Chapter 30: The mystery behind the text.

ELLEN'S Pov

“Not even for a hundred thousand dollars?” I asked, a mischievous smile stretching across my lips.

I saw the look in his eyes—that look of greed that fills the faces of men when they are about to get something that does not belong to them—something they did not work for.

“ I…He stammered, but I interrupted him.

“You want it, Mr. Ilios, I know. It’s yours to keep,” I whispered slowly. “But you will tell me everything I want to know, agreed?”

There was silence for some minutes, after which he nodded his head grudgingly.

“Good!” I exclaimed. “Let’s get started.”

“A few weeks before Alissia’s wedding, she came to my office,” he began, and I listened attentively to every word he said.

FLASHBACK.

at the lawyer's office.

ILIOS.

I sat behind my desk, tired. It had been a hectic meeting with one of my private clients, Mr. Drogo, who had issues clearing his private assets from the state government.

Not being able to resolve the issue at the state secretariat, we will be going to court the next day.

Gathering evidence to back up his claim to the properties, which included a vast amount of land and massive buildings in various places in the city, was quite difficult, as my client claimed he had lost the original documents.

I smelled foul play in all this, but I was just a lawyer who was paid to do his job, so I kept quiet.

Convincing the judge—a stubborn man who could never be intimidated or swayed with money—was another issue. He was also someone I had personal issues with for over thirty years, but that is a story for another day.

“Lucy!” I called my secretary, whose office was at the entrance of mine, and the door opened immediately.

My head was bent as my fingers moved on the legal document before me, reading through the lines of what was written in it.

“Get me a cup of coffee, please, and some painkillers to numb the pain growing inside my head,” I instructed her, but I noticed her figure coming towards me at the table.

I raised my head up to repeat my instructions, this time louder. The words got stuck in my throat when I realized it wasn’t my secretary who entered the office; it was Alissia.

“Lucy was not in seat so I helped myself in. Good afternoon Mr Ilios,” she greeted. “What seems to be the problem? you looked pale,” she noted, observing my face.

Apart from being her legal counsel, I guess she saw me as a friend, a father figure, ever since the passing of her father, who was my friend.

“Alissia!” I exclaimed. “What a surprise to see you.”

I would have gotten up to welcome her properly but I was too tired to stand so I pointed to the chair before me and she helped herself into it.

“Just stressed out a little with work, that’s all. What brings you to my office? I demanded, seeing for the first time since she came in that her eyes were swollen, like she had been crying.

“Have you been crying?” I asked, alarmed. I rose up to my feet immediately to sit on the table before her, finding strength from God knows where. “Who did this to you, my sweet child? I demanded after, holding her chin, to properly examine her face.

She removed my hands gently and giggled. “I’m fine, old man; nobody hurt me. They wouldn’t dare. I've just been having sleepless nights,” she said before giving a long sigh.

“What is making you worry, my child? I asked. “Is it because of your father?” I whispered.

She opened her mouth to speak, but her voice trailed off. “Well,” she began, finding her voice back after a minute. “I think of him most of the time and what life would have been like if he didn’t die. So maybe it’s because of him.” She paused for a few seconds before continuing. “And there’s Bryan.”

Bryan? I wondered, What did he have to do in all this?

“How is Bryan involved in the things that bother you?” I demanded curiously.

She straightened up on her seat and looked around, as if to check if anyone was eavesdropping on our conversation.

“You were very close to my father, right?” She asked.

“Right,” I confirmed.

She leaned in, beckoning me to come closer to her. I did as she asked, and she whispered into my ears.

“My father trusted you a lot, sharing some very personal secrets with you, I presume. Did he by any chance mention a particular treasure that was in a box?” She asked. “Don’t lie to me, sir, please.” She pleaded.

Her father did mention the treasure to me and what it’s worth. There was no use denying that I knew about it, as the man was dead and the said treasure was in her possession.

“He did mention it to me, Alissia. I still don’t understand how it is connected to Bryan.” I said, clearing the doubt that lingered in her mind.

She wiped a few balls of sweat on her face with some tissue paper on my desk.“Bryan found out about it and has been asking a lot of questions,” she said in low tones, her hands clasped together.

Curious, I asked her, “What sort of questions?”

“He asked me how the treasure came about and if he will be entitled to it when we get married,” she whispered.

My eyes didn’t leave her face as she spoke because I was beyond surprised by this revelation.

“I’m scared; his behavior makes it seem like he is more interested in the treasure than in me,” she muttered, moved to tears.

BACK TO THE PRESENT

in the sitting room of Ellen’s house.

ELLEN.

“What happened afterwards? Did she agree to give him the treasure? I asked, captivated by what I just heard.

“Well, right there, she didn’t,” he replied. It came as a surprise, though, when I woke up this morning and saw a text from her saying, “Come to my house today; I’ve decided to give Bryan 100 percent ownership of my properties.

Realizing what had just happened, a sigh escaped my lips as I poured myself a bottle of wine. “It wasn’t Alissia that sent the text. It was Bryan.”