Chapter 5 Mean

Days turned to a week I've been stuck here, no going out, no meeting people, just staying indoors against my will, not like we speak to each other.

The only time I see each other is when he wants me to eat or we bump into each other by accident.

At least he feeds me well enough, whatever he eats I eat, even on the days he buys food, he gets some for me too which makes me feel less of a captive especially when I never thought he'd care about my food satisfaction, not many kidnappers will.

Thanks to him, my ankle is getting a lot better and the pain almost is unnoticeable, I can walk normally without leaping, and my wound dried and already looks like a scar.

With the days that went by nothing felt different, I kept living the same life over and over and over again, until today.

"hurry the fuck up" he scolded. I tried to put on the wig he just gave me minutes ago with the new clothes and flats. He didn't give me the chance to ask questions, like, why am I dressed like an office worker?

I rushed downstairs still struggling to put one shoe on, I spotted him at the end of the stairs with anger written all over him, I could only apologize, for using just ten minutes to get dressed.

I almost missed a step trying to catch up with him as he left the house hurriedly.

We finally left the house, I had no idea where we were going too he kept driving so fast that I had to clench the belt buckled around me.

"Can you go slower" I managed to say

"you have a job interview in ten minutes," he said.

An interview finally explains the look, but an interview?is it the job he talked about? maybe it's one of his ideas to get what he, wants, AGAIN.

Thinking he's trying to do something good for me is a waste of time.

We finally pulled up beside a tall building, and he turned to me and threw what looked like an ID card, I turned it to be sure and my guess was right but on it, I saw a girl's picture which looked nothing like me, I checked the name and it is Joan Morgan written on the namespace.

Why is he giving me the ID of another woman?

"that is your entrance in, if anyone asks your name tell them the name on the ID"

"But my name isn't Joan"

"Did I say I didn't know that, Joan is the intern coming for an interview today, you'll be her"

"why? why can't you do this by yourself? I know nothing about interviews or internships or Joan"

"my freedom doesn't depend on how good I do in that interview but yours does listen pookie, you'll go there and pretend to be Joan Morgan"

"What if I don't want to do it?"I wanted to sound confident

"You don't have a choice and you know that" I hated the fact that he was right, I don't have a choice, I can't risk everything for nothing

"what will I say while I'm in there"

"nothing serious, go in say you're there for the interview, and you'll be directed to the office of the manager, do whatever you have to do to make sure he leaves the office at some point and attach this to his computer"he handed over when looked like a flash drive but a smaller version "that's all, I'll do the rest, don't leave or remove the flash if it doesn't say download complete, once you're done, fake an emergency or something and leave, I'll be in the car waiting for you"

What he just said didn't sound like a plan to me, it sounded like a trap, cause how am I meant to do all that without getting caught?

I know I want to get him out of my life as soon as possible but this isn't a good idea and worst of all, I am the one going in there without a plan, to plant a stupid drive while he sits in the car and relax, probably listen to some cool music while I get in trouble

"you have to go," he said

"But...." I wanted to talk my way out of this but the look on his face made me realise I don't have a choice in this at all.

I took a deep breath like it was going to make me less scared.

As I try to leave, I heard him say"If you fuck this up, I'll ruin you" I swallowed hard, I can't bare losing my life to this nonsense.

I walked into the building, and the cold air hit the exposed part of my skin giving me instant goosebumps, the temperature out there and in here were so different that even the air I took in felt cold it felt so cold that I forgot how hot it was outside.

The size of the building was huge, it had marble tiles, and the walls were painted white which added more light to the room.

It had the structure of the buildings I saw on TV, clean and rich with floor-to-ceiling windows that flooded the space with natural light making everywhere so bright.

The entrance had a large, polished logo I didn't quite understand,d and a bold writing TECHSAVVY by the side.

The odds of getting out of a highly secured place like this freely were low, with the cameras hanging on the wall and the big security men standing by the doors, this seemed like mission impossible.

