Chapter 19 19

Chapter 19 19
Vanessa’s POV

I held the pen tightly in my fingers my hands trembling, not because I was scared, but because this moment meant everything to me. I lowered the tip of the pen and signed my name on the last page.
The man across the table smiled. “Well, that’s it. The building is officially yours, Miss Nessa.”
“Thank you,” I said calmly. “For everything.” He stood and reached across the table to shake my hand.
“Once Mr. Adams told me he sent you, I couldn’t say no. I owe him my life and I’ll do anything for him, if you need any help feel free to contact me.”
“I’m glad,” I replied with a small smile, standing as well. “Do the needful,” I added, grabbing my purse
I had just bought the building where my parents or should I say fake parents lived, the same people who had ruined my life, used me, and then tossed me aside like garbage.
I didn’t know have any idea they were using me to blackmail the Hayes family and I was just a stupid pawn and when I stopped being useful, they threw me away like trash.
I had cried for days after my divorce not only because of Elliot but because the parents I knew all my life were not really sincere towards me at all. I could still remember the look on their faces when they told me Bernice was my sister and how they called me a fool for divorcing Elliot and ruining their plans.
I clenched the purchase document tightly; they were about to know what it meant to lose everything. 
I had just purchased the building they lived in. The building wasn’t anything grand but buying it was part of my revenge plan. 
I wanted them to know what I felt like four years ago when I had nowhere to go and they threw me aside.  
When Asher handed me the full list of Hayes family real estate. I had sat on that list going through every single property and the agent until I found the agent for the building my fake parents were living in.
I dug deeper and realised they had acquired the property illegally and never payed for it. When I realized Everything was sketchy and they forged documents and signatures I knew exactly what I had to do.
I called my real father Adam’s and told him I wanted to purchase a bunch of  buildings because when I tried to contact the agent I couldn’t get through to him. He promised to make calls and just like that, things moved fast. Now the documents to the house were in my bag and the building was mine.
I turned to the man again before I stepped into the waiting car. “I expect you to issue a quit notice to the current occupants immediately,” I said.
He nodded without blinking. “That won’t be a problem.”
I gave him a final nod, got into the car, and shut the door.
The second I sat back, I smiled to myself this was just the beginning.
My phone rang, it was my Dad. I answered quickly. “Dad!” I squealed into the phone, my face lighting up.
“My angel,” he said, his voice so warm that I almost burst into tears right there in the car.
“I miss you so much,” he added. “You don’t even understand.”
“I miss you too,” I said, my voice cracking a little. I pressed a hand to my chest and looked out of the car window. 
“How did it go?” he asked softly. “Was everything smooth?”
“Yes, everything went exactly the way I wanted.”
“Do you need any help from my side? Anything at all?”
“Not yet,” I replied. “Everything’s okay for now.”
He sighed on the other end. “I miss you and Emily like crazy, the house is too quiet. I swear the walls talk to me now, how are you settling in.”
I laughed a little, wiping a stray tear. “We miss you too but we’re settling in just fine.”
“Good,” he said. “That’s good to hear.”
There was a pause and I could tell he was getting emotional. We spoke for a while and when I got to work I said my bye and ended the call.
When I got to Hayes building Elliot was already waiting, casually leaning against the car. He looked calm, but the tension in his jaw gave him away.
We had inspection duties scheduled for the new Hayes Food franchise spot, and honestly, I was hoping I wouldn’t see him so early and hed come a little later.
“Morning, sir,” I greeted quickly, 
“Morning,” he said, though his voice was oddly tight. His eyes lingered on my lips. I swallowed hard and looked away remembering how he had pressed against me his lips inches away.
I slid into the back seat of the car, clutching my handbag tightly, and stared straight ahead. He got in beside me.
The drive was quiet and the only sound was the hum of the engine and the occasional clicking of the indicator.
I kept my gaze out the window, pretending to admire the trees when in truth, I was just trying not to look at him.
Finally, he cleared his throat. “How was your weekend?”
“Good,” I answered quickly. 
He hesitated. “Did you... spend it with Asher?”
My heart thudded and I didn’t answer at first. What was I supposed to say? 
“Yes,” I said simply. “I did.”
He didn’t say anything, but I saw the shift in his posture and the way his shoulders tensed and jaw clenched.
His phone rang then and he looked at it, eyes narrowing. It was Bernice; he answered and listened for a while before he spoke.
“What do you mean your parents are about to be homeless?” he asked sharply, sitting upright.
I could hear her voice through the phone, though I couldn’t make out her exact words. She was frantic, high-pitched, and almost crying.
“Calm down,” Elliot said, sounding more confused than angry. “No, I haven’t heard anything about that. What letter? What…?”
His eyes darted to the window…
“I’ll deal with it when I get back Bernice,” he said finally, then ended the call and tossed the phone onto the seat.
I turned slightly to him. “Is everything okay?” I asked, pretending not to know anything.
He ran his hand down his face. “Honestly? I don’t understand half of what she just said. But she claims her parents got served a notice to vacate their house and something about a new owner.”
I tilted my head. “That’s strange... didn’t they live there for years?”
“Exactly,” he muttered. “I don’t know what’s going on. I’ll look into it later.”
My own phone rang then and I looked down at the screen. It was Emily’s crèche.
“Hello?” I answered quickly.
“Ma’am, your daughter just got injured…” Everything else went silent. “What?” I breathed. “What happened to her?”
My hands trembled and the phone nearly slipped.
Elliot was already leaning toward me. “What’s going on?” he asked urgently.
“She’s hurt,” I said, my voice breaking. “They said she’s hurt…”
He snatched the phone from me. “Hello, this is Elliot Hayes. What happened to Emily? Where is she now?”
A moment passed and he spoke to the driver.
“Turn the car around,” he barked. “We’re going to Michelle Memorial Hospital.”
My heart was in my throat.
“Emily...” I whispered, panic swelling like a storm inside me. “What happened to my baby?”
I clutched my chest, fighting to breathe, as the car spun around and sped off.