CHAPTER 5: A Proposal, A Bullet, and A Secret Unveiled
1246 Words
“Where the hell are we going? You just passed the company!”
Cora’s voice was sharp, filled with confusion. The driver stayed silent, eyes locked on the road ahead.
She leaned forward, heart pounding. “Did you hear me? Turn around!”
No reaction.
Frustration boiled inside her. She wasn’t just some random passenger—her boyfriend, Ethan Hills, the CEO of Hills Company, had assigned this driver to pick her up daily. She had been working at Hills Company for a year, earning a promotion from marketing executive to Marketing director. Her hard work had helped the company grow, bringing in huge profits. But more than that, from the moment she first walked into the company, Ethan had been drawn to her.
And now, this driver was ignoring her like she didn’t exist.
She grabbed her phone. “If you don’t answer me, I’ll call Ethan and have you fired!”
Still nothing. Instead, the driver made a sudden sharp turn. The movement threw her to the side, her hair falling over her face as she struggled to sit straight. She gritted her teeth, anger bubbling inside her.
She quickly dialed Ethan. No answer.
A text popped up.
“Trust me. Do as he says.”
Her stomach twisted. Ethan wouldn’t put her in danger. Would he?
Minutes passed like hours before the car finally rolled to a stop. The driver pointed toward the crowded street. “This is your stop.”
She blinked in confusion. She stepped out, the morning sun warming her face as she looked around at the unfamiliar crowd.
She turned back to question the driver, but before she could say anything, the car sped off, disappearing into traffic.
She stood there, drowning in confusion. What the hell was going on?
Suddenly a small, soft hand touched her. She turned quickly, surprised, to see a little girl with a bright smile and shiny white teeth holding out a folded piece of paper.
Without saying a word, the child placed it in her palm and took a few steps back, watching her with curious eyes.
Cora slowly opened the paper, her heart pounding as she read the message:
“Don’t be afraid, for our love is beyond the sky. Fly with me.”
She looked up, but the girl was already walking fast. “Wait! What does this mean?” she called out.
No response.
Her mind raced, but something about this felt important. Without thinking too much, she followed. They moved through narrow streets, twisting and turning, until they reached a quiet warehouse at the edge of the city.
There, next to a shiny helicopter, stood a man. He looked calm and confident, as if he had been expecting her.
He slipped a couple of dollars into the little girl’s hand. With a cheerful laugh, she ran off, leaving Cora alone with him.
“Fly with me in the sky,” he said smoothly.
Doubt and excitement mixed inside her, making her chest feel tight. After a moment, she stepped into the helicopter.
The man spoke into a headset, saying something in a low voice, maybe codes, maybe instructions, before gripping the controls. In no time, they were high above the ground.
This was nothing like a normal airplane. The wind felt closer, the world below shrinking like a distant memory. She took a deep breath. This had Ethan written all over it.
Trust the process.
The helicopter slowed as it approached the rooftop of the towering skyscraper. With a smooth, precise landing, the blades gradually eased to a stop.
She stepped out cautiously, the wind tugging at her hair. Ahead, a staircase led down into the building and beside it stood a man.
Silently, he placed a small note in her hand.
“Take a journey through the four walls of my heart. There, you will find me.”
Her mind raced, but the meaning clicked almost instantly. Four walls. The fourth floor.
Without hesitation, she hurried down the stairs. But the moment she stepped onto the fourth floor, something felt off. The air grew still, a soft hush settling around her.
Then lights. A curtain slowly drew back.
She wasn’t just in a room.
She was on a stage.
Dozens of eyes turned to her. Tables stretched across the grand hall, covered in fancy dishes and shining glasses. A big celebration. And she was right in the middle of it.
Her breath caught. Confusion mixed with a strange excitement.
Then, the music started. A slow, sweet melody filled the air.
Footsteps.
From the side of the stage, Ethan appeared, walking toward her with steady steps. His eyes locked onto hers, warm and certain. The crowd faded into the background as he dropped to one knee, a diamond ring sparkling between his fingers.
His voice was full of love as he spoke words meant only for her. Promises. Devotion. Forever.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she smiled, her heart racing. But reality hit, “Ethan, I have a four-year-old son.”
He took her hand, holding it gently but firmly. "Then I have a son who's four years old too. I can't wait to meet my boy.”
Emotion swelled in her chest, overwhelming and pure. A soft laugh escaped her lips, followed by a single whispered word.
“Yes.”
As he slid the ring onto her finger, the room burst into applause. Cheers, clinking glasses, the sound of happiness filling the air.
She lifted her hand, the diamond catching the light. And as he pulled her close, sealing the moment with a deep kiss, the rest of the world faded away.
The moment was perfect until it wasn’t.
As they held each other, a faint vibration came from his pocket. A message. He pulled away just enough to check his phone, his expression unreadable.
“Run. They are close.”
Before the words could fully sink in, gunfire erupted like a violent storm, shattering the air. Screams filled the hall. Tables flipped. Glass shattered. Chaos.
Ethan moved fast. His grip tightened around Cora as he yanked her down, shielding her with his body. His suit became her only cover as bullets tore through the air.
“Stay low,” he ordered, his voice firm but calm.
They crawled across the stage, slipping into a side room. She struggled to keep up, her breathing heavy and uneven. “Who are these people?” she whispered.
“I don’t know,” he lied. “Maybe someone here was the target.”
The hall was a disaster. Some guests ran for their lives, others hit the ground. Some weren’t so lucky.
As they moved toward the next floor, a man appeared out of nowhere, gun raised, aimed straight at her.
Before she could react, Ethan lunged. A brutal fight broke out. Fists. A struggle. Then, with one powerful move, he sent the attacker crashing down to the floor below.
No time to think. They kept moving.
By the time they reached the ground floor, a black SUV skidded to a stop outside. The doors flew open.
“Get in!” someone yelled.
Ethan pushed Cora inside just as he climbed in after her. But something was wrong. His breathing was off. His hand trembled as it pressed against his stomach.
“Call the doctor,” he said, voice tight with pain.
She turned to him and froze.
Her chest tightened.
Dark red stained his fingers.
Her world spun.
- Writer
