I’ll do anything to keep you safe and sound, Harvey. Do just about everything to always have you by my side. Even kill and take a life. They may try and harm you but they will never touch a single strand of your hair while I'm around.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee awoke my senses, especially when I took a sip of it. Dad cleared his throat. I looked up to notice him already staring at me with a knowing look. Oh. I set the cup down on top of his desk with tight lips and remained silent.
“Leave us,” he dismissed Henry, who obliged diligently. Once the door clicked shut, Dad set his cup aside as well and looked at me. “I knew you lied the moment you told the police that you found him wandering around. Tell me the truth.”
I sighed. “Dad. I just don't want-”
The sound of his hand colliding with the surface of the wooden desk made my skin jump in shock as anger painted his features. “I just want the truth, Rachel. You lied to the police. The reason you're about to give me doesn't matter to me right now. Who took Harvey out of school?”
Swallowing, I lowered my head and found the floor interesting. “Chad Montgomery did,” I admitted softly.
“I knew it.”
“But, Dad, he didn't do anything! Harvey himself said so. Let's just focus on finding the real culprit who harasses us.” My sudden defending stance surprised me. Not knowing why, I must keep defending him for Harvey's sake.
Dad sat back and ran through his own thoughts quietly. Waiting for his response on the matter, I merely stared at him with great trepidation. Finally, he sat up straight and folded his hands on the surface of his desk.
“This is the last time I'm going to let Montgomery slip past.”
I released a breath of relief, “Thank you, Dad-”
“But!” He cut me off. “If that man is behind all these harassments and I catch him in the act, don't try defending him for anyone's sake. Understand?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“I don't even know why you and your mother like the Montgomerys. Harvey included!” He shook his head in disappointment. “I don’t like how they’re slowly entering our lives. It's a good thing that the media didn't arrive on time or your mother would've barged in right now demanding an explanation.”
I nodded in agreement, not knowing what else to say. Dad took out a few folders from his side and flipped them open. “You may go.”
I silently stood up and left the room, knowing that Dad needed his peace to think. Once I’d shut the door, I turned to see Harvey standing a few feet from me. My lips parted in surprise before I smiled down at him.
“Hey, Harv. Uh, what are you doing here?”
Harvey shrugged. “I was just passing by until I realized Dad wanted to talk to you.” Getting closer, he whispered. “You didn't tell him, did you?”
“No. I didn't.” I'm sorry Harvey. Dad must know; we might regret not telling him.
Harvey grinned brightly and embraced me. “Thanks, Sis.”
I patted his back before returning his embrace. I'm sorry for lying, Harvey. Chad Montgomery is not someone we can trust now. “No problem, Harv.”
“Master Harvey.” Both of us turned to see Henry standing behind us. He bowed slightly. “There's a phone call for you. It's Sean Winstel.”
Beaming widely, Harvey escaped from my embrace and went running down to take his call.
“Do you need anything, Miss Maxwell?”
I shook my head. “No. I'm fine, thank you.”
When Henry left, I followed Harvey downstairs and into the living room. I smiled. Seeing Harvey talking animatedly on the phone with his friend reminded me of myself receiving a call from Francine. I sat down beside him and watched.
“Yeah! The film was awesome! Do you want me to bring the CD so we can watch it together?” Harvey hung up a few minutes later and turned to face me, happiness showing in his eyes. “What is it, Sis? You’re going to use the phone too?”
I shook my head and ruffled his hair. “Nope. I just came by to watch.”
Harvey raised a brow at me in confusion. “Just to watch? Why?”
I bit my lip and shook my head again. “Nothing. I just feel like it.”
Harvey grinned and wrapped his arms around me. I returned the hug, not wanting to let him go. I promise, Harvey. You won’t suffer. You’ll be safe. I’ll keep you safe. No one will harm you. If someone does, they won’t live long. I’ll make sure that they won’t. I promise.
“Master Harvey, the sandwiches are ready.” Henry announced when he stepped into the living room. Harvey smiled in glee and ran to the kitchen, Henry trailing behind.
