chapter11
768 Words
The shrill sound of Brielle's alarm cut through the silence of the room.
She sat up immediately, her heart pounding as memories of the previous night flooded back.
"I hope your landlord won't bother you again."
She had barely slept.
That voice...
Calm.
Deep.
Cold.
She knew exactly who it belonged to.
Alvin.
She rubbed her temples and reached for her phone. There were no new messages, no missed calls. For a brief second, she wondered if she had imagined the conversation.
A knock came from outside her bedroom.
"Brielle?" her mother's gentle voice called. "Breakfast is ready."
"I'm coming."She got dressed quickly and walked into the tiny dining area. Margaret had prepared tea and bread, but she looked unusually quiet.
"You didn't sleep well," Margaret observed.
Brielle managed a weak smile.
"Was it that obvious?"
"A mother always knows."
They ate in silence for a while before Brielle finally spoke.
"Mom... if someone you didn't know paid your debts, what would you do?"
Margaret's hand froze halfway to her cup.
"Why are you asking?"
"I'm just curious."
"No, you're not."
Brielle sighed.
"I think I know who paid the rent."
Margaret's face lost its color.
"Who?"
"A man named Alvin."
The cup slipped from Margaret's fingers and shattered on the floor.
The loud crash startled them both.
"Mom!"
Margaret quickly bent to pick up the broken pieces.
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not."
"It was an accident."
Brielle knelt beside her.
"You know him, don't you?"
Margaret's hands trembled.
"I... I've only heard the name."
She stood before Brielle could ask another question.
"You'll be late for class."
The conversation ended there, but Brielle couldn't ignore the fear she had seen in her mother's eyes.
The university campus buzzed with life.
Students hurried between lectures while vendors called out to anyone passing by.
Will spotted Brielle from across the courtyard and waved.
"You look terrible."
"Thanks."
"I meant tired."
"I know."
They sat beneath a large tree near the faculty building.
Will studied her face carefully.
"You've been thinking about him."
Brielle looked away.
"I don't even know him."
"You know enough."
She told him about the phone call.
Every word.
Will's expression darkened.
"This is bad."
"What do you mean?"
"He knows where you live."
"He already proved that."
"He knows your landlord."
"I know."
"And now he has your phone number."
Brielle lowered her eyes.
For the first time, she realized how little she actually knew about the man who had suddenly entered her life.
Miles away, Alvin stood in the private shooting range behind his mansion.
A bodyguard handed him another pistol.
He fired.
The bullet struck the center of the target.
Again.
Another perfect shot.
Charles approached carefully.
"Sir."
Alvin lowered the weapon.
"What is it?"
"Miss Cole went to school as usual."
"And?"
"She spoke with William."
Alvin removed his gloves.
"What did they discuss?"
"Our men couldn't hear everything."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"That's not an answer."
Charles swallowed.
"They're getting closer."
Silence.
Alvin placed the gun on the table.
"Increase surveillance."
"Yes, sir.""And Charles..."
"Sir?"
"I don't like repeating myself."
Charles nodded immediately.
"It won't happen again."
Later that afternoon, Brielle stayed behind in the university library to finish a research assignment.
Most of the students had already left.
The room was almost empty.
She gathered her books and headed for the exit.
Outside, heavy rain had started pouring.
She sighed.
"I didn't bring an umbrella."
She waited under the library roof, hoping the rain would stop.
It only grew heavier.
Suddenly, a sleek black umbrella appeared above her head.
She turned.
A man in a black suit stood beside her.
"Miss Cole."
She frowned.
"Yes?"
"My employer asked me to give you this."
He handed her a neatly wrapped package.
"I can't accept this."
"You don't have a choice."
Before she could protest, he returned to a waiting black SUV and drove away.
Confused, Brielle slowly opened the package.
Inside was a beautiful umbrella, a new phone, and a small handwritten note.
She unfolded it carefully.
Only one sentence was written.
"You shouldn't get caught in the rain."
No signature.
She didn't need one.
She already knew who had sent it.
A chill ran down her spine.
Across the street, inside a parked Rolls-Royce, Alvin watched her through the tinted window.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"She accepted it."
Charles glanced at him.
"She looked frightened."
Alvin's smile disappeared.
"Good."
He rested his arm on the window ledge.
"Fear is honest."
The car slowly pulled away before Brielle looked up.
She never realized just how close he had been.
- Writer
