Maya felt the hair at her back stood, goosebumps following. She was at the driveway waiting for Alex to come so they can go back home. She shivered, something wasn't right she could tell.
Then she saw a flash of black cloth Making her apprehensive as she glanced at the office door wondering how fast she could head back in there if she made a run for it now.
Before she could even process her thought, she felt an object being prodded at her tummy. She stifled a scream, shaken as a sheen of sweat was visible on her brows.
"Don't move," he was wearing a black mask over his head, his outfit also black making him blend into the darkness of the day as she wondered how long he had been waiting for her, lying in wait for her.
That was the last thing she thought because a handkerchief was placed over her face and she passed out.
***
Xavier paced around the room glaring at an equally flustered Alex once in every three minutes while both girls were huddled in absolute silence as the possibility that something bad might happen to their friend stunned them.
"Why did you ask her to wait for you at the driveway? Why didn't you just go out together with her!" Xavier snapped.
"She had always waited for me." He also looks concerned, "That was our routine, how should I have known she'll go missing today of all days."
"You should have__"
"Can you take a break?" Jasmine cautioned her eyes teary, "My friend is out there all alone held maybe by some psychopath and all you want to do is play the blame and fingers game. We can do all that later when I see that annoying roommate of mine back in this room unharmed!"
There was silence in the room momentarily at her outburst then Xavier sighed, "My best men are already searching for her. All we can do now is wait and at best expect a call or information from her captors." He deadpanned.
Jessica shook her head, "Where did you find her bag?" She asked noticing the Dolce & Gabbana bag Jasmine had taken to work sitting pretty on the bed.
"At the driveway."
"Jasmine is obsessed with this bag and won't let it hit the ground in danger or not," she stood up while the trio tried to make out what she was driving at, "She was knocked out unconscious."
Xavier rolled his eyes, "that is not news or any special discovery."
Jessica smiled, "What you don't know is that the substance strong enough to topple a human over to unconsciousness has been banned in this country and can only be found in a big pharmaceutical warehouse owned by the biggest hospital in the country," Jasmine's eyes light up with understanding.
"So if we can get a personal insight of who bought a drug from yesterday till today since it loses its potency after 24 hours then we can be one step closer to getting the preparator."
Alex nodded while Xavier groaned, palming his head tired.
"Do you know how many million people will patronize such a warehouse in the space of 24 hours?"
They considered his opinion for seconds and soon the flicker of hope they had in their eyes diminished to nothingness.
Their train of thoughts and angst was interrupted by a knock on the door. Alex rushed to get the door.
"Maya!" He exclaimed in shock making Jasmine, Jessica, and Xavier rush towards the sitting room leaving the dining room where they stood.
She stood there, her eyes almost closing, her hair a bit ruffled but that was the only visible difference in her body. Her legs wobbled and before she fell Xavier was at her side holding her up.
"What happened?" Jasmine asked immediately Maya was guided into a seat "You gave us such a fright."
"I was kidnapped." Her throat was parched so she requested water which Jessica provided almost immediately.
She sighed in relief as the cold liquid glided down her throat making her realize how dehydrated she was and how frightened she had been hours ago convinced she'll never see anyone of the people in the room staring concernedly at her.
"I was kept in a dark room and then when I woke up they had quickly covered my eyes with a blindfold. Someone instructed me to leave," she paused her gaze meeting Xavier's, "You..." Her voice was hoarse.
"Or," she continued, "I'll pay with my life."
The Revelation didn't come as a surprise to Xavier as he knew that his enemy's first target will be someone they believed he cared about but hearing her, he knew that it was more than that. It was an obsessed psycho who might have a sick crush on him.
Jasmine watched the couple not believing that the cost of their relationship came at the expense of another's life.
"Let's call off the engagement." He mumbled.
"I don't want that," she shook her head knowing he wanted her to pull out of their agreement but she was damn stubborn to make sure she did all she promised, "I can allow for a bodyguard."
"You ain't also allowed to come to work."
"But I__"
"Done," Jessica chirped in glaring at Maya who forgot whatever she wanted to say as an argument.
"And you are also moving in with me."
Maya's eye widened, "No." She argued vehemently.
"There is more security at my house, you'll be more protected there and besides, you staying here will only bring your friends into harm's way."
"What the hell are you doing? This isn't real? You know I can't live with you!" She whisper yelled at him since he was closer to her.
"Let me make this right Maya, that is the least I can do." He whispered back softly.
"Maya, we need you to be as safe as possible and away from harm's way. Xavier's place offers that." Alex started, "But do consider it for our sakes."
Xavier didn't like how Maya's eyes visibly softened at his words, a thought he kept to himself because the guy was on his side and secondly this was the wrong time or setting to growl at another man that comes close to Maya.
"Please," Jasmine and Jessica added.
She huffed not believing what she was about to agree to. "Fine."