Forty-three

Forty-three
Finn

That fucking bitch, Katy Johnson, dared to lie to me about not knowing who Charles is and who came to the date in her stead.

Nobody lies to me.

If her fucking father weren't Barry Johnson, I'd have tied her up and tortured the truth out of her.

I must find this girl within the next twenty-four hours.

No way in bloody hell am I going to stand back and let that bastard, Charles, have his way. I'm this close to getting what I want.

Tap tap.

A knock came through the door.

“S-sir.” Sean's trembling voice called from outside the door. “I have bad news.”

I frowned.

Bad news? The last bloody thing I want now is bad news!

Stubbing out my cigarette, I sat up. “Come in.”

The door opened, and Sean walked in, trembling like the fucking pussy he was, his hands clasped together in front of him, eyes glued to the floor, looking like a dejected chicken.

God, he's so fucking miserable!

“What is it?” I demanded, an edge to my voice.

He hesitated, fidgeting.

“Well?” I was fast losing my temper.

“T-they guy… they lost her.” He quavered.

I shut my eyes to think for a while, fist tightening.

Incompetence.

I hate incompetence!

“I'm so sorry, Sir.” He began, “They were right on her tail, but then... a car suddenly rammed into them, throwing them to the curb without stopping…”

My eyes flung open.

A car suddenly rammed into them? And without stopping?

That's too much of a coincidence. Something doesn't quite add up.

Charles… that bastard, I know he's behind this one way or the other. It must be him.

I glanced around the place, looking for nothing in particular.

“S-sir?” Sean called.

I pulled out my phone and sent him a text, telling him to call an electronic surveillance detection specialist.

He gawked upon seeing the text.

“Alright, sir.” He texted back, before walking out.

I tried not to give it much thought until they arrived.

About over thirty minutes later, they arrived and wasted no time in searching the place with their detection devices.

“I found one!” One of them yelled, pulling out a black listening device from under the bed.

Sean's jaw dropped to the floor, his eyes widening.

“One over here!” The other guy shouted, pulling out another device from the bar counter.

“Here, too.” The last guy pulled out another device from the couch.

I stood, fist clenched so tight my knuckles turned white.

Charles. You bastard. Clearly, I underestimated you. A mistake. I'm such a fucking fool for thinking you were still that timid, frail little boy.

You're always one step ahead.

Who knew you would get so fucking clever?

Mother could've gotten rid of you when she had the chance many years ago. Now, you've turned out to be a headache to both of us.

“S-sir…”

I turned to Sean before he could finish.

“After they're done over here, send them to the suite, the office, and then to the estate,” I told him. “He must have had them planted everywhere.”

“Y-yes, sir.”

I stretched my hand and he handed me the car keys.

Charles. I want to fucking strangle you right now! How long have those bugs been planted there? How much does he know?

A few minutes later, I was driving back to the estate at full speed, livid with rage.

I need to beat the bloody hell out of someone! Anyone!

I didn't care a fuck if a cop tries to pull me over for my reckless driving… I just drove.

I slammed the car into the parking lot and darted up the stairs to Charles’s room.

“Looking for me?” His annoying, smug voice came from the dining hall, halting me in my tracks.

I turned and charged in.

He was sitting at the head of the table, where Father usually sat, a plate of half-finished pasta resting in front of him, and a copy of Oliver Twist in his hand.

I glared down at him, seething with rage.

He smirked at me, “Brother, you were looking for me?”

“You bastard!” I snarled through gritted teeth, grabbing him by the collar, and jerking him to his feet, then swung my fist at him.

He turned his head, avoiding the punch carefully, as though he anticipated it. Before I knew it, he released himself from my tight grasp on his shirt, then backed away, still surprisingly calm, his hands clasped behind him, that annoying smirk still plastered across his lips.

Fuck, I'm gonna kill him!

I charged at him again, but before I could take two steps forward, a bowl of hot pasta was on my face. I shut my eyes in time or else the flavor and peppers would have blinded me temporarily, but I lost my balance and stumbled to the floor with a loud crash.

In a frantic move, I pulled out my handkerchief and hurriedly wiped the pasta sauce away from my face.

Once I was certain there was no sauce left, I opened my eyes and glared at Charles.

There, he stood, towering over me, with the same fucking annoying smirk on playing on his lips like he'd won.

Fuck! My rage knew no bounds!

I have never felt so fucking miserable and humiliated at the same time in my entire life!

Charles, I swear to God, I'm gonna make you pay!

“Brother,” He said, his voice intentionally taunting “Ooh, that fall must have hurt pretty bad. Should I call an ambulance?”

Bastard!

He was clearly enjoying this!

“What got you so ruffled up like this?” He drawled, his smirking widening, “Ooh, let me guess?” He placed a hand on his lips and made a thoughtful face. “You found the bugs at the restaurant, didn't you?”

I sat glaring at him, my fist clenched so tight it dug into my skin.

“Well, let me let you in on a little secret, there's one in your office, your suite, and in your bedroom.” His eyes glinted with amusement as he leaned forward to whisper into my ear, “I told you, didn't I? I have eyes and ears everywhere. I know everything you know… I mean everything.”

Why the fuck is my heart racing? He's clearly saying all this to scare me!

“What the hell is going on here?” Father's voice echoed through the room, making us whip our heads towards the exit.

“Oh, nothing, Father.” Charles gently tapped his hands. “Finn tripped and fell, and I was just helping him up.”

He pulled me to my feet and dusted me off. He leaned closer and whispered, “Finn, the game’s just getting started. Get your popcorn, and prepare to be mind blown.”

And then with that, he turned and walked off.

As I watched him walk away, I had this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. For the first time since I knew Charles, I began to see him in a light… he has grown into a bigger adversary than we thought.

Charles… we underestimated you… a mistake... and that won't happen again.