5

CHAPTER 5

ANNA'S POV

After a month of intense hardwork and dedication, I emerged victorious from the trial phase of my job at the pastry shop. As I stood behind the counter, arranging a display of mouth watering desserts, a sense of pride washed over me. This was just a step to achieving my dreams, supported by a loving family and my good nature employer Mrs Betty.

“Congratulations, Anna,” Mrs Betty exclaimed, her eyes filled with pride and excitement as she came towards me. “You've really impressed us with your talent and dedication. We're thrilled to officially welcome you to our team. Congratulations darling.” Shevsaid and hugged me.

“Thank you so much, Mrs Betty, you don't know how happy I am to hear this.” I was tearing up.

“Not just that dear, you're truly an asset to our team. Your creativity is topnotch and your work ethic is dynamic.” She added.

“Am just so happy you gave me a chance, and am thrilled to work here.” I told her honestly.

Later that very evening, I excitedly shared my good news with my family over dinner. Their faces lit up with pride and happiness, as they congratulated me on this first achievement.

Mom was so overwhelmed with happiness, that she took me in a warm embrace. “You've worked so hard for this moment and you deserve this. We'll always be here to cheer you on and support you every step or path you take.

Alma, my crazy beautiful twin sister, raised a toast to me with a cup of water. “To Sarah, the newest baker in town, I knew you had it in you.” Alma told me.

“”Dear, congratulations, you should give us a glimpse of your delicious goodness sometime.” Dad added as we all laughed.

Our laughter filled the rooms. We all celebrated my achievement and I was happy to share this moment with my family.

In the days that followed, I embraced my role at the pastry shop with renewed passion and determination. With each passing shift, I got better at my skill, I gave people recommendations to my customers with my vivacious personality.

One afternoon, while I was painstakingly decorating a batch of cupcakes for my customer's delivery, my phone rang and the caller identification was mom.

“Mom, what's wrong? you don't call me during this time.” I said more.

“I just wanted to know, if you've heard from your sister she wasn't home last night.” mom said to me.

“Okay, just calm down, I'll check her at her workplace.” I assured mom.

“Keep me posted, Mija alright.” Mom told me.

After working my shift at the pastry shop, I tried contacting Alma but it went straight to voicemail. I was getting scared at this point. I found out the address to her job on the phone because I didn't want to lose it. I got into the taxi and gave the taxi driver the address and he took me straight to the place. It wasn't what I had in mind, it was a nightclub. I beat up myself for not coming here sooner and stopping Alma from working at this seedy place.

I walked into the club, after going through the security check at the point of entry, with the bouncer throwing weird and lewd looks at me. I got inside and I was greeted with the smell of cigarette, alcohol and sweat filling the air. I walked inside. I was in the midst of people with sweaty bodies and stinky breath. How did Alma manage to walk in a place like this? It's disgusting and stuffy here.

Scanning the room, to see if I'll find my sister I didn't find her, but I saw a scantily clad woman looking at me at the bar and I approached her, she might know something about my sister.

“Excuse me, miss, am I looking for my sister?” I asked her.

“You're, not Alma because if you're, you'll know that you're supposed to be dancing up there.” She pointed to a stage with a plot on it.

“She's my sister and why will she be dancing up there?” I asked her, surprised.

“She was our best dancer, and she had a lot of customers, who were willing to do anything for her.” She said while taking a sip from her drink.

“Alma won't do that, I am looking for her. Do you know why she's?” I asked her hopefully.

“I don't girl, I need to rest after dancing so much, check her apartment, she might be there.” She added as she adjusted her bralet.

“Sorry miss, but we live at home, she doesn't have any apartment, you might be confusing her with someone else.” I told her.

“Listen, your sister was a stripper here and she slept with people's husbands for money, if she's missing check her apartment and if you don't find her there maybe they women stepped on their toes really made too on their threat of dealing with her. '' she said while standing up.

“Okay, Miss I don't know the apartment, can you help me out?” I asked her.

She took me inside a dressing room, because she said that my sister's friend might know the address, and she did have the address and I left for that place hoping to find my sister. I continued to call her but no response, just a bunch of voicemails.

I got to the apartment, it was night already and I was tired and hungry, I was hopeful to find Alma, and give her a piece of my mind. The apartment in front of me was anything but simple, it was luxurious from the outside and I am sure the inside should be more expensive. I was beginning to think if what that lady said was true. I went to her unit but it was locked. I knocked but had no response so I went down to the lobby looking for anyone that could help me get inside, because I was scared that Alma was inside and passed out or something.

