The promise
2591 Words
Episode 4: The Promise
Alexander remained completely still after the phone call ended.
Clara.
After eight years of silence, he had finally heard her voice.
Emma watched him carefully.
“Alexander?”
He didn't answer.
“Was that really her?”
His fingers tightened around the phone.
“I don't know.”
“You heard her.”
“I heard a voice.”
“You called her Clara.”
Alexander looked at Emma.
There was something different in his eyes now. The confident CEO who had seemed impossible to shake was gone.
In his place was a man struggling to understand the return of a ghost from his past.
“We need to leave,” he said.
Emma frowned.
“Why?”
“Because this building isn't safe.”
“What about the security officers?”
“They can't protect us from someone who already has access to the system.”
Alexander walked toward the elevator.
Emma followed.
“Where are we going?”
“My house.”
She stopped.
“Your house?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because nobody outside my security team knows where it is.”
Emma hesitated.
“You expect me to go to your private home?”
“I expect you to stay alive.”
That ended the argument.
They entered the elevator.
As the doors closed, Emma looked at him.
“Tell me about Clara.”
Alexander stared at the elevator doors.
“You're not going to let this go.”
“No.”
He sighed.
“Clara Morgan worked for my father.”
“You said that yesterday.”
“She wasn't just his assistant. She was his most trusted investigator.”
“Investigator?”
“My father suspected someone was stealing money from Hayes Global.”
“How much?”
“Millions.”
Emma's eyes widened.
“And Clara found the evidence?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
Alexander's expression darkened.
“She disappeared before she could reveal everything.”
“And your parents?”
“My father was killed two days later.”
Emma lowered her voice.
“And your mother?”
“Three weeks after him.”
The elevator reached the parking garage.
Alexander walked toward a black car.
Before he opened the door, Emma asked:
“Why did you never tell the police what you suspected?”
“I did.”
“And they didn't believe you?”
“They believed the official story.”
“What was it?”
“Two separate accidents.”
Emma stared at him.
“Both your parents died in accidents?”
“Yes.”
“And you think they were murdered because of the investigation?”
“I know they were.”
Alexander opened the passenger door.
Emma entered.
He walked around to the driver's side.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Then Alexander started the engine.
The gates opened.
As they drove away from Hayes Global, Emma noticed another black car behind them.
“Alexander.”
He looked in the mirror.
“What?”
“Is that car following us?”
He checked.
The vehicle remained several cars behind them.
Alexander's expression hardened.
“Don't look back again.”
“Why?”
“Because if they're following us, I don't want them to know we've noticed.”
Emma gripped her seatbelt.
“Who are they?”
“I don't know.”
The car behind them suddenly changed lanes.
Alexander accelerated.
The other vehicle accelerated too.
Emma's heart began racing.
“Alexander…”
“I see it.”
He turned sharply onto another road.
The black car followed.
Alexander took another turn.
Still behind them.
“They're definitely following us.”
Alexander reached for his phone.
“Call my security team.”
Emma dialed the number he gave her.
“Tell them we're being followed.”
A voice answered immediately.
“Where are you?”
Emma gave them their location.
“Stay on the main road. Don't stop.”
Alexander continued driving.
The black car suddenly disappeared.
Emma looked behind them.
“It's gone.”
Alexander didn't relax.
“That's worse.”
“Why?”
“Because whoever is driving it knows these roads.”
Ten minutes later, they reached an underground entrance hidden behind a row of private buildings.
A security gate opened.
They drove inside.
The gate closed behind them.
Emma looked around.
“Is this your house?”
“No.”
“Then where are we?”
“A safe house.”
She stared at him.
“You have a safe house?”
“When you're born into a family like mine, you learn to prepare for things ordinary people never expect.”
They entered the building.
Two security officers greeted them.
Alexander gave them instructions.
“No one enters without my authorization.”
“Yes, sir.”
He turned toward Emma.
“You'll stay here tonight.”
“Tonight?”
“Until I know who is behind this.”
Emma looked at him.
“And what about you?”
“I have something to do.”
“What?”
“Find Clara.”
Emma's eyes widened.
“You're going alone?”
“Yes.”
“That's a terrible idea.”
Alexander looked amused for the first time.
“You've known me for four days and you're already telling me what to do.”
“You're welcome.”
He almost smiled.
Then his expression became serious again.
“Mia—”
He stopped.
