Enchanting Don Carter

CHAPTER TWO

The dark circles under Olivia’s eyes were an indication of the lack of sleep that oppressed her. She had been elbows-deep in research all night, about the megalomaniac who took her friend from her.

“Enigmatic and mysterious Don of the underworld”, she recalled how an anonymous author had described him. With each article she browsed through, waves of annoyance surged from within her. She winced in a blend of horror and disgust because, as far as she was concerned, he was a thug who had something that belonged to her, her friend’s freedom. She blinked slowly, battling sleep to keep her eyes open, then shook her head to fend off the yawn tugging at her mouth.

Her stomach twisted in hunger as she struggled to keep herself from smashing her phone into the wall. Mrs Bates had called over ten times, each voicemail more irritating than the last, threatening to fire her and pursue legal action for the business she was costing the company. Olivia had never rolled her eyes so much at a situation, she wanted to slap her supervisor badly, almost as much as she wanted to find Julia, but there was no time.

On her laptop screen, the “apply here” notice on the Carter Enterprises website glowed like a candle in the dark. She wasted no time in filling in her details.

Olivia bolted out of her room after taking a shower that lasted less than three minutes. She threw a hoodie over her head and grabbed an apple on the way out. She pondered going to the police for help but the thought left her mouth feeling numb and sour. She reminded herself that she and Julia only had each other. Well, each other and the kids. Stopping by a convenience store, she grabbed first aid supplies and some snacks, and continued on the narrow path opposite the main road, quickening her steps towards the abandoned playground at the end of it.

Olivia’s heart thumped as she dialed a number, her eyes scanning the area desperately for any sign of the kids. She bit her lip, turning around nervously as her hope of finding them dimmed with each passing minute. She froze in her search when she heard leaves rustling from behind a rusty metal slide.

Slowly, Jade - one of the older teens who watched over the younger ones emerged, her eyes brimming with tears. Without a word, Olivia held out her arms, tears streaming down her face as Jade ran to her, gripping her in a tight embrace.

Olivia held her close, sadness and relief clutching her heart as she gently rubbed Jade’s head. They sobbed uncontrollably, holding on to each other like lifelines.

“Oh my goodness, Jade. I’m so sorry” Olivia cupped her face in her palms, her brows furrowing when she noticed a cut above her brow.

“No, I’m sorry. It was all my fault” Jade whispered, her voice trembling.

“I told her about the warehouse and assured her it was safe. I’m so stupid” She hit her head with the heel of her hand, her gaze shadowed with regret.

“Don’t say that” Olivia gently caressed the area of the cut with her thumb. “Just tell me everything that happened”.

She led Jade to a dingy set of swings, choosing one with slightly cleaner seats.

As they sat, Olivia felt the bile rise in her throat, her pulse quickening as Jade narrated the unfortunate ordeal that befell them the night before.

“Julia wanted a more discreet location, away from the prying eyes of the police stationed outside the home” Jade explained. “So I suggested the abandoned warehouse across the newly opened bakery.”

Olivia listened solemnly, her heart breaking as she tended carefully to a second cut on Jade’s cheek.

“We were there talking when some men came in,” Jade said, her voice still trembling “They wore black suits and shades like it wasn’t even nighttime.”

“What did they want?” Olivia asked, her voice hoarse, only now noticing the rawness in her throat.

“I don’t know but …they mentioned something about killing someone” Olivia gasped, her hold on Jade’s hands tightening as a chill ran down her spine.

Jade swallowed, eyes darting like she was reliving the moment. “That’s when Julia told us to go out the way we had crawled in”

“And the others?” Olivia asked softly, immediately regretting it as fresh tears started to spill down Jade’s face, her body beginning to shake.

“They took them, all of them” she coughed amidst her sobs. “Back to the social home” she continued, before Olivia could ask for clarity.

Olivia gently held Jade by the shoulders, wishing she could absorb some of her pain. “I cannot imagine how scared you all must have felt” she whispered, pulling her into a firm hug.

***

“No, thank you,” Jade said, refusing Olivia’s offer to return to her house. “I want to be with them. I want to go back,” she said.

A faint, reassuring smile lifted the corner of her mouth, and Olivia nodded, brushing a stray strand of hair off Jade’s face. She felt a swell of gratitude for the teenager’s courage. It gave her peace, knowing they would be somewhere safe until they could be reunited.

“I’ll find Julia, and we will all be back together in no time” she sniffed, her lips twitching into a wry smile. “I promise”

After seeing Jade off to the social home and restraining herself from confronting the worker who pulled Jade inside the house by the ear, Olivia returned to her apartment. Her eyes drifted to a picture on her bedside table - one of her and Julia, standing side by side. Julia’s legs spread out playfully, her smile as radiant as the sun. The lone dimple on her left cheek was so prominent, that one could mistake it for a scar. Her vision blurred for the umpteenth time in the last twenty-four hours. She couldn’t believe she had not seen or heard from her friend for a whole day. They had never been apart this long and the emptiness weighed on her.

“Oh Jules,” she whispered, leaning her back against the wall, as she pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her head. She let herself cry, the heaviness of Julia’s absence pressing down on her like never before.

*Ding* she lifted her head, quickly wiping her tears as her phone screen lit up. There was an email.

“Dear applicant, we are pleased to inform you that you have been selected to join our HR team for an interview for the position of executive secretary. Please arrive promptly at 9 AM on Monday at the address provided below.”

Regards,

HR Team

DC Enterprises.

An eerie feeling coursed through her body, as she read the name, DC Enterprises. Could they reach out this fast? She hesitated, a knot of skepticism tightening inside her chest. But she discarded it, latching onto the olive branch instead, her mind spinning with possibilities. Would she finally get close enough to face the man who took her friend? Would she even get to see Julia? Her stomach churned at the question she had been avoiding. Was Julia even alive?

She shook her head sharply, as if to expel the thought, her nose flaring up as she read the email over and over.