Chapter 1: Introduction
The office was quiet, the click-clack of keyboards and distant hum of conversations the only sounds breaking the silence. Aisha sat at her desk, paperwork spread out in front of her like a battlefield. She had been the general of this particular war zone for over a decade, navigating the complexities of the automotive industry with a grace and efficiency that had earned her the respect of her peers and the title of General Manager.
Her phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with Nadia’s name. Aisha smiled, pushing away the stack of papers in front of her.
"Hello, my sweet Nadia. How's college life treating you?"
Nadia's voice was shaky, a high-pitched tremble that sent a shiver down Aisha's spine. "Mom, I...I don't know how to say this."
Aisha felt a sudden tightness in her chest. "Nadia, what's wrong? You're scaring me."
There was a pause, a harsh intake of breath. "Two women...they broke into the house, Mom. They're here, in my room."
Aisha felt her heart pounding against her ribcage.
She leaned forward, her eyes scanning the empty office as if the two intruders might be lurking behind her awards or in the shadows of her bookcase. "What do they want, Nadia? Are they hurting you?"
Nadia's breath hitched, a sound that was too soft to be a sob but too sharp to be a whisper. "They...they tied me to the bed, Mom. They're watching me. They say they want to...to teach me something."
Aisha's hand flew to her mouth, her nails biting into her palm. "Nadia, I'm calling the police.
Stay on the line with me, okay?" Aisha's voice was a low growl, her grip on the phone so tight her knuckles were white.
Nadia's breath hitched again, and Aisha heard a soft rustle, a whisper of fabric against fabric. "Mom, they...they want me to tell them about you."
"What? Nadia, what are you talking about?" Aisha's heart was a drum in her chest, her mind racing.
"They want to know what you like, Mom.