Chapter 16 — Beyond the Rose-tinted Glass

The conclusion I came up with while dressing this morning after receiving Hattie Johnson’s ominous letter is that anxiety induces fear and anger at multiple levels. There was no other reason for her to bother me like this—accusing and swearing to have proof of an occurrence I have no memory of… Proof that my parents bought the Grand Mari Hotel, and I was the heiress to it. But according to Cedric, someone else owned the hotel named the Barkleys. Both of their stories did not match.

The whole thing sounded absurd every time I think about it whenever I had the chance. The Grand Mari Hotel was not merely famous for its extravagance, but for how it was dubbed as the hotspot for all socialites in Auburn City. It was even rumored that the president stayed in it a few months ago with his wife and kids. With the gravity of its popularity, the hotel has connections both old and new to the upper-class of society. Therefore, hearing that my parents may have owned it at one point is mind-blowing yet induced skepticism. As for Hattie Johnson, for her to go through lengths to warn me and asking me to meet with her was tiring. Stopping at nothing and involving me with her problems at the Grand Mari Hotel and accusing Cedric of the accident was enough to exhaust me mentally.

Cedric is innocent.

However, somewhere in the back of my mind, Hattie Johnson didn’t seem like the type of person to scam people into believing they were multimillionaires all along. Her story may not make any sense, but she never asked me for anything in return akin to what I accused her of. Still, her fantasy of me being a righteous heroine in her eyes after claiming that I have done her way too many good deeds was making my skin crawl. And I was too afraid to ask Cedric whether what she said is true.

I don’t think I can confront him with such an audacious accusation without anything to back it up.

Speaking of Cedric, I turned to the suitcase sitting next to the mirror, all packed and ready to go. We were bound to fly for Italy this evening, at exactly nine-thirty. I still have time to meet with Hattie before joining him at the airport—if I want to meet with her. No decision made yet, I trudged out of the house with a sigh. A perfectly fine day it would have been if I didn’t come face to face with Hattie Johnson who is standing behind the gates, waiting for me to come out. Catching sight of me, she waved energetically accompanied by another one of her biggest grins.

It irked and frightened me.

What is she doing here? And first of all, how did she find out I lived here?

“Good morning, Miss McKenzie!” She beamed as I approached her slowly, gripping my bag tightly until my knuckle turned white. There is a line between helping and being annoying—Hattie is close to crossing beyond that line and labeled as bothersome. No, maybe she isn’t considered an irritation, but a creepy stalker. “Did you sleep well?” Bringing out what seemed to be a cup of freshly brewed coffee, she held it out for me to take. “Here. I didn’t know what you want, so I got this espresso for you. Very nice for mornings like this.”

“Why are you here? Wait, how did you know I live here? Who told you?” Blood boiling and close to reaching the peak, I took a deep breath in. Eyes narrowed at the sheepish woman. “And didn’t I say not to keep fooling around?”

“M-Miss McKenzie, I apologize.” Hattie bowed her head solemnly. “I know it’s presumptuous of me to be here. I knew your address a long time ago, but I-I’ve never set foot inside nor came near to it. However, this is an urgent matter, and I must see to it that you’re safe all the time—”

“What are you talking about?! You’re acting as if someone is trying to kill me!” Tucking back a stray strand, I sighed at her shaking form. “Miss Hattie, I won’t be nice always. There’s a limit to how kind you are to a person, especially with strangers.” I pushed the gate open, causing her to take a step back to let me out. “What you’re doing right now is overkill, understand? No one is out to kill me and what you said about my parents owning the Grand Mari Hotel is false. The Barkleys own it, not the McKenzies. So, if you want to bother someone, bother them instead.”

“Wait, Miss McKenzie!”

“And don’t come here ever again! It’s already strange enough to have you waiting in front of my workplace. I won’t hesitate to call the police.”

I clicked my tongue once I heard her quick footsteps behind me, following me to where I usually wait for a taxi. Once she caught up to me, Hattie chuckled lightly. I merely shook my head, trying to ignore her as I searched for a taxi coming my way. Despite the rigid treatment, she refused to leave my side and continued to ramble away. Early in the morning, my ears have heard enough sentences, now pleading for a peaceful atmosphere. And thankfully, one taxi was on its way as I waved at it.

“Hattie, I’m sorry but you must go—”

“Miss McKenzie, perhaps you want to visit this restaurant my friend went to the other day. She said the food is amazing and perhaps you might have gone there before. You might recall some of your memories. Oh, have you tried that? Perhaps going to places you’ve been to in the past might refreshen your memories! When we meet this afternoon, we can go to that restaurant and try their food!”

