Flashback...
Daniel woke up in a hurry that morning. His alarm had gone off, but somehow, in the rush of things, he had overslept. The sun was already up, and the warmth of the rays filtered through the curtains, making him realize he was running late for his office. He threw on his suit jacket, grabbed his laptop, and was about to rush out the door when his mother, Mrs. Isabella, called out to him from the dining table.
"Daniel, why are you leaving without having breakfast?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. As usual, she had laid out a healthy spread of fruit, eggs, and toast on the table.
"Mom, I'm already late for the office," Daniel responded quickly. "I'll eat later, don't worry about me. You all have breakfast."
Mrs. Isabella sighed, knowing well that Daniel often skipped meals when he was in a hurry. "At least take your lunch box with you."
Daniel waved her off with a rushed tone, "Oh, mom, I'll eat something at Kantian. I have to go now. Bye, Mom. Bye, Dad."
She shook her head as she watched him leave. "I can't handle this boy anymore. He's always in such a rush."
Outside, Daniel hurried to the car where his driver, William, was already waiting. "Driver, get the car out; I'm really late."
The driver, William, nodded calmly. "Okay, sir."
As the car rolled out of the driveway, Daniel took a deep breath and tried to relax. He opened his laptop, determined to get some work done on the way to the office. But as luck would have it, just a few minutes into the drive, they encountered heavy traffic. Daniel, engrossed in his work, didn't notice at first until the car came to a halt.
"William, what's going on here?" Daniel asked, looking up from his laptop.
"Sir, there's a traffic jam ahead. I'm afraid there's nothing I can do about it," the driver replied, sounding apologetic.
"Damn it," Daniel muttered, frustration evident in his voice. "I'm already late, and now this traffic jam."
There was nothing to do but wait. Daniel leaned back in his seat, sighing deeply. He had a full schedule at the office today, and this delay was the last thing he needed. As the minutes passed, he set his laptop aside and looked out the window to distract himself.
That's when he saw her.
A young girl stood at a nearby bus stop, waiting patiently for her bus. She was wearing a college uniform, her long hair falling over her shoulders, and she had an air of innocence that caught Daniel's attention. He couldn't take his eyes off her. Something about her seemed almost ethereal, as though she didn't belong to the everyday hustle and bustle of the world around them.
Daniel found himself smiling, captivated by her simplicity. It wasn't like him to stare at girls—he usually had too much on his mind to notice—but this girl was different. She seemed calm, unaffected by the chaos of the city. She stood there, almost serene, her eyes scanning the road for her bus.
Just as suddenly as the traffic had stopped, it cleared. The driver started the car, and before Daniel knew it, they were moving again. He turned to look back at the bus stop, but the girl had disappeared from his view.
For some strange reason, Daniel felt a pang of disappointment. But he quickly pushed the thought away and adjusted his sunglasses, chuckling softly at himself. He had a busy day ahead; there was no time to think about strangers at bus stops.
Arriving at his office, Daniel was greeted by Juli, his efficient and cheerful assistant. She had been with him for a few years now, and he trusted her with many of the office's daily tasks.
"Good morning, sir," Juli said with a bright smile.
"Good morning," Daniel replied, walking towards his desk.
"How are you today, sir?" she asked.
"Good," Daniel said absentmindedly, his thoughts still half-occupied by the mysterious girl from the bus stop.
"So, sir, we have a meeting about the new project today. Should I call everyone in now?" Juli asked, holding her notepad.
"Yes, get everyone ready. We'll start the meeting now," Daniel said, snapping back to reality.
Juli nodded and quickly left to make the necessary arrangements. The meeting lasted for over an hour, and by the time it ended, it was well past lunchtime. Juli noticed Daniel hadn't had anything to eat yet and approached him.
"Sir, won't you have lunch?" she asked.
Daniel, distracted by the morning's events, barely registered her question. "Hmm…"
Juli sensed that something was off. "Come on, let's have lunch together today," she suggested, trying to lighten the mood.
Daniel thought for a moment before agreeing. "Alright."
Juli seemed thrilled that Daniel agreed. She always looked forward to spending a little extra time with him. They headed to Kantian, their usual lunch spot, but while they ate, Daniel's mind was elsewhere. He couldn't stop thinking about the girl from the bus stop. He tried to focus on the conversation with Juli, but every time he looked up, he saw the girl's innocent face in his mind.
Juli, sensing Daniel's distraction, finally asked, "Sir, if you don't mind me asking, do you have a girlfriend?"
Daniel, startled by the question, looked at her. "No," he replied simply.
"Oh, then do you like someone?" she asked, pushing a little further.
Daniel glanced at her, his irritation growing. "Does this girl have nothing better to do than ask such questions?" he thought to himself.
He didn't respond directly, instead saying, "I've finished eating. I'm leaving."
Before Juli could say anything more, Daniel got up and walked away. She sat there, momentarily speechless, feeling a bit hurt by his abrupt departure.
As Daniel made his way back to the office, he couldn't shake the thought of the girl from the bus stop. He was tired, but still, he glanced again at the bus stop on his way home that evening, hoping to see her again. But this time, the bus stop was empty. He smiled to himself, wondering why he even cared.
