FRIGHTENED LOVE

Big celebration.

"Mum! I'm off for work!" Sila shouted out holding the handle of the door.

"Make sure you don't forget your food like you did the other day," Barisi replied.

"Oh... Let me check to confirm," Sila opened her bag and realized she didn't carry any cutlery.

"Uhh, silly me, I forgot cutlery."

"Thank goodness I reminded you 'cause you should have eaten with your hands today," Barisi said as she hurried to the kitchen to pick up cutlery for her daughter.

Ethan heard the voices going on around the living room and came out to greet his daughter before she leaves.

He opened his arms, gleaming at her. "Where were you thinking of leaving this house without saying goodbye to me?"

"Oh, I'm so sorry Daddy," Sila said, dropping her bag to enter her father's embrace.

They both had a huge hug. "Have a nice day, my sunshine," Ethan said, smiling at her.

"Thanks, dad, you too," Sila replied, picking up her bag. Her mother brought the cutlery; she unzipped her lunchbag and put it inside. "I assure you, you'll enjoy this meal. I made your favorite food, unripe porridge plantain."

"Uuhhn... Thanks, mum," she pegged her and opened the door. "Bye," her both parents said in unison with a beautiful grin.

Sila smiled back. "Bye, guys. I love you..."

"Love you too," they both said as Sila shut the door.

Ethan held his wife's hand to his face slowly and spoke emotionally, "I love how determined she is with her job."

His wife, Barisi, smiled at him. "It shows she'll be a great woman."

Sila hurried to her office, her mind preoccupied with the day's tasks. Little did she know, today would be far from ordinary. As she entered the sleek glass door of the company, she was greeted by an unusual buzz in the air. Her colleague whispered something to her, but she couldn't hear her as she made her way to her desk.

Just as Sila settled into her desk, Chidinma's booming voice echoed through the office. "Attention, everyone! I have a special announcement," she declared, capturing the attention of the entire staff.

Sila's heart raced, wondering what could possibly be happening.

With a dramatic tone, Chidinma said, "Today we celebrate the return of my son, Daniel, from overseas after years of studies."

Sila's jaw dropped in disbelief because the CEO never mentioned anything like a party when they were coming back from the airport. Even if she didn't want her son to know, she should have at least told me to prepare my mind for it, she said in her thoughts sadly.

Daniel was still laying down on his luxurious bed, snoring and having good dreams. His room is very elegant, with dark shining tiles, tastefully arranged furnitures, and high-quality curtains. Dan covered himself with a thick blanket due to the coolness of the air conditioning, making his sleep more interesting.

The sound of his phone's ringtone woke him up from his good dreams. "Oh no," he said to himself. "This person should have at least waited for me to kiss that pretty girl before he or she hit my phone up." He infantilized as he used the blanket to cover his face angrily, but the phone kept on ringing non-stop. Wondering who could be calling him this consistently as early as it is, he fumbled to feel around. He felt his phone and carried it slowly to his ear. "Hello..." he said drowsily.

Chidinma sounded sad. "Daniel, come to the office now, something came up."

"What..." she hung up the call without letting Daniel finish his sentence "what happened."

"Oh goodness, don't tell me I'm back to this dramatical woman, 'cause I'm very sure nothing about," he flinched back slowly, trying to wake up fully before he gradually stood up to take a shower. He walked sleepily shuffling to the bathroom.

The bathroom is extremely spacious, with lots of fancy equipment, it's opulent and tranquil, everything about it is luxury.

Daniel was certain that nothing is going wrong in the company. He thought his mum is trying to make him familiar with her ways of work, just like she always does. He took a quick shower and dressed up. Even though Daniel has been away for over four years, his closet was still filled with quality and designer dresses and shoes.

Sila found herself thrust into the midst of party preparations, from arranging last-minute decorations to coordinating with vendors. She worked tirelessly to ensure the event went off without a hitch, as Chidinma had already asked her to make sure everything goes in order.

Daniel got frightened as he entered the company and noticed how quiet everywhere is. Even though he hasn't been here for over four years now, he knew things can't be worse. At this point, he was forced to believe that indeed his mother didn't prank him or lie to him this time; there might be danger mingling around. He got terrified at this thought and dashed to the door, trying to open it, but it was already locked. He tried to force open the door, desperately attempting to exit. Everyone was just chuckling quietly as they watched Daniel. After all the arrangements, they turned off all the lights and sat down quietly.

"SURPRISE!!!!!!!" they shouted in unison, turning back the lights on.

Daniel got outraged. "Oh, damn it, mum, you freaked me out. This is no surprise, I don't like it," he lashed out. "Who is that i***t that locked this door?" he barked furiously, trying to open the glass door and leave the company.

"I organized this surprise party just for you," his mum lowered her tone, begging him. "Calm down, Dan."

Daniel tried to take a deep breath. "Can I at least have the key?"

Sila walked to him slowly, feeling anxious about him hitting her due to how red she saw he is. "I think this party won't end well," she said in her thoughts.

Daniel gestured his gaze to Sila as their eyes met, a silent spark igniting.

Daniel blinked at her beauty again and said to himself, "I'll have to admit this girl is pretty."

Sila's beauty was not merely skin deep but the reflection of elegance that radiated from within. She had a slender figure and graceful movement that captured Daniel because of the dream he had last night. And without a doubt, Sila is pretty.

She stretched forth her hands, giving Daniel the keys as she glanced at him slowly and fearfully.

"Here is the key, sir."

"Are you stupid?" Chidinma attacked Sila furiously. "You are giving him the key because you don't want him to stay in his party, right? Wicked girl." She walked to Sila to snatch the key away from her, but Daniel already carried it.

Sila gave Daniel the key because everyone was stirring at her to give him the key before he lashes his anger on her.

Sila got angry and spoke to Chidinma in a manner no one has ever dared.

"Why do you hate me so much?" tears ran down her eye as she couldn't hold back her emotions. "It's okay to fire me if you don't like my services rather than treating me like trash. But guess what? I don't like you either so I'm done here," Sila angrily dropped the file she was holding and moved to the door.

Daniel was standing right in front of the door already.

"Hello, you're obstructing me," she widened her eyes, looking at him with so much disgust.

He didn't move an inch. "Hey, don't pour your anger on me. I'm not the one that upset you.

"Sila stood there, stunned by Daniel's unexpected intervention. She glanced at him, noticing the sincerity in his eyes.