Emma noticed.
“Who is Mia?”
Alexander looked confused for a moment.
Then he shook his head.
“Sorry. I was thinking about someone else.”
Emma studied him.
“Who?”
“No one.”
She didn't believe him.
Before she could ask more, his phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
Alexander read it.
His face changed.
“What is it?”
He handed her the phone.
The message contained an address.
Below it were five words.
COME ALONE IF YOU WANT CLARA ALIVE.
Emma stared.
“It's a trap.”
“I know.”
“Then don't go.”
“I have to.”
“They could kill you.”
“They could already be watching us.”
Emma looked at the address.
“Where is it?”
“An abandoned warehouse near the river.”
“I'm coming.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because they specifically told me to come alone.”
“That's exactly why I'm coming.”
Alexander shook his head.
“You're not trained for this.”
“Neither are you.”
“I've dealt with people like this before.”
“And you're still alive because someone probably helped you.”
Alexander looked at her.
“Emma.”
She crossed her arms.
“You hired me because I'm capable, remember?”
He stared at her for a long moment.
Then he sighed.
“You're impossible.”
“So I've been told.”
They left the safe house together.
The warehouse was nearly an hour away.
The closer they got, the quieter the streets became.
Finally, Alexander parked several hundred meters away.
“We walk from here.”
Emma nodded.
They approached the warehouse carefully.
The large metal door was slightly open.
Alexander pulled out his phone.
“No signal.”
Emma looked at hers.
“Mine too.”
They entered.
The warehouse was dark.
A single light hung from the ceiling.
A chair sat beneath it.
And on the chair was another photograph.
Alexander walked toward it.
Emma stayed behind him.
He picked it up.
It showed Clara.
But this photograph was different.
She looked older.
Older by several years.
Emma's heart stopped.
“She is alive.”
Alexander stared at the photograph.
On the back was a message.
YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
A sound came from somewhere in the darkness.
Footsteps.
Alexander immediately pulled Emma behind him.
“Who's there?”
A woman's voice answered.
“Alexander.”
He froze.
Emma knew the voice.
It was the same voice from the phone.
“Clara?”
A woman slowly stepped into the light.
She looked tired, frightened, and older than the woman in the photographs.
But it was unmistakably her.
Alexander couldn't move.
“Clara.”
She looked at him.
“You came.”
“I thought you were dead.”
“I needed you to believe that.”
“Why?”
“Because if they knew I was alive, they would have killed you too.”
Alexander took a step toward her.
“Who?”
Clara looked toward Emma.
“Who is she?”
“My assistant.”
Clara's eyes widened.
“You brought her?”
“She was already involved.”
Clara shook her head.
“No. You don't understand.”
“What?”
Clara walked closer.
“Emma is the reason they chose you.”
Emma stared at her.
“What does that mean?”
Clara looked at Alexander.
“You need to listen carefully.”
She reached inside her coat and removed a small envelope.
“Your father left this for you.”
Alexander took it.
“My father?”
“He knew he was going to die.”
Alexander's hands began shaking.
“What is inside?”
“Everything.”
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a letter.
He unfolded it.
His father's handwriting was unmistakable.
Alexander read silently.
Then his face went pale.
Emma stepped closer.
“What does it say?”
Alexander looked at her.
“My father knew who was responsible.”
“Who?”
Before he could answer, the warehouse lights suddenly went out.
Clara gasped.
“Get down!”
A loud shot echoed through the building.
Alexander grabbed Emma and pulled her behind a metal container.
Clara disappeared into the darkness.
Another shot rang out.
Emma covered her ears.
“Who's shooting?”
Alexander whispered.
“Stay down.”
“Where's Clara?”
“I don't know.”
A shadow moved across the far wall.
Alexander carefully looked around the container.
Nothing.
Then his phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
YOU BROKE THE RULE.
Another message followed.
NOW SHE PAYS.
Emma's blood ran cold.
“Alexander…”
He read the message.
His eyes widened.
“Clara!”
They moved through the warehouse.
“Clara!”
No answer.
They found the chair empty.
Only her scarf remained.
Alexander picked it up.
“No.”
Emma saw tears forming in his eyes.
She had never imagined a billionaire could look so broken.
Then a voice came from the warehouse speakers.
“Alexander Hayes.”
He looked up.
“You wanted answers.”
The voice continued.
