Sydney "There is a park ahead. Would you like to walk with me? " Mike asked. I gave him a slight nod and took his arm as we strolled silently towards the park. We took a seat on a concrete bench. There was a tiny pond in the midst of the park, which was typical. As the ducks quacked around, a few children and toddlers fed them. A group of teens were roller skating, as joggers ran around the well-worn trail. Mike was the one who finally broke the stillness. "Would you like to talk?" He inquired. My gaze was drawn away from a young woman pushing a stroller. "Mike, please accept my apologies. I had no idea... I'm sorry... I didn't intend to..." For the Nth time, I apologised. Mike laughed, though his smile was tight, "I guess we'll have to fire Annie for not shutting the door when she was advised to." "It's not her fault. I met her downstairs and I asked her to unlock the door. She didn't know...she didn't see anything...." I fumbled, getting Annie fired would be the last straw.
Mike I'd never felt so relieved in my life, and it felt great to be able to share my secrets and thoughts with Sydney. Not all the secrets though. The fact that I had betrayed her made me feel humiliated and frustrated. That was something I couldn't tell her about... No, not yet. Maybe if I had the chance years later, I would apologise to her. Make amends if at all feasible. I doubt she'd be sitting here sipping coffee with me if she knew what I'd done to her. She'd despise me to death. I'd be free of this load one day. But for the time being, I was desperate, and Sydney was the only one who could help me. As she glanced through the menu, I stared at her wonderful face. We'd taken a seat in a cute little café near the park. I weighed the situation before asking "I need your help Sydney". She looked up at me. Her green eyes are slightly wide with curiosity. "I need to borrow some money from you........in cash. But I am not sure when I can pay you back, but I will surely pay you bac
Sydney I arrived home fatigued, tired, and concerned. I dragged myself into the bedroom, stripped down to my underwear, and tossed them on the floor, unconcerned about where they landed. I poured a bubble into the large bathtub after turning on the water. The enticing aroma of bubbles drifted through the room. I stepped into the bathwater after putting my hair into and clipping it into a sloppy bun. I wanted to unwind, but Mike's confession, his secret, and his financial woes all flashed through my mind in rapid succession. I rested by closing my eyes and leaning back. I lay there for a long time, not knowing how long and not caring, because it was the first time all day that I felt relaxed. "Wow." I turned to face him when I heard his voice. "Hello," I replied quietly, smiling as I saw Aiden. "Wow." He said again, his hands in his pockets, leaning against the doorframe. At his wide eyes, I softly laughed. "You know, I've been in the tub before." I burst out laughing. "I know, bu
Sydney Aiden had left early, and I was still basking in the warmth of the night before. Until Mike phoned to ask about the money. He appeared desperate, but he refused to say why he needed it. What had gone wrong? Perhaps I could have taken a more proactive approach and pressured him to reveal why he required so much money? What if he spent the money on something he shouldn't have? But he wasn't that kind of person. He wasn't even capable of harming a fly! I wasn't concerned about how long it would take him to return it. It didn't matter to me; all I cared about was making sure he was safe and out of trouble. After racking my brain for several hours, I realised that Aiden's Grandpa would be the only person who could lend me money. I had no idea how I was going to persuade him to grant me the loan and also keep it a secret from Aiden. I sighed despondently at my predicament. I dressed up and made my way over to the freaky zone. Senior Mr Reiner dubbed the east wing such. Mr Reiner s
- Aiden - I had left early as usual, before Sydney woke up. The phone call from the workplace appeared to be urgent. Emily had been found, or rather, her body had been discovered. It was thrown into the sea. It was discovered in the early hours of the morning by one of the beachcombers. I left before Sydney was up, since I didn't want to wake her up with the unpleasant news. Whoever was behind this, the game was getting dangerous. Jennifer walked into my chamber, her face as white as a sheet, and said, "Mr Reiner." "Calm down Jennifer, now explain what happened," I leaned against the table, and poured her a glass of water. "We have received a box...with a letter...a threatening letter." She is sad fearfully. I offered her the glass, which she took gratefully. "Where is it?" I asked, folding my arms. "At the security desk..." She stammered. "Alright, let's check it out," I said and got up from the table. "Mr Reiner, it can be dangerous....." "I can tell you're worried because of
Aiden "The boy was sent away to live with his aunt," grandpa said softly. "To Ukraine." At these revelations, I locked my gaze on Grandpa. "I received a call from your father at the accident scene. He was hysterical. Of course, I called the cops. The youngster was rushed to the hospital, but he quickly fell into a coma. I looked for his relatives and discovered Paul's sister, Lucia Ponomarenko, who was married to a Ukrainian. I asked her to visit the United States in the hopes that she would accept custody of the boy. I informed her of the situation. She was a devout Christian who felt bad about her brother's actions in the embezzlement . She insisted on taking the boy back to Ukraine," he paused again. "I arranged for him to be treated at the best hospital, with the best doctors and specialists. I also paid a monthly payment of $250,000 to cover the boy's medical bills and costs. She expressed her gratitude and informed me that she had founded a clothing business in honour of her
Sydney I put on my goggles and tied my blue scarf around my head before looking in the mirror. I looked ridiculous! Why was I dressing myself to resemble some mafia mole, who was out to deliver some illegal stuff? As though the disguise was going to work, I removed my scarf and glasses. It was just money that I was 'legally' receiving from the bank and lending to a friend who, ideally, would use it for something 'legitimate'. Right ? I snapped my purse shut and grabbed a big carry bag for the cash. Half a million dollars would require a big bag, right? I drove to the Bank of America and offered my check to the cashier. He looked at me, then at the check. His eyes widened with surprise. "Mrs Reiner! Please take a seat, the manager will be here soon." "Manager....but why?" I could barely finish the sentence before a tall middle-aged man in a suit arrived. He greeted me and asked me to wait in his office while they prepared the cash. I nodded and followed him. I was offered coffee an
Sydney "Can't you explain why you need the money, Mike? The very least you could do is tell me of your situation?" I explained, hoping to persuade Mike. I had brought the money to his house. He dodged my queries as usual. "I am sorry, Syd. I swear, if you give me a few days, I'll tell you. Please don't say anything to anybody in the meantime... Leah included." He begged. "I'm not going to tell anyone, but I hope you're aware of what you're doing. I am always willing to help you in any way I can," I stated. "Sydney, I appreciate your help; you are a lifesaver. I hope you didn't have any issues because of this." He glanced at the bag. "No, it was simpler than I had anticipated. Just then, I bumped into Will at the bank. Wonder what he was doing there...." Mike's face had become as white as a sheet. "Will? William Reiner ? Did he see you at the bank? Did he....did he ask anything?" Mike anxiously stood up. I frowned, "no, I brushed him off and even if he saw me withdrawing the mon