I shook my head and proceeded to the second floor, heading to my room. In the comfort of my room, I leaned back against the door. It clicked shut. I slipped out of my heels before setting them aside, tiredly staggering to my huge bed. Throwing my bag on the nearby chair, I plopped down on the mattress and grabbed a pillow, groaning aloud. Can this day get any worse? The sudden ringing of my phone confirmed my thoughts. Reaching out only to see I couldn't get my bag, I whined and stood up. This better be good.
My eyes went wide once I read the caller's name. Urging me to hurriedly answer it.
“Hi, Mom.” Maybe leaving abruptly without telling her wasn’t the best decision next to running down the stairs to escape Liam Redfield, only to look like a rabid animal.
“Where are you? I have been worried sick! I called you ten times today and yet you wouldn't answer! Why? Did something happen?”
I laughed sheepishly and rubbed my arm. “S-sorry. Something came up at work. It was an emergency. I'm sorry if I didn't bother telling you. It was...urgent.”
“I see. Well, you should've said goodbye. Do you know how embarrassed I was explaining to the Redfields where you ran off to? Liam told me he saw you run down the stairs!”
“About that, I was totally in a hurry. Sorry if I made you worried.”
“All right. By the way, Mr. Redfield and his son will be having dinner with me. I was thinking about you coming along. Do you want to?”
I closed my eyes briefly and tried hard to chase the dark clouds away that seemed to loom above me. Okay Rachel, it's now or never. Just do this once, it's not like you haven't done anything for your mother. Just turn down the invitation, the whole world won't end. Tell her you can’t go.
“Yeah, sure. Why not?”
“Splendid! Go look for a nice dress to wear. See you later, dear!”
I smiled. “Bye Mom.” The phone call ended and I heaved a sigh. You are hopeless Rachel. Completely hopeless.
I closed my eyes before burying my face into the soft, thick pillows. Wading my arms around as if swimming, I grimaced. “I'm so tired... ” I drawled in agony, not wanting to leave the room and to just stay there until the world passed.
I guess that cup of coffee didn’t do its wonders after all. I mean, who wouldn’t feel tired after experiencing what occurred a few moments ago? I set the alarm on my phone and placed it on the nightstand. I let out a yawn and let the warm atmosphere lull me to sleep.
“Let him go!” I screamed at the man who aimed his gun at Harvey's head. The sick grin he’d been sporting ever since made my stomach stir in disgust.
“You mustn’t have heard what I said.” He covered the distance between us in three easy strides and pointed the gun blank on my face. I closed my eyes once he clicked the safety off. “It's either you or the boy. Choose!” he raged.
“Me. I choose me!” Harvey's muffled voice continued to reach my ears, opposing me taking the bullet. I waited for him to shoot me. Instead of doing so, the man aimed the gun back at Harvey. I felt my blood boil.
“No! Are you deaf? Shoot me!” He merely stared at me. The whole world seemed to have stopped as I recognized those blue cool eyes.
C-Chad?
“I'm not deaf, sweetheart. I'm just having fun.” He smirked and pulled the trigger. The bullet smashed Harvey's skull. Blood splattered on my face.
“No!” I screamed aloud and panted hard. Disoriented, I wildly shifted my eyes across the dim room. I held my head in my hands and took deep breaths. Another nightmare. I sighed and wiped the beads of sweat away from my forehead. The sudden beeping of my phone caused me to flinch in surprise as the alarm I set went off, breaking the silence. I reached out and grabbed my phone before turning it off.
“She’s not going and that’s final!”
“Damon! Would you stop acting like this? You’re scaring me.”
“I won’t allow it!”
I stood up immediately, wondering what was going on. I quietly turned the knob and peeked through the crack to see Mom and Dad in the hallway heading to their room. Mom looked distressed while Dad was a seething with anger. Both were fuming as they headed down the hall.
“I don’t understand you, Damon. Are you trying to trap Rachel here inside this house forever?” Mom asked, legs trying to keep up with Dad’s long strides. Once they disappeared into their rooms, I walked out and glanced at Harvey’s door. The sound of loud guns was muffled and obviously, he hadn’t heard what had just happened. Thank goodness.
