Eighteen

I sensed something suspicious about the entire situation during the meeting, but it seemed like everyone was hiding the truth from me. As soon as I entered the conference room, accompanied by the guard, I could sense the eerie gazes fixed upon me. Their bloodshot eyes frightened me to the point where I almost stumbled.

"Why were they staring at me like that?" I questioned myself, bewildered, attempting to decipher the nature of their conversation.

Undoubtedly, there was an unsettling atmosphere surrounding the meeting, but since I had been left outside, I didn't delve too deeply into it.

Once I arrived home, I immediately retired to bed, hoping that Tyler's reaction while dropping me off wouldn't jeopardize my job. However, thoughts of it consumed me, making it incredibly difficult to fall asleep. After contemplating for a few minutes, exhaustion overcame me, and I drifted into slumber, awakening the next day.

Rising as early as possible, I promptly prepared myself and quickly attended to my daily tasks before leaving for work.

Upon stepping out of the house, I attempted to hail a taxi but couldn't find one, so I decided to continue on foot, hopeful that I might come across one along the way, given that I had ample time.

As I proceeded, I noticed that someone was tailing me, and fear started to creep in.

I paused for a moment, allowing myself time to ascertain the identity and intentions of the person following me before deciding on my next course of action. It became apparent that it wasn't just one person, but a group. Realizing this, I concluded that it would be best for me to keep moving forward.

While on the move, memories of the meeting flooded my mind, intensifying my unease. Honestly, the conversation among the men during the meeting sounded peculiar, and their stares at me were even more unsettling than I had initially imagined.

Furthermore, the individuals currently tailing me appeared increasingly apprehensive and suspicious, which greatly concerned me.

In an effort to shake them off, I quickened my pace, attempting to distance myself, but they persisted in their pursuit.

Despite my repeated attempts to lose them, they remained steadfast in their pursuit. It was during a close encounter with them that I recognized one of their faces, confirming that he was a member of the club I had previously worked for. Without hesitation, I immediately texted Athena to inform her that I was being followed by someone from the club.

***

I woke up early the next day after the council meeting, eager to visit the guard who had been assigned to investigate Ruby's ancestry. My curiosity and deep interest in Ruby's case compelled me to take this action.

After a quick breakfast, I made my way to the guard's house, eager to speak with him.

"Good morning, it's Lucian," I softly greeted as I knocked on his door.

"I'm coming, good morning," a voice responded from a short distance away.

The guard opened the door after verifying my identity through the slightly opened window.

"Good morning, sir. Please come in," the guard said, opening the door for me.

Silently, I entered his house as soon as the door swung open. He offered me a seat, then went to his kitchen and returned with two glass cups and a jug of coffee.

"Please have some, sir," the guard offered, presenting me with a cup filled with coffee.

He poured a cup for himself as well, and we toasted with our cups before taking a sip of the warm coffee.

"Thanks for the drink," I expressed my gratitude to the guard after enjoying a sip of the coffee.

"You're welcome, sir. May I know why you're here?" he politely inquired, evidently curious about the reason for my early morning visit.

"I'm here because I need a little help from you," I asked politely, leaving him slightly perplexed. I could see the confusion on his face, wondering what kind of assistance I could possibly require.

"How may I help you?" the guard asked, his confusion evident in his tone.

"Don't be too concerned. It's just a small favor that won't cost you anything," I reassured him, but he still seemed unsure.

"Please, get straight to the point. How may I assist you?" the guard urged, wanting clarity on the matter.

"Okay, I noticed that you were appointed to investigate Ruby's case... I simply want you to inform me first if you discover anything about her. I promise to compensate you generously for your cooperation," I explained further, hoping to convey my intentions clearly. The guard's face lit up with excitement, evident in the smile that graced his lips.

"No problem. But Tyler already asked me the same thing earlier," the guard responded, wearing a cool smile on his face.

I thanked him for his honesty and instructed him to follow me to my car. Once there, I handed him a substantial amount of money and requested that he keep our meeting a secret from Tyler.

Leaving the guard's house, I made my way straight to the office, where my personal assistant welcomed me, informing me of the information he had gathered.

The guard had revealed that the council had sent someone to monitor Ruby. This news immediately raised my concerns, prompting me to command some of my men to keep a close watch over her, ensuring that the council wouldn't harm her in any way.