The next morning, Daniel found himself looking out the window as they passed the bus stop. To his delight, she was there again, waiting for her bus. Seeing her filled him with a strange sense of happiness.
For the next few days, Daniel saw the girl at the same time, at the same place. It became a routine, and every time he saw her, he felt a little lighter, as if just her presence brightened his day.
But then, she disappeared. For two whole days, she wasn't at the bus stop. Daniel started feeling uneasy. "Why haven't I seen her? Is she alright?" he wondered. The thought of never seeing her again bothered him more than he expected.
Several more days passed, and Daniel found himself growing increasingly anxious. He didn't even know her name, yet her absence was unsettling. But finally, after nearly a week, he saw her again. This time, he didn't want to risk not seeing her again.
Without thinking, Daniel pulled out his phone and discreetly took a picture of her. He looked at the photo, smiling to himself. It felt good to know he had something of her to hold on to.
When he reached the office that day, Daniel showed the photo to his assistants.
"I need you to do something for me," Daniel said, handing them the photo. "Look at this girl carefully."
His assistants looked at the picture, unsure of where this was going. "Yes, sir?" one of them asked.
"Tomorrow, at 8:00 AM, all four of you will be at this bus stop. I want you to find this girl and get all the information about her—where she lives, who she is, everything. Do you understand?" Daniel instructed.
The assistants exchanged nervous glances. "But sir, we don't know her. How will we figure out where she lives or get her details?" one of them asked hesitantly.
"That's not my concern," Daniel said firmly. "Just do what I've told you. If you fail, you won't get your salary this month."
"Sir, please don't do that," they pleaded. "We'll try our best to find out."
"Not try—bring me the information I've asked for," Daniel reiterated. "And one more thing—make sure Juli doesn't find out about this. If she hears about it, you'll all be in trouble."
The assistants nodded, unsure of what else to do, and left to carry out their task.
About a week later, they returned to Daniel's office, looking a little apprehensive.
"Well, you're back. What did you find?" Daniel asked, leaning forward in anticipation.
One of the assistants handed him a paper. "We found everything you asked for, sir," he said.
Daniel looked at the paper and saw the girl's name: Fiona Christel. She was in her final year at Aiber College. Reading her name, Daniel smiled. "Just as beautiful as her name," he thought.
"Thank you so much," Daniel said, looking at his assistants. "You have no idea how much this means to me. I'll double your salary this month."
Hearing this, the assistants were overjoyed. They thanked Daniel profusely before leaving his office, leaving Daniel alone with his thoughts.
Now, with Fiona's information in hand, Daniel felt a sense of satisfaction, knowing that his mysterious girl from the bus stop was no longer a stranger.
Daniel's POV
Daniel leaned back in his plush office chair, a smug smile spreading across his face as his assistants handed over the dossier on Fiona. It was complete, down to the most mundane details about her daily routine, her favorite places, and her closest friends. Yet, the information wasn't enough to satiate Daniel's curiosity.
"Listen," Daniel said, his tone businesslike yet commanding, "I have another task for you. I want to know if she has a boyfriend. Who she spends her time with. I need every detail—her routine, her interactions. Everything."
One of the assistants, uneasy with the extent of the assignment, hesitated. "But, sir…"
Daniel's expression hardened. "I don't want to hear excuses," he said icily. "Complete this job, and you'll find a generous raise in your paycheck."
The assistant's hesitation melted away, replaced by the allure of a higher salary. "Alright, sir," they agreed.
Daniel's grin widened as his assistants left the room. He was certain they'd do as they were told—money had a way of erasing doubts.
---
The following day, Daniel's assistants staked out Fiona's college. They talked briefly to the watchman under the pretense of a casual inquiry and noted the times when classes started and ended. An hour later, students began trickling out of the building, and there she was—Fiona—leaving the gates with a bright smile, arm-in-arm with another girl. The assistants followed discreetly, watching as Fiona and her friend walked away.
---
Fiona's friend, Maya, was unusually observant. As the two strolled down the street, chatting and laughing, Maya's attention was drawn to a pair of men trailing behind them. She slowed down, glancing back.
"Fiona," Maya said cautiously, "Did you notice those two guys back there?"
"What guys?" Fiona asked, oblivious as she continued talking about her day.
Maya subtly nodded in the direction of the men. "Those two. I think they've been behind us since we left the college."
Fiona looked over her shoulder. "Oh, them? Maybe they're just walking in the same direction."
"They were standing near the college gates too," Maya insisted. "It's strange."
Fiona shrugged, unfazed. "Don't be paranoid, Maya. It's probably just a coincidence."
But Maya's instincts told her otherwise. "There's no harm in being careful," she said sharply. "Look, there's an ice cream shop. Let's stop there for a moment."
Fiona, still unconcerned, agreed, and they made their way to the shop. Maya kept an eye on the men, who had stopped a short distance away, loitering and glancing in their direction. Her suspicions solidified, though Fiona continued to dismiss them.
