Chapter 38: Anxiety Reaches

After their fun outing at El Palacio, the group decided to take an evening stroll around the neighbourhood and show Sharon the extremes of the nightlife in Barrio Escalante.

Hector was right outside the building, waiting for Sharon and Victoria to return. He was extremely worried because it was already sundown and they weren't back yet. He was afraid that something bad had happened to them seeing, as the neighbourhood was a bit unsafe at night.

He had also gone to EI Palacio a few hours ago, but he couldn't get in since he didn't know the secret knock. But, he managed to get some information from someone that came out who told him that Victoria and her friends had already left a while ago.

Now, he stood outside, keeping an eye out for them and hoping that they were alright.

At a junction leading to different parts of the neighbourhood, Victoria and Sharon parted ways with her friends. They were drunk and tired but were still filled with energy.

"Sharon, it was a blast getting to meet you today. We should all hang out again and soon." Pedro said drowsily.

"Yeah, girl. You are a freaking boss, Laputa Ama!" Juanita added.

"You really know how to have a good time and bring the fun," Julio also added.

"Thanks, guys. You all are amazing as well. We definitely need to do this again but as for right now, I need a bath and a bed. I'm so exhausted," Sharon said while she yawned.

"Same here," Victoria put in, "You guys get home safe, okay? We'll see tomorrow. Adios amigos!"

"Adios Sharon, Adios Victoria," they all said and went their separate ways.

Victoria and Sharon leaned on each other and staggered home.

"Your friends are really awesome, Vic,"

"I know!"

.

.

.

They finally made it home and Hector was relieved to see that they were alright. He was also very angry and he didn't pretend not to be.

"Where the hell have you two been? I've been worried sick about you girls, imagining the worse," Hector reprimanded.

"You need to lighten up, Hector. We're fine. We just went to get some drinks and now we're back," Victoria said to him.

Hector could smell the alcohol emanating from their mouths. He was extremely upset by this because he didn't like it when Victoria drank.

"Are you drunk right now? Both of you?"

"We just had a few drinks. It's not a big deal, Hector. Lighten up," Sharon said in her drunken state.

"You know what? We'll discuss this in the morning when you girls begin to think more clearly. Now get inside. If you didn't notice, it's already nighttime!"

Neither Sharon nor Victoria were able to take a bath. They both were helped to their rooms by Hector and crashed into bed, immediately falling asleep. Hector tucked in his sister first and then, did the same for Sharon.

As he was about to leave her room, she grabbed onto his hand.

"Don't be angry at Victoria. She was just trying to make me feel better by having a good time; *something I haven't done in a while.*

“She's a good girl and she really made my birthday feel special again," Sharon said, almost unconsciously, and probably wouldn't remember it the next day.

"Don't worry about that, Sharon. Just go to sleep," Hector said and pulled the blanket over her.

"Goodnight, Sharon," he said and turned off the light.

He moved over to the door and opened it to leave but stopped in his tracks. He walked back over to Sharon who was already fast asleep and kissed her on the cheek. Then, he finally left and closed the door behind him.

**********************

At the same time on the night that Sharon was asleep after her day with Victoria and her friends, Addicus was still awake on his bed back in Colorado.

He couldn't sleep that night because anytime he closed his eyes and went to sleep, he would have dreams about Sharon cutting his face and burning his entire empire to the ground.

Her existence meant that his business was always at risk if she ever decided to return and take back what was rightfully hers.

**Addicus felt that he needed to find her and put an end to her permanently, making sure that she would never pose a threat to him ever again. But how was he to find her? His most trusted men had chased her all over the country and weren't able to catch her. He had them searching for her every day, but they always returned without her which was slowly driving him insane.**

The next morning, Addicus sat in his home office and was signing some paperwork for his companies when he heard a knock on his door. He was expecting Jacobos, so he told the knocker to open and come in. The door opened and someone walked in and closed the door.

"So, tell me. Did you manage to get what I asked for?" Addicus asked without staring at the person in front of him.

**"Oh, yes. I have what you asked for and even more,"** Sharon's voice said.

Addicus raised his head and the person that stood in front of him was Sharon. She was bruised and covered in blood with torn clothes and a piece of broken glass in her hand, exactly the way she was after he had beaten her up and attempted to rape her the day she found out the truth about her parents' death.

'No, no, no, no! It can't be. You can't be here," Addicus said like a man terrified and haunted by the ghost of a demon.

**"Of course, I'm here, dear Addicus. I'm here to take back what you stole from me and to take your other eye,"** Sharon said to him in a freaky demonic voice that sent chills down his spine.

She lifted the piece of glass, jumped on top of him and stabbed him in his other good eye. Just then, Jacobos shook him back to reality.

"Sir! Are you alright?" Jacobos asked, unsure of what was happening with his boss.

Addicus looked to his left and right, surveying the room to make sure that he imagined it all. He touched his other eye and it was fine and Sharon was also gone.

*He was daydreaming!*

His anxiety concerning Sharon's whereabouts was taking a toll on him and it was becoming more serious.

"I'm, I'm fine Jacobos. I, umm, I just, uh barely slept last night and I'm a bit tired. I think I'll go... go get some rest," And he stood up to leave for his bedroom.

"Wait, sir! I have some news about what you asked for," Jacobos informed him.

"Well, did you get it?" Addicus asked impatiently, needing desperately to go lie down and take a nap.

He was sweating profusely and his temperature was rapidly rising.

"We did get it, sir. We managed to poach the company from our biggest competitors. Now, the number one company in furniture and accessories is undoubtedly Worthington Enterprise. You did it, sir! You're the biggest business tycoon in the field of trade," Jacobos said excitedly.

"That's good, Jacobos. Great job. And what about the other thing? Any updates?" Addicus asked, his mood still foul.

"Unfortunately Sir, JJ, and his men still haven't found her. It seems she's no longer in the state of Colorado."

"Well, find her wherever she is. The business is doing better than ever and every moment she lives, the chances of it all falling apart increases," he shouted angrily.

He walked up to Jacobos in an intimidating manner and grabbed his neck with one hand.

"You'd better find her or it won't be good for you," Addicus threatened.

"Sir, we're exhausting all of our resources to find her but I'm afraid she's gone. I don't think she's still in the country."

Addicus let go of his neck and left the office.

*"I will find you. You can run away, Sharon, but I will find you even if it's the last thing I do!"