Hostage

The day it all began

Kimberly's POV

I let my eyes run through the walls as I climbed down the stairs. Everything looked so valuable. Even the curtains and flower pots looked expensive. I stopped when I got to the last stair, my eyes fixed on Renee's smiling face.

"Good morning Mrs. Monroe." She smiled and for some reason, my cheeks turned bright red.

"Please call me Kim." I said slowly. She looked at me for a while, as if taken aback by my request before she nodded.

"As you wish, Mrs-" she paused. "Kimberly." She smiled brightly. "I'm afraid you woke up too early. Breakfast will be ready in ten minutes." She said slowly.

"Cool." I shrugged. "I could help out."
She turned red immediately.

"A-are you sure? I mean, I don't think Keenan would be very happy with this arrangement. I-"

"I don't think he would mind." My face fell.

He really wouldn't.

Paul had informed me last night that Keenan had to make an emergency trip due to work and probably won't be back for the next three or four days...or more. I didn't even know why I was offended. I wasn't supposed to care about the fact that he didn't think it was important enough to let me know he was leaving the country for the next four days, or more until he was on his way to the airport. I was bummed until I saw the Jacuzzi.

"Besides," I faked a smile. "I really want to. I love cooking."

I did love cooking. It was just cooking with mum that I hated.

She looked at me for a moment before she finally gave in. She led me towards the huge Kitchen and then sighed. I inhaled deeply, taking in the exotic aroma of different varieties of food. I watched her wear a pair of rubber gloves on her hands and an apron on her waist before she moved towards the oven and then pulled out a trayful of newly baked chocolate cupcakes .

"So," I paused "What do you want me to do?" I rose an eyebrow. I waited quietly for her to say something. Anything. If mum was here, she'd probably say "Everything. 'I want you to slice the tomatoes and carrots, prepare the sauce, you know I don't like my spaghettini too soft and my cheese too salty.'"
I smiled at the thought of that and then exhaled. I missed my old life. I missed my real life with Isabel and mum .

"Well, if you insist-" Renee's voice snapped me right back to reality. "You can pass me the salad bowl over there." She gestured towards the silver salad bowl at my left. I rolled my eyes and then passed the bowl to her. I turned my eyes to the television hanging in the corner and then raised my eyebrows.

"Keenan likes to be able to hear the news wherever he is. He's so uptight about it nowadays." She said as though my expression had required an explanation. I looked at her and then nodded. "Keenan loves to cook." She continued.

Now, this caught my attention.

I watched her chop some vegetables and then transfer them into the salad bowl, hoping she would say something more but she didn't.

"He does?" I asked her. She looked at me and then smiled warmly.

"He does." She nodded. "He used to prepare meals for the family before his father died and work became so hectic." She sighed. "Those were good times." She smiled. I looked at her for a while.

No wonder he let her address him by his real name.

"You sound like you've been with them for a long time." I told her.

"Thirteen years." She smiled. "Elizabeth always left them in my care whenever she was working overtime. " She continued. I nodded and then having nothing more to say, I turned back to the television and then paused. I squinted at the familiar face and this time, I recognized her instantly: Maece O'Brien. I remembered why she looked so familiar too. I had seen her on TV before. Isabel had told me that she had been accused for the death of the senators late son, Samuel Levine whose body had been discovered two weeks ago, a bullet to the head. If I remembered correctly, she was also Andre's fiance.

"I just want to thank you all for believing in me." She said with teary eyes. "These past few days have been-difficult for me. I couldn't have done it without you guys, I -" she sniffed. "I just want to thank all of you that believed in me when no one else did." She continued. I turned to Renee.

"She's being released?" I raised an eyebrow.

"The real killer has been found." She dropped the knife and then moved towards the tray of cakes. She began to fill them one after the other. "The cops are on their way right now. Our dear Maece had been through a lot these past few weeks." She smiled. "I'm so thankful its all over." She paused. "I'll set the table." She reached for the coffee mug and then smiled warmly at me. "Please excuse me." She walked away. I watched her leave and then sighed. I bit my lip and then raked my hand through my hair. I picked up my phone and remembering I was supposed to call Roxi, I dialed her number.

She picked up after the first ring.

"Roxi." I started.

"Kimberly, Kimberly-th-Thank God." Her voice was shaky. "I- I'm so sorry." Her voice broke. Impulsively, I sat up straight.

"What's-what's going on?" I stammered, my voice tinier than I meant for it to be.

"I didn't know this would happen, I swear." She continued.

"Roxi, what's going on?" I asked slowly and for some reason unknown to me, I let my eyes wander towards the television... And then I froze. "Roxi, what's going on?" My voice shook.

"Right now, the police are gathered in front of the house of the accused, Gloria Hastings." The newscasters words echoed through my head.

"Mrs. Hastings, this is the police. You have been surrounded-" A voice said from the background.

"N-no." I muttered under my breath.

"Kimberly?" I heard Roxi call from the other line. "Kimberly,are you-"

My phone fell from my hand. I placed shaky hands over my mouth and then gasped.

"No." I shook my head. This had to be a misunderstanding. Mother was a lot of things but a murderer was not one of them. I would go over there and tell that to the police. It seemed like the perfect thing to do so I rushed out if the kitchen and then ran towards the door. I tugged at the handle but it wouldn't budge. My vision blurred as tears began to pour from my eyes.

"Mrs. Monroe." Somebody moved towards me. I whirled around quickly at the familiarity of the voice.

"Paul, thank God!" I rushed towards him. "He-help me." I stammered. "I need to go and t-the door won't budge, I -" I felt tears roll from my eyes.

"I'm sorry." He paused. My eyebrows furrowed.

Why was he apologizing?

"I can't let you go out there." he continued. I felt another tear drop roll down my cheek.

"N-no. You don't--You don't understand. They're going to kill her. Th-they're going to hurt her." I stammered. Paul looked at me for a while, sympathy written all over him,but he didn't say a word.

He knew.

I felt my hand slowly slide down his arm and instinctively, I rushed towards the door. I began to pull on the handle but to no avail. I pulled harder but still,it didn't budge. I heard Paul say the words "Please escort Mrs. Monroe back to her room." And before I could even turn around, two strong hands grabbed my arm. I tried to fight him as he pulled me up and then placed me on his shoulder but it was no use. I was powerless against him. He carried me up the stairs and then into my room. He put me down once we were inside the room and before I could utter another word, he walked out of the room and then locked the door behind him. I heard him bolt the door from outside and I knew it was pointless turning the knob.

"He-help me." Were my last words before I passed out.

Hey guys,
So I know this chapters really long and it might be a bit confusing to some of you but I implore you to keep reading cause the story just started.😎😎

Chay loves you😘😘