Oʻt her heart thudded. In truth, Sarah just wanted to get away—from him, from that suffocating mansion, from the eyes always watching her.
Aliza beamed. "Of course! We'll play games and have so much fun tonight!"
---
Elsewhere, a man in black stood in the shadows, speaking into a phone.
"Hello, Lord Andrew. We couldn't find ma'am."
A low voice responded from the other end. Calm—but brimming with quiet fury.
"What? What are you people doing?" Andrew's voice dropped even lower. "Find her. Immediately. Or don't bother showing your face next time."
With an expression that could freeze fire, Andrew ran a hand through his hair and leaned forward, burying his face in his hands. The tension in his body was unmissable—rage? fear? desperation? No one could tell. But something in his eyes made even the bravest hesitate.
Just then, the phone rang again. He snatched it. "Did you find her?"
"Yes, sir," came the reply. "She's staying at a friend's house tonight."
Andrew's jaw tightened. "Don't leave that place until she returns."
"Yes, boss," the voice said before the line went dead.
---
End of Scene 3