Oh, Snap!

You Have 90 Seconds to Leave

"Now's not a good time," she said. "You can't be seen with me right now. You need to lea—"

"Sorry, if who sees me? What's going on?"

Ana felt a thin layer of perspiration collect on her shaky hands. His persistence concerned her.

"I'm saying you need to leave. You can't be seen with me. Not here. Not now. That may sound strange to you, but I'm serious—you have 90 seconds to leave. If they see you—and don't ask me who, because I can't tell you—but if they see you, trust me they will kill you. Trust me, Zach."

With narrowed eyes and a creased forehead, Zach peered at Ana as if he was searching for a missing puzzle piece on her face. Was this really the same seemingly mousy girl he had just hired to be his executive assistant?

"Ana, I don't understand. I just wanted to say hi, but you're scaring me. Is something wrong? Are you in danger? What and who are you talking about?"

"You have 60 seconds."

"Excuse me, Ana."

"58 seconds."

"Ana! Could you jus—"

"LEAVE, Zach. LEAVE. You have a family! You have a wife and children and a company and employees who count on you, who need you—myself included. Trust me when I say, thank you for saying hi but right here, right now, you need to LEAVE."

Zach was taken aback by the desperation in her voice. His eyes quickly traveled about the room. It was an ordinary restaurant in a regular part of town. Ana was sitting in one of the many red and white vinyl booths that matched the cushioned barstools and nicely complemented the white wallpaper and countertops. He glanced out the window and could see a black SUV pulling into the parking lot. Tires screeched as it maneuvered into a spot. Before he knew it, Ana was yanking him towards her, clutching his shirt in her fist so their eyes were level and he was only an inch or two away from her perspiring face.

"You have 10 seconds to leave this building, God damn it, so leave. If you go now, you will live, and I will see you at work again at 9 a.m. on the dot tomorrow. But if you stay..."

His attention was disrupted when all four of the car doors opening at the same time. Zach's could feel his heart beating through his chest and Ana, who was also distracted by the sound, released him from her grip and pushed him in the opposite direction.

"Run," she said emotionlessly. Ana wiped the sweat from above her brow as she turned her cheek to him. "You have approximately three seconds left. Three..."

Zach's breath caught in his chest, and he fled the scene. The sound of the door chimes ringing was the last thing he heard and her face turning blank was the last thing he saw.