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KARL TREVOR —

I glanced up as the door opened and found myself staring at a brown-haired, petite lady. She tugged on her skirt nervously, and I frowned. I seemed to remember her from somewhere, but that was the problem. The name... Isabella Miller. It did ring a bell.

What could she be doing here anyway? I don't remember having to do anything with her either in the past or even the present. So I found each other strange that she would come looking for me right now.

"And she's here because of Clarissa?" I gave a shrug, attempting to look indifferent. She's probably some minor character anyway. I shouldn't be bothered about her.

"What can I do for you?" I asked out of courtesy and waved had towards one of the seats opposite form me.

She slipped into the seat, her eyes not daring to meet mine.

Now where had I met such a shy person in?

Then, thinking of it, why did I even allow her to come in to begin with?

"It's because of Clarissa," another part of my mind seemed to already know the answer.

And of course the fact that I was very curious as to what this brown haired girl wanted form me.

Isabella sat down sniffing. She do out a handkerchief from her wallet and dabbed her eyes before looking back at me.

That was when I noticed her reddened eyes. She looked upset. So, a crying young lady finds her way into my office. Now, what would happen next?

"You've heard about Clarissa, haven't you?" she asked, still sniffling a little as she sat down. "Well, what about her?" I raised an eyebrow and crossed my legs under the table.

Even when captured, dear sweet Clarissa never stopped being a celebrity as well as a pain in the ass. She was all over the news, everywhere. And even though that was exactly what I wanted to happen, that didn't make it any less annoying.

"She's been kidnapped," Isabella choked out, breaking down into sobs.

"What a pathetic little sight," I thought.

"Oh really?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"Of course you know she was kidnapped, after all, I was the one who did it in the first place," then it came back to me; this Isabella girl must have been Clarissa's best friend. I remember seeing her some time ago.

"Why did you come here then? I'm not the police."

"No, but you can help me," Isabella looked up at me, her eyes wide with hope.

"I don't think I understand what you're trying to say here," I tilted my head to one side with a frown.

"I know both of you had a rocky past. I know there's not much understanding between the two of you, Karl, but—" I waved my hand, cutting her off.

"I think I know where you're going, and it's not going to work."

"Why not?" she threw her hands in the air, frustrated. "You're the only one I know, the only one I can run to. Surely there's still a part of you that wants her safe, deep down. There has to be a part of you that cares," she said, her eyes pleading.

"Look here," I gave a sigh. "So now I'm supposed to help find Clarissa when I was the very person who kidnapped her in the first place? How does that even make sense to you? Oh wait, you don't even know the whole truth."

"Clarissa and I, we're no longer a thing, okay?" I picked up two pens from the table and clashed them together, trying to make my point. "Right now, we're at each other's throats. So why do you think I'd be inclined to help?"

"Please, Karl," Isabella burst, reduced to tears.

"No, I didn't think you'd heard that right. That didn't come as much of a choice. You saw clearly that day when she rejected me, and since then, my company has been spiraling down an endless bottom," my voice darkened, a green flash crossing my eyes in anger.

"Look around you," I said, throwing my hands around. "She's the cause of all of this! And now she's kidnapped. Good for karma to finally catch up with her. She's finally going to pay for all her sins. So why do you think I would want to help?" I flicked my hands and leaned back against the chair, relaxing. "Besides, I love how things are going."

"You monster," Isabella gasped, her eyes widening in horror.

"How could you say such mean things? She might be in trouble! This is not something to joke about!"

"If she's in trouble, that'll be good then. Very little compared to all the trouble she caused me," I replied without missing a beat.

"So naive," I sneered.

"Don't worry, little one," I scoffed, "if you're so badly wanting to join Clarissa wherever she is, then I'll grant your request. If only she knew she'd run straight to the devil for help."

"No," Isabella stood up and took a few steps away from me, her eyes scared.

"What are you hiding, Karl? Why are you so unconcerned, so dark? It's almost like..." She trailed off, her gaze snapping back to mine with a look of realization.

"Almost like what?" I stood up and stalked towards her slowly, with a dark smile.

I had her against the wall, my huge body towering over hers.

"Here I was thinking she was naive, but worse, she was weak," my smile widened, seeing her shake and shudder beneath me.

"She was so weak that I could crush her between my fingers."

"Like I'm the mastermind, right?" I asked, placing both hands against the wall, trapping her there.

"You monster," her voice shrank, shrill with fear. "What did you do to her?"

"What I should have done years ago!" my voice rose in anger. "So what if I decide to tell you everything now? It makes no difference. There's nothing you can do about it. In the end, she was helpless. Who was she going to run to?"

"And if she made it any harder than me, I was just going to make her disappear too."

"She must have sensed all this, because she bit her lip and glanced around, looking for some escape."

"Clarissa is exactly where I need her to be. But don't worry, she's safe as long as I get what I want."

"Let her go," Isabella squealed in a tiny voice.

"Why?" I asked, coming closer towards her.

"I'll report you to the police!" she yelled, trying to push me off. "Bring Clarissa back or you dare touch a hair on her head!"

"Oh, bored now, are we?" I smiled, stepping back. "What are you going to tell them? That the CEO of a troubled company captured Clarissa? Did you even think about it? And who is going to believe that story?"

"You don't know what I can do," I continued, walking back to my seat leisurely.

"You'd better not piss me off because I'm pretty sure no one will care if you're missing."

She gulped, and I gave her a smile, knowing she understood my threat very well.

"This is how it is, Isabella," I sighed and picked up a book and a paper, preparing to demonstrate it all to her.

"I am big and you are small. I'm an icon in society and you're just an insignificant little girl," I said, as if talking to a 6-year-old.

She stared daggers at me.

"If you go back to the police now, it's highly unlikely I would even give you any audience. And even if they did, I'm just going to make sure I paint you as the heartbroken best friend who's so confused and doesn't even know what to think."

"They'll have pity on you and maybe let you see a therapist for free," I said with a smile. "Let me call the shots; there's nothing you can do."

"You're not going to get away with this," she said, her eyes burning into mine.

"Yes, I am. And you know why? Because there's nothing you can do about it."

"Why did you kidnap Clarissa?"

"Oh, you know," I shrugged, "to settle a few scores. But don't worry, you don't have to be involved. Run along now."

She rushed towards the door, still shaking slightly.

"Oh, Isabella," she turned back when I mentioned her name.

"Just don't do anything stupid, for your own sake," I added.

I really didn't have any intention of killing her or making her disappear. But if she was going to give me a hard time, then I wouldn't hesitate to get her out of the picture.

She slammed the door behind her, and I could hear her footsteps echoing down the hallway.

"Do I trust you?" I asked, talking to no one in particular.

I pulled out my phone and dialed the number.

"I want you to keep an eye on someone," I listened to the phone then spoke again.

"Isabella Miller. And if she's a potential threat, I want you to take care of her."