Chapter 20

She picked another banana from the fruit bowl and ate it. She glanced at her wristwatch and was shocked to see that it was almost eight thirty. She had never been this late to work before, and she wondered exactly what was going through her head that made her slack off.

She quickly prepared a cup of hot coffee and some cornflakes. She wasn't even in the mood for a proper breakfast anymore. She ate the cornflakes with relish. Once she was done she washed the bowl and put it away. 

Just as she was about to leave the house, she got a phone call from her father. 

"Dad?" She said, confusion in her face. 

She had every right to be confused. Her father rarely called her. So receiving a call from him felt like a bad omen. 

"Malia," He said. His voice was very grave and foretold nothing good. Malia gulped, feeling scared to hear his next words. "Come to the family house immediately."

She opened her mouth to protest, but then she quickly rememb