720 DAYS IN PRISON, HE RETURNED INVINCIBLE

Chapter eight: St. Augustus private ii

Mrs. Whitmore materialized at the lobby like a phantom made visible by circumstance. No one noticed her immediately because she normally doesn't walk through the entrance on a normal day. Access route is by air, private helicopter with a private landing spot at the building top.

"Hey—" she snapped at the receptionist desk. The receptionist, Ruth, looked up, recognizing Margaret first before Mrs. Whitmore. Margaret was Mrs. Whitmore's place holder and most of the employees haven't seen Mrs. Whitmore in person since they got the job.

The receptionist jerked up from her chair in surprise, her. excitement was palpable. "Ms. Margaret—"

But Margaret's expression was everything but welcoming.

Ruth's eyes shifted to the woman beside her. She gasped, her voice breaking in a mix of shock and excitement.

"Mrs. Whitmore...you're here, Ma.." She paused, unsure of what to say in her presence out of sheer excitement and respect. "...you look honourable in person, Ma. I just chased off a beggar who came here to embarrass your name saying.."

That was all she could say.

Parrr!!!

The slap connected with her face like thunderclap.

The lobby echoed with the sharp sound.

Conversations stopped instantly. Heads turned remotely.

Ruth stumbled back, crashing heavily into her chair that rocked violently under her weight. She held her face. It burned, imprinted with red five prints she couldn't see that disfigured her face instantly.

Mrs. Whitmore loomed over her desk like a shadow, anger reforming face Ruth had seen smiling on national and international Media.

"You dare deny my guest access without informing me first?" She growled.

"Ma... that man.." Realization crashed through her. "..i didn't know..I didn't know he was really here to see you, Ma." Her knee hit the marble. ".. please forgive me, Ma. Please.."

"How quack!" Mrs. Whitmore sneered. "You don't deserve to be behind those desks if you don't know simple company etiquette, if you don't know you should make an inquiry about every person that walked inside here."

"Ma.."

"Shut up!"

Her throat locked instantly. She was shaking, pleading with palm clasped in front without daring to speak again.

"Your job here is done!"

Ruth gasped, tears clouding her eyes.

"And your career is finished if that man refuses to come back to this place in ten minutes. Ten Minutes. That's all you have otherwise you're gone! And whoever interviewed you for this position is following you to the street!"

"I'll find him. I'll find him, ma." She stumbled out behind her desk. Her knee crashed against the table leg but pain refused to register when career was on the edge of collapse.

"God, I'm finished. I'm finished. I should have asked. I should have listened to him earlier.." She lamented with regret.

Outside, she yanked one door security by the collar with violent grip. "Where is that man? Where did he go??"

"I don't know, Ma.. he walked out without looking back when you instructed us to remove him."

"I'm finished!"

Her palm clasped over her head in regret and panic.

The two Securities exchanged a stunned glance.

She dashed to the curb, looking back and forth for the man She overlooked earlier. Ten minutes. Seconds ticked backward in her head like count down to execution time. Her chest hammered, sweats licked over a sore face and smeared makeup.

"Ten minutes. Ten Minutes or I'm finished."