Chapter 42: Burned Alive
1245words
My fingers pounded the keyboard as I typed, trying to vent my frustration. Thoughts swarmed my mind. Scarlett hates me more than anything. Why does she think she is the only one who suffered? Why can't she see how much she still means to me? I never stopped loving her. If she wanted us back together, I would run to her in a heartbeat. Why is she so cold and heartless? She wouldn't even listen when I begged her. She threw me out of my own house!
'Argh!" I groaned, feeling the ache in my fingers as I stopped typing.
'Sir?"
I looked up to see Joy standing at the door with a little girl beside her. A child in my office? I quickly pulled myself together as they walked closer.
'She wanted to see you, sir. I couldn't refuse her," Joy explained.
'You can go," I said, focusing on the little girl, who couldn't have been more than 9 or 10 years old. Her eyes twinkled as she stared at me, and for some reason, I couldn't look away. It was like an invisible force had locked my gaze with hers. We stayed like that until her soft voice broke the silence.
'Can I sit, mister?" she asked.
'Yes, of course," I replied, my voice faltering. She sat across from me. 'Who are you, young lady? And why are you here?" I asked, leaning forward on my desk.
'Why were you so angry? What did the keyboard do?" she asked, making me chuckle.
'I wasn't angry. I was just working," I lied.
'That's strange. When I walked in, everyone else was working, but none of their keyboards were as loud as yours. Is it because you are the boss?" she asked, tilting her head. I laughed again.
'You are right. I was a bit upset, but I'm fine now. So, can you tell me your name?"
'I'm Razi Guzman," she said confidently.
'Razi Guzman?" I repeated, puzzled.
'Yes, I'm Scarlett Guzman's daughter," she added.
My eyes widened in shock. 'Scarlett has a daughter?" I blurted out. I hadn't known. No wonder I felt drawn to her. 'I didn't know your mom had a child."
'Well, now you do," she said simply.
'Does your mother know you are here?"
'No, she doesn't. She has an appointment in Quezon City," she replied. 'I came because I have seen your picture with my mom. Who are you to her?" She leaned in, her eyes boring into mine, making my stomach twist. What should I tell her? Should I say I'm her mom's ex?
'I'm... I'm her friend," I stammered, hoping she would accept it. She stared at me for a moment, silently, as if searching for the truth in my eyes.
She finally leaned back. 'Then why does seeing your picture make her cry? Did you hurt my mom?" she asked, her small fists clenched on the desk.
I swallowed hard. 'It's complicated. You wouldn't understand."
'I like solving puzzles. Just give me the pieces, and I will figure it out," she said confidently.
'Look, it's time for you to go home. Your mom won't be happy if she finds out you are here," I said, trying to dodge her questions. She was too smart for her age.
'You didn't invite me here, mister. I can handle my mom. Now, can you answer my question?"
'No. I don't know how to explain it. You are still a child; it's too complicated."
'Try me," she challenged.
I rubbed my forehead, unsure of how to explain without sounding like the bad guy. I knew it was my fault, but this kid couldn't know that.
'I did hurt her," I admitted, reluctantly.
'Then you are on her hate list. I want you to ask my mom for forgiveness. You have hurt her a lot."
'She won't forgive me," I said, shaking my head.
'She will. I will beg her for you. I want her to forgive everyone who has hurt her, and she promised me she would. Since you are one of them and because you make her cry, I want you to come ask her for forgiveness tomorrow at our house. Do you know where we live?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. I nodded.
'Great! I will see you tomorrow then," she said, standing up.
'Wait, I will give you a ride home," I offered, but she chuckled.
'My driver is downstairs. Besides, you didn't bring me here," she said, heading toward the elevator just as I received a phone call.
'I would love to see you again," I called after her.
'You will. Bye," she said as the elevator doors closed.
I answered the call. 'Sir, the building is on fire! The fire alarm isn't working!" Joy coughed through the phone, sending a jolt of panic through me.
'Fire? How did it start?" I rushed to the window, seeing staff running outside. Chaos erupted as smoke started to fill the building.
"Fuck!" I exclaimed, my heart racing as I remembered Razi. She couldn't have made it downstairs yet!
I sprinted toward the elevator, slamming my hand on the buttons, but nothing happened. Panic gripped me. I pounded the buttons again and again, but the elevator didn't move.
'Open, please!" I begged, my voice cracking with emotion. Desperately, I grabbed the emergency phone, dialing for help with shaking hands. No response. Flames were now creeping into my office, licking at the edges of the furniture.
'Razi!" I shouted, hoping she would hear me, but there was no answer. Smoke filled the room, curling around the doorframe, and the fire was growing faster.
'Razi!" I yelled again, coughing violently as I pounded on the elevator doors.
Suddenly, I heard the sound of axes breaking through wood, followed by voices shouting.
'Everyone out!" Firefighters burst into the room. One grabbed me, pulling me away from the flames.
'There's a little girl stuck in the elevator!" I choked out, tears burning in my eyes. The firefighter nodded, signaling his team. They worked quickly, prying open the elevator doors. I rushed forward, coughing and hoping to see Razi. But the elevator car was stuck between floors.
'Damn it!" I cried in frustration.
'We need to get you out, sir," one of the firefighters urged me.
'She is still in there! I can't leave her!" I begged.
'We will get her out, but we need to get you to safety first."
'I can't leave her! Don't you understand?" I shouted, the smoke choking me as my head spun.
'We need to get you out!" the firefighter insisted, dragging me toward the window.
'She is just a little girl!" I fought against them, but the fire was too intense.
They strapped a safety harness onto me and lowered me out of the building. When my feet hit the ground, I stumbled, gasping for air. Paramedics rushed to me, pulling me away from the scene.
'I need to go back!" I yelled, pushing against them. But they wouldn't let me.
Just then, I saw paramedics wheeling a badly burned body on a stretcher. My heart dropped. It was Razi. Her face was barely recognizable. I rushed toward them.
'Razi?" My voice trembled as I tried to touch her, but they quickly put her into the ambulance, fitting her with an oxygen mask.
'I'm coming with her," I said, climbing into the ambulance. My heart pounded in my chest, fear gripping me like never before.