I went back to my room and got dressed with a decision in mind. After slipping on the navy overcoat, I grabbed my car keys and silently walked down the stairs. Making sure that Henry and the rest of the staff weren’t nearby, I dashed out of the house. I quietly sneaked into the garage. I walked past cars until I caught sight of my Mini Cooper parked beside Mom’s red Mercedes. I opened the car door and slipped into the driver’s seat. Inside the car, I ran my hands on the steering wheel. “It’s been a while,” I whispered, and jabbed the keys into the ignition. The engine roared to life. The garage doors automatically opened and I drove out to the front gate. Percy stopped me and I lowered down the window before inhaling deeply.
“I’m going to my office.”
“Miss Maxwell, your father ordered us that no one leaves tonight. No one is exempt from that order.”
“I know what he said,” I replied in a soft voice. “But I have to go. Please tell him that it’s an emergency.”
With a heavy sigh, he nodded. “All right. I’m going with you.” I didn’t bother protesting, knowing he’d get fired if he lets me go alone. “Are you sure you want to drive, Miss Maxwell?”
“Yes, Percy, it’s my car. I should be driving it, now get in,” I responded impatiently, and he obliged.
Seated in the passenger seat, he put on his seat belt and nodded. “We’re good to go.”
The gates were opened and I drove out. Before I knew it, we were down the road at moderate speed. I turned the radio on and lowered the volume. “I’m sure Dad’s going to call you any minute. If he does, please tell him I won’t be home until eleven.”
“There is…no emergency, is there Miss Maxwell?” he asked hesitantly. “I noticed that you haven’t brought a bag and all you have is your phone.”
“Nope. There’s none,” I curtly answered and kept my eyes on the road, overtaking a slow minivan in front of us. “I just want to be alone.” Once again, the car was blanketed by silence except for the faint music playing in the background.
The rest of the ride remained as it was until we arrived at the city. Avoiding slow cars up ahead, I put my driving skills to good use and overtook them. I slightly smirked when I heard Percy softly gasp in awe. That’s when I saw it: my building. Maxwell Inc. Mother didn’t want me to make another name for the company and told me to just keep it simple. Said that it would soon be just another branch since I would be working at the main office. Honestly, I preferred the familiar building to the tall one.
The car slowly turned to a stop in front. “I’ll go home as soon as I clear my mind.” Percy nodded silently and I got out of the car. I made my way to the entrance before looking back to see Percy go behind the wheel and proceed to the parking lot.
The receptionist smiled and greeted me as I walked in the lobby. I went into the elevator and pressed the executive floor level. The world is such a lonely place. This building was near to empty, all the employees heading home. At home, Mom and Dad were arguing while Harvey was absent in this world, mind towards his game. I was all that was left. I staggered to my office, the hallway empty. Even Arianne had left, taking my advice to go home early since I told her I wouldn’t be around.
Once inside my office, I didn’t bother turning the lights on and waded in the dim pool. I removed my coat and draped it on the couch. I went up to my desk and pulled out the wine bottle that I received from the Italian restaurant a few days ago. I stared at the label quietly before opening it. I stood up to wash my mug and came back to pour myself a drink. As soon as I got settled on my leather seat, I spun it around and faced the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The night passed by slowly. I ignored my phone that had continued to buzz ever since I left, knowing that it was Mother. I rubbed a hand on my forehead and propped my head, glaring at the view in front.
I lifted the mug up, a toast to the world. “Start your day with a smile.” Turning to the mug, I held the rim against my lips. “And end it with a glass wine.” To drown your sorrows.
Like a blink of an eye, the wine slowly reached the bottom. Only a few drops fell when I poured the bottle and I frowned hard, setting it on the desk. When the wine was empty, my phone stopped buzzing on my desk. Intoxicated, I smacked my own cheeks and groaned. Why? Why do I have to live this kind of life? Do I even deserve this? I reached up and touched my cheeks to find them damp. Damp with tears. I allowed myself to cry. I sniffled and wiped my nose, but the tears kept falling.
“I should’ve known.”
