Chapter 210: Stockholm Syndrome
LATTON had just finished speaking to Boris over the phone when Igor pulled up the car in front of the manor’s main entrance.
He opens the door for her and soon gets into the driver’s seat. “Where to Miss?” He asks nicely, his voice sounds jovial instead of threatening.
She grinned, “Aren’t you a bit gleeful today?” She uttered without looking at him.
He scoffed, “Can’t I be happy?” He answered sarcastically with his thick Russian accent.
She smirked. “Well, that’s more like it.” She mumbled. “I spoke to Boris today.” She paused and then glanced at Igor, observing if there were changes in his demeanor.
She noticed that he gripped the stirring wheel tighter upon hearing her words.
He cleared his throat, “What did the boss say?” He inquired while staring at her through the rearview mirror.
She leaned comfortably on her seat and then clasped her hands on top of her knees.
“Your boss told me that you insist on working for me as a driver. Why is that?” She asks curiously.
He laughs, “What can I say? Originally, I needed to lie low, but you pay good money for easy tasks. This is the first time in a long time that I haven’t sent anyone in a bag or box.” He sighs. “I’m not getting any younger in the line of work that I do. I will be out of work soon.” He explains as he focuses his gaze on the road.
“That’s it?” She remarks.
He nods.
“Just make sure that I won’t be incriminated with any of your illegal stuff, and you can continue working for me.” She commented while scrolling through her phone looking at the photos of her and Lucian.
He nods. “So where to?” He asks in sarcasm.
AT the Imperial Mall.
Vivian Bloom was seated in a café enjoying a cup of coffee near the fountain, patiently waiting for Latton’s arrival. Soon, a five-foot-two redhead stood near her.
“Latton,” Vivian greeted gleefully. She stood up and gave Latton a quick peck on the cheek, which the latter gladly received.
“Sorry, I’m late. I got stuck in the traffic.” She explains.
Vivian smiled, “No worries. I just got here myself.” She mumbles while marching towards the men's clothing store.
Latton followed behind her. “So… what are you planning to buy for John?” She inquired.
“Cufflinks,” Vivian answered as she turned around to look at Latton. “So…” She uttered in a low intriguing voice.
Latton’s eyes narrowed waiting for Vivian to finish her sentence.
“You and Lucian are back together,” Vivian mumbles merrily while wrapping her hand in Latton’s arm.
Latton smiles and then nods vigorously. “Yes. Yes. We are.” She replied as she blushed in glee.
CONCURRENTLY, at Caldwell Inc.
At John’s office, Lucian made sure John was in a meeting from 1 PM till 5 PM, giving all the time Vivian and Latton needed to buy him a gift.
“Why do I need to attend these meetings on your behalf when you are actually here?” John asks in confusion while looking at his schedule.
Lucian sighs, “I have a few out-of-the-office errands that I need to attend, and, as a person who already has experience with the CEO tasks, you are the only person I could count on.” He explains while patting John’s back as if giving him words of encouragement.
John gasped in disbelief, “This is not fair. I’ll be having a party tomorrow. I should be on leave helping Vivian,” He reasons.
Lucian shook his head, “Vivian can take care of everything. She won’t need your out-of-date opinions.”
John's eyes twitched in annoyance, “You know what? Just leave.” He remarked while pointing at the door.
Lucian laughed and marched out of the room when, suddenly, John spoke, “I’m happy that you and Latton are back together.”
Lucian’s hand was already on the doorknob and his movements were put to a halt. He glanced back at John. “Yeah, and I’m planning to be with her as long as I live.” He muttered softly.
John grinned, “Have your memories returned?” He asked curiously.
Lucian shook his head, “No. But it doesn’t matter, we can make new ones,” he remarks.
-
BACK at the Imperial Mall.
Vivian and Latton enter the third men’s boutique, but Vivian can’t seem to find the best cufflinks for John.
Vivian sighed, “I didn’t know looking for a gift would be this hard.” She uttered while looking at the display.
“Do you have any specifics? Like color? Price? Design?” Latton asks while glancing around.
Vivian shook her head. “I want a cufflink that will remind me of John when I see it.” She stated in a tired voice.
Latton laughed, “Just like the teddy bear that I bought for Lucian.” She thought to herself.
“What if we take a break and buy something that ‘you’ like,” Latton suggested.
Vivian’s eyes lit up, “Good idea. There’s a store that I really want to check.” She uttered enthusiastically.
Soon they arrived at the shop Vivian was referring to.
