Chapter 45: Suspicious
The chopping sound of the helicopter blades filled the cabin as the small island faded into a dot behind them. Harriet sat by the window, her cheek pressed against the cool glass. Below, the massive city skyline was growing larger by the second, its glass towers catching the afternoon light. It looked beautiful from up here, but to Harriet, it just looked like a giant chessboard where Charles Edwin made all the moves.
She couldn't stop thinking about the phone call she had overheard on the beach. In less than twenty-four hours, Charles had completely destroyed the Rue family business. Evelyn was ruined, and Taylor was once locked in some dark basement, begging for a drop of mercy. It was terrifying how much power he had.
Charles sat right beside her on the leather seat. He didn't look out the window once. His dark eyes scanned her slowly from her feet to her hair, taking in the quiet slump of her shoulders and the way she gripped the fabric of her skirt. He reached over, his large hand clamping firmly onto her thigh. The heat of his palm seeped through her clothes, a solid, heavy reminder of his constant presence.
"You are too quiet," Charles said, his deep voice easily cutting through the steady hum of the engine. "What is going on in that head of yours, princess?"
Harriet didn't look away from the window immediately. "Just thinking about how fast everything changes. A few months ago, I was nobody. Now, Evelyn Rue doesn't even have a business because of a single phone call you made."
"She touched what belongs to me," Charles said, his grip on her thigh tightening slightly. "That is the price. You don't need to waste your energy feeling sorry for people who wanted to see you in the mud."
"I don't feel sorry for her," Harriet said, finally turning to face him. "I am just... it is a lot to take in." She swallowed hard, shifting in her seat. "The opening gala for the brand is in two days, Charles. The whole city is going to be there. What if another person shows up? What if they decides to finish what Evelyn started?"
Charles’s face turned completely blank, the soft look he usually reserved for her disappearing for a brief second. "There wont be a problem for you anymore. I can promise you that."
Harriet’s eyes narrowed. She remembered what Godwin had said on the phone about Taylor talking in the cellar. "What did Taylor say about her, Charles? When he was locked up... what did he tell you about Hayley? Did she help him milk me dry?"
"It doesnt matter what he said," Charles said smoothly, his thumb rubbing a slow circle against her skin. "Taylor is a desperate liar who would say anything to get out of that room. You don't need to know the details of a dead man's words."
"He isn't dead, is he?" Harriet asked, her breath catching.
"He might as well be," Charles replied, his voice flat and absolute. He leaned closer, kissing her cheek gently. "Focus on your dresses, Princess. Let me handle the monsters."
The private helicopter landed smoothly at the airfield, and within minutes, Godwin was driving them through the heavy city traffic toward the fashion house. When the luxury SUV pulled up to the curb of Rags to Riches, the sidewalk was completely clear of reporters. Charles’s security teams had done their job perfectly.
Harriet stepped inside the building, the loud, cool blast of the air conditioner immediately hitting her face. The interior was a complete hive of activity. Assistants were running around with measuring tapes, and tailors were moving giant rolls of silk and velvet across the floor.
Right in the middle of it all stood Jojo, a pair of scissors tucked into her waistband, shouting orders at a group of interns. "No, not that rack! Move the red blazers to the front display! We need the lighting to hit the sequins directly!"
Harriet walked toward the reception desk, but she stopped dead in her tracks. Sitting right on top of the glass counter was a massive, hideous bouquet of dead black roses. The petals were dry and crisp, dropping tiny flakes onto the clean surface. Tucked right in the middle was a small white card.
Harriet reached out, her fingers trembling slightly as she pulled the card from the dead stems. She read the elegant, loopy handwriting out loud: "Enjoy your throne while it lasts." It was signed at the bottom: Evelyn Rue.
Harriet dropped the card back onto the desk, her stomach twisting into a tight knot. "She still found a way to get inside," she muttered, her skin going cold.
Jojo noticed her arrival and marched over, immediately snatching the card and tearing it into tiny pieces before throwing it into the trash bin. "Don't look at that garbage, Harriet. It is just the pathetic twitching of a dying snake."
"How did she even get this delivered?" Harriet asked, looking at the black petals.
"Some random delivery boy dropped it off before the security team could check it," Jojo said, waving her hand dismissively. She grabbed a tablet from the counter and tapped the screen, sliding it in front of Harriet. "Look at the news instead. The whole narrative has completely flipped."
Harriet looked at the screen. The top headlines weren't about her being a thief anymore. Instead, the local financial news was flashing in bold letters: RUE EMPIRE DECLARES BANKRUPTCY amid FRAUD INVESTIGATION.
"Evelyn is done," Jojo said with a sharp, satisfied grin. "The media is reporting that her bank accounts were frozen by the city council this morning. Nobody cares about her little black roses anymore. They are too busy watching her ship sink."
Just then, the heavy glass doors of the fashion house opened, and Henry walked in. He looked completely neat and professional in his dark suit, showing absolutely no signs of exhaustion. He walked past the main floor, giving Harriet a quick nod before heading straight toward Charles, who was standing near the back office with Godwin.
"Charles," Henry said, his voice quiet but clear. "Evelyn tried to make a run for it. She packed three suitcases and tried to take a private car across the northern border an hour ago."
Charles didn't look surprised at all. He leaned against the wall, a small, cruel smile touching his lips. "And?"