I stood up in alarm and clutched the mug in my hand. I squinted hard to make out a tall figure standing in the middle of the room. Walking sluggishly towards the man, I swallowed hard. Once we were face-to-face, his blue eccentric eyes stared down at me.
“You.” I breathed, lips parting the moment I recognized him.
Chad chuckled quietly to himself. “The moment your mother called asking about your whereabouts, I suspected you’d be here in hiding.”
I flinched and backed away when he reached out a hand to touch me. “Now t-that you saw me, please leave. I want to be alone.” I muttered. A loud yelp escaped my lips when he grabbed my arms before I could even walk away safely.
“Your mother’s worried. Go home.”
I scoffed. “You had the nerve to kiss me at the gala and now you’re ordering me around? You’re not the boss of me.”
He sighed and groaned tiredly. “Look, just go back home, Maxwell. You staying here will bother not only your family, but mine. Your dad suspects that I’m hiding you in my room.”
I rolled my eyes at his words. “Yeah, right. As if I would let you go that far.” I mumbled under my breath.
“What was that?”
“Go and leave me alone Chad!”
I recoiled when I felt his hand on my cheek. “You’re…crying?”
I pushed myself away from him and turned my back at him as if to protect myself. To conceal my face. “Just go,” I pleaded and tried to fight back the tears.
“Rachel…”
I let out a sob, fell to the floor and wept hard. Chad walked to my side and wrapped his arms around me. “I-it’ll be…all right.” he awkwardly comforted, patted and rubbed circles on my back.
“I-I don’t know w-what to do.” I wept, my pride crumbling in front of this man. I grabbed the sleeve of his jacket and fisted it.
“Shh… Don’t cry. Rachel, everything will be all right. Stop crying.” His words only made me cry harder. “O-okay. You know what? Just let it all out. Just let the pain out.”
We stayed like that for who knows how long. Just Chad Montgomery rubbing my back, whispering that it’ll be all right while I tried to stop crying. In the arms of the man who killed my brother in my dreams. This man, who I dislike, is hugging me and comforting me. Something that no man has ever done. I guess I was too happy back then. I haven’t cried this hard ever since my ex-fiancé left me. I always held my tears back, but now, it seems like the pipes are already busted.
“Just let it out,” he murmured. It surprised me. It surprised me how comforting he was when I blamed him for kidnapping. Chad’s warmth radiated through, his protective arms wrapped around me and the scent of his musk drawing me to him. I turned to face him, which made him look down at me, so that I was staring right into his eyes. Eyes that were a striking blue, like having lasers staring right at you.
“Chad.” I sounded breathless like I’d run a thousand miles. My heart beat loudly in my chest and I’m sure he could hear and feel.
“Rachel.” His voice was like velvet, as if my name was a secret that he alone knew. It gave me a warm sensation in the pit of my stomach.
It was driving me mad. I didn’t realize, until I wiped the fog that clouded my eyes, that we were already close to kissing. His lips were only an inch away from mine, ready to press against mine. Snap out of it, Maxwell! Wiping my nose, I cleared my throat and escaped his embrace as if touched by live wire.
“I-I…better go.” I stood up and tucked back a few stray hairs. My cheeks flushed. The sudden grabbing of my arm caused me to pause before Chad spun me around to face him. His eyes scanned my face.
My lips parted in shock when he pulled me against him, hands landing on his hard chest as I stared up at him with wide eyes. What is he doing?
“Let me go.” I whispered, and tugged my arm only for him to tighten his hold. The look in his eyes made my insides melt and I didn’t like it. I shut my eyes and lowered my head. This can’t be happening! I shouldn’t allow this to happen. I must go!
“Rachel.” His voice silenced all the thoughts in my head and I looked up. His blue eyes were dark and mysterious under this blanket of darkness. I held my breath. The beating of my heart was similar to a drum. It just kept beating louder and louder. My head spun as he leaned close, and I felt his breath on my lips. My thoughts began swimming until it all became a blur.
That’s when I felt my stomach churn and bile rise to my throat. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I held it in. Lack for better word, I gagged.
“What’s wrong?” Chad asked in alarm.
I bent down and vomited. All over his shoes.
“Shit.”