Forgotten
Two weeks later…
“What is it you wanna know, Miss Elena?” Dr. Gary asked. He seemed composed but I didn't miss his fidgety legs under the table and his sweaty hands, regardless of how tightly he clasped them together.
I took off my dark shades, placing them on the table. “I'll go straight to the point.”
“Please do, Miss Elena.”
“What did you inject my father to keep him unconscious?” I dropped the question. His eyes popped. “Better still, tell me who ordered you to inject him with that drug.”
His lips quivered but somehow he managed a throaty laugh. “What are you talking about, Ma'am?”
I didn't expect him to immediately confess but I certainly didn't want him denying and stressing me out about it either. I already had a long, exhausting day.
“You know what I'm talking about. I'm sure it's not gonna be easy for you to admit that you hurt my Father. But I'm also sure you didn't mean to. You've been his doctor forever, and you've always taken the best care of him.”
His emotions switched immediately. From a fake smile to a broken, solemn expression. He tightened his clasped hands, digging his fingers into his skin.
My phone buzzed. It was a text. From Vince's man standing outside. He's been with me, just as Vince promised.
I can come in and make him confess. Just say the word.
I quickly texted him back.
No need. I got this.
“Tell me, doctor, please. Who asked you to do it?” I said again, calmly.
The harsh sounds of his sobs filled the room. Then he looked at me.
“I thought it was gonna be for a while. I didn't know it was gonna stretch out that long. I'm sorry. I didn't know their real intentions…”
“Who are you referring to?” I asked, stopping his sentence midway.
“Your stepmother and sister.”
Just as I thought.
His confession didn't come with any mind-blowing effect. Just a mild pain and a confirmation of my suspicion. I've always known it was them.
“Please, forgive me, Miss Elena.”
“It's not me you should be apologizing to. It's Father. He's the one you betrayed.”
“I've been apologizing to him every day since I did that. I really hope he forgives me. I'd give anything to undo what I did.”
I had no more words to say. So I stood, grabbed my shades, and left his office.
Vince's man was leaning against the wall in the hallway. He saw me and hurried over. He was tall and slightly shredded. Wavy brown hair. Hispanic.
The name…Miguel.
“How did it go?” He asked, grabbing my bag from my grip.
“It's as I thought,” I said simply and began walking. He remained silent and just trailed behind me.
We got to our car and he opened the door for me to get in. The ride was silent.
I took a minute to go through the proposals for the meeting tomorrow. It was my first, official shareholders meeting as the acting CEO of my Father's company.
I'm way too nervous about that meeting, that I'm almost freaking out. More now that I just confirmed my suspicion that Mother and Tracy had a hand in Father's condition.
There's no way I'm letting them continue to be a part of Father's company. I'll have to discuss it with the shareholders and sell off their little shares. They don't deserve to inherit anything from Father.
I read through the proposals but had to stop because my temples were beginning to hurt. I pressed my fingers on them, giving them a little squeeze.
“Are you alright?” Miguel asked, taking his eyes off the road, and assessing me with them.
“Mm-hmm.” I nodded. At first, it was weird having a stranger follow me everywhere, wanting to know if I was okay or not. What I wanted to eat. Interfering when Trent starts bitching around.
It was weird and I lashed out at him countless times not to butt into my business too much. But I didn't know I'd get used to it too soon.
I didn't mean to though. It's just…I had no choice. Vince really meant it when he said he was gonna keep his distance from me.
He stopped taking my calls. He didn't visit the Packhouse anymore. He just really stayed away from me, just like Trent wanted. And that pisses me off so much.
It pisses me off but hurts me just as much. I've gone back to being a shadow of myself, saying a few words, except I'm discussing business. Sleeping endlessly. Yeah, back to my funk.
It was beginning to feel like Vince was the center of my existence. And without him, I'm just…empty. It's a late realization and a painful fact. And I hate myself for wasting so much time; for hurting him countlessly, and for pushing him away so much.
If only I could have those moments back, I'd do better.
“Maybe you should have a nap. I'll wake you up when we get home.” Miguel offered.
I smiled. It might sound silly, but he kinda gives off Vince's vibe, and that's why I easily got used to having him around me. I love that he's here with me. His presence comforts me a bit. Reminds me that Vince didn't completely stay away from me. He left me something, or rather, someone.