The displayed dresses are elegant, and the shop has both men's and women's clothing.
“Not bad,” Latton commented while checking the clothes on the rack.
“Welcome to our store. All of our clothes are made to order, the dresses on the display are only samples, and we have an in-house designer who could draw the dress you need.” The store clerk says.
Vivian smiled at the clerk and began taking a few clothes with her. “I want to try a few styles. If I want any of them, I’ll call you.” She replied.
The store clerk bowed her head then left to welcome other patrons.
“Do you want me to help you with that?” Latton asks while looking at Vivian holding 5 different dresses with different colors and styles.
Vivian nods, “It’s not actually for me. It’s dresses for bridesmaids.” She states.
“Do you have a theme in mind?” Latton asks as she follows Vivian into the dressing room.
“Red, Blue, or Aquamarine,” Vivian uttered as she entered the dressing room.
Latton laughs, “Those are totally different colors. Usually, people choose from different shades of the same color. Like blue, azure, cobalt, navy.” She explains.
“Well, I never dreamed that my wedding would be extravagant. When John and I met, we were not well off. We usually ride the train and bus… So I only thought that if we got married it would only be a civil wedding and the reception would be in a small restaurant.” She describes. As she tries on the dress.
Latton lowered her head, “I wonder what would be the theme of our wedding if Lucian and I got married?” She thought to herself.
She was soon brought back to her senses when she heard a familiar voice, “Latton. Latton Ripley, is that you?”
Latton turned around and met a pair of emerald eyes. “Malena,” she replied.
Vivian then slightly opened the dressing room door. “Malena? What are you doing here?” She uttered.
“I work here. I’m the in-house designer.” She remarks proudly.
Latton smiled, “Good for you.” Then her eyes landed on Malena’s bionic arm. “Seems like the bionic arm works well?” She added.
Malena nodded. “I never felt more complete after losing an arm,” she said jokingly.
Vivian cleared her throat, “This is weird. What do you even want?” She asks.
Malena gasped, “Ahhh… Can I speak to you in private?” She asked Latton stammeringly.
Latton glanced at Vivian and the latter gave an approving look.
“Sure.” She replied, then followed Malena to her office.
MEANWHILE, After leaving John in the office, Lucian drove to the Caldwell residence where his parents, Alicia and George had just woken up from their afternoon nap.
“I want to tell you something important…” Lucian mumbled and the next words Alicia and George heard made their jaws drop.
George and Alicia stared at each other, then in unison, they said, “We will support your decisions.”
Soon, he left and drove on his final journey for the day.
BACK at the Imperial Mall.
Latton sat in front of Malena’s table.
“What do you want to talk about?” She asks calmly.
Malena started pacing and seemed to be uncomfortable.
“Is everything okay?” She asks gently.
Malena nodded then smiled faintly. “I don’t know where to start.” She uttered then sighed deeply. “But here it is… I want to thank you for saving me and for this.” She mumbled softly while pointing at her bionic arm.
Latton waved her hand and gestured for her to stop, “You don’t need to thank me. That happened to you because of me. I don’t know if the police have already told you about this, but Henri is an old friend of mine, and he mistook you for a person who wants to harm me…” She lowers her head. “He is a nice person. Gentle. Loving. But he has his own demons.” She explains.
Malena slowly sat on her chair, “I don’t think it's a mistake. I did harm you. So… I deserve it.” She replied, then reached for Latton’s hand.
Latton’s eyes dilated in confusion.
“I… I want to know more about Henri. I want to see him again.” Malena blurted out her face, conveying a gentle smile while muttering Henri’s name.
“Why don’t you ask him yourself?” Latton replied while patting Malena’s hand.
She stood up, “Vivian might need me.”
“I want to visit him in Mexico, but my passport is expired and is still in the renewal process,” she explains.
Latton tilted her head to the side. “You don’t need a passport," she remarked.
Malena stared at her in confusion.
“Henri is in the Los Angeles Health facility,” Latton added.
Malena gasped then blushed, “Oh!”
As Latton marched back to Vivian's location she couldn't stop thinking of the gossip she heard from the police that were handling the case.
"Stockholm Syndrome." She mumbles under her breath.
CONCURRENTLY, Lucian sat silently in a small room. Soon he heard the door open and a man was ushered in front of him. The man hadn't sat on the chair when Lucian blurted, "I'm going to marry your daughter." He declared with certainty, then bowed his head.
Albert Ripley was dumbfounded.