---
The Bus Ride
After finishing their ice cream, Maya suggested they take the bus home. They boarded and sat near the back, Maya deliberately choosing a seat with a good view of the door. Just as she feared, the two men got on the bus a few moments later. They took seats halfway down the aisle, trying too hard to appear casual.
"Maya, you were right," Fiona whispered, finally catching on. "They did get on the bus."
"I knew it," Maya replied. "We'll get off at the next stop. If they follow us, I'll make sure they regret it."
Fiona nodded nervously, now realizing this was more than just a figment of Maya's imagination.
When the bus pulled into the next stop, Maya and Fiona stepped off quickly. The two men hesitated but then followed, getting off just a little further ahead. Maya's eyes narrowed as she saw them pause, pretending to check their phones.
"See?" Maya said, a triumphant yet worried edge to her voice. "They're definitely following us. Let's go home, but be careful."
---
Fiona's house was closer, and the route required them to walk down a quieter street lined with trees. Maya kept glancing back, confirming that the men were still shadowing them, though they kept their distance. Enough was enough. Maya stopped abruptly, tugging Fiona's arm. The two men hesitated and halted as well, their behavior too deliberate to be a coincidence.
"Where are you going?" Fiona asked, alarmed.
"I'm ending this now," Maya said, determination radiating from her.
"Wait, what are you doing—?"
Ignoring Fiona's protest, Maya stormed towards the two men. They stiffened, looking caught off guard.
"Excuse me!" Maya called out, her voice sharp.
One of the men, Adam, blinked in surprise. "Yes?" he replied with forced politeness.
"I've noticed you following us since we left college," Maya said bluntly. "What's your problem?"
Adam's face twisted in a mixture of panic and indignation. "We're not following you," he lied. "We just happen to be going this way."
"Don't play dumb," Maya shot back. "You were at the ice cream shop, on the bus, and now here. You're following us."
Adam tried to deflect. "You're imagining things. We have our own business."
Maya's eyes narrowed. "Oh, really? Then what kind of 'business' is that?"
When Adam hesitated, Maya's patience snapped. She drew in a deep breath and suddenly shouted at the top of her lungs, "HELP! HELP! These men are trying to kidnap us!"
Pandemonium ensued. Pedestrians nearby turned in shock, their expressions morphing from confusion to outrage as they rushed to Maya's aid. The men, caught off guard by the commotion, raised their hands defensively, attempting to calm the growing mob.
"No, you've got it all wrong—" Adam began, but Maya's desperate pleas for help drowned him out.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Maya grabbed Fiona's hand and sprinted down the street. They ran as fast as they could, leaving behind the sound of yelling voices and the scuffle that had erupted.
---
The Aftermath
Daniel's other assistants, who had been observing the situation from their car, saw the disaster unfolding. They quickly drove up, dragging Adam and the other man into the car before things got even worse. They sped away, just as bystanders began pulling out their phones to call the police.
---
Fiona's POV
Maya and Fiona didn't stop running until they were safely inside Fiona's front gate, both of them laughing breathlessly. Fiona was a mix of exhilaration and shock, her heart pounding from the adrenaline.
"Maya," she gasped, "What did you do? Those guys were getting beaten!"
Maya, grinning widely, shrugged. "They were following us. I called them out, and they couldn't come up with a good explanation, so I let the crowd handle it."
Fiona was half-amused, half-terrified. "That was insane! They didn't even get a chance to explain themselves."
Maya's expression turned serious. "I don't care. We don't know what they wanted, and I'm not taking any chances. Better they get a scare than us getting hurt."
Fiona nodded, her laughter dying down. "Yeah, you're right. They seemed so suspicious."
"Exactly. This way, they'll think twice before targeting anyone else."
"True," Fiona said, smiling at Maya's bravery. "But I have to admit—seeing you go from calm to shouting like that was terrifying. You were amazing."
Maya chuckled. "What can I say? I don't back down when I feel threatened. Alright, I need to head home. You be safe."
"I will," Fiona replied, touched by Maya's protectiveness. "Text me when you get home, okay?"
"I will," Maya promised.
Fiona." Ok bye maya .
Maya." Bye .
---
Back in his office, Daniel seethed with anger as his assistants recounted the chaotic events of the day. What had started as a simple surveillance task had turned into a full-blown disaster. His men had been humiliated, and the information he needed was no closer to his grasp.
"This was supposed to be a straightforward task!" Daniel snapped. "How could you mess this up so badly?"
Adam, nursing a bruised jaw, kept his eyes lowered. "We didn't expect the girl—Maya—to cause such a scene. She was too sharp, too suspicious."
Daniel clenched his fists, his frustration barely contained. "We can't afford any more failures. Keep a low profile, and stay out of sight for now. I need a new plan."
The assistants nodded, knowing better than to argue with Daniel when he was in one of his rages. They left the room, leaving Daniel alone to plot his next move.
Daniel's thoughts whirled with rage and determination. He wouldn't let one minor setback derail his plans. One way or another, he would get the information he needed, and Fiona's secrets would be his.
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