But what hurts is that Miguel rarely discusses him. He barely mentions Vince's name or tells me anything. Sometimes, I wish he'd give me a message from Vince but he doesn't. Even though I know he's in contact with Vince.
It hurts, feeling forgotten.
I tried taking a nap but my mind was wandering a lot. So I didn't. Soon, we got home.
He opened the door and I stepped out. He stayed back to drive the car into the garage while I headed inside.
Stepping into the house, I jerked at the sudden yell.
“Where the hell have you been, Elena?!”
Oh, God. Not another argument tonight.
I turned. Trent was fuming, as he came towards me. Aunt Vanessa was sitting on the couch, watching us like we were some spectacular view.
“Father's company.”
“Yeah, keep lying. I already called. They said you left an hour ago. So where the fuck did you go?!”
It was exhausting and infuriating living like this with Trent. Having him act all obsessed and controlling. Keeping my cool so I don't end up provoking him into getting physical with me. Or worse, calling another four-man interrogation.
He keeps threatening he would. He keeps reminding me that if he gets a whiff of me trying to get back with Vince, he's gonna call another four-man interrogation and this time, he's gonna have him locked up.
As much as it's almost impossible to picture Vince getting locked up, I still can't underestimate the fact that Trent has the laws in his favor, and he's a merciless bastard.
“I stopped by somewhere…”
“Where?” He hissed.
“The hospital. At Father's Pack.”
“What the hell were you doing there? Your Father was transferred, right? What unfinished business do you still have there?”
I took a sharp breath, forcing myself to stay calm. “I just had to discuss something with the doctor. Excuse me. I had a busy day.”
I took a step past him. He pulled me back by my arm roughly.
“Don't you dare walk out on me!” He barked, squeezing my hand.
“Let me go. You're hurting me!”
“As I should! You're lying to me. I already know where you went. So don't you dare lie to my face!”
“Where do you think I went?” I snapped back. “To see your father?”
His expression hardened. “I'm right after all. You did go to see him.”
“I wish I did,” I said. It sounded way too heart-wrenching than I planned it to. “It’s getting harder living with you. It's suffocating. Maybe seeing Vince would give me a bit of fresh air and I wouldn't feel like dying. Because that's how I feel right now.”
“How dare you?!” The voice and the slap on my face were from Vanessa. She'd come to stand next to Trent.
I shut my eyes briefly at the pain from the slap.
“You're still my Father's little slut, ain't you?” Trent said between clenched teeth.
“Maybe I am. If that's the case, why don't you let me go?” I asked, looking at both of them. Then my gaze fixed on him. “You don't love me anymore. You're filled with rage and hellbent on making me miserable. Why don't you just end this and free us both from this hell? Go be with Tracy. She's carrying your child!”
“That way, you can be free to go be with my Father?” He bit out, squeezing my hand tighter. “Is that it? Huh?”
“Hey!! That's enough!” Miguel's voice from behind was soothing. I felt him tug my hand away from Trent's hold.
When I opened my eyes, he was shielding me with his body.
“I already warned you to mind your business. Stop poking your nose in my personal matters, you dimwit!” Trent lashed out at him.
“She's exhausted. Let her go to bed. You both have had your fun.”
“I hate every day that passes that we don't get rid of this pest.” Vanessa blurted out bitterly.
“Soon,” Trent stepped closer, breathing to his face. “Much sooner, he's gonna leave. Just like the others did.”
“You can't make me leave.” Miguel retorted. He wasn't a very loquacious person. He's more laconic. But very audacious. “And the others didn't leave because of you. They left because Alpha Vince ordered them to. And unless I get that order too, I'm staying.”
“The nerve,” Trent chuckled dryly. “This is my house…”
“Built by Alpha Vince,” Miguel grumbled quietly.
Trent's anger hit the roof. “Tell me something. Did my Father keep you here just to make sure I don't hurt her or for you to keep sending him updates about her? Are you spying on us?”
I looked at Miguel, low-key curious to know the answer to the question. His face didn't betray any emotions.
And when he walked past Trent and came to me, offering to escort me to my bedroom, I had no objections.
When I got to my door, I turned around.
“Thank you.”
He nodded. He was gonna leave but I stopped him.
“Is it true?” I asked, making him halt. “Do you update Vince about me?”
He didn't say a word. He just stood there motionless.