Are You Ready

CHAPTER TWENTY -SIX

Cherry forced a laugh,

"Just wanted to try your clothes out a bit."

"You look funny in that outfit. Maybe a little. Anyway, I have to go now. Take care of yourself, Amy."

Madam Yo left.

A new dawn broke, and Cherry's priority was still to track down the black cat.

She rose early, evading the paparazzi disguised as maids.

Shedding her attire, Cherry hastily bathed and dressed roughly.

She made her escape before the maids arrived.

Her phone buzzed as she dialed Carlos's number. "Meet me outside, now please," she urged.

He quickly rushed out, noticing the urgency in her voice. "What's wrong, Miss Amy?"

"Hope you have taken your morning shower?" She asked.

Carlos flashed a lazy smile, ruffling his messy hair. "Yeah, I'm good."

Cherry turned dead serious. "Listen, Carlos, I need another favor."

Carlos raised an eyebrow.

"What's the ask ma'am?"

"Take me to Country C," Cherry said firmly.

Carlos's eyes widened. "You can't be serious, Miss Amy! That's a whole different place!"

Cherry's face hardened and she narrowed her eyes, trying to be bossy.

"Don't give me that, Carlos. It's an order. No arguments."

But Carlos didn't flinch. Instead, he stood still with a sly grin on his face and gave a mischievous whisper. "I'm quite different, you know."

Cherry's brow slanted.

"What do you mean?"

"I get that I'm your personal driver, but this request? It needs Lady Yo's direct approval. And honestly, after your last disappearance, I doubt she'd risk allowing you out again."

Cherry's shoulders, once squared with confidence, now dropped slightly.

"What are you saying?"

"What I'm saying, Amy..." He took a step closer, his eyes locked onto hers.

"I can't take that order from you this time, Amy. Not without Lady Yo's confirmation."

Cherry's eyes sparkled with triumph as she swirled around.

"I knew you'd hesitate, so I took precautions. I got my hands on the Spear Key!"

Carlos was shocked

"What?! How on earth did you manage that?"

Cherry's grin grew wider, her teeth gleaming.

"Let's just say I 'retrieved' it from Lady Yo's custody. You wouldn't want to know the details, trust me."

She paused with a cunning glint in her eye.

"So, here's the deal. Would you rather I drive alone, or do you want to come along and keep a close eye on me?" Cherry challenged.

Her heart pounded in her chest, her bravado masking the doubt.

She knew she was taking a risk; Carlos might refuse, leaving her stranded. She knew she couldn't drive.

Carlos snorted.

"You think that's a threat, Miss Amy? Everyone knows you're notorious for your laziness behind the wheel," He chuckled.

Cherry's eyes rolled heavenward. She hadn't anticipated Carlos nonchalant response.

"Ah, but I've got that covered too," she declared, digging into her pocket.

"I've stocked up on energy packages. I'll be driving like a pro!"

Carlos raised an eyebrow.

"You expect me to believe that?"

Cherry's confidence wavered, her internal monologue scolded her.

"Stupid Cherry, why didn't you take driving lessons seriously? Now look at you, struggling to convince Carlos."

Undeterred, Cherry squared her shoulders and strode majestically toward the car, her head held high.

"I'm leaving, with or without you, Carlos."

She hoped Carlos would take the bait, her ears straining to hear him call out.

"Please call me back! Please call me back!" She silently pleaded.

Determined to prove him wrong, she turned to the car and examined the key.

"Okay, where's the unlock button?" She asked herself.

Her learned mind quickly identified the symbols and inscriptions on the key.

"Aha!" She pressed the button, and the doors swung open.

"Phew! That was close!" Cherry breathed, slipping into the driver's seat.

Carlos, still outside with crossed arms, tapping his foot to an invisible beat.

He believed Amy's laziness would kick in soon enough.

Cherry studied the dashboard for ten minutes.

"Which button starts this beast?"

Finally, she inserted the key and pressed the ignition. The engine roared to life.

"Nice!" Cherry exclaimed, triumphantly pumping her fist.

Her victory was short-lived.

"Now what? What next?" She scanned the buttons. She was confused.

In her haste, Cherry pressed a button that made the car lurch backward.

She gasped.

"Oh no, oh no! What have I done?!" Cherry searched for the brakes.

The car continued to drift. Cherry's panic grew.

Carlos's that was once amused became concerned.

"Cherry, hit the brakes!" he shouted, rushing toward the car.

Cherry held her breath, her legs marching the brakes.

Carlos knocked on the window.

"Hey Miss Amy, open up!"

Cherry silently exhaled with relief .

She fumbled for the rewind button, her face still flushed.

Cherry turned to Carlos, still with pride and a haughty expression like nothing just happened.

"Are you ready?"

Carlos raised an eyebrow, shaking his head.

"Let's go, and let's keep this little escapade between us, especially from Lady Yo."

"Deal!" Cherry agreed, sliding into the passenger seat.

As he drove, he asked, "So, what's your plan in Country C?"

Cherry's eyes sparkled mischievously. "The cat."

Carlos's eyes snapped from the road to Cherry.

"What? You can't be serious Miss!"

"I'm not joking. I need to find that cat."

Carlos sighed, his eyes returning to the road.

"We've been over this, Miss Amy. We've searched everywhere. We are just to wait for the results."

"I know, but I feel it... it's there. You found me there, didn't you? It has to be."

As they crossed the border, a massive billboard caught Cherry's attention, jolting her out of her drowsiness.

Her eyes widened at the face of Rafael, her favorite actor and influencer.

"It's him!" Cherry squealed, bolting upright in her seat.

The billboard touted the upcoming hit series, with Rafael's name boldly displayed.

Carlo's lips curled into a smile.

"Who's got you so starstruck, ma'am?"

Cherry remained transfixed, craning her neck to keep Rafael's picture in view as they sped past.

"I saw him! He's going to be in that series! And I need to see who's on the other side..."

Carlos chuckled, accelerating down the highway.

Cherry's gaze struggled to focus on the second face on the billboard, but Carlos's speed blurred the image.

Unbeknownst to Cherry, the other face belonged to none other than Amy.

"Who's that, Miss?" Carlos asked.

Cherry closed her eyes slightly.

"Umm... Ah..." She scratched her head, struggling to recall the name that lingered on the tip of her tongue.