Chapter 109 Successful Eavesdropping
ALICE
After my interaction with Benjamin, I forgot all about lunch and returned to the office.
I knew there was still some time before Theo's arrival, so my plan was to lie low and figure out how best to give him this news. I knew I couldn't hide the fact that Benjamin was the one who told me all this. I wasn't sure how Theo would react to it—not good.
But at least Benjamin wasn't anywhere near us, and he hadn't caused trouble.
Whatever. Who cared about Benjamin? We had more serious things to worry about than my pathetic ex.
So, I walked through the office, looking around for Felix. I hadn't seen him in the morning so I took it as a sign that he didn't come in.
I realized I was wrong when I stepped into the break room to grab some water and I saw him there.
His back was toward me, so he didn't see me. I stayed close to the partially open door. He was alone, and judging from what I could hear, it seemed he was having a tense conversation on the phone.
"...be this way. I already told you that I don't have the fucking time!"
I inched closer to hear better, but I didn't want him to see me.
"Yes, Emma, but if you could just—"
Emma.
"—be a little more understanding, I'd be able to resolve the situation for you. No, I'm not in a position to bring you back. I don't even know what awaits me."
So, Benjamin hadn't lied, then. He and Emma were involved in this whole thing. God, what a crazy thing to wrap my head around.
"Right. We'll talk tomorrow. I don't have time for this. Yes, Emma. I'll stop by when it's lunchtime. If I leave here earlier, they'll call me...Alright, bye."
I was pretty sure that I heard him mumble 'fucking bitch' under his breath, but it was time for me to go because he was heading my way.
I reached my office, heart pounding. Thankfully, I hadn't been caught. Tomorrow, Felix and Emma would be meeting, and my mind was already spinning with ideas on how to catch those two red-handed.
They couldn't get away with this.
Theo ran a hand down his face when I finished telling him my plan. I was thinking of following Felix to his meeting place with Emma.
"Baby..."
"I know it sounds crazy."
"No, I don't think you know just how crazy this all sounds."
"It'll be alright. We need to get some proof against them!"
He closed his eyes and shook his head. I ran my hand up and down his back soothingly, waiting for his response.
"I can't even be mad at that son of a bitch."
"It doesn't matter if his actions brought us together," I claimed. "He's dangerous."
He gave me a sideways look. His eyes became bluer when he was angry. "That I already know."
"We can't let him get away with this. Everyone has to know what he did."
"And that will happen, I promise you, but I don't think it's a good idea for you to get involved in all this, Alice. I don't trust Felix. Besides, what could you possibly find out by following him? What if he sees you?"
I bit my lip. "I don't know. Enough evidence for you to use in, say, a family meeting or something. Think about it. It could get him out of our lives permanently."
Theo appeared deep in thought after I said this, but even though he wasn't as convinced, he told me, "Yeah, that would be good."
"I can handle myself."
He faced me and put his hands on either side of my face. He sighed and shook his head lightly. "I can't say no to you, Alice. I'm worried."
"It'll be okay," I assured him. "What's important is that we get concrete evidence of what he's done."
I had no idea how I would do that. I'd have my phone out just in case I needed to take pictures or I could overhear something that would help. Either way, I had to be there. Hearing their conversation after finding out about them had to be a sign.
That was how I saw it.
A few hours before five, Mom called me. My phone vibrated close to my laptop and I had no way of ignoring it. I was over the moon that they'd finally understood my relationship with Theo, and I didn't want to ruin what we were trying to rebuild.
"Sweetie. Are you still at work?"
"It's not yet five, so yes."
"Did you receive the photos I sent you? Rory looks so great in his apron. He made us a delicious sponge cake today with frosting and everything! He's getting so good at baking. I wish you were here to see it!"
My chest tightened. I quickly went through the pictures and my vision went all blurry with tears. "Oh, Mom. These are so precious! They remind me of when I used to bake. I used to do it all the time! But I never have time."
"Of course, not," Mom chuckled. "You're a hardworking woman and you need to put food on the table. That's not a responsibility you can take lightly."
"Right," was all I said before changing the subject. "Hey, I was thinking about bringing Rory here for a few days. We're about to have a short break and, well, I'd love to spend the time with him."
"B-But can't you just come here instead?"
"Well..."
"Alice, I don't think that's such a good idea unless your father and I come along. Rory has never been on a plane and we don't know how he'd react."
"He's been on buses before and they're not so different from planes. Mom, Rory isn't shy around people. He can handle the flight."
"But can't your father and I come along? We'd love to see New York!"
"Oh, Mom, I'd love to, but I just don't have the funds to book such a trip. Plus, you'd need to stay in a hotel because my apartment's pretty small. Rory would just sleep on the bed with me."
"Theo could help with that, couldn't he?"
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
"He's rich! Your father and I have read everything there is to know about him and his family!"
"Mom, I'm not comfortable asking such a thing from him!"
"Oh, come on, Alice! Why not? Don't be a fool. Make the most of it! What's the point of even marrying rich if you can't reap the benefits of it every once in a while? If he refuses to help you with this then I'm sorry to say this but he really doesn't love you."
Her words cut deep, and I tried very hard not to sound or feel upset, but I couldn't help it. "I can't."
"Well then Rory won't go."
"Why not?" I asked heatedly. "It's just for the weekend. I want to see my brother! Is that such a crime?"
"This family is a package deal. Always have been. Call me back if you change your mind."
I wanted to throw the phone across my office and watch it smash to pieces against the wall. I dropped it on my desk noisily and covered my face with both hands. My heart was beating so fast. I hadn't felt this upset in a long time.
Why did they always have to make things so difficult?
I really hated them sometimes. I really did.