“Now you'll have them.”
A screen turned on.
An old video appeared.
It showed Alexander's father sitting behind a desk.
He looked tired.
Afraid.
“My son,” he said.
Alexander stepped closer.
“If you're watching this, then I didn't survive.”
Alexander's breathing became heavy.
“I discovered that someone inside our family has been working against us.”
The video paused for a second.
Then his father continued.
“I trusted the wrong person.”
Emma looked at Alexander.
“Who?”
His father spoke again.
“The person responsible is someone you know.”
Alexander stared at the screen.
The video suddenly ended.
A second video appeared.
This one showed a younger Alexander.
Standing beside Clara.
They were arguing.
Clara was crying.
Alexander couldn't understand.
“I don't remember this.”
Emma looked at him.
“What happened?”
“I don't know.”
The screen displayed a message.
**THE MEMORY WAS REMOVED FOR A REASON.**
Alexander stepped backward.
“What does that mean?”
The speakers came alive again.
“It means, Alexander, that you've forgotten the most important night of your life.”
The warehouse doors slammed shut.
Emma grabbed Alexander's arm.
“We need to get out.”
He looked at her.
“You're right.”
They ran toward the exit.
It wouldn't open.
Alexander tried the emergency controls.
Nothing.
Then smoke began filling the warehouse.
Emma coughed.
“Alexander!”
He grabbed her hand.
“Stay with me.”
The smoke became thicker.
They couldn't see.
Emma stumbled.
Alexander caught her.
“I'm here.”
She held onto him.
“I can't breathe.”
“Cover your mouth.”
He removed his jacket and wrapped it around her.
They moved along the wall.
Then Emma felt something beneath her hand.
A metal lever.
“Alexander!”
“What?”
“I found something.”
She pulled it.
A hidden door opened.
Cold air rushed inside.
They escaped through the passage and emerged behind the warehouse.
Emma fell to her knees, coughing.
Alexander crouched beside her.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded.
“What about Clara?”
Alexander looked back at the warehouse.
“We'll find her.”
Emma noticed something in his hand.
The letter from his father.
“Alexander.”
He looked at her.
“The letter.”
He opened it again.
This time, Emma saw a small handwritten line at the bottom.
Alexander read it.
His expression changed completely.
“What does it say?”
He looked at Emma.
“It says…”
He stopped.
“What?”
“My father wrote that the person who betrayed our family is not a stranger.”
Emma waited.
Alexander's voice became barely audible.
“He wrote that the traitor is someone carrying the Hayes name.”
Emma's eyes widened.
“Victor?”
“I don't know.”
“Daniel?”
“I don't know.”
“Then who?”
Alexander looked toward the city lights.
“We've been searching for the wrong enemy.”
His phone suddenly rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
No one spoke.
Then Clara whispered:
“Alexander, don't trust your brother.”
The call ended.
Alexander stared at the phone.
Emma looked at him.
“But Daniel is your brother.”
Alexander's face was cold.
“I know.”
A second message arrived.
**THE PROMISE WAS NEVER ABOUT FINDING CLARA.**
Alexander opened it.
**IT WAS ABOUT PROTECTING HER FROM YOU.**
He stared at the words.
Emma felt a terrible realization settle over her.
Maybe the story Alexander had believed for eight years wasn't the truth.
Maybe the promise wasn't what he thought it was.
And somewhere in the darkness, Clara was being held by someone who knew every secret the Hayes family had tried to bury.
Alexander looked at Emma.
“I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“I don't remember the night Clara disappeared.”
Emma stared at him.
“What do you mean?”
“I remember seeing her.”
“I remember arguing with her.”
“I remember leaving.”
He looked away.
“But I don't remember what happened afterward.”
Emma stepped closer.
“Then someone may have made you forget.”
Alexander looked at her.
“And if that's true…”
He paused.
“Then I may have been protecting the wrong person all these years.”
The wind blew through the empty street.
Neither of them noticed the figure standing on the roof of the warehouse.
The figure watched them leave.
Then slowly lifted a phone.
“It's working.”
A voice answered.
“Good.”
“Alexander still doesn't remember.”
“Then it's time.”
“Time for what?”
A pause.
“To make him remember everything.”
The call ended.
And the figure smiled.
Because the biggest secret of the Hayes family had never been about money.
It had been about love.
Betrayal.
And a promise that should never have been made.
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