Chapter 44
Chapter 44
Sebastian's POV
The morning fog enveloped the highway as my car sped. I sat in the back seat, staring out the window, watching the world blur into shades of gray. Nolan drove in silence, knowing better than to disturb my thoughts. My phone vibrated against my thigh. Peter's name flashed on the screen.
"What is it?" I answered, my voice cold and detached.
"Mr. King, I thought you should know..." Peter hesitated, his normally steady voice wavering slightly. "Miss Bennett entered your study again last night."
I felt my jaw tighten. Of course she did. I'd given her a comfortable place to live, a well-paying job, and even paid her mother's medical bills. And how did she repay me? By sneaking around behind my back, digging through my private files.
A cold smile touched my lips. "So our little Joanna is quite the spy, isn't she?"
"Sir, I—"
"Continue monitoring her, Peter. Don't interfere." I hung up before he could respond.
I stared out at the fog-shrouded landscape, a humorless laugh escaping my throat. Joanna Bennett. The ungrateful little rat. I'd given her everything, and this was how she repaid me – with betrayal. Just like everyone else in my life.
---
I closed my eyes, leaning back against the leather seat as memories from a few nights ago surfaced. I'd returned home late, exhausted from back-to-back meetings. Peter had been waiting outside my study, his face drawn with concern.
"Mr. King, Miss Bennett entered your study today while you were out," he'd said quietly. "She seemed to be looking for something."
I'd paused, my hand frozen on the doorknob. "Did she take anything?"
"No, sir. I believe she was simply... curious."
I'd stepped into my study, my gaze sweeping over the room. Nothing seemed out of place, but the thought of Joanna going through my things made my blood boil.
"Keep an eye on her, Peter," I'd instructed, my voice cold. "Let's see what our little Joanna is after."
Peter had nodded and withdrawn, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I'd stood by the window, staring into the darkness beyond.
"Let's see what you're up to, Joanna," I'd murmured to the empty room. "If you're trying to betray me, you'll regret it. Everyone who betrays me does."
---
My phone vibrated again. This time it was one of my surveillance team members.
"Mr. King," the voice reported crisply. "Miss Bennett and your brother visited the Bronx redevelopment site yesterday."
My grip tightened on the phone. "What exactly did they do there?"
"They visited an elderly woman's apartment. Several neighbors joined them. Miss Bennett appeared... emotional when they left."
I ended the call, a cold fury building inside me. So Zayne was involved. My dear brother with his charming smile and seemingly helpful nature. I should have known he was working an angle. He'd never done anything without self-interest, not since we were children.
I gazed out at the passing landscape, my mind racing.
Zayne had always wanted what was mine – my company, my position, my power. And now he was trying to use Joanna against me. The thought made me clench my fists until my knuckles turned white.
"Zayne," I muttered under my breath. "You always were transparent. If you're using Joanna to undermine me, you've made a grave mistake."
---
The car pulled up outside a dilapidated apartment building in Stanford. The concrete was cracked, paint peeling from the walls like dead skin.
Nolan and I walked up three flights of stairs, the smell of mildew and cheap disinfectant filling my nostrils.
At apartment 305, Nolan knocked sharply. The door opened to reveal an elderly woman with wispy white hair and watery blue eyes.
"Mrs. Keller?" I asked.
She nodded, eyeing my expensive suit with suspicion. "Who's asking?"
I introduced myself, and Nolan discreetly passed the woman an envelope. Her eyes widened, and she quickly ushered us inside.
The apartment was small and shabby, but meticulously clean. Faded photographs lined the walls – glimpses of a life lived modestly but with pride.
"You said you wanted to know about the Bennett family?" she asked, settling into a worn armchair.
"Yes. They lived here about ten years ago."
Mrs. Keller nodded slowly. "I remember them. Samara and her two children – Joanna and her older brother. They rented my back unit for maybe a year, year and a half."
"Tell me about Joanna," I said, leaning forward slightly.
"Quiet girl. Pretty, even then. Always had her nose in a book." Mrs. Keller's face softened with recollection. "They didn't have much, but they were good tenants. Paid on time, kept to themselves."
"Was there anything unusual about them?"
Mrs. Keller frowned, thinking. "Well, they took Joanna to the hospital regularly. I remember because they'd always leave early in the morning. Once I asked Samara about it – she mentioned something about Joanna's eyes giving her trouble."
My heart skipped a beat. "Her eyes?"
"Yes. Something about her vision, I think. I didn't pry too much." Mrs. Keller shrugged. "They were private people."
I felt a strange tightness in my chest. Eyes. It was always about the eyes. Those haunting, familiar eyes that had drawn me to Joanna from the first moment.
"Do you know which hospital they went to? Or what exactly was wrong with her eyes?"
Mrs. Keller shook her head. "Sorry, dear. It was a long time ago."
---
Back in the car, I stared straight ahead, my mind racing. "Nolan, I want you to find every hospital record for Joanna Bennett in Stanford. Focus on ophthalmology departments. I want to know exactly what was wrong with her eyes, when she was treated, and by whom."
"Yes, sir." Nolan nodded, making notes on his tablet. "Any particular time frame?"
"Ten to twelve years ago," I replied, calculating quickly. "And I want it done discreetly. No one can know we're looking."
As the car pulled away from the curb, I watched the shabby apartment building recede in the distance.
Joanna Bennett. Who was she really?
If Joanna was hiding something from me, I would find it. And if Zayne thought he could use her against me, he was sorely mistaken. No one took what was mine.
"Joanna," I whispered to myself, "your secrets won't stay hidden for long."