Chapter 46 CHAPTER 46 Ciao
Williams
"I'll arrange for the driver to take you, and I'll call the officer handling her case," he added. "Thanks,
Dad, for everything," I said, giving his shoulder a squeeze. "Hmm, he muttered, looking away.
"Where is Emily?" I asked again.
"Why are you suddenly so interested in Emily?" my dad questioned. I frowned, confused. "But Dad, isn't that why you asked me to come here?" He adjusted the blanket over his knees, looking away. “She is in police custody. She was trying to escape the country to God knows where after causing a ruckus and trying to ruin my business. I was called and told that she had been caught by the police, and she was brought here for me to see her before she had to be taken to the station due to the current situation”, my dad explained.
“So how did you know she didn’t lie about her phone getting stolen?” I pressed.
“She had some bruises, and I've had a private investigator following her for a while. She was robbed just a day before the scandal broke out, and the authorities have confirmed her story," he explained, but I still wasn't convinced.
"I still don't believe she was robbed. Emily is cunning; she'd do anything for a bit of drama or to deflect blame." I scoffed.
“The police will uncover the truth. She will be held until all investigations are completed regarding the case and that of the new one about the sex tape”, he said. At the mention of the sex tape, I winced and clenched my fist thinking about what Hazel would say or how she would react to this new development. I slumped on a chair nearby as I felt a lump form in my throat. I needed to get to the bottom of this, so I made up my mind to visit Emily at the police station.
“I need to see Emily’s dad. I believe I can get the truth from her. She has never lied to me, despite her obsession. She always tells me the truth” I said.
My dad snorted dismissively. "I doubt you'll get anything truthful from her. She despises you now.
"People don't just start hating someone they loved overnight, Dad. She might be desperate and upset, but she doesn't hate me," I countered.
He gave a sarcastic laugh and looked at me. "Fine, go see her if you think it'll help. If she gives you the truth, it's better for my company and me. It's time we put this all behind us," he said. I nodded in agreement.
“The driver will take you while I put a call across to the officer in charge of her case”
“Thanks, dad, for everything” I said as I squeezed his shoulders.
“Hmm” he replied and looked away.
On our way to the station, I tried calling Hazel again, but my call went to voicemail. I uttered a little prayer as I tapped my foot anxiously against the car floor. Our relationship was already strained, and this new scandal was not going to make it easier. I thought about how to make it up to her. Lost in thought, my mind drifted back to the painful memory of catching her with Adam, causing a sharp ache in my chest.
I gulped then drifted again to another memory of meeting Adam for the first time. I remember the day vividly when I first met Adam after starting at my dad's company. We were assigned to a project together, and he had greeted me warmly, eager to show me the ropes since I was new to the business. His open-mindedness made it easy to like him right away. That evening, he invited me out for a drink. Being new in town, I accepted. Over drinks, he talked about Hazel, his best friend, with such admiration and affection that it was clear he held her in high regard. I had jokingly pointed out that he seemed in love with his best friend and how he laughed it off. At some point, I was confused whether he was trying to convince me or himself that he wasn’t.
I had clapped him on the back, choosing to drop the subject. We had clicked instantly; Adam was charming and undeniably handsome. It was no surprise Hazel was drawn to him. Frankly, anyone could easily fall for his charms. Yet, reflecting on how things unfolded later—seeing them together, the undeniable passion they shared—it pained me deeply. Our friendship had soured irreversibly from that moment. I snapped back to reality when the car stopped. I shook off the memories and prepared to step out.
“We are here sir” the driver quipped from the front. I nodded and stepped down from the car. As I was walking into the police station, a dark-haired officer approached me. He was very broad chested, tall, with dark hair, brown skin, dark eyes, with a stern look.
“You must be Mr. William, Mr. Thorn’s son” he said with a deep baritone voice. “My name is Carter''
“Nice to meet you, Officer Carter, and yes, I am Mr. Thorns’ son, but how did you know that?” I extended my hands to him for a handshake.
