Fifty-five

Fifty-five
Eve

Finn said that I would meet his uncle and tell him everything I told him, and then after that, he would let me go and not approach me again, but all through the hours of yesterday, I've been waiting for his text or calls, but got nothing.

I'm worried. I want to be free of him.

I'm also worried that I might get back with Cameron even after all he's put me through.

But I'm mostly worried sick about Charles. I've sent more texts than I could count, and have called over a thousand times, but still got nothing.

And the most baffling part about all this is that no one knows about it, not even the news or the Internet. I'm just lost and puzzled.

Everything I've gathered points in the direction that he's dead, but his family shushed it… as powerful as they are, it's not that surprising that they can do that.

So, I've brought it upon myself to investigate.

“Morning, Mom!” I greeted as I came into the dining room, “Morning, Dad.”

Dad replied while Mom didn't, she has still not spoken to me since two nights ago when I lashed out at her.

And if I'm being honest, I don't really care that much. I think it's better this way. All this woman does is bring us down with her words and make us feel less of a person. She's always right, even when she's wrong, and if you try to correct her, boom! You're disrespectful, rude, blah blah blah.

I'm tired of that.

Katy's honk blared outside, and I grabbed some cookies and bread.

“I'm leaving!” I announced, heading to the door. “Bye.”

Nathan ran down the stairs, dressed to the waist. “Is that Katy?”

“Ew. Where's your shirt?” I asked in return, making a face at him. “Go put on some clothes.”

“Hey, this right here you're looking at always gets the ladies.” He boasted, pointing at his abs.

“Yeah, and guys too.”

His eyes widened, and he snapped his head towards the dining hall to ascertain if my parents heard it. “Eve!”

“Relax! They didn't hear.”

“You haven't told anyone, have you?” He enquired and I shook my head.

“My lips are sealed.”

“Not even Katy?”

“Nope. Why would I talk to Katy about you?” I asked.

“No reason.”

The honk blared again.

“I gotta go.”

“Wait, I want to say hi to Katy first.”

Nathan followed me outside to the front porch.

“Hey, Katy!” He waved at her.

“Um… hey… Nathan… what's… up?” Katy replied, her eyes flicking to me, then back to Nathan, then to me again. Um… what is that?

I got into the car and she drove onto the road.

“What was that?” I asked.

“What was what?”

“With you and Nathan.” I said, “You gave me that weird look I know all too well.”

She chuckled, “Oh, Eve, it must have been your imagination.”

I shrugged it off; I must have seen it wrong.

“So, what's going on?” She enquired, “Your midnight text woke me up. You said it's about the circumstances surrounding you and Charles, what happened? Did you both finally break up or something? Because that'd be a relief.”

I decided to tell Katy everything that's going on. I mean, if I told Finn everything, why can't we tell her too?

“Okay, what I'm about to tell you is a bit… wild.” I warned, “So, I just want you to stay quiet and listen, okay?”

“Alright, you're scaring me,” She said, letting out a nervous chuckle. “What is it?”

“But first, I need you to drive to this location.” I leaned forward and typed the address into the GPS.

“Where are we going? I'm gonna be late to class.”

“Let me explain… just drive. And please… don't interrupt. Got it?”

She nodded, “Got it.”

Katy sat silent as I narrated everything that had been happening with me and Charles since I went to the blind date in her place.

Her face was impassive, and I had a hard time telling what she was thinking.

“Okay, that's the story,” I concluded.

She kept mute, she focused on the road, face unreadable.

“Katy?” I called but she didn't answer. “Katy. Katy!”

“Shut up! Just shut up, okay?!” She suddenly yelled at me, giving me the startle of my life, “I'm trying to think. You dropped a whole bomb on me, so just… give me a moment to absorb everything.”

“Jeez. Okay.”

After a long while of utter silence, she finally spoke.