I got in, and I was blown away with the splendor of the apartment. How could my sister afford such an apartment? I looked around no sign of Alma, I was scared now I looked through everything I didn't see her or her phone. Where could she be? I looked at her bathroom and saw a pregnancy test and it was positive, was pregnant and she didn't tell me. I looked at her wardrobe thinking to find something there. I only saw an unusual phone and I took it. I couldn't think of anywhere she'd be nowhere, as I was about to call the cops I saw a business card with the name “Noah Wilder” on the drawer. I took it and continued my call. I reported my sister missing to them and directed them to my sister's apartment.

I also called my parents telling them that I can't find Alma, my sister. I told them to come to the police station as the apartment was now a crime scene. I left for the police station and I got there and waited for my parents to arrive there too.

I was going crazy with my findings at the apartment, that I didn't notice my parents got here, so we all approached the desk to talk to the officer about what they know about my sister's disappearance.

“Excuse me officer, do you have any leads concerning my missing daughter's whereabouts?” Mom asked frantically as dad held her hand.

“We're looking into it, it hasn't been 24 hours for her to be declared a missing person, but we are doing our best to find her.” The officer assured us.

“Sir,do you need to ask me anything, I can help you with?” I asked the officer.

“I thought they'd asked you questions about your sister at the apartment.” He said the whole thing while looking at me.

“Yes, but maybe they missed something.” I told him.

“Okay, description of your sister,” he said with a hint of sympathy as he took a blank paper to write down what I had to say.

“Okay Alma is my twin sister. We are identical in appearance, except for a birthmark at her right shoulder shaped like a heart. She's about my height, hazel eyes and with long brown hair.”

As I described my sister, I felt my crashing on me, I couldn't breathe. I struggled to maintain my composure and I had to blink tears away from my eyes.

The officer wrote down the information I provided him, his expression and emotion was unreadable. “When was the last time you saw your sister?” He asked me.

My mind was finding it hard to remember the events that led up to my sister's disappearance. “It was one day ago, she told me she'll be working that night and she'll be back in the morning,” my voice was barely audible. “We had breakfast that morning, and she left for work and I haven't heard or seen her again.” I told him.

The officer asked other questions which I answered and he continued with my parents whom he also asked similar questions to mine. Each answer they gave, made me realize the absence and void I felt since her disappearance.

As the hours went by, I felt exhaustion and hunger wearing down on me heavily, I had a glimmer of hope that Alma will be found soon.

Finally,as the last statement was recorded and our signature appended upon the dotted line, the office rose from his seat, his expression serious yet confident. We'll do everything in our power to find your sister.” He assured us confidently, his words were comforting at this moment.

As we left the police station, the weight of our problem felt lighter because I knew that they'd find her in no time. We found comfort and solace in the support that we had for each other. I was confident that I'll see Alma soon.

I misplaced my confidence in the police to find my sister, or my sister was too hard to find, because it has been two weeks now and they can't find anything that will encourage us to believe they're progressing. I was so frustrated that I had forgotten about my findings in Alma's apartment. Now I looked into it properly. I thought the police would find it but no way. Now it was me who found my sister. I remembered the phone and their business card, even the pregnancy test. I'll do this by myself. I guess, the phone wasn't much luck, just a contact Mr x. I am sure Mr X and Noah Wilder must know something about my sister's disappearance. So I took the card and called the number on it.

I sat down on my bed making sure I was comfortable. I was the only one at home as my parents went to the police station. That's how our lives have been lately, going to the police station thinking that they have an update. My hands were shaky as I dialed the number on the business card. My anticipation and anxiety grew with each ring on the other side of the phone. Finally someone picked up the phone, I heard a voice from the other end of the phone, it jolted me back to reality.

“Noah Wilder's office, how may I help you?” The voice was smooth, polished and mixed with professionalism,and must be the secretary.

Summoning courage, I spoke my voice devoid of any apprehension and anxiety. “This is Anna Lima. I found this business card belonging to Mr Noah Wilder. I need to see him urgently.

There was a moment of silence at the other end of the line,as if time had stopped momentarily. “You'll need an appointment for that, he's busy today.”

“Alright, I'd love to make an appointment to see him.” I said.

“Okay, I'll be seeing you tomorrow then by 2pm.” The voice said and it ended immediately.

Tomorrow, I'll be meeting with Noah Wilder, a person of interest in my sister's disappearance, I'll be needing all the confidence and strength for tomorrow, it won't be easy to face such a formidable man, I looked him up, he's a model turned businessman and I'll be ready to see him by tomorrow. I'll just have to ask Mrs Betty to be excused to see him tomorrow because I should be working by that time.