Hollow

Two | Kaleidoscope

Parking my car in a random spot rather than my usual one, I get out and stroll towards the entrance of my workplace. I wave at a few people as I head to the elevators before getting in and pressing the button to the executive floor. Walking out of the elevators, I walk straight to my office to immediately get started on work.

"You thought I wouldn't find out?"

Looking up from the file in my hands, my gaze lands on Tate Gardner, the COO, leaning against my door. "Hello to you too, Tate. How are you today?" I grin, faking innocence.

"I know some board members are not the nicest bunch but you're making it a little too easy for them by skipping these meetings. This is your legacy, kiddo. No one can take it from you unless you let them."

I sigh. "Twenty minutes."

"An hour."

"Forty." I state, my voice final.

"Just like your father." He laughs before turning around and walking out as fast as he came in. I don't why but that sentence gives me a feeling of Déja-Vu.

Flashback

'I walk out of Target to my car, unlock it and placing my purchases in the trunk. I'm on house duty since our parents are out of town for their wedding anniversary. Just as I turn around to, a blindfold is placed over my eyes and hands engulf my wrists, holding them behind my back.

I try to scream but a hand covers my mouth and then pushes inside what I assume is a car. I listen closely to any voices but I can't hear much because the car starts to move. Moments later, the car comes to a halt and I hear the sound of a car door. I don't get the chance to elaborate an escape plan because I'm grabbed again —more like manhandled, out of the car and that was the last thing I heard before I passed out.

Prying my eyes open, I come face to face with a tall and brooding man who looks like he's in his late twenties, standing in front of me. I'm not even gonna bother denying that he's fine.

"Allow me to apologize on behalf of my men." He says, side-glancing the armed men standing next to him before averting his gaze back to me. "They don't have the slightest idea on how to treat a woman." Then he nods in my direction. One of his men strolls towards me and starts to untying me from the chair.

"And you do?" I taunt. The handsome man takes a few steps forward, coming to stand in front of me and extends his hand. "Why would I go anywhere with you after you kidnapped me?"

He smirks. "Would you have come willingly if I hadn't?"

"Anything would have been better than this." I raise my arms to show him my bruised wrists.

He looks at my wrists, giving me a sad smile before turning his back to me and nodding his head to the door. I sigh, gesturing for him to lead the way. We walk in silence and I take my time to analyze my surrounding but nothing is familiar. We reach a door reading 'Pierce, CEO'.

He urges me to enter with him. I walk in to find a black office chair facing the window. I gotta admit the view of the city is beautiful from here. I was so lost in the view I didn't even notice that the chair had turned, a brunette woman now facing me.

I take a deep breath, meeting her gaze. "Look, I don't know who you are and frankly, I don't give a shit. Let me go."

"On the contrary, you should give a shit."

"Let's get this over with then."

"Just like your father." She chuckles, a hint of amusement in her tone. "My name is Nova Wright. I work for your father." She says standing from her seat and starts roaming through the files on her desk.

"My father was a good man, you don't strike to me as the good type!"

She holds out a file that I take and quickly open. There's medical records, bank statements, contracts, highly classified files, family pictures, dead bodies and blood...so much blood.

"What is this?" I look at her horrified. She opens her mouth to reply but is interrupted by someone I recognize as one of my father's closest friends who I've grown to call Uncle Tate, bursting through the door.

He walks toward me and engulfs me into a hug. "I am so sorry."

"Why? What's wrong?" I ask, giving him a confused look as we pull back.

"Zahra, your parents were involved in a car accident, they didn't make it. I'm sorry."

Have you ever felt like the world was crumbling and everything was suddenly magnified in a matter of seconds? Like you were falling into a deep tunnel filled with only darkness? The images of every single moment spent with my parents flash in front of my eyes and I feel tears build up slowly. I don't even think I'm breathing properly.

"You okay, Zahra?"

I nod, wiping the tears that escaped from eyes before looking up at Nova. "I'll ask you last time. What am I doing here?"

She doesn't reply and points to the folder instead. I open it again and read the information. Manufacturing...entrepreneur and philanthropist, Armand Pierce. I take out the picture of my parents smiling at the camera. They looked so happy. As I continue to read through the file, I notice an envelope with my name on it. I open it.

'My sweet Zahra,

You are a beautiful, smart, fierce and very brave girl. We've always known you were destined for greatness and that's why we leave Pierce Industries in your capable hands.

Luca, my darling angel, you are a strong-willed young man and we have no doubt you'll do wonders in the future. Stick together even when you feel like it's goes against your better judgement.

We love you both very, very much,

Mom and Dad'

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I open them and look at the woman in front of me. I have to do this, if not for me but for them and for Luca.'