Forty-nine

Forty-nine
Finn

I was sitting on the fucking balcony of my room, blowing smoke into the air as I studied the Instagram profile picture of Eve Dawson.

Like I keep fucking saying, I underestimated Charles.

I was such a fucking dumb fucking fool for thinking that he would still be the fucking chicken he used to be. Judging from how far he has come, I'm sure he has been planning this for a long, long fucking time.

That motherfucking bastard knows every one of my fucking secrets, and that alone fucking terrifies me.

I'm such a fucking fool for letting my fucking guard down! How can I not suspect him? How can I let myself think that he isn't a worthy adversary?

No wonder he is always a step ahead… because he planted bugs in every one of my turf! How could I not fucking think of that?

Now he has all this dirt on me, and I'm fucking sure he hasn't exposed me yet because he wants me to be in fear of him. I'm certain that the disappearance of those two fucking bodies has everything to do with him.

He has now slipped into the company like the fucking snake he is. He even went as far as getting a girlfriend with almost the same type of background as his fucking mother, just to impress that fucking pussy Ian.

What do I fucking do now? My head is a fucking mess! Right now, I'm like a pawn in his fucking game of chess.

I don't think I've been this scared in my life before.

No, Finn. What am I talking about?! I'm not a pussy! I can't just possibly stand by and put my fate in that bastard's hands. I need to think up something!

I'm sure he has the recordings of every little deed I have done. How do I get them? If I get them, I'm sure he won't have anything else on me.

Just as I was about to take another smoke from my cigarette, a knock came through the door.

I rose to my feet and crossed the room.

Mother stood there on the doorway, looking as terrified as a fucking deer caught in headlights. I've never seen Mother so scared like that. No matter the situation, she's always so fucking calm and has her head in check.

She taught me most of the things I know.

But seeing her like this was a fucking surprise to me. She didn't need to say anything… Charles already has something on her.

“Mother…”

She rode into the room without an invitation. “I need to talk to you.”

I caught her by the arm and swung her around. “Not here.”

She stared up at me with her terrified eyes, wide open, “Then where?”

“Follow me.”

I led her down the stairs, outside, to the lit poolside where no one could eavesdrop on our conversation.

“Where are we going all the way here?” She asked, her voice husky with fear.

I folded my arms across my chest, “Apparently, Charles has planted bugs all over the house to listen to every conversation in the house.”

“What?” She shrieked, her eyes widening. “You mean…”

“Yes.” I cut her off, “He planted those alongside hidden cameras all over my office, the restaurant and hotel suite.”

“W-what?” Mother's voice trembled.

“Do you think…”

“Yes. I bet he has one planted at where you're fucking that dude of yours.”

“He knows about what I did to his mother.”

“Well, well.” I inhaled, then exhaled. “I'm not surprised. He has a great amount of dirt on us now. Dirt that can have us thrown in jail for life. Tonight, he has managed to let Ian slip him into the company. We underestimated him, Mother. We were careless. And now, we're in his mercy, the only thing we can do now is to wait till…”

“I will do no such thing,” Mom said with such raw intensity in her voice that made me quickly turn to have a look at her.

Her face had now darkened, and her eyes were now steady, unlike a few seconds ago. She was now calm and relaxed, the moon highlighting her sharp features.

Yes. This is the fucking mother I admired.

“If you want to be at his mercy, then you go ahead.” She pronounced. “I will never be at the mercy of that product of child of adultery whose life I spared when he was still a baby.”

I turned to have a full look at her face. “What do you plan on doing?”

“I am getting every piece of evidence he has.”

“Yes, but how?” I asked eagerly.

“Lopez.”

“What?”

“We kidnap Lopez and make him talk,” She declared. “He'll talk, sooner or later. I'm pretty certain he knows every little detail of Charles' plan.”

“What if he doesn't talk?” I enquired. “I know Lopez… he's that bastard's loyal dog. I'm sure he'll never talk, even if you threaten or torture him.”

She placed her hand on my cheek and caressed it, a smile dangling on her lips, “Oh, Finn, you still have a lot to learn from me. Who said anything about threatening or torturing? Just watch and see.”

“Alright, even if Lopez talks and gives us all the evidence that Charles has, he still knows everything we have done.”

“Then it will be his words against ours.” Her smile broadened, “That's why we need to get the evidence first.”

“Then how do we go about it?” I enquired eagerly.

She placed a hand on my chest, “No, son. I think you're gonna have to sit this one out and let me handle this myself.”

“And why is that?” I asked, a little exasperatedly.

“Well, you're…”

“What?” I demanded, “Go on, say it. I'm what?”

“You're hotheaded.” She said, withdrawing her hand, “You let your emotions get to you, and you make a mess of everything. That's why I told you you still have a whole lot to learn from me. I'll handle this.”

With that, she spun on her heels and began to walk away, but then she paused and swung around.

“Oh, you can handle that girl… what's her name again? Yeah, Eve. I'm certain she's not his real girlfriend as they claim, because what is the coincidence of Charles getting a girlfriend with almost the same type of background as his mother?” She smirked at me, then tilted her head and gave me a look, “Of course it was to impress that fool Ian, who was obsessed with his mother. Handle Eve, make her spill about the circumstances surrounding their relationship. I'm sure it won't be hard since she's already terrified of you as is. If Ian discovers that Charles’ girlfriend is fake, he'll be pissed. Good night, Finn. I have a call to make.”

She swung around and walked away.

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number.

“Yes, boss?” Jace’s hoarse, almost annoyed voice came on the line. I could hear a girl's heavy exhale in the background, which told me he was fucking a girl. “What's up?”

“I'll be sending you a link to this girl's profile,” I said into the phone, “Find everything you can about her. And when I say everything, I mean everything.”

“Now?”

My face hardened, “No, next year. Now, you fucking idiot! And be fucking fast about it! You have half an hour.”

He began to grumble when I disconnected the call.

I sat down on the sun lounger by the poolside, smoking my cigarette as I thought for a while.

Charles had me scared for a while, but Mother? She has given me back my confidence. That fucking bitch is terribly good at that.

I'm fucking glad she's my mother.

About twenty minutes later, my phone dinged with a text, followed by Jace’s call.

“I've just sent you her details.” He grumbled, “Anything else?”

“No, you can go back to fucking your bitch, asshole.”

He snickered, “Thank you, boss. I'll be turning my phone off now.”

When he disconnected the call, I had a look at what he sent me.

Eve Dawson, twenty-three, has one sibling, a brother to be specific. Her parents run a small restaurant shop in town, and she attends… wow. She goes to our college… the same branch that bastard teaches at.

Wonderful.

A professor… and his student. That would certainly create quite a buzz.

I scrolled through the rest of the info.

Apparently, she has dated someone named Cameron Ford, and her best friend is… wow… Katy Johnson.

The same fucking bitch who swore she doesn't know who she is.

This keeps getting more and more interesting.

Without wasting any time, I copied her phone number Jace sent me and dropped her a text welcoming her to hell.