Chapter Five- The Ambush
1545 Words
Elena woke up the next morning with a pounding headache. The events of the previous night filled her mind. She slowly remembered how she got drunk with a total stranger. But the details were sketchy. As she rolled over, her husband, Richard, stood over her. His face was burning with anger.
“What happened last night?” he demanded in a low, angry tone. “I got a call from someone at the bar, recording you being drunk and flirting with a guy at the bar.”
She rubbed her forehead, trying to piece together the events. “I… I don't know. I just had a few drinks and—”
“A few drinks?” he interrupted. “You were so drunk you could barely walk! And who was that guy?”
She shook her head abruptly. “It was the cab man. He helped me inside because I couldn't walk on my own.”
She watched as his expression turned cold. “Gross! You were all over him, Elena. I'm disgusted.” The argument started getting intense until Richard stormed out of the house.
Elena heaved a heavy sigh. Her phone buzzed with an incoming message. Her heart sank as she read the words. “You're fired!” The message was from her boss. No. This can't be happening.
She felt her heart shattered into many pieces. She had no other source of income. Her job at Smith & Co was her sole means of support. The company was just a few blocks from her place. She knew her father and step-sister had connections there.
She felt her blood boil inside her as she called her father. “Why did you get me fired?” she demanded. “I did everything you asked me to do. I didn't go against your words but still, you decided to make my life unbearable.”
“I didn't get you fired, Elena! You should ask your boss why he got you fired.” her father said in a calm tone.
“Don't lie to me!” she yelled. “I know Victoria had always wanted to work at Smith & Co. You collided with my boss and got me fired. You detest me and I don't know why. This is all because of her, isn't it?”
The line went silent before her father ended the call. She slammed her phone onto the bed. Tears pricked her eyes as she ran a hand through her brown hair. How could her own family sabotage her like this?
Her father always favors her step-sister, even if it requires her being hurt. She got out of bed and began searching for job openings online. She scrolled through job listings on her phone. That's when she remembered seeing a “Waiter needed” notice at a closeby restaurant, just a block away.
She had passed by the cozy Italian place countless times and she loved how it operated there. She didn't want to rely on Richard because knew he was also going through some business challenges.
The next day, she walked into the restaurant. Ger resumé in hand, and she asked to speak to the manager. Luckily for her, she was hired. The first day on the job fled in a whirlwind of training and introductions.
As she took orders and served customers, a familiar face walked in. Her heart sank as she recognized it was Victoria. She strolled into the restaurant, scanning the room. Elena quickly hid behind a pillar, trying to avoid her.
But Victoria’s sharp eyes spotted her. A sly grin spread across her face as she walked towards Elena. “Look who we have here,” Victoria mocked, loud enough for nearby customers to stare. “I can't believe you're working here, Sister. What about your job at Smith & Co?”
“Oh, I forgot you were fired from your fancy job. What a pity!” Victoria sneered. “What did you do, Elena? Sleep with the boss?”
Her face burned with shame as her step-sister continued to make jest of her. She tried to snap back at her but her manager appeared beside her. His face was filled with anger.
Victoria walked up to him with a sweet smile. She placed a hand on his shoulder and said. “I was just having a word with my sister here.”
He took a step away from her and said, “Ma’am, please refrain from disturbing our waiters and waitresses while they are serving. If you continue with this behavior, I will have to ask you to leave the premises.”
She glanced at him and laughed hysterically. “You would ask me to leave? Do you know who I am?”
“I don't know who you are but I won't tolerate you standing in the way of my business,” he muttered angrily. Her jaw dropped as she was shocked and couldn't believe that he didn't recognize her. The manager glared at her and gestured for her to leave. She walked away, slamming the door behind her.
Elena was glad her manager didn't recognize Victoria. But she was sure the manager was going to recognize her sooner or later. After all, Victoria is the soon-to-be wife of the CEO of Brown Corporation. She is also one of the board of directors of Smith & Co, one of the biggest corporations in the city.
Two weeks had passed since Elena started working at the restaurant. One fateful evening, her worst fears came true. As she walked home from work, a group of shadowed figures ambushed her.
She tried her best to run away from them but they were too strong and fast. They knocked her unconscious and dragged her to a secluded passage. She was tied up, her clothes ripped and torn. There were bruises and cuts covering her body.
There was blood streamed over her face. She was nervous as she realized she had no idea where she was. They left her all alone in the abandoned area, battered and broken. She wasn't able to walk or help herself. Somehow, she mustered the strength to scream for help.
The next thing she knew, she was in a hospital bed. Her eyelids fluttered open and she took in her surrounding. She was enclosed by sterile white walls and beeping machines close to her bedside. She was helpless and she thought about who could have wanted her dead. No one step-sister.
She felt tears streamed down her face as she thought about her broken life. Her own family left her with nothing but pain and bitterness. She had no insurance, no safety net, no savings.
She noticed someone was with her. Suddenly, a familiar face came into view. Victoria. Did she want to finish what she started?
Her face was still groggy from the torture she received from those strange people. She screamed as loudly as she could. She watched as Victoria smiled coldly and said, “I heard you had a little accident yesterday, so I came to see if you're okay.”
Elena laughed and muttered angrily, “You got what you wanted. Why can't you leave me alone? Am I still a threat to you after all you've done to me?”
“How can a weakling be a threat to me? I see no use for you. Why would I want you dead?” she said firmly. She searched her bag and pulled out a paper. She stretched it out to Elena.
“No!” Elena said, trying her best to stand up and run away as fast as she could. But she can't. She's still weak. The memories of the attack flooded her mind and she shook her head.
Victoria dropped the paper beside Elena. “This is the wedding invitation. I'll be expecting you.” Elena jolted as Victoria reached out to remove a strand of hair from her face.
“You can't avoid me forever, Elena,” she whispered in her ears. With that, Victoria left the hospital. She couldn't process everything happening to her. What her step-sister said haunted her and she was nervous. If it's not Victoria who sent those assassins, then who did?
She was suspicious of Victoria but she clearly denied it. She knew I couldn't do anything if she told me it was her. Why would she lie? Obviously, she's not the one who sent the assassin to her.
As she thought over it continuously, a nurse entered the room. “Hey, how are you feeling?” the nurse asked, checking her vitals.
She ran a hand through her hair with her free hand. “Confused,” she admitted. “My step-sister was just here.”
The nurse checked the beeping machine, turned to her and said, “Don't worry, you're safe now. If you don't feel safe about anyone visiting you, please let me know.”
She nodded softly and heaved a deep sigh. She knew better. She knew Victoria’s influence reached afar. “Who brought me here?” she asked curiously.
“A good samaritan found you and called 911,” the nurse replied. Many thoughts crossed her mind but she quickly gave the nurse a little nod and smile.
- Writer