“Apart from the resemblance, you are all over the internet” he said as he took my hands in a firm grip. I nodded.
My hands were still in his very firm grip “So Emily is waiting for you in the interrogation room” he said, looking me straight in the eye. He stared at me more than he should have, and I looked down at our hands, and he gulped and jerked back to his senses, cleared his throat before releasing his hands.
“Sorry, follow me” he said, and led the way inside the station.
He took me to a room with poor lighting but behind it there was a transparent window that you could see from inside. I drew close and saw Emily seated. She looked like a shadow of herself. She wore a black bodycon gown and her makeup was smeared all over her face, which was full of bruises. She looked pale and small sitting there.
Then Officer Carter turned to me. “We’ve tried extracting information from her and, to the best of my knowledge, she is telling the truth about the attack on her the night before the scandal, but I’m still not convinced. There is something she isn’t saying, or she is lying about. Good luck”. He placed his hands on my shoulder.
“Thanks” I replied.
He led me to the door of the interrogation room, patted my back as a guard opened the door for me.
I walked in, and the door was closed behind me. A guard was inside the room. Emily raised her face up when she felt the presence of another person. I watched as her face lit up when she saw me, then the emotion disappeared and was replaced by a stormy expression.
“I have told them everything. I guess they brought you in to extract the truth from me. I don’t have any truth to share. She spoke
“Hi Emily”, I gave her a small smile and I sat on the opposite seat.
She had a stoic expression on her face. “What do you want”? She asked.
“Why did you do it” I asked?
“Do what?” she fired back.
“You really carried out your plans after all. I thought you loved me. You don’t hurt the person you claim you love the way you have hurt me in the past few days. You’ve ruined my reputation all because of your jealousy.”
“Will, please, you need to believe me. I lost my phone a day before the drama started. I will never hurt you intentionally”, she pleaded.
“I don’t believe you, Emily. How about all the threatening messages you sent”? I asked.
“I never plan on carrying out any of them. You have to believe me’ she pleaded as her eyes filled up with tears.
“Too much has happened, Emily. If you could fake a pregnancy, then I find it hard to believe anything coming out of your mouth right now. What exactly were you planning on doing with that? To extort me?” I scoffed. She reached out and touched my hands.
“Will, please, you have to believe me. I love you, Will please,” she begged as tears streamed down her face.
“We both promised to get rid of the video. Why did you keep yours”? I continue to barge her with questions.
“I couldn’t just bring myself to delete it” she croaked.
“Why are you so obsessed with me, Emily? You are smart and pretty, and you could have any man you desire. Why me”? I asked, furrowing my brows. She withdrew her hand as if it burned. And pinned me with a look of irritation and vulnerability.
“Since when do you have the power to choose who you love”? She asked.
“Emily, this is bigger than you think. A lot is on the line now because of your carelessness and obsession. I wish you hadn’t tried to make me pay for something I never did.”
“Something you never did”? She asked, looking furious.
“Yes Emily. We had an agreement. We were just having fun, and you knew it” I whispered.
“Well, I guess my heart did not get the memo. What has been done has been done. For whatever it's worth, I am sorry, and I hope you find a place in your heart to forgive me one day” she said. My heart went out to her and I promised to talk to my dad on her behalf.
“My dad will arrange for you to leave the country and go back to your country, but you cannot show up here anymore. The damage had already been done and there is no point crying over spilled milk.”
“I don’t want to ever see your face again, Emily, and leave my wife alone. I’m tired of hurting her because of you”, I added, but she kept mute. I stood up, walked up to her and kissed her cheeks. As I was about to leave, she held my hands and whispered in my ear.
“We both know your wife loves another and the baby she is carrying is not yours”. I jerked away from her and shook my head. I had already given her my word and I would not go back on it.
“Till we meet again, Williams,” she smirked and waved.
“Ciao”