Chapter 33 - Time for dessert

I had a wonderful time with Nicholas's family. They were a great bunch, I looked forward to spending more time with them. His mother's birthday dinner was beautiful and intimate and I was glad I had gotten her a gift. I got her a fur jacket. Specifically the kind she would like. I got the inspiration after I remembered that she wore a fur jacket on our first meeting. And how her husband had made a comment that she loved fur jackets.

Even Nicholas was surprised that I did because I didn't tell him that I was getting her a present.

We left the early the next day. And it was only because Nicholas insisted. We had to go back home. Besides, it wasn't wise to leave Alex all alone for so long, who knows what shenanigans he would be up to?!

I asked Mabel to spy on him while I was gone, but part of me was not confident that she would find anything tangible on him.

When I was finally back home, I had a lot of mixed feelings. Especially since I was dreading what was to come.

Nicholas dropped me off and he left to deal with some work stuff. And I gratefully met Lisa at the door. She looked happy too see me. And relaxed too. Her hair was in a ponytail and she was wearing casual clothes. It looked like she had decided to just stop by.

"Lisa what are you doing here?!"

I exclaimed, remembering that I told her to have the weekend off.

"I knew you were coming back today and decided to come welcome you. How was your trip?"

She asked as she took my bag from me.

I sighed.

"Oh you shouldn’t have!”

“My trip was wonderful. I wish I could stay there forever to be honest."

"It's good you're back."

She said with a big bright smile on her face. As I walked into the familiar surroundings of my home, my mind went to Jace and the last conversation we had. I turned to Lisa.

"Did you call Jace? He can resume back to work now."

Lisa nodded.

"He's been working hard on trying to find out who sent you that package. He told me he found a lead but he was waiting for you to get back before he told you."

I paused and turned to look at Lisa.

"He found a lead?!"

I repeated and she nodded.

"Yes he did. He's out now but I'll let him know that you're back so he can come see you."

"Alright then.”

Back in the confines of my room, I removed my heels and undressed while Mabel unpacked my belongings. She and another staff were sorting them out. The clothes that would go to the laundry and the stuff that would be neatly arranged back into the closet.

I looked at my room again and wondered if I should consider redecorating it since Nicholas would be moving in. It was pink. Everything in it was pink. The whole room, the bathroom, the adjoining living room with the pink sofas, the vanity area. Perhaps I should redecorate.

Surely Nicholas wouldn’t like sleeping in a room like this would he?!

"Take these to the laundry room."

Mabel said to the staff.

"Yes ma'am."

The young lady says as she left.

After the door clicked shut, my eyes shot uo to Mabel.

"How were things in my absence?"

Mabel looked around then she drew closer to me, her voice dropping so low that only I could hear her.

"Mr Michael moved out of the house shortly after you left."

"What?!"

I exclaimed, wondering if that was the reason for his desperate call. The call he had made to me claiming Nicholas wasn't the right choice for me.

That was definitely the reason.

"What happened?!"

I asked as I patted my bed, urging Mabel to sit and tell me everything. She eagerly sat next to me, ready to spill all the details.

I listened to her with rapt attention.

"You wouldn't believe it! Mr Alex and Mr Michael had a big argument. Mr Alex was apparently very angry that Mr Michael didn't succeed in winning you back. He called him so many hurtful names."

"He said that Mr Michael was useless and of no use to him. Mr Michael told him that he shouldn't forget that he still knows his secrets."

"Mr Alex sounded pretty angry. He asked Mr Michael to leave the mansion, that his presence hasn't made any impact since he arrived. That he has only become an inconvenience."

I couldn’t help but chuckle. I knew it was only a matter of time before whatever stupid partnership they had come crashing down.

"Mr Michael angrily packed his things and he left. He didn't come back anymore after that. And Mr Alex started drinking a lot more when he left."

“Those two! Well I’m glad Michael is finally out of here. Good riddance!”

He couldn’t even last that long. I thought as I rolled my eyes.

"Oh! And he also checked out your father's study."

My heart skipped a beat.

"My father's study?! How did he get a key?"

I exclaimed and Mabel shrugged.

"It seems he found the other spare in your father's room. He was there for a very long time. I didn't know when he finally left."

What was he up to again.

Before I could ask more questions, there was a brief knock on the door. Mabel jumped off the bed and busied herself with something else has the former staff walked back into the room.

She was our oldest staff, therefore the only person in the house that I could still trust. But the new staffs, like the lady that just walked into my room, there could be no telling if she was working for my brother or just a normal staff.

I had no way of knowing.

"I'm thinking of redecorating this room what do you think?!"

I asked Mabel as I changed the topic and she smiled.

"But you love your room, why would you want to change it?!"

She asked and I shrugged.

"My husband would be spending more time here, I don't want him to have to stay in a room with so much pink."

"Has Mr Nicholas himself complained about it?"

"Not yet."

I murmured.

"Then I suggest you ask him first."

"Good idea."

I murmured as I finally stood up from the bed and reached for my phone on the bedside drawer.

Lisa mentioned that Jace found a lead, for obvious reasons I didn't want to meet him in the house.

So I texted him the coffee shop that I wanted to meet up and talk to him. He replied almost immediately, telling me that he was already on his way and he would come pick me up in the next fifteen to twenty minutes.

I was craving desserts anyways and I didn’t eat much on our trip back because I got car sick easily. My period was coming soon and all I could think of was sweets and chocolates and all the warm and fuzzy things that would bring me comfort. I was already dreading the bloating that would come with it.

I couldn’t wait to learn what Jace had found out. I hope it at least pointed to the person who did it, I was tired of clues that didn’t lead to anywhere. Or only led me to more confusion.

I had dressed up shortly after. Picking some short flirty skirt and grey boots that went with it and a black turtleneck that somehow managed to make my boobs look twice their size. Ugh! I hated when that happened.

I ran a brush through my hair, I was too tired to do some makeup so I threw some sunglasses and lipgloss on and was on my way out when my phone started blaring loudly.

It was Nicholas. My face brightened up with a smile as I saw his caller ID pop up on the screen.

“Hello?”

I answered sweetly.

“Hey baby. I’m sorry for interrupting. I know you’re probably resting…”

“Oh I’m not. What is it?”

I asked him.

“I just wanted to confirm one detail about your father’s brother you told me to find out about.”

“What detail?”

I asked and Nicholas continued.

“You said he’s dead. I checked the public records and the death certificates records, he’s not there.”

“I even had them check the missing persons record for Hadron.”

Not there?

That’s strange indeed.

“He should be there” I was a bit unsure. I didn’t know anything about him, or why his name wasn’t showing up.

“I don’t know… is it because it’s been years?”

I asked and Nicholas groaned.

“Ugh. I don’t think so but I couldn’t find anything about him being dead. How did you know that he’s dead.”

I was about to reply when the sudden realization hit me. Did my aunt lie to me?!

She was the only distant relative I could ask and she was the one I called and she was pretty much the one who told me he was dead.

“Some relative told me…” I trailed off, still deep in thoughts.

Nicholas scoffed.

“Well, from all indications, your father’s brother is not dead. There’s nothing that points to him being dead, not even a news article.”

“What are you saying Nick?!”

I asked quietly, my voice carrying the weight of my confusion.

“I’m saying your uncle Brett Montana is very much still alive.”