Chapter 21: Mari
Jamal stood by the large window of his office, staring out at the busy city below. His jaw was tight, his hands buried deep in his pockets.
It had been seven weeks searching for Abigail, and yet, there was no result. He had thought the outreach would bring results, but it hadn't.
No trace of her. It was like she had vanished into thin air. It was almost as though he had imagined their night together.
The frustration of it all weighed heavily on him. A deep sigh left his lips. He hated feeling helpless. He hated not knowing what to do next.
Just then, his office door burst open.
"Surprise!"
Two voices rang through the room, loud and cheerful. Jamal turned to see Mari and Emily standing in the doorway, grinning at him.
Mari was dressed in a tight, low-cut red top and a short black skirt that barely reached mid-thigh, her long dark hair falling in waves over her shoulders and dark sunglasses in her eyes. As usual, she looked like she had walked straight out of a fashion magazine, thanks to the influence of her celebrity stepmother, who also happened to be his aunt.
Emily, on the other hand, wore a simple bodycon blue dress that reached her knees, and her hair was packed in a bun. Her expression was softer but just as excited as Mari's.
Jamal couldn't help but smile.
"You two," he said, shaking his head as they rushed toward him, wrapping their arms around him in a tight hug.