Chapter 2 A Stranger's Shadow

Camila's fingers trembled as she looked at the note that she found in the wallet of Alejandro Montenegro.

"You've got 48 hours! Don't let me come looking for you" was boldly on the note.

Camila's tiny apartment suddenly felt too small for her. It looked as if the walls were pressing in on her. She had met Alejandro by fate, smashing into him on the road looked like it was a whole trick. How had she ended up in the middle of something which seemed dangerous?

She dropped the note back into the wallet and put it close as if it might bite her.

"Stop it! just calm down Camila!" she scolded herself, running between her bed and the old wooden work desk. "Nothing of this mine. It is not my problem; it is his problem not mine."

She aimed at the jacket draped over chair which was still wet from the rain. She had promised herself to return the Jacket with the wallet tomorrow. But now she was not so sure of what she would do. Camila's phone buzzed and she suddenly jumped so anxiously as she took it from her nightstand. It was her best friend Vanessa.

Vanessa: Hello babe! how did the interview go? Tell me you nailed it.

Camila rumbled because amid all the chaos, she had forgotten the interview.

Camila: I didn't make it. I got caught up in the rain and bashed into a very rich person instead.

Vanessa: Wait. What?! She exclaimed.

Camila grumbled because she was not ready to talk over content as she was too tired.

Camila: It's a long story babe. I will tell you tomorrow.

Camila then rolled her phone unto the bed and breathed out. Rest was all she needed. She would find a way to return the wallet in the morning and after that, she would find a way to go back to her boring life. Falling over bed, she closed her eyes and off she slept.

THE NEXT MORNING

The ringing of sonorous cars and the yelling of road vendors woke Camila up. Mexico City was just as vibrant as ever, yet she felt she had entered a whole new world tonight. She propped herself up and then grabbed open the wallet once again. She looked at Alejandro Montenegro from the ID Card. His chiselled jaw, neat hair and down casted eyes gave him the appearance of a man who was not used to smiling unless he had to.

"Who really are you?" Camila muttered as her thumb along the leather wallet. There was almost no way to know except if she returns it. Camila then put on a plain neat white shirt and pants very quickly and inserted the wallet into her bag. A part of her was telling her to just drop it off with the receptionist at Alejandro's Office and run but another part of her wanted to see him again which she did not quite understand.

MONTENEGRO ENTERPRISES

Camila stood outside in front of the Montenegro Enterprises looking at the glasses of the building as it rises so high as if it would touch the clouds. Montenegro Undertakings was not some common business. It was one of the biggest business firms in Mexico City.

Camila walked up to the front working space where a younger assistant with shining reddish-coloured lipstick which was barely glanced up.

"Hello! I am Camila Alvarez. I am here to see Mr. Alejandro Montenegro" Camila introduced herself.

"Do you have an appointment?" she asked.

"No but I have something that I have to return to Mr. Montenegro." Camila said as she gripped the strap of her bag.

"Do you how many women make that statement?" asked the assistant as her brow arched.

"What!" responded Camila as she frowned.

The woman then smirked and said. "Forget it. Just leave whatever it is with me and I will make sure I get it to him".

Camila hesitated because she did not trust anyone else with the wallet.

"I need to give him personally". She insisted.

The receptionist was about to refuse again when a deep voice interrupted.

"It's okay Letica. She can bring it" said Mr. Montenegro

Camila turned and Lo! Alejandro Montenegro stood there looking as effortlessly powerful just like the night before. He was in another dark suit and his sharp eyes locked unto hers.

Her heart did a tiny, nervous flutter which was so unusual of her.

Alejandro motioned to Camila to follow him without another word.

Alejandro's Office

Alejandro's office a real work of art. The Furniture was sleek and modern and the City was sneered at through gigantic windows from floor to ceiling. The man was nice but also formidable just as was his office.

Camila placed the wallet on his desk and said "You left this in your jacket."

He looked at it but made no move to pick from his desk. Did go through it? He asked

Camila's cheeks warmed as she struggled to speak. "I...I...I only did to check the ID since I wasn't sure who's that it was" she managed to reply.

"Did you find anything strange?" Alejandro asked with his gaze darkened slightly.

Camila hesitated to reply as she asked within her if she should mention the note. Something told her that her that stepping into his business was a dangerous.

"No." Camila lied.

Alejandro studied her for a moment and then reached for his wallet and thanked her softly.

She then turned to leave having a weird feeling of disappointment that her conversation with Alejandro was already over. She could not tell why she wanted to have more conversation with Alejandro. Nevertheless, she just had to leave. Before Camila could take a step, Alejandro's phone rang and his expression changed instantly as he answered it.

Say that again! Alejandro said sharply.

Camila froze and Mr Alejandro's posture turned rigid with his jaw tightened as he listened.

"What! when please? Did anyone see who did it?"

Mr Alejandro exhaled harshly as he ran his hand through his hair. "Just make sure you keep me updated. I will handle it." He said as he ended the call and finally looked at her. His face was not readable but something about his eyes made Camila to shiver.

"You can go," Alejandro said quietly.

"Is everything alright?" Camila hesitantly asked.

Alejandro didn't answer immediately. Instead, he walked over to the window and stood and then said:

"Let's say someone is not happy with me right now"

A nervous chill immediately ran down Camila's spine. "is it dangerous?" she quickly asked before she could stop herself.

"Everything is dangerous. It Just depends on how close you stand to the fire" Alejandro replied with no humour in his eyes.

Camila's stomach tightened. Whatever he was dealing with...she had a terrible feeling she was getting too close and decided to leave.

Just as she reached for the handle of the door, something very bad happened that made her blood run cold. A loud explosion echoed from somewhere outside the office.

Alejandro's entire body tensed up while Camila was also soaked in shock.

What was that? She asked.

Before Alejandro could answer, his phone rang again. He picked it up with his jaw clenched.

"They have done it!" the voice on the other end urgently said. "The Warehouse. It is gone!"

Camila's heart pounded so hard. She had no idea what warehouse that they were talking about but one thing that was so clear was that this was a lot larger than she expected and she was now trapped in it whether she desired it or not.