I managed to keep a confident look, a look to hide the anxiety I felt inside. I found my way to the receptionist "Hi" I prayed she didn't hear how shaky my voice sounded

"hi, good morning," she said with a warm smile on her face

"I'm here for the.... the interview "

"what's your name ?"

"I'm Joan... Joan Morgan"

"you are five minutes late for your interview but I'll tell him you're here" She picked up the telephone and dialed a number and after a few seconds on the phone, she told me to go after giving directions.

With the bell sound from the elevator, the door opened and I could feel my legs all wobbly as I walked through the hallways, I could feel my entire body filled with sweat.

Fear grips me, my heart races like a wild stallion, pounding against my chest. My breath becomes shallow and rapid as if I was gasping for air. Every nerve in my body feels electrified, sending jolts of tension and unease through my veins.

My palms grow clammy, and a cold sweat trickles down my spine, causing a shiver to run down my spine.

My thoughts become consumed by a whirlwind of worst-case scenarios.

The what-ifs took control of my thinking, My muscles were tensed and rigid, as if they were trapped in a vice. My instincts keep telling me to run out.

I felt hot inside despite the cold environment.

I avoided responding to the greetings coming from the staff so they wouldn't hear how shaky my voice sounded.

The more I got closer, it felt like my heart was about to pump out of my chest. I couldn't do this, I couldn't enter this office and do what he just said I should but I can't also go back to him without doing anything, am not sure he'll spare me this time

"maybe it wouldn't be that hard" I tried to convince myself.

With my shaky hand, I managed to knock on the door that had the bold sign "MANAGER" on it and immediately I heard a come in"

I did my breath in and out exercise to help with the anxiety I felt. I entered the office with the little courage I'd gathered up.

The office was neat and arranged, it had a spacious space.

It looked like the office of a nerd with the books, awards and certificates hung on the shelves.

I stood by the door hoping he would offer me a seat but instead, he stayed glued to his laptop.

"why are you standing there? sit" he rudely said without even raising his head to look at me

"Joan Morgan, right?" he finally looked at me, Jesus.

He had the meanest look, I didn't expect him to look as grumpy as he sounded earlier, he looked like a strict grandpa, the kind that looks like they never laughed or had fun when they were younger, he had a nonfriendly look and some wrinkles around his neck and foreheads region

I know he wasn't that old but he looked old.

"why didn't you come for the interview last week" he asked but I couldn't think of a lie, the kind that Joan might say is the reason she missed her interview

"I....I...I had an accident, not a serious kind"

"Really?" he sounded so unconvinced "Yeah, I even have a scar as proof" I don't know how that idea popped up in my head but I felt proud saying that for some weird reasons

"Well thank the heavens you're here today, I wasn't planning to give you a third chance" I felt a slight relief that I passed the second step, I never knew having a scar could help with a lie

"okay hand over your credentials" he stretched his hands towards me to collect my supposed credentials that Jabal didn't give me.

How am I supposed to lie my way out of this? I have no plan, I can't reach Jabal, and going back to him without what he asked, is me signing a death note this time around cause he would surely not spare me

"Where are your credits....." the telephone rang "Yes what is it? I'm busy" he paused "What kind of joke is that" he paused again "Don't worry I'm coming there myself," he said

"you'll have to give me a minute,e," he said and angrily left the office.

I don't know what's going on but this is good, really good and the fact I didn't do anything excites me the most cause my work just became easier, all I have to do is get whatever it is he wants from the laptop and get the hell out before he comes back

I quickly rushed to his laptop, thankfully he left it on, I plugged the flash in, I didn't know if I had to press something, I looked at the laptop still exactly how he left it, I expected to see something happen by now but nothing.

Seconds after something pops up, like files downloading.

I started to panic seeing that the download wasn't fast enough, what if the mean-looking grandpa walked in? I'll be in so much trouble. But suddenly my panic changed to excitement seeing the download complete.

I quickly took out the flash and the ID from the table and left the office

I walked as fast as I could to the elevator, I pressed the button multiple times for it to open quickly, and as the door opened, I froze.