20: Change Of Plans

My heart rate skyrocketed as Diego Fernandez's piercing gaze bore into me. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead and my heart continued to race erratically. The walls seemed to close in on me as I realized I had been caught. In that moment, I couldn't bring myself to think of an escape route.

It was over for me!

"Nicole?" Diego's brows twitched as he called my name.

In that split second, my heart stopped beating as I tried my hardest to fabricate a plausible explanation but to no avail. I ended up closing my mouth as no words could emerge. The intensity of his stare rendered me completely speechless and sent chills down my spine.

"You can walk?" His eyes broadened in surprise. "And you were talking about giving someone an extra reward. Who were you speaking to on the phone?"

"It was..." My voice trailed. I tried again to come up with an excuse, but my brain seemed to have stopped functioning. I mentally cringed at my carelessness.

"It was who?" He probed.

"My...my friend, Ro...Ro