CHAPTER 17

Darius

“ Before you say anything D ,I asked because I knew you were still there. I asked because the minute you saw the guy you were pissed,I asked because you haven't moved on and neither has she. So figure it out D. I told you in the beginning that I don't believe she Did any of those things. Find solid proof that she did it D if you can't. Then try ,For your sake and her's try to make it work Darius “. He said, looking at me.

“ Fine”.

I left the hospital and headed to the office, without Grayson I had double the amount of work. For the past week my workload has increased , I realized how much of an asset Grayson was . When I visited him in the hospital he would just laugh saying now I should understand why he needs a vacation. I vowed after he got back to work, I'd let him have as much vacation time as he wanted.

Whenever I visited the hospital,She was nowhere in sight. I've been visiting Grayson for a week and saw her a total of three times. Someone was always with her. She never looked at me or even acknowledged my presence. I was the one that told her I didn't want to see her and it pissed me off why? ,I had no fucking idea. She was doing what I told her to do and now it was a problem for me.

I had just ended a meeting one Monday morning when my grandmother walked in.

“ And what brings you here Mrs Cirano ?”I said looking at her. She sat down and looked at me. Yeah she had something on her mind.

“ I left you Alone. I never asked Darius . You forbade us from ever mentioning her name and I let it go. I know you didn't want to marry her but you did it because I asked you to. When I saw you,you were happy and smiling,you said I was right that you needed each other. So why did you have to hurt her in this way ?” ,she said, throwing the papers onto my desk.

I picked it up. That's when I took notice of what I was actually seeing.

“ Grandmother this isn't real” ,I said looking at the pictures. She didn't believe me.

“ Grandmother I swear, you can even ask Grayson. I never touched Jasmine. Well before McKenzie there were others but never after her and sure as hell not Jasmine. Wait where did you get this”. I asked her.

“ That is why she left the night. The night you kicked her out. I had to promise no to do or say anything to you before she gave me them. Someone sent this to her that night,she thought you lied to her so she was leaving. Only to find out when she returned you accused her of god knows what “. She said , okay the old lady was getting angry. Her anger rivals mine.

“ Then why didn't she say anything?”.

“ Because of Jasmine. She said everything began falling apart because of her. She said she accepted because she understood that the two of you are from different worlds. That is all I will say as for Ms …”.

Just then Jasmine walked in.

“ Oh hello Cynthia “ ,she said, pulling up a chair. Yea the hatred in my grandmother's face was evident. My grandmother stood up and looked at her.

“ To you I am Mrs Cirano . Only the people I trust and are close to me are allowed to call me by my name. Darius I've said what I've said. Now you make a choice: do you want a friendship or do you want a wife? ”. She said walking out of the office.

I threw the pictures in front of Jasmine. She picked them up.

“ What the hell Darius ….. is this why she's angry at me ?”.

“ Did you know about these?” ,

“ Oh God no.. Darius I don't…. ”

“ Get back to work jasmine ”. I said opening my laptop. She left the pictures and walked out. This was a fucking headache. Who do I believe? I was brooding over this New situation when Ruddy walked in.

“ Sir ?”.

“ What do you have for me ?”. I said looking at him. He started tugging on his tie and shirt collar. He was anxious

“ Did she do it ?” ,

“ No sir. Sir I don't know if I can believe this but. First off the pictures are fake , they're edited. I had a computer friend of mine exam them . He said they were edited in a way to make anyone, even a professional, think they were real ,he said all pictures contain marker's of time and date they had none. The documents are copies not real either. Sir, I think he did something bad to her”. He was fidgeting now.

“ Who and what are you talking about?”.

He handed me a folder.

“ I didn't think she would do something like that sir, she just seemed too innocent . So I had my friend check her phone calls and logs. All calls were to the older Mrs Criano, Ms Mitchell, Marlene and you. So are all the messages however one set was deleted. These are the deleted messages sir. I think she was being blackmailed and it was her step brother.Also she received pictures.”.

“ What pictures ?”., I asked

“ Intimate and inappropriate pictures of you and Ms Dupree. I had him check where they came from but it was an online site. So no clue there” ,he said.

So she really did get them , that's why she left that night, that's why she was angry.

I looked at him. I've known Ruddy to be smart , capable and competent.

“ Sit down Ruddy “. He sat down

“ I'm sorry sir it's just , I'm sure when everything is out in the open it may be bad”.he said

I opened the folder.

20/ 05 / 2020

Unknown

Unknown: Hello, hello

McKenzie: Who is this ?

Unknown: My my my little McKenzie has grown up. Did you miss me sis?.

McKenzie: How did you get this number?

Unknown: I have my ways , wanna meet up sis?

McKenzie: Leave me alone Gabriel

Unknown: So little McKenzie left wellington,made a place for herself. A top medical student too. Married or living with the Rich and nobel Darius Cirano huh.

McKenzie: please Gabriel, please don't do this?

Unknown : Do what sis?. I just want to reconnect ,and meet my In-laws.

McKenzie : Please Gabriel, leave me alone. I want nothing to do with you or them.

Unknown : Very well then. I guess I'll stop Mr Cirano on his way to work and let him in on all the fun we had when you were little. Or How about I drop by the medical school and let your friends know?. What do you say Kenzie?. Should I let our parents know where you are?

McKenzie: Why are you doing this to me ? ,

Unknown : Why ? Because we didn't have enough fun. I was just starting to enjoy Your beautiful body. You've turned into a beautiful woman and I can't wait to get you again.

McKenzie: STOP ,STOP STOP.PLEASE. what Do you want ? Just leave me alone.

Unknown: Two million dollars

McKenzie: Okay.

Unknown : by Friday

McKenzie: okay

Unknown : Don't make me wait And McKenzie. You know I hate waiting.

20/05/2020

Zara

McKenzie : He found me

Zara : Who ?

McKenzie: Gabriel

Zara : WHAT ? Okay where are you?

McKenzie : At home. He knows I'm with Darius , he wants two million dollars to leave me alone.

Zara : Okay, I have two million.

McKenzie : No. I have money,Zara. I've lived carefully. I buy clothes online. I don't go anywhere, just school, so how did he find me? The money Is not the problem . This won't be the last time he does it. If I give him he'll keep asking for more and if I don't give him you know what will happen.

Zara : The only way this stops Kenzie is if you trust Darius enough and tell him , I know you don't want to share your past.

McKenzie : I just need more time Zara. But time is what I don't have. Jas has been here more and more and everytime she Sees me she's always smirking at me.

Zara : So that's why you've been going to the library alone, especially when I can't make it. You lied to me saying you were home.

McKenzie : I can't be around her. She makes me uncomfortable and she's Darius's friend. I need time but I'm running out of it.

Zara : Okay whatever you decide to do, I'll stand by you. Should we tell Cynthia?

McKenzie : No.if she knows she won't stay quiet and Darius is bound to find out.

Zara : Okay whatever decision you make I'll accept it. I just don't want him to hurt you again.

McKenzie : he won't not as long as he has the money. Jasmine is here again. I'm going to the library.

Zara : Give me ten minutes, I'll pick you up

McKenzie : Thanks Zara.

Zara : Laters babe.