fear

With a pounding heart, I picked up the photo, my eyes darting around the empty office, searching for any signs of who could have left it there but there was no soul. The silence was deafening, amplifying the fear that coursed through me.

Something inside me told me to turn the picture and as I turned it over, my fears intensified as I read the chilling message scrawled on the back: "You'll not get out of it next time, idiot."

A sense of terror washed over me, and I immediately reached for my phone, dialing Lucas's number with shaking hands. "Lucas, you need to come to my office right away," I pleaded urgently, my voice quivering with fear.

As Lucas sauntered into the room, a smug grin played across his face. "Well, well, where did you manage to find my number, darling?" he quipped, his tone dripping with arrogance.

My nerves were frayed, and I snapped at him, my voice laced with anxiety. "This is not the time for jokes, Lucas," I stammered, showing him the photo. "Look at this! Someo