Chapter 3: The Secret Envelope
981 Words
Sophia walked out of the Blackstone Groups headquarters with a sealed envelope safely tucked inside her leather bag.
The sun was shining brightly off the glass skyscrapers in the district…
Sophia was not thinking about the nice weather. She was thinking about what Alexander had told her.
"If anyone asks, tell them you never left this building." This was not like Alexander at all. He never asked people to lie. He just gave orders…
Sophia had agreed to do what he said without questioning him. She had worked for him for five years. Had always done what he asked.
A black car pulled up to the curb. The driver rolled down the window.
"Ms. Bennett?" Sophia recognized him.
He was the chauffeur for Blackstone. "Mr. Black asked me to take you to Sterling Holdings, " he said. Sophia got into the car.
The car started moving. For a while nobody said anything. Sophia took out her planner. Started making notes for the next day's meeting.
Then her phone rang. It was Marcus Reed. "Where are you?" he asked. Sophia told him she was on her way to Sterling Holdings. There was a pause. "Did Alexander send you?" Marcus asked. Sophia said, “Yes.”
Marcus sounded worried. "If anyone tries to stop you, listen carefully " he said..
Before he could say anything else the call got cut off. Sophia looked at her phone. It said "Call Failed." She tried to call Marcus back. She had no signal.
The driver looked at her in the rearview mirror. "There's coverage here, " he said. Sophia was confused. Why did she not have any signal?
Marcus rarely sounded scared.. He never hung up without saying anything.
Twenty minutes later the car stopped at a light. Suddenly there was a crash.
A delivery truck had hit two cars ahead. The road was blocked. The driver sighed. "This could take a while, " he said.
Sophia looked at the time. She had a meeting in thirty-five minutes. "We can't be late, " she said. The driver turned into a side street.
The car drove for a while. Then it jerked violently. "What happened?" Sophia asked. The driver frowned. "Flat tire, " he said.
Sophia looked outside. There were no cars around. The driver got out to change the tire. Sophia stayed inside and looked at her documents.
After a while Sophia looked outside. The driver was gone. She felt a chill run down her spine. "Mr. Khan?" she called out.. There was no answer. The street was too quiet. Sophia opened the car door. Got out.
As she looked around she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around. Three men in jackets were walking towards her. They did not have any company badges.
One of them spoke calmly. "Ms. Bennett, our employer would like you to hand over the envelope." Sophia held her bag tightly. "I think you have mistaken me for someone, " she said.
The men started walking towards her. Sophia took a step back. "I'm sorry I don't know what you're talking about " she said..
The men kept coming. Sophia turned around and ran. She ran down the alley, her heels clicking on the pavement. She could hear the men shouting behind her.
Sophia ran until she saw a metal gate. It was locked. She looked back. Saw the men getting closer.
She spotted a fire escape ladder and started climbing. She climbed up to the rooftop. Hide behind an air-conditioning unit. She held her breath and waited.
After a while the men gave up and left. Sophia let out a sigh of relief. She checked her bag. The envelope was still there.
She took out her phone. Saw that she had a signal again. She had three missed calls from Marcus and one from Alexander.
Before she could call them back her phone rang. It was Alexander. "Where are you?" he asked.
Sophia told him what had happened. Alexander's voice was cold. "Do not go to Sterling Holdings, " he said. "Return to Blackstone." Sophia was confused.
"Should I call the police?" she asked. But Alexander said, “No.”
"Destroy the envelope, " he said. Sophia was shocked. "What?" she asked. "You wanted me to deliver it an hour ago."
Alexander's answer was simple. "I've changed my mind." Sophia was confused.
"What is inside the envelope?" she asked.. Alexander did not answer.
Sophia went back to the Blackstone Groups headquarters. When she got there she felt like something was off.
Employees were staring at her. Some of them looked away. Others whispered to each other.
Sophia went to Alexander's office. Marcus was already there. He looked relieved to see her.
Alexander was standing by the window. He did not turn around. "The envelope, " he said. Sophia put it on his desk. "I didn't open it, " she said.
Alexander stared at the envelope for a while before putting it in his safe. He did not explain what had happened. He did not ask who had attacked her.
Sophia was frustrated. "Someone knew where I was, " she said. "They asked for the envelope.". Alexander did not say anything. Sophia looked at him.
"You knew this could happen didn't you?" she asked. Alexander's jaw tightened.
"Go home Sophia, " he said.
Sophia was angry. "I deserve an explanation " she said..
Alexander did not give her one. "You'll get one, " he said.
"When?" Sophia asked.
"Not today, " Alexander replied.
Sophia picked up her bag. Left the office.
As she walked out she heard Marcus talking to Alexander. "You should have told her, " Marcus said.
Alexander's voice was low. "If she knows the truth she won't survive enough to sue me."
Sophia's blood ran cold. She did not know what Alexander was talking about..
She wondered if she had been wrong to trust him all these years?
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