She couldn’t stop thinking about what he said. She literally freaked out after he told her about the tape and excused herself in a haste before he could say anything else. She went straight to work and had a hard time concentrating on anything.
Maxine’s office was planning for Amber’s funeral, the topic she wanted to avoid. She had to play along and joined the team to make an invitation, helping them select pictures and clips of Amber’s movies and interviews for the tribute video. Maxine spent quite some hours preparing the eulogy. They even had a team to organize the flower arrangements, souvenirs and caterer.
Her funeral will be a gathering where Maxine can use it as another networking event. It will be broadcast internationally, more publications for her and her ‘good deeds’. The who’s who of the industry will be there, gathered in one place to exchange contact details, make nice with each other while they pay respect to poor little Amber Stewart.
Looking at Amber’s pictures and videos all afternoon made her sick to her stomach. She had lost her appetite. The only good thing about that day was she didn’t have to spend it being stuck in Maxine’s office. Before she knew it, her ride had arrived.
The female employees were blushing at the sight of Brad. The charming young professor was one of the most eligible bachelors in Goldstone. He just got out of his aunt’s office and came over to where Charlie was sitting with other employees.
“Are you almost done?” he leaned on the desk.
The women were giggling with twinkle in their eyes.
“Ladies?” he greeted them.
She was done, she smiled and stood up to get ready for her next activity. Everyone whispered as she walked off with Brad.
Maxine came out from her office just in time before they disappeared into the elevator. “Have fun kids,” she said with a mysterious smile.
************
“Do you want to grab something to eat first?” Brad offered.
Her stomach growled, the thought of food triggered the reaction. She nodded.
“I know a place on 84th street, the food is really good, I haven’t had lunch myself … we’ll stop by and plan our route for tonight there.”
“Okay,” she said timidly. Standing close to him made her nervous. She didn’t know how else to respond to him. The way she ran out of his office earlier must’ve confused him but he didn’t mention anything about it.
They spent the car ride in silence, although there was nothing silent about her mind. She was rehearsing all the things she would say to him if he ever mentioned it again. She ran through every possible scenarios in her head where the conversation could go, and then …
“Are you afraid of me?” Brad broke the silence.
Except for that, she wasn’t prepared for that question. She looked at him, “No … why would I be afraid of you?” she pretended.
He shrugged, “You seemed different since the last time we were at The Silver Tongue … is it about the tape?”
Of course it was about the tape, everything is about the tape. “Did you watch it? Did Maxine tell you what she was going to do with the tape?”
“No …” he grimaced. “Is that why you were so quiet? You think I watched the tape? God, no … and no I don’t know what she’s going to do with it, nothing good, I’m sure of that.”
Charlie went quiet again.
Brad stopped the car on the side of a road and touched her hand, “Charlie … let’s talk about this, okay? I know this must be weighing on your mind, and I want to help you … you can trust me.”
She pulled her hand away, “You’re her nephew.”
He raised both his palms and backed away to his chair. “I’m going to be honest with you, Charlie, I told my aunt that she can keep the tape and do whatever she wants with it in one condition …”
Charlie’s heartbeat raised, her suspicion about him was beginning to look true.
“That she would leave you alone … she would leave you to me.”
She swallowed hard, she had never been more afraid in her life. She looked around, the streets were empty. They were alone. “What are you going to do to me?”
Her hand was on the door handle, the other one on the lock. She was getting ready to leave the car and run as fast as she could. But her surroundings were unfamiliar, she had no idea where she was.
“Charlie … listen to me, please,” he held her hand.
She yanked her hand away, and got out of the car as fast as she could.
Brad rubbed his face, “Great … here we go,” he got off the car and chased her.
**********
She sprinted out of the car, crossed the main street and ran along the pavement in front of shops and restaurants. She had no idea where she was heading, she just needed to run away from him. He sprinted after her. He knew where he was going, he was going to get her.
She took a turn and saw in the corner of her eye, he was close, he was fast. Faster than her. It was an alley, dark and narrow. Shit. She had to keep going or he would catch up to her. She ran in, a few hundred meters in, dead end. She looked around for a door, stairs, anything to move forward. Before she could think, a hand covered her mouth and a strong arm wrapped around her waist from behind.
Her scream was muffled under his palm, she shook her whole body to get out of his grip but he was too strong for her.
“Sshh … Charlie … Charlie! Listen to me! Listen!”
She struggled. He lifted her, pushed her against a wall behind a dumpster. He couldn’t risk anyone seeing them like that. He pinned her against the wall and still covered her mouth with his hand. They stared at each other. She was in horror, he was calm and collected.
“It’s not what you think … I’m trying to help you, you haven’t heard the rest of what I wanted to tell you … calm down … please … calm down and I’ll let you go.”
Her chest raised and fell, she was breathless but her mouth was trapped. She was in the verge of panicking. She closed her eyes, tried to calm herself down. Tears were sipping out from the corners of her eyes.
“I’m not trying to hurt you, I’m gonna let go but promise me you won’t scream or make a scene … can you do that?”
She opened her eyes, and nodded.
Brad slowly loosen his grip and let her go. She was stiff with tension but at least she could catch her breath.
“Are you okay?” he checked. His eyes softened, he too was out of breath.
“What are you going to do to me?” her eyes filled with terror.
“Nothing … jeez … why did you run away like that? I was trying to explain my side of the story and you just fled … what did you think I was going to do?”
She didn’t reply, she just stared at him suspiciously.
“I had to tell her that because I needed her to think I was in with her games … I’m sorry, I couldn’t save the tape, I had to let her have it, because I wanted to make sure she won’t touch you,” he explained.
“Look … I told you, if you can keep your grades up … you should be eligible for a scholarship for next year, I can guarantee that because I’m part of the school board … but I can’t help Tom … unless …” he looked away and took a moment to process his thoughts.
“Unless … I steal the tape at her house, but I can’t promise you that … it’s too much of a risk, if she finds out, she’ll know I’m lying about you, she’ll put you in trouble just like she did with Amber,” he continued.
She stared at him in bewilderment, not knowing what to believe. This was the man she admired for his maturity, his wisdom and experiences, who had been teaching her for months and guided her in a nurturing way that made her feel comfortable with him. He never gave her a reason to doubt that he was anything but good.
“Are you telling me the truth?” she finally asked.
“Yes … that’s the God awful truth … Charlie … I know what she’s capable of and I told you, I want you out of that office … you have to stay away from her.”
She burst out crying, all her fears subsided but it was all too much for her. She covered her face.
“Oh … Charlie,” he came over and embraced her. “I’m sorry you had to go through this … but I’m trying to help you … I swear …”
“I’m so scared … I saw it … I saw her die,” she said between her sobs. It came back to her like flashes of lights, she didn’t realize how traumatizing that moment was until she was in his arms. She knew she wasn’t supposed to tell him, but it felt right. Brad had saved her from danger once, he made her feel safe. She believed in her heart, she could trust him.
“What?” he wasn’t sure he heard it right.
Then she told him about that night. She told him what she saw, what her camera had recorded. She told him everything.