talked about me? To his father?
"Yes. It's due Friday."
"He has high standards. But I'm sure you'll do great."
I nodded and drank my coffee and tried to look normal.
An Uber picked me up at seven thirty as my car was still at the office getting new tires.
When we pulled into the Mark Enterprises parking garage, I felt sick.
Later in the Day, Bryan had called me again, and when I had entered his office he turned around to ask.
"How's the assignment coming?"
"It's coming."
"Show me what you have."
I pulled out my laptop, opened the file and turned it so he could see.
He walked over and stood close to read through my work.
I could smell his cologne and my heart thudded fo a while, most definitely out of fear.
He was quiet for a long time before he finally nodded.
"This is good."
Wait! What?
"Really?"
"Don't sound so surprised. I told you to prove yourself. You're doing it."
Something warm spread through my chest. He was impressed, he was actually impressed.
Then he caught himself and his face went cold again.
"It's adequate. Keep going." He said as the warmth disappeared from his face.
"Is that all?"
"No." He walked back to his desk and sat down. "Security told me about your car last night."
Oh, I had forgotten he was the head here, and nothing goes by without him knowing.
"It's handled. Just some random vandalism."
"In a secure parking garage? With cameras?"
"The camera was broken."
"Convenient."
"What are you saying?"
He leaned forward.
"I'm saying someone targeted you specifically. And I want to know who so I'll be careful around you"
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
"I'm not..."
"Isabelle." His voice called suddenly.
"If someone's threatening you, I need to know."
"Why do you care?"
The question came out harsher than I meant and he looked at me for a long moment.
"Because you work for me. And what happens to my employees reflects on this company."
Right, of course. It wasn't about me. It was about his precious company reputation.
"I said it's handled."
"Fine." But he didn't look like he believed me.
"You can go."
I stood up to leave.
"Isabelle."
He called and I stopped.
"Be careful. Whoever did that to your car... they're not playing games."
I looked back at him. For a second, I saw something in his eyes.
Concern? Worry?
Then it was gone.
I left his office and went back to my desk, and soon when the time started with the person was near, I stood up and went to the conference room.
I entered and closed the door behind me, I could see someone seated on a chair with their back facing me, and when they turned...
When they turned, my legs nearly gave out
- Writer