“Hattie, I—”

“But of course, if you don’t want to, we can always go somewhere. Perhaps you want to go eat at the restaurant across from the Grand Mari Hotel? It is a bit pricey, but I’ll make do. Anything for you, Miss McKenzie. By the way, don’t you want this espresso? It’s still hot—”

“Stop.” Stomping my heel on the ground for emphasis, I glared at her. She took a step back, shocked. “Stop it! Can’t you see that I have more important things to do? And weren’t you the one who said to meet this afternoon? Even if I wasn’t going to go, you didn’t have to come here and rove around me like a helicopter!” Heaving, I straightened my back while composing myself. Hattie’s face was unreadable, stunned in silence as she stood there.

Damn it, I was too harsh…

“Look, Hattie. I understand you want to help me, but this isn’t going to work.” The taxi halted in front of us, prompting me to open the door. But before I entered the vehicle, I gave her an apologetic smile. “I won’t be there to see you, Hattie. Frankly, I’d rather believe Cedric than you. Take care of yourself.”

I must have imagined it, blaming it on the rather foggy window of the taxi… But I was sure Hattie Johnson’s eyes were green with envy as I closed the door on her.

***

“Reese, darling…” Cedric’s arm snaked itself around my waist, causing me to nudge him away as my eyes shot to the door. He laughed at my flustered face. “Are you ready for tonight’s flight? And don’t worry, I sent Lawrence out to carry out my final instructions to the other executives. He wouldn’t be back until later.” Taking the pen out of my hand, he threw it to the side, earning a gasp from me. “I can buy you another one, don’t worry.”

“You didn’t have to throw my pen away.”

Standing straight, he strolled to the sofa and sat down with a defeated look. “You seemed so immersed… at staring into your notebook for a few minutes now that my numerous attempts of calling your name were left ignored.” Pouting in frustration, I picked my pen up from the floor and kept it inside the box where the others were.

“I’m… busy.”

Oh god, I can’t give a great excuse!

He laughed lightly. “There’s no work left to do, darling. We can leave at this very moment and have fun while waiting for our flight!”

I wonder how he would react if I told him my mind is quite blank since this morning?

Crossing my arms, I huffed playfully at his words. “No work for you, the CEO of the company. But I, your private secretary, still have other things left to do—concerning your schedules and other events for next year—before I can go on that trip.” Cedric threw his head back onto the sofa, groaning. “What’s the matter this time?”

“I’m famished.”

A brow quirked up, I stared at him with wide eyes. “Didn’t we eat lunch one hour ago?” I questioned, slightly astounded at him for getting hungry after a hearty meal. Lunchtime filled me to the brim, barely making me walk straight at how my stomach was full. Nevertheless, I had to act cool in front of others unless I’ll embarrass not only myself but Cedric too. He even expressed how he may not need a snack later on, but his mind has changed after an hour. “You can’t be hungry this early. It’s not even two in the afternoon.”

Then, after glancing at the clock one more time, I was reminded of Hattie’s request to meet her at the cafe we went to yesterday. I didn’t know why I was suddenly feeling guilty because I wasn’t going to meet her there in the end. After what I said this morning and her persistent nature, I’d chose not to.

I’m sure she can’t wait there all day for me to come. I mean, I told her directly that I won’t… 

“Reese, please be a dear and buy me some donuts across the street?” Cedric lifted his head to gaze at me with puppy eyes. As if to convince me to go, he fished out his wallet, took out cash, and shook it at me. If he weren’t my superior, I wouldn’t have hesitated and talked back at his lazy ass. “You can buy yourself a drink or anything you’d like. I wouldn’t mind as long as you buy me those donuts.”

Holding back a sigh, I took the money. Arranging his schedule can wait. “Of course, you wouldn’t mind, you’re my boss and this is my job.” He laughed as he bid me goodbye. I trudged out of his office to the direction of the elevator, yawning. My tired disposition was immediately tossed out of the window upon seeing Mrs. Rhodan waiting for the elevator as well. Clearing my throat, I smiled ear to ear at her.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Rhodan.”

She turned to me and returned a tight smile. “Oh, it’s you, Miss McKenzie. Good afternoon to you, too.” An awkward silence ensued while we stood there waiting for the elevator to come. Mrs. Rhodan must have thought the same, turning to me. “Are you enjoying your time as Cedric’s private secretary?”

“Uh, yeah. I am.” I