“I don't even know what to say. I'm literally at a loss for words right now. I always knew that something felt off about you guys, but I just couldn't place my finger on it, because I find it so weird that you'd just shift from hating someone to loving them so much. And how you'd always do everything he asked for without trying to say or do anything.” She grabbed my hand and squeezed it, then smiled at me, “It must have been so hard keeping all of this to yourself.”

Yeah! Like, hell, it was!

I feel so good after telling her all my problems. It's as though a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

“I can't even imagine being close to that creepy brother of his again. Jeez! That guy gives me the heebie jeebies!” She shuddered.

“If my memory serves me correctly, you were the same person who said he was hot.” I teased.

She gasped, then laughed, “I can't believe you even remember that. I mean, he looked hot in the pictures I've seen on Instagram, but in real life, ugh, he gives off totally different vibes… his real vibes. I can't believe that guy threatened to put your parents out of business! And I also can't believe that that bastard, Charles, got you involved with the shitty mess of his family. Who would have thought that the Hermans, the most envied and reputable family in the Three Circles, would…”

“The Three Circles? What's that?” I asked with a frown.

“The Three Circles, you haven't heard of that?” She queried, genuine surprise laced to her voice.

I shook my head, “Should I?”

“No, no. Not at all.”

“So, what is it?”

“The Three Circles is the name for three of the most reputable, wealthiest, powerful and feared families in the whole of New York.” She answered, “Trust me, you don't wanna mess with any of them. These three families are called the top top socialites. It consists of the Guzmans, the Bishops, and then the Hermans. The Hermans are on top, followed by the Bishops, and then the Guzmans.”

Hmm! Okay.

Lame, but okay.

“Who would have thought that their family is so messed up?” She went on, “I mean, I know every family is not perfect, but from what you told me, that family is more than abnormal. How could they all hate on a member of their family, except…”

“Except what?”

“Except, maybe Charles is not a member of their family.”

Hold on! Could that be it?

“Charles might be adopted for all we know, and from the way you say they all hate him, including the father, they clearly don't want him there because he poses as a threat to the family inheritance.”

How come I never thought of this?

“But Finn is older than Charles.” I argued, “How can they adopt Charles if they've already had Finn?”

She shrugged, “I don't know, maybe the grandfather adopted Charles himself, who knows? And now Charles wants to get into the company; he wants to inherit it, that's why he made you fake date him. See? He finally made it into the company, and they killed him off.”

Now, that makes perfect sense!

I knew Charles was doing this to get into the company after the dinner with the Hermans, but now that I know there's a pretty good chance he might be adopted, that makes perfect sense! There's no way in hell they would let an outsider waltz into the family and try to claim the company.

Oh, God, I hope he isn't dead.

“You have arrived at your destination.” The lady from the GPS announced, and the car came to a halt.

“Where is this place?” Katy asked, glancing all over the house.

“This is the place Charles and I spent time in. It's his uncle's place,” I answered, alighting, “There's a pretty good chance he might be here.”

“Eve! You said his uncle returned two nights ago, which means he might be here, since he owns it.”

“Then that's good. If Ian is here, he can tell us about Charles.”

Katy joined me as I pressed the doorbell continuously, but got nothing.

“He's not here,” Katy stated.

But I wasn't going to give up.

“Charles! Charles! Charles, it's me! It's Eve!” I yelled as I continuously banged on the gate. “Charles! Come out! Ian! Are you there?! Ian!”

“Eve! Eve! Eve! That's enough!” Katy pulled me away from the gate, “He's not here.”

“But…”

“If you keep banging, the neighbors might call the cops on you,” She said, “We gotta go. Maybe Charles really is dead, and the family covered it all up since no one, not even we socialites, knows what Charles Herman looks like. Come on, we gotta go.”

Katy pulled me back into the car and drove away.

Maybe he really is dead, and that's why Finn hasn't called nor texted yet. There's no need to tell Ian everything if the obstacle has been removed permanently.

They must be basking in happiness.

Tears began to roll down my cheeks, and I glanced out of the window to stop Katy from seeing them.

Charles treated me like shit, and here I am crying for him. I can't believe it.

Charles… I hope you do rest in peace.