She was just about to head home from work when Elara received a call.
She was hurrying down the stairs toward the elevator of the building where she worked.
Elara was employed at a well-known luxury fashion brand called Caelure.
Caelure was renowned for its ethereal designs, minimalist elegance, and emotionally evocative collections—worn by celebrities, royalty, and elite clients across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
As part of the Creative Operations Department, Elara worked as an administrative assistant, handling tasks like scheduling fittings and design meetings, managing internal memos and sample inventory, and coordinating press releases and editorial requests.
She had started as an on-the-job trainee, and because of her excellent performance and time record, she was absorbed and hired on the spot as a full-time administrative assistant.
She reached into her bag to grab her phone and check who was calling.
Her face lit up with a smile when she saw the name: Grandma Clemente.
Elara was an orphan.
According to her grandparents, her mother Celestina had died giving birth to her.
Her father, they said, was a classmate of her mother—someone who ran away upon learning she was pregnant.
Her mother never revealed his identity, so her grandfather was never able to find him.
Her grandparents, Isolde and Clemente, had become her parents in every way.
And despite everything, Elara never felt like her family was incomplete.
Her mother had been an only child, and with no other relatives, her grandparents were all she had—along with Aunt Amelia, their neighbor who wasn’t related by blood but had become family nonetheless.
Smiling, Elara answered the call.
“Hi, Grandma? I’m on my way home. I’ll catch the last jeep trip. What’s for dinner tonight?”
She said cheerfully, one question after another.
But her brow furrowed when she heard her grandmother’s voice—soft, almost whispering.
“Elara, sweetheart… don’t come home tonight. Find a place to stay near the city center. I’ll send your grandfather tomorrow to pick you up.”
Elara’s smile faded.
“Is something wrong, Grandma?”
A strange unease bloomed in her chest.
It was the first time her grandmother had ever called her in that kind of voice—quiet, urgent, and telling her not to come home.
“Sweetheart, listen to me. Don’t come back. It’s dangerous.”
In the background, she heard her grandfather’s voice.
“Give the photo to the girl, Amelia. You take care of it—Elara needs that.”
“Yes, Uncle Isolde. I’ve sent it to her already. Just let her know.”
That was Aunt Amelia’s voice.
“Grandma? What’s going on? I’m just stepping out of work. One moment.”
Before Elara could enter the elevator, she heard her grandmother’s voice again—low, urgent.
“Listen to me, Sweetheart. Do not go home tonight. It’s dangerous. Keep your line open—Amelia sent you a photo. Memorize the faces in it. I don’t know if they’re your father’s men or people looking for him. Sweetheart, please listen—your father is dangerous. Don’t come back to the house. Your grandfather, Amelia, and I left—we’re staying with one of Amelia’s relatives. Tomorrow, I’ll send your grandfather to pick you up.”
Elara couldn’t fully grasp what was happening, but one thing registered clearly:
Her father—the man who had never been part of her life—had come to their house.
And her grandmother had just called him dangerous.
Was he some addict? Involved in something criminal?
Had he suddenly decided to show up now that Elara had a stable job?
Her heart raced with questions.
“Okay, Grandma. I’ll look for a place to stay nearby. Just send me the address of where you’re staying—I’ll go there myself. No need for Grandpa to come pick me up, alright?”
“Alright, sweetheart. Be careful.”
Elara opened the message thread where Tiya Amelia had sent several photos.
They showed two black vehicles, and several men dressed in black suits.
Some of the photos appeared to be taken near their house—men watching from a distance.
As the elevator descended, Elara’s brows furrowed.
Her chest tightened. Were these men involved in something illegal?
Had her father gotten into trouble and now they were targeting her?
Her thoughts spiraled.
Was this like something out of a drama series?
She never imagined it could happen to her—but now, it was.
Did her father owe these men money?
Were they using her as bait to lure him out?
A storm of questions raced through her mind.
As Elara stepped out of the building, she spotted a black car parked a few blocks away from the entrance. From that distance, she saw two men step out, both dressed in black suits. Her breath caught—she recognized one of them from the photos Aunt Amelia had sent.
Elara froze mid-step.
She slowly reached into her bag, pulled out her wallet, and deliberately dropped it.
As she bent to pick it up, a wave of employees exited the building behind her.
She seized the moment and blended into the crowd.
Grabbing the arm of a woman she didn’t know, she whispered:
“Sorry—can I walk with you? Where are you headed?”
The woman looked at Elara, clearly confused. But after a hesitant smile, she nodded.
She was tall—tall enough to shield Elara from view.
Just then, rain began to fall. Light droplets, but enough to soak anyone without cover.
The woman Elara had approached opened a large black umbrella, wide enough to hide them both beneath it.
And for some strange reason—as if fate had intervened—several other employees exiting the building also began opening their umbrellas.
Most of them were black.
Just enough to help her disappear into the crowd.