Chapter 1 FREEDOM'S CALL

"Hey where do you think you're going!!" A middle aged man yelled as a young lady escaped his grasp and fled from the room. The maids were caught unaware as she sped past them quickly and maneuvered her way through the men that made an attempt to catch her. The middle aged man was not far behind as he blocked her from leaving through the front door. He had a smug grin on his face "Nowhere to run now, miss Irene. You can't leave the premises without your grandfather's permission".

Irene only smirked mischievously "Oh Albert, you think that's the only trick up my sleeve?" Albert's grin was wiped from his face as she ran towards the kitchen. Remembering the back door the head maid always left open, he chased after her. She closed the door on him before he could get her. She rushed to the front of the mansion and got on her motorcycle. She turned to see Albert breathing heavily while standing by the front door. "Miss Irene, please don't do this. You'll get me fired" he pleaded.

"You've been saying that for the past 18 years, Albert. That doesn't work anymore" Irene giggled and noticed the cool breeze on her face and smiled. "I'll be right back, okay? I'll just come back once Papa is done with his 'special guest'". She smiled and sped off on her motorcycle, giving Albert a mouthful of smoke.

As Albert watched her leave, a maid walked up to him cautiously and asked "What do we do now? Master Blackwell isn't going to like this". "Then maybe you should have kept the back door shut!" Albert said looking frustrated. He sighed and walked back inside, hoping the security Irene's grandfather secretly hired for her were already on her tail.

Irene rode her motorcycle to her favorite mall. It was always a place that felt welcoming. She loved watching people with their friends or significant others. She enjoyed the sound of people talking and enjoying their time in the mall. It felt like she was seeing a glimpse into their lives- like she was a part of it.

She was still in her daze when she heard a little girl wailing not too far from her. The ice cream cone she had her hand had fallen on the floor. Her mom and dad looked exasperated trying to calm their daughter but to no avail. After much hesitation, Irene walked up to them and offered to buy another ice cream for the little girl.

The parents were reluctant at first but decided to accept so their daughter would not continue to make a scene. Irene watched in surprise as the little girl whose face was red from crying so much only moments ago began grinning from ear to ear as nothing else seemed to matter anymore except her and her new ice cream.

"Thank you so much. You must be an angel" the mother said to Irene. Irene accepted her gratitude with grace. "No problem, ma'am. I didn't do anything really. Anyone would have done the same".

"Your parents must be so proud" the mother commented. The three began to walk away as the little girl turned back and yelled "Thank you, angel" repeating what her mother had said and waved goodbye. Irene could only smile politely as she watched them leave.

She later went into a cyber café. It always gave off an old fashioned vibe because of its wooden desks and marbled floors while other cafes had tiled floors and fancy cubicles. As she looked around, she spotted her friend attending to some customers and decided it would be a good idea to sneak up on her. She crept up on her slowly and once she was behind her, she covered her eyes.

Irene, snickering asked "Guess who?". Her friend tapped her chin in thought. "Well, you're not any of my employees because they don't want to get fired and it's not Ernest because he's on a business trip. You're definitely not my pet, Powder cause dogs don't have fingers, duh" Her friend laughed at her own joke making Irene annoyed. "Come on, Marceline. Guess already". Irene fumed. The customers who Marceline was helping began to laugh. They were regulars so they were used to the banter between the two.

Marceline raised her hands in defeat "Fine, fine, I'll guess. Hmmm who is jobless enough to play such a joke like this and brazen enough to do it at my workplace? Well, could it be... My best friend, Ren?" At this point, Irene wanted to strangle her friend but once Marceline turned to hug her, she decided to forfeit her plans.

"You didn't need to roast me like that, Marcy. Who says I'm jobless. I work too".

"Oh really? What do you do?" Marceline asked

"It's a secret" Irene replied and stuck her tongue out when Marceline made a funny face. She left her customers and went to seat with Irene in the café area. "So, what brings you here?" She asked after ordering some baked goods and beverages for the two of them.

"I can't see my bestie when I want to anymore?" Irene avoid Marceline's gaze.

"You usually come when you don't want to do something or go somewhere with your grandfather." Marceline crossed her arms

Irene sighed "Fine, you caught me. Papa wants me to meet a guest of his but I don't want to. He says he's someone I'll have to meet so I got nervous and left. He seemed too enthusiastic for me to meet him."

"Oh, could it be a marriage proposal? That's just like the novel I'm reading right now."

"You and your novels. I wonder how you can read all that crap and run a cyber café at the same time?" Irene rolled her eyes.

"Hey, it's not crap. It's a break from reality. The real world is so dull, especially now that Ernest is so far away" Marceline sighed while Irene cringed

They spoke for a while as they munched on their food. After some time, an employee needed Marceline's help with some things so Irene decided to leave so Marceline could work without distractions.

"Ren, you should consider your grandfather. I think you should at least hear him out. It wouldn't hurt to meet this person" after saying this, Marceline left to help her employee.

Irene was in deep thought as she exited the mall so she could home. She didn't notice the person in front her and bumped into him. Before she could apologize, the man sighed. "Watch yourself" the man said and walked away. Irene stood there in shock then anger. "What a rude individual" she commented and walked away.