As much as her instincts scread at her to act quickly, she forced herself to think. Was this a threat? A warning? Her mind raced with questions, but there was no ti to dwell on them. Her next steps had to be calculated.
With a sharp motion, Es reached for the small brass bell perched on her desk, tapping it firmly. Its high-pitched ring pierced through the stillness of the room. Within monts, the door swung open, and Helga, her ever-efficient secretary, appeared, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor.
"You called, ma’am?" Helga asked, her professional deanor never wavering, though she sensed the tension radiating from Es.
"Yes," Es nodded, her voice tight but controlled. She grabbed her phone and held it out to Helga. "I need you to trace this number imdiately. Find out who sent this ssage and where it ca from." Her eyes narrowed, voice dropping. "And I want results fast."
Helga’s eyes darted to the screen for a brief mont, her own brow furrowing slightly as she saw the ssage. Without another word, she took the phone and nodded. "Right away, ma’am." She left the room with purpose, her heels echoing down the hallway.
Es watched her go, her mind spiraling back to the ssage. Her gut told her this was no prank, but she still clung to a faint hope that it might be just that. Maybe soone was playing an elaborate joke on her. But why now? And why those words? She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts, but the nagging sense of dread wouldn’t leave her.
She grabbed her phone again, her fingers moving almost on autopilot as she scrolled through her contacts. She found Jay’s number and hit dial, her heart picking up its pace as she waited for him to answer.
Two rings later, his familiar voice ca through. "Hello?"
"Where are you?" Es asked, her voice sharper than she intended.
There was a pause on the other end. "Uh, I’m at ho," Jay replied, sounding confused. "Why? What’s going on?"
Es leaned back in her chair, biting the inside of her cheek. "Who’s with you? Is there anyone new in the house?"
Jay’s confusion deepened, and she could almost hear him frowning. "No, it’s just Aron and the bodyguards. Why? Es, you’re freaking out a little. What’s this about?"
Es exhaled slowly, trying to calm the frantic beating of her heart. She knew she couldn’t panic him with just a text ssage, no matter how eerie it felt. If she was wrong, she’d be alarming everyone for nothing.
"Just stay inside the house," she said, forcing her voice to remain steady. "Don’t go outside unless you absolutely have to. And if you do, make sure the bodyguards are with you."
"Es, what is this about?" Jay pressed, the worry in his voice now evident. "Is there so kind of threat?"
She hesitated, knowing she couldn’t be too vague or he’d worry even more. "It’s probably nothing, just a precaution. But humor , okay? Stay inside, and don’t take any chances."
After a long pause, Jay finally relented. "Alright, I’ll stay put. But you need to tell what’s going on when you can."
"Will do," Es muttered, before hanging up and imdiately dialing Rayan’s number.
The phone rang twice before Rayan picked up, sounding slightly distracted. "Hello? What’s up?"
"Where are you right now?" Es’s voice was demanding, the tension she’d been holding back now spilling over.
Rayan raised an eyebrow, though she couldn’t see him. "In my cabin at the hospital, why? Is sothing wrong?"
Es’s mind raced as she tried to find the right words. "Are you alone? With anyone you don’t know?"
Rayan blinked, looking around his office at the patient sitting in front of him. "Es, I’m a doctor. Of course, I’m with strangers. What’s going on? You’re being weird."
Es clenched her jaw, rubbing her temple in frustration. She always forgot the little details in monts like these. "Just answer . Are the bodyguards I sent with you?"
Rayan glanced at the corner of his office, where three bodyguards stood, silent and imposing. "Yeah, they’re here. Why are you asking all this?"
"Good," she said, exhaling in relief. "Don’t leave the hospital without them. And when your shift is over, go straight ho. Cancel any etings. Jay’s ho alone, and I don’t want anyone in the house unless they’re bodyguards."
"Wait, cancel my etings?" Rayan’s voice grew incredulous. "Es, you’re overreacting. What’s really going on here?"
"I’m not overreacting," she shot back, her voice growing more desperate by the second. "I can’t explain it right now, but sothing’s off. I just need you to trust . Please."
There was a beat of silence, the weight of her words sinking in. Finally, Rayan sighed. "Alright, fine. I’ll head ho as soon as I can. But you owe an explanation."
Es hung up the phone, her mind still churning, trying to piece together the scattered fragnts of her worry.
Es took a deep breath as she dialed Kai’s number, her fingers trembling slightly against the smooth glass of her phone. She hoped he would pick up. When his voice finally ca through, she felt a rush of relief wash over her. "Es! I’m still at the office," he said, his tone steady. At least he was safe, ensconced in the familiar surroundings of their workplace. That eased her mind a little.
After hanging up, she quickly turned her attention to Ray. Dialing his number, she listened as the phone rang endlessly. One ring... two... three... But no answer. She bit her lip, anxiety creeping in as she tried again. Four tis, she thought, her heart sinking with each failed attempt.
Glancing at her watch, she felt a chill grip her stomach. Three hours had passed since Ray had said he would return in two. From what she knew about Ray, punctuality was his hallmark. If he said he would be back in two hours, he would do just that. He wasn’t soone to make such a mistake.
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