85

Pushing her chair backwards, Joanne rose from the chair she had been occupying since the day began. With her iPad in her hand,she made her way towards Logan's room.

Meanwhile, the guards and some hired workers were putting the living room in order for the remembrance party that was expected to be held by four pm that evening.

“Handle those glasses with care before they crack.” Joanne yelled at one of the staff who was holding several glasses in a tray with a hand and tugging a bag with the other.

“I can handle it.” The staff replied. Rolling her eyes, she resumed her walk.

Getting to Logan's room, the door was slightly opened so she pushed the door in without knocking only to be greeted with an empty room.

“Where the hell did he go now?” She wondered aloud, looking around his neatly arranged room.

With a sigh, she strode out and immediately she saw a guard walk past, she called out to him. “Have you seen Logan today?” She asked.

“He is at the study?” the guard replied.

“Study? How long has it been?” She asked. Logan's presence in the study only meant one thing — he had something crucial to handle and didn't want any disturbance.

Waving him off, she said, “Thank you.”

When she got to the study, she made her way to his usual spot. He was typing furiously on his laptop and at intervals, he would take a quick glance at the tablet on his side.

“What are you up to now?” She asked, leaning against the table.

“Who told you I'm here?” He retorted, not taking his eyes off the screen of his laptop.

“Must you reply to my question with another one? Anyways, here.” She said, pushing his laptop aside and then placed her iPad before him.

“Why are you showing me this?”

“Because I want to know your thoughts on it You know planning a party isn't my speciality.” She slumped her shoulders.

“Perfect.” He pushed the iPad aside but she pushed it back to him. “Can you stop bothering me? Can't you see I'm fucking busy here?” He yelled, trying hard to contain his anger.

“Busy indeed.” She scoffed. “Just make sure you come out before four to join the party.”

“Okay.” He said and when she banged the door shut, he exhaled in relief, pulling his laptop back to himself.

The Serpent Cartel was hosting a remembrance party on behalf of Joanne's grandfather. All members were going to be in attendance since it was mandatory.

Immediately it was four pm, the party began in full swing. Soon the clinking of glasses and chattering of humans who were talking and laughing rented the air.

Joanne on her part, assisted in serving the guards and at the same time, oversaw the event to ensure the smooth running of it.

“Is he out yet?” She asked a guard for the hundredth time since the party began.

“Not yet.” He gave the same response he had been giving her.

Turning around, she decided to go fetch him but before she could make the move her presence was needed and so her attention deviated again.

******

Until the party ended, Joanne didn't have the opportunity to go fetch Logan. Frowning, she stomped towards the study and immediately she flung the door open, Logan who was muttering some words snapped his head upwards.

“Are you out of your senses?” She yelled, sending her fist into the table.

“Why that tone?” he asked, propping himself up for a word battle with her.

“Don't act as if you don't know your offense. The party lasted for two hours and you didn't even bother to step out even for a minute.”

Sighing, he said, “I'm busy.”

“If grandpa hadn't vested his power on you, you wouldn't be here telling me you are busy.” She snapped.

“Meaning?” He asked with a raised brow.

“Grandpa is the one who made you who you are today and the least you could do for him is to give him your respect even if he is deceased.” She scowled, sending her fist into the table.

Annoyed, Logan threw his head backwards as he tried to push her words behind his head but couldn't. She wasn't even helping matters, she continued ranting, expressing her displeasure.

“Can you just shut the fuck up and allow me think?” He yelled, pulling himself up. Joanne, shocked by his reaction tok a few steps backwards, her gaze fixed on him. She was not expecting him to react the way he did.

“You couldn't even ask what is taking my time, you just keep running your mouth without catching your breath.” He yelled. “For a while now, I have been working hard, trying to find more details concerning the anonymous file.” He said, accompanying it with a huff.

Whisking his hair away from his face, he said, “if you count this as not caring, no problem.”

After his outburst, Joanne couldn't find her tongue to speak. She was just staring back at him with her mouth slightly opened.

Still fuming with anger, he gathered his belongings and then stormed out of the study.

*****

After setting his laptop and tablet on his study table, he slipped on his ruining shoes and with his hoodie on, jogged out of the premises.

While he was doing this, his mind was preoccupied with his findings as he tried to merge bits of information together. He was almost getting it when Joanne's angry face appeared in his head and with a yell of frustration he fist pumped the air.

“That brat.” He said through gritted teeth,making a u turn to the direction he had come from.

About two hundred meters away from home he was accosted by three men who had blocked his path with their cars. Taking a closer look at them, he discovered they were from the Silver Blade.

He tried to ignore them so he turned around but to his surprise, another group was behind him. He had no idea that he was being followed up until now.

It wasn't long when one of the car doors opened and Van Halen stepped out.