Conrad
I have been stressing out since this morning. I still don’t know what to do with the Callum situation. I have saved the number he gave me in my contacts, but that is the only decision I have managed to make. I don’t want to encourage him by sending him money, but I don’t want not to send it, and he does what he threatens. I can’t put Maya through it.
I rest back in my office chair, sighing and open a text to the bastard.
How do I know you won’t still release the videos and photos if I pay you?
I hit send, and after I did, there was a knock at my office door. I am surprised to see my father standing there. What does he want? Why is he here? It must be business because we haven’t spoken in a while unless it concerns work.
I motioned him to come in. He did, and Maya followed behind him, standing by his side. I noticed straight away that she was upset and crying.
My fists clenched, “Dad, what did you do or say to her?” I hiss, jumping to my feet.
“Conrad, please, calm down, my love. It isn’t your father who upset me.” Maya says softly.
I rush over to her, “What happened? You have been crying.”
“Callum was outside when I arrived. He pinned me against the car and tried to force me to go into my car with him. He threatened to send people here to hurt you if I didn’t go with him,” she whimpers, “Luckily, your father showed up and scared him off.”
I pull her tightly to my chest and hug her, “I am sorry, angel. I think it is time you start having Joshua with you again when you go out.”
I don’t know what scared me the most: the fact that he got to her once again or the thought of her going with him. If my father hadn’t shown up, she probably would have gone if it meant protecting me.
Is what he sent me and asking for money not enough for him? He must have been hanging around outside for some other reason because there was no way he could have known she would come here today. He dropped the envelope off to me this morning. I checked the security camera.
I look over at my dad, “Thank you.”
He nods and smiles. I hug Maya tighter and kiss the top of her head, “You are safe now.”
She glances up at me, and I wipe her tears away, “You need your own security, too, Conrad. The people he is friends with are not good people. I can’t have you getting hurt again.” She whimpers.
“I will be fine,” I reply.
“Conrad, please. It would put my mind at ease.” She begs.
“Okay. I will get someone.” I promised.
I would rather not, but I don’t need Maya worrying about me constantly. She has enough on her plate.
She kisses my cheek, “Thank you.”
“I will find someone for you. Maya, have you thought about going to self-defence classes? Or a class similar?” Dad suggests.
“I think it is a great idea. What do you think, angel?” I ask.
“I will look into it.” She answers.
I kiss her forehead, “Thank you.”
She nods and hands my lunch to me, “For you.” She smiles.
“Thanks, sweetheart. Can you give me a minute? I need to talk to my father. It is business. I don’t want to bore you.” I chuckle.
“I will go to the break room. Come find me when you are done.”
She reaches up and pecks my lips. She turns to my father and says, “Thank you for what you did outside. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t shown up.”
Dad smiles, “I am glad I was there.”
Maya leaves us to talk. I take a seat on the sofa, and he joins me.
“Conrad, I am sorry. I didn’t realise the situation. I thought he was an asshole who was jealous. I didn’t realise he was so abusive.”
I can hear in his voice he feels guilty about it.
“We did try to tell you, but I don’t want to get into that right now.”
He looks at me concerned, “What happened?”
I sigh and head to my drawer, taking the letter Callum left for me and handing it to him, “Maya can’t know about this. I don’t want to cause her any more worry.”
He takes a moment to read it. As he did, I checked my cell and got a reply from Callum.
You will need to trust me, won’t you? Or would you rather tell me no and make me release the content for everyone to see?
I have never hated anyone as much as I hate him! I wish someone would get rid of him already. I don’t reply. I will later, once I am alone. I hope my father can help me make my decision because I am stuck and have no idea what the right thing is.
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. A part of me wants to pay him the money, but what happens if he still releases and demands more?” I sigh, tossing myself next to him.
“I think you need to pay him, son. I know it isn’t ideal, but it isn’t worth the risk if you don’t. I could speak to some people and get a tracker put on the account. It may be the best way to catch him.” He says softly.
“I didn’t think of it that way. I need this to be over. I need him behind bars where he belongs. The photos and videos he sent me are horrible, Dad. Maya had no idea they were being taken. I need him to be gone and for Maya to be able to live her life in peace. She has been through too much.”
I bury my face in my hands and sob. I feel helpless.
Dad rubs my back, “We will fix it. We will make sure he ends up where he belongs. No matter what needs to be done. You really love her, uh?” he says softly.
“How? We have the police and a PI on it, but none of them have found him,” I whimper. “Yes, I love her so much. I plan on asking her to marry me once he is out of our lives. We should have stayed in London. I could protect her from him there.”
“I don’t know yet, but I will contact people who can help. I need you to trust me.”
I look up at him, “Thank you. I do. Does this mean you will back off, Maya, and stop trying to get me back with Bridget?”
“Yes. I shouldn’t have tried to ruin things. It was wrong of me. I can see how much you love her. How much she loves you. I truly believe she would have gone with him if it meant protecting you.” He sighs.
“I know she would have, which scares the hell out of me. I don’t want to even imagine what he would have done to her.”
Knowing she would do that makes me fearful. I would protect her with my life, too, but I worry she will end up doing the same for me, and it is the last thing I want.
“I will look into security for you, and you can get Joshua back full-time for Maya. We can get her set up with some self-defence classes, too. You will both be okay. You can come to ours and stay if you want. You know the security we have there.” He suggests.
“I hope so. I appreciate the offer, but I refuse to let him be the reason we leave our home.”
“Everything will be okay. I promise.” He says confidently.
I want to believe him, but it is easier said than done.
“You really think I should send him the money?”
He nods, “Yes. We will make sure the account is being tracked. Are you sure you don’t want to tell Maya what is happening?”
“I will pay him the money. No, I can’t. It will be too much. If he finds out, I told her, he will release everything.”
“Okay. It can stay between us. I won’t tell your mom because she will worry, too.”
“Yes, good idea. What did you come by for?” I ask.
“Business, but it can wait. Maya needs you right now. He hurt her arm, I believe. I think you should take the rest of the day and take her home. I can stay here, and we will talk later,” he says.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. You and Maya need to be at home. I will handle everything.”
“Thank you, dad.”
I hugged him goodbye, gathered my things, and searched for Maya. I find her in the break room, staring out of the window.
“Hey, angel.” I greet her, going up behind her and hugging her from the back, “Let’s get home.”
“You have work.”
“My dad is going to stay for the rest of my shift. Come one, beautiful.”
She nods. I take her hand and lead us outside. I keep an eye out to make sure he isn’t around. We can take my car. We can get hers later. For now, I want to get her away from here.