“I-I don’t know, sir…”
“You don’t know?” My voice thundered through the hall. “Are you insane? Then start knowing! Find out what the hell is happening right now!”
We scoured the rooms. Nothing. Not a single staff member. The house was in chaos, furniture unpolished, dishes unwashed. My stomach churned as I realized the investors were due in mere hours, and the house looked like a deserted ruin.
I pulled out my phone, dialing Amara’s number. Straight to voicemail. Again. And again. No answer.
My rage boiled. Where the hell was she? This was her responsibility. She couldn’t even do one thing right.
Then the butler returned, holding a folded note. “Sir… I found this.”
I snatched it from his hands. The handwriting was unmistakable.
“Sir, Ms. Amara said we could all have the night off. She dismissed us.”
My grip tightened, the paper crumpling in my hand. “She dismissed them? On the eve of the most important night of the year?!” I threw the note across the room. “Damn it, Amara!”
Before I could rage further, the doorbell rang. Relief flickered for a second. Maybe it was her. Finally.
I yanked the door open.
It wasn’t her.