The Warning
1571 Words
Episode 2
“Mom?”
Amara stared at her phone.
The call had ended.
She immediately called back.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
No answer.
“Mom, please pick up.”
Her hands were shaking.
Daniel Blackwood stood silently across the room, watching her.
“Is she still alive?” he asked.
Amara glared at him.
“What kind of question is that?”
“The kind that matters.”
“You knew my mother would call me.”
“I suspected she would.”
“You knew she was afraid of you.”
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“I know why she's afraid.”
“Then tell me!”
He didn't answer.
Amara grabbed her handbag.
“I am leaving.”
“You haven't answered my proposal.”
“There is nothing to answer.”
“There is.”
Daniel walked to the desk and picked up the contract.
“You need the money.”
Amara froze.
He was right.
He knew exactly where to hurt her.
“My mother's operation isn't your concern.”
“It becomes my concern if you become my wife.”
“You think money can buy me?”
“No.”
His eyes remained fixed on hers.
“I think desperation can make people accept things they never imagined they would.”
Amara's face hardened.
“You're cruel.”
“I've been called worse.”
She turned toward the door.
“Wait.”
She stopped.
Daniel walked to a cabinet and removed a small brown envelope.
He handed it to her.
“Take this.”
“What is it?”
“Something your father left behind.”
Amara hesitated before taking it.
“Why are you giving it to me?”
“Because you deserve to know what happened.”
She opened the envelope.
Inside was a newspaper clipping.
The headline immediately caught her attention.
BUSINESS TYCOON DAVID BLACKWOOD FOUND DEAD
Amara read the article.
David Blackwood.
Daniel's father.
Dead fifteen years ago.
According to the article, he had been investigating financial irregularities involving a company called Johnson Holdings.
Her father's company.
Amara's heart pounded.
She continued reading.
The article stated that police had suspected financial fraud, but no charges had ever been filed.
She looked up.
“My father was accused of stealing from your family?”
Daniel nodded.
“He didn't just steal.”
“What did he do?”
“He destroyed us.”
“Then why wasn't he arrested?”
“Because someone helped him.”
“Who?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Your mother.”
Amara felt as though the floor had disappeared beneath her feet.
“No.”
“She knows the truth.”
“My mother would never do that.”
“You're defending someone you don't understand.”
“My father was a good man.”
Daniel gave a bitter laugh.
“That is exactly what I used to believe about mine.”
Amara stared at him.
“Why do you hate my family so much?”
Daniel's expression changed.
For the first time, she saw pain behind the coldness.
“When my father died, I was seventeen.”
He looked toward the window.
“I found him.”
Amara said nothing.
“He was lying on the floor of his study. There was blood everywhere.”
Daniel's voice became quieter.
“The police called it suicide.”
“And you didn't believe them?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because my father wasn't a man who gave up.”
Daniel turned toward her.
“He was murdered.”
Amara's heart pounded.
“Who killed him?”
“I don't know.”
“And you think my father did it?”
“I know my father was about to expose your family's crimes.”
“My father died ten years ago. If he killed your father, why didn't you take revenge then?”
“Because I didn't have enough power.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Now I do.”
Amara looked down at the contract.
“You want to marry me just to get revenge on my father?”
“Partly.”
“What is the other part?”
His eyes met hers.
“You.”
She frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“I need you close to me.”
“Why?”
“Because someone has been trying to kill me.”
Amara's breath caught.
“What?”
Daniel walked toward the window.
“Three months ago, my car was sabotaged.”
He continued.
“Two weeks later, someone broke into my office.”
“And you think it's connected to my father?”
“I think whoever killed my father may still be alive.”
Amara felt a chill run down her spine.
“Why would they want to kill you?”
“Because I've been investigating.”
“And you think marrying me will help?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Daniel turned around.
“Because whoever is watching me is also watching your family.”
Amara's phone rang again.
This time, it was David.
She answered immediately.
“David?”
His voice was panicked.
“Amara, where are you?”
“I'm at Daniel's office. What happened?”
“Mom disappeared.”
Amara's heart stopped.
“What?”
“I came back from the pharmacy and she was gone.”
“Did she leave a message?”
“No.”
“Call the police.”
“I already did.”
Amara looked at Daniel.
His expression had suddenly become serious.
“David,” she said, “listen to me. Don't leave the house.”
“Why?”
“Just stay there.”
She ended the call.
“My mother is missing.”
Daniel immediately picked up his phone.
“Victoria.”
His assistant answered.
“Find Mrs. Johnson.”
Amara stared at him.
“You can find her?”
“I can try.”
“You have people who can do that?”
“I have people who can find almost anyone.”
Amara's fear turned into anger.
“You knew this might happen.”
Daniel didn't deny it.
“What aren't you telling me?”
“Everything you need to know.”
“No. You're hiding something.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Your mother knew this day would come.”
“What day?”
“The day you came to me.”
Amara shook her head.
“You're lying.”
Daniel reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
He showed her a photograph.
It was her mother.
Taken only two days earlier.
She was standing outside a restaurant.
Beside her was an unfamiliar man.
Amara stared at the photograph.
“Who is he?”
Daniel's face hardened.
“The man who disappeared fifteen years ago.”
“Who?”
“My father's business partner.”
Amara's eyes widened.
“What does he have to do with my father?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Everything.”
Three hours later, Amara sat alone in Daniel's private apartment.
She couldn't sleep.
Her mother's disappearance kept replaying in her mind.
Then she heard a sound.
Click.
She sat upright.
Another sound came from the hallway.
Click.
Amara slowly stood.
“Daniel?”
No answer.
She walked toward the door.
The lights suddenly went out.
Her heart raced.
Then her phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
She answered.
“Hello?”
A man's voice whispered:
“Stay away from Daniel Blackwood.”
Amara's blood ran cold.
“Who are you?”
“You don't know what you're getting yourself into.”
“Where is my mother?”
A pause.
Then the man said:
“Your mother knows where the money is.”
“What money?”
“The money your father stole.”
Amara's breathing stopped.
“What are you talking about?”
“You have twenty-four hours.”
“Twenty-four hours for what?”
“To convince Daniel to cancel the marriage.”
The call ended.
Amara stood frozen in the darkness.
Then the lights came back on.
Daniel was standing behind her.
His face was expressionless.
“Who was that?”
Amara turned slowly.
“A man threatening my family.”
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“What exactly did he say?”
Amara hesitated.
Then she remembered the final words.
Your mother knows where the money is.
She looked at Daniel.
“What money?”
Daniel went completely still.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
“Speak.”
Victoria's voice came through.
“Sir, we found Mrs. Johnson.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“Where?”
“She was taken to an abandoned warehouse.”
“Is she alive?”
“Yes.”
Amara rushed toward him.
“Let me speak to her!”
Daniel raised his hand.
But before he could say anything, Victoria continued.
“There's a problem.”
Daniel's face darkened.
“What?”
“We found another person inside the warehouse.”
“Who?”
A long silence.
Then Victoria whispered:
“Your father's former business partner.”
Daniel's eyes met Amara's.
And for the first time, fear appeared in them.
“That's impossible,” he said.
Victoria replied:
“He's alive.”
Daniel slowly lowered the phone.
Amara stared at him.
“What?”
Daniel looked at her.
“The man who was supposed to have died fifteen years ago…”
He paused.
“...has been waiting for you.”
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