Chapter 2: The Deadline
1219 Words
I stood there for a moment after the call ended,Phone still pressed to my ear.
Then I sighed, dropped it onto the couch, and rubbed my forehead.
“Rich people and their nonsense,” I muttered under my breath.
That was it.
I didn’t sit down and start overthinking it. I didn’t spiral into fear or anything like that.
Because honestly, I didn’t have the luxury.
We had more immediate problems.
From the kitchen, I heard Leo coughing again.
“Leo, drink water!” I called out.
“I did!” he shouted back, but his voice sounded weak.
I rolled my eyes.
“Liar.”
My mother was sitting on the couch already when I walked back in.
She looked tired in that quiet way she always did now. Like even her thoughts were heavy.
“You’re going out again?” she asked.
“Work,” I said simply, grabbing my bag.
She nodded slowly.
“Be careful.”
I paused.
That sentence used to mean traffic or strangers.
Now it meant everything.
“I will,” I said softly.
The café shift was normal.
Too normal. People laughing, ordering coffee, complaining about small things like sugar levels or missing foam art.
And I just stood there smiling like my life wasn’t quietly collapsing in the background.
“Audrey, table six!” my coworker called.
“Coming,” I said quickly.
I moved automatically.
Pour.
Serve.
Smile.
Repeat.
At some point, I stopped thinking entirely.
Which was better?
Because thinking meant remembering, And remembering meant stress.
By evening, my legs were tired in that deep, heavy way that makes even standing feel like work, I clocked out late.
“See you tomorrow,” my coworker said.
“Yeah. Tomorrow,” I replied.
I stepped outside into the cool air. And that’s when I saw it.
A black car parked across the street.
Still.
Like it had been waiting all day.
I stopped walking for half a second, Then I shook my head.
“Of course,” I whispered.
I adjusted my bag and started walking again.
I didn’t run.
I didn’t panic.
I just walked toward it like it was an inconvenience.
Because at this point, I was too tired to be scared of everything. As I got closer, the back door opened slightly.
A man stepped out.
Not Sebastian.
A driver.
Or assistant.
Expensive suit.
Controlled posture.
Expressionless face.
He gave a slight bow.
“Miss Audrey Bennett?”
I sighed.
“Yes?”
He held out a black folder.
“From Mr Sebastian Laurent.”
I stared at it.
Then at him.
Then back at it.
“Of course it is,” I muttered.
I took it.
“Is this going to take my whole life to read too?” I asked dryly.
No reaction.
He just said, “He requests your response by tomorrow.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Requests,” I repeated. “Everyone around him really loves that word.”
The man didn’t answer.
He just stood there like silence was part of his job description.
I exhaled.
“Fine.”
That was it.
He nodded once.
“Have a good evening, Miss.”
Then he left.
No drama.
No explanation.
No emotion.
Just like that.
I watched the car pull away.
“Weird people,” I said to myself.
Then I turned and walked home.
When I got home, Leo was on the couch watching TV.
My mother was folding laundry, Everything looked normal.
Too normal for what I was holding in my hands.
I dropped my bag.
“What’s that?” Leo asked.
“Nothing,” I said quickly.
My mother looked up.
“It’s not nothing,” she said softly.
I didn’t respond.
I sat down and finally opened the folder, Paper again.Always paper.Legal words. Big money words, Words that tried to sound polite but felt heavy anyway.
My eyes scanned quickly.
Marriage agreement.
One year.
Financial coverage.
Medical support.
Debt cancellation.
And something else.
Security provision for immediate family.
I paused.
My fingers stopped moving.
That line again.
Security.
Why?
I frowned.
“Why does he care about security?” I said out loud without thinking.
My mother looked over.
“What?”
I shook my head.
“Nothing. Just weird wording.”
Leo leaned closer.
“Is it bad?”
I hesitated.
“It’s not good,” I admitted.
My mother stood and walked over.
She didn’t take it from me this time.
She just read over my shoulder.
Silence stretched.
Then she sighed softly.
“Audrey.”
I leaned back.
“Don’t start.”
“I’m not starting anything,” she said gently. “But this is serious.”
I laughed once.
“It’s ridiculous is what it is.”
Leo frowned.
“So, are you going to marry him?”
I turned to him.
“What? No. Of course not.”
He looked relieved.
“Good.”
I exhaled.
“Don’t worry about it,” I said, softer now. “I’ll handle it.”
But even as I said it, I didn’t know what “handle it” meant.
Night came quietly, Too quietly. I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling. Not thinking,Just existing. My phone buzzed once.
Unknown number, I ignored it. It buzzed again,Still ignored, Then it stopped. Good.
I turned over and closed my eyes.
For the first time that day, I felt a little peace.
Then… a Knock, I sat up. Another knock.
But this one wasn’t soft. It was controlled and Deliberate.
I frowned.
“…Who is that?” I whispered to myself, I got up and walked toward the door. Leo’s voice came from the living room.
“Who’s here?”
“Stay inside,” I said quickly. I reached the door, And opened it.
Two men in black suits stood outside again. Same calm faces, Same silence.
The first one spoke.
“Miss Bennett.”
I sighed.
“You people don’t rest, do you?”
No reaction.
“We need you to come with us.” I blinked.
“Come with you where?”
A pause.
“Mr Laurent would like to meet you.”
My heart skipped.Not fear, Just surprise.
Because this was new, He didn’t meet people. Right?.
I crossed my arms.
“No.”
Silence, The second man finally spoke.
“It’s not optional.”
I stared at him.
Then at the street behind them. Empty, Quiet. Wrong feeling.
I swallowed.
“I said no,” I repeated. The first man looked at me calmly.
Then said something that made my stomach tighten.
“Your family’s debt has already been activated for collection tonight.”
I frowned.
“What does that even mean?”
He didn’t answer properly, Just repeated.
“You should come.”
Silence.
My chest tightened now.
Not fear exactly.
Just pressure.
Like air was getting heavier.
I looked back inside the house. Leo, My mother. Then back at them.
“Give me five minutes,” I said finally.
The man nodded once.
“We’ll wait.”
They stepped back.
I closed the door.
My hand stayed on the handle.
For a moment, I just stood there.
Then I exhaled.
“Okay,” I whispered to myself. “Okay.”
I turned back toward my room.
And grabbed my jacket.
- Writer
