Frazzled

"What did the police say?" I watched as Zen put down their phone and walked towards me.

"Nothing." Zen positioned themselves beside me and leaned on the wall.

"What can we expect?" I sighed. "They haven't been able to help us one bit, especially with Maine's. Now Virginia was kidnapped in plain sight and there's evidence, yet they still can't do anything."

"Yeah." Zen looked at me. "I just hope they're safe, all of them. And I hope that we're wrong that Bea and Helen's kidnappers aren't theirs too. Well, if it is, at least its only one group we're up against."

"Hey guys, they told us to come in already." I turned to see Snow in front of us. She's really not wearing any make-up or any bright clothes today.

"Okay." I looked at Zen and signaled them my eyes. "Let's go then!" I walked to Snow.

"Are you ready for this Snow?" Zen walked over to her other side. "Tomorrow's the day. For Bea."

"For Bea." Snow's eyes darted down. "I wish we could share tomorrow with all our friends."

"Who knows, they might suddenly appear tomorrow at the event!" Zen patted Snow's back. I looked at Zen and shook my head. What? they mouthed.

"Not Virginia, Flounder, and Maine since they we're kidnapped." Snow pouted.

"But our other friends might." I grabbed her right hand. "Let's just continue hoping for that." Snow nodded slowly.

"Come on, let's start our final checks with the company." Zen started walking towards the door in front of us. Snow and I looked at each other. I nodded at her. Together, we followed behind Zen. We can do this. Just a short triple check with the company and then we can prepare for the exchange tomorrow. Zen opened the door for us and Snow and I went in. We walked towards our respective seats at the back of the room.

"Took you long enough." I looked towards Mr. De Vera as I sat down.

"We're sorry sir." I looked to my left and saw Zen smiling forcefully. "We had to handle something about our missing friends."

"You could've done it earlier." Mr. De Vera looked at us.

"Enough Mr. De Vera." Maxine's voice echoed around the room. "We're here to make sure that everything is ready for tomorrow's event. You have the floor Dos and Zen." I stood up.

"As of the moment, Oceanna is at the venue double checking everything for the event tomorrow, setting up what needs to be set-up, checking safety parameters, everything." I felt my heart beating faster. Shit. I felt Zen grab my left hand.

"Snow here on the other hand, has been handling those performing tomorrow except Valentina at Mr. De Vera's request and has already confirmed their attendance tomorrow with the help of the company's bodyguard escorts." Zen looked around the room and nodded towards the executives. "On that note, Mr. De Vera, may we follow up on Valentina's routine documentation. We need to know what she'll be doing."

"I have it here." Mr. De Vera pulled out a brown envelope and put it up on the air. Robert, who was standing behind Maxine, walked over to Mr. De Vera to grab the brown envelope. The room was silent, only watching Robert. He got the brown envelope and delivered it to Snow. He returned to standing behind Maxine after.

"Thank you." Zen bowed. I squeezed their hand. You don't have to go that far Zen.

"I actually have a concern." Mr. De Vera stood up. Seriously?

"What is it sir?" Zen's eye twitched.

"I'm worried about my daughter's safety for tomorrow's event." Mr. De Vera glanced sharply at me and smiled. "I heard that some of our people have been kidnapped recently." Zen squeezed my hand.

"Don't worry Mr. De Vera, the company is providing the security team. Don't you trust the company?" The room went silent. I looked around and saw the other executives looking amongst themselves.

"Of course I do. I just worry for my Valentina, that's all." Mr. De Vera grinded his teeth. He's most likely planning to do something tomorrow. Another thing we have to look out for.

"Is there anything else Mr. De Vera?" I rubbed Zen's hand. He looked at me then sat down.

"To continue, may we ask about the raffle prizes on your end Ms. Liu." I looked at Maxine. She smiled at me.

"Yes, Dos, we have them prepared and ready to bring tomorrow." She stood up. "I will personally ride with the transport van to ensure that the raffle prizes will get to the venue safely. Those are Bea's precious signed albums and possessions after all."

"Thank you." I bowed at her. A phone suddenly rang. I felt a vibration in my pocket. I quickly pulled my phone out of my pocket. Oceanna?

"Hello?" I nervously looked around the room. "What? Okay." I turned on speaker mode and put my phone's speaker close to my lapel.

"Good day everyone. I'm here to report that we were attacked by a gang. They tried to wreck our preparations but were intercepted by hooded people." What? Hooded people? I looked at Maxine. Were those her hooded people?

" The hooded people rounded them up and left." Oceanna coughed. "It seems I'm a bit tired from fighting the gang members. But we were able to make one of them confess. I think all of you should know that they were hired by Mr. De Vera." All the eyes in the room shifted to Mr. De Vera while Mr. De Vera looked away.

"Is this true Mr. De Vera?" Maxine slammed her hand on the table. "Answer me." Mr. De Vera picked up his cup of coffee and sipped from it.

"Of course not." Mr. De Vera put the coffee cup down. "I don't know those gang members." I hate him so much.

"I was just handed that note that was given to the gang members by Mr. De Vera. I will read it out loud." Oceanna cleared her voice. " Make sure this event at this address does not push through tomorrow. All of you owe me. Your debt will only increase if you fail. The address written at the bottom is that of this carnival."

"That doesn't prove anything." Mr. De Vera stood up. "But if you must insist on accusing me like this, I will just excuse myself." He started walking towards the door.

"Oh Mr. De Vera," a sing-songy distorted voice said through the call. "Will you tell the truth or do we have to torture your wife and daughter?" I felt a chill go through my whole body. I looked at Zen. Its them. The one who kidnapped Rammie.

"You're bluffing." Mr. De Vera stopped walking.

"Am I? I'm currently in front Ener Condominiums." The voice laughed. "Floor 10 right?"

"Stop." Mr. De Vera knelt on the floor. "I was the one who sent the gang members."

"That's all what I needed to hear." The voice disconnected.

"Hello? Hello? Can you guys hear me?" Oceanna's voice came through the phone once more. "I was hacked." Everyone was stunned and was looking directly at Mr. De Vera. What the hell just happened? Who was that?

"Guards, lock Mr. De Vera into one of our empty meeting rooms. He is not allowed to leave the company building unless I say otherwise." We watched as guards walked inside the room and took Mr. De Vera. I turned around and saw Maxine's face contorted in all directions. Robert was trying to calm her down. I looked at Zen who was deep in thought then at Snow who was still in complete shock.

"Alright, shall we continue?" I looked towards Maxine. She was sitting down already and taking deep breathes. "We will take care of Mr. De Vera and the consequences of his actions later. For now, we have to finish checking everything for tomorrow's event. Isn't that right Dos and Zen?"

"Yes." I stood up straight. "Thank you Ms. Liu." Who the fuck was that?