C12 THE TRAP.

Fred's vehicle sped into the yard, the ground beneath it scattering gravel in all directions and he made a swift halt.

Not because he was scared, but because he was happy with how things were going according to his elaborate plan, his heart was thumping.

He looked at the time on his watch and oh well, it was still early. In one hour, Jerry would be back home, which was just the amount of time Fred required to complete his mission.

There was a pause in the car as he looked around to check if anyone was looking. The compound was utterly quiet with the only sound being leaves swaying in the wind.

Pleased with his environment, Fred's hand sneaked into the vehicle's glove compartment from which he retrieved a worn-out paper. It was Laura’s resume, detailed, precise, and the perfect bait for his plan.

Fred placed the document on the passenger seat, smoothing out its creases with a sly smile.

“Desperate women are the easiest to manipulate,” he muttered, recalling Laura’s helplessness and her mom’s health condition which he overheard at the cafe.

Her desperation had played right into his hands, and now he was ready to capitalize on it.

He unlocked his phone and opened his email app.

“Which one should I use?” He murmured, his brow furrowed in thought.

It had to be something untraceable, an email that wouldn’t raise suspicions.

Suddenly, an old account came to mind, one he hadn’t touched in years. His fingers danced over the screen as he typed, [email protected].

“This will do perfectly,” he said with a grin, his heart pounding as he began to compose the email.

To: [email protected].

Subject: Join Our Team – Secretary Position Available

“Miss Laura Wells,

As we conclude our interest in you as a candidate for the position of Secretary in our apparel establishment situated on West 207th Street, we are happy to inform you today that you have been appropriated for the role. Your qualifications have also wowed us and we are confident you will add value to the company.

The salary every month shall be between two thousand US dollars and three thousand US dollars based on your performance. We expect an average of one hour for the interview so that you can help us evaluate your potential.

Kindly notify us if you are interested in this opportunity by replying to this email or visiting our office directly. Please note that this position is competitive and open to other applicants, so your prompt response is encouraged.

Best regards,

Recruitment Team.”

Fred read the email again, ensuring there were no errors or anything that might give him away. A self-satisfied smirk spread across his face as he clicked “Send.”

“Completed!,” he mouthed triumphantly. He folded the sheet of paper neatly, kept it back in the glove compartment, and locked it.

Fred grabbed his car keys and headed toward his room. He couldn’t wait to see Laura’s response.

***

At the cafe, Laura stepped away from the counter to take a short break.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” she informed Jerry, her coworker.

“Don’t take too long. Customers might start looking for you,” Jerry replied with a teasing smile.

Laura chuckled lightly but didn’t respond.

A strong desire to look at her mobile engulfed her system in the anticipation of some update from the hospital regarding her mother. While doing this, her gaze shifted to one of the notifications and an email that drew her interest.

“Join Our Team – Secretary Position Available,” she read aloud, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Pursing her lips, she clicked open the email and with every phrase, she felt her pulse quickening.

"I have been invited to attend an interview, which is for the post of a secretary. The pay is between 2000 to 3000 dollars?" Laura’s voice rose in excitement.

Her mind raced with possibilities, this was more than she could have dreamed of.

But her excitement was short-lived. Doubts began to creep in.

“Who sent this?” she wondered aloud. The email address, [email protected], didn’t include a company name.

Memories of her visit to the job bank resurfaced, where a staff member had mentioned bad reviews linked to her name.

“What if this is another cruel joke?” She whispered, her initial enthusiasm giving way to unease.

“Laura? Are you okay?” Jerry’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

She quickly glanced upwards and managed to smile.

“Sure... I’m ok. I just need your opinion on something.” Laura replied as she placed her phone in his hands.

Jerry’s expression softened as he took the phone from her hand and read the email. His eyes widened as he processed its contents.

“Laura! "It's incredible!" he declared, wrapping her in a short embrace.

Laura was at a loss for a moment, pondering how to respond.

"So, do you believe that this is a good chance?" she said carefully.

“Of course! This is exactly what you’ve always wanted. Think about your mom, this salary could change everything for her,” Jerry said earnestly.

“I don’t know, Jerry. It feels… too good to be true,” Laura replied, her voice tinged with doubt.

Jerry nodded thoughtfully.

"I understand your reluctance, however chances like this one do not arise on a daily basis." Just think about it, okay? And if you decide to take it, I’ll help find a replacement for you here”. He added with an optimistic look on his face.

Laura’s eyes glistened with unshed tears.

“Thank you, Jerry. I don’t know what I would do without your support”. She replied.

“It’s fine, Laura. What are friends for?” Jerry said, his voice warm with reassurance as he gave her hand a light squeeze.

His words, though simple, carried a depth of sincerity that Laura hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Oh there they are,” customers muttered as Jerry and Laura hurriedly walked back to the counter to resume their work. It was a productive day for Laura.

***

Later that evening, Jerry arrived home, utterly exhausted from the long day. He was barely through the door when Fred’s voice called out to him.

“Jerry! I need your help!”.

“What is it now?” Jerry grumbled, too tired to hide his irritation.

Fred appeared in the hallway, looking unusually flustered.

“Can you grab some cash from my car? It’s in the glove compartment,” he said, his tone urgent.

Fred had forgotten that he had hidden something there.

Jerry sighed but obliged and grabbed his phone for light as he stepped outside.

Opening the car door, he bent down to search the glove compartment. His head bumped the latch, and a stack of papers spilled onto the floor.

Jerry cursed under his breath as he began to gather them, but then something caught his eye, a resume.

He froze as he read the name at the top.

“Laura Wells? What the…” Jerry whispered as his heart pounded.

He picked up the resume and scanned it.

It included Laura’s email, phone number, and home address and all the information she had confided in him during her job search.

Rage bubbled within him as the pieces fell into place. The mysterious email, the too-good-to-be-true job offer, it all pointed to Fred.

“Jerry?” Fred’s voice called from the doorway, hesitant and cautious.

Fred had remembered his little secret and hurriedly rushed out to stop Jerry from the search but it was too late.

Jerry turned slowly, the resume clutched in his hand. His eyes burned with anger as he walked towards Fred.

“What is this, Fred?” Jerry demanded as he held up the paper.

Fred hesitated, his confident demeanor faltering.

“I - I can explain” he stammered.

“Explain?” Jerry interrupted, his voice rising in anger. “You used her information to manipulate her! Do you have any idea how desperate she is? How much has she been through?”.

Fred tried to speak, but Jerry cut him off again.

“You’re worse than a liar and a coward. Laura trusted me, and you’re using her vulnerability for your own twisted game!”.

Fred recoiled as embarrassment crept onto his face.

"It's not as bad as you think, no," he said, mumbling.

"Come on, it is much worse than what I think," Jerry responded. “And I swear, if you don’t come clean to her, I will.”

Fred’s face paled and he replied, “You wouldn’t”.

“Try me,” Jerry said, his voice cold. “You’ve crossed the line, Fred. And you’re going to make this right.” Jerry commanded as he walked away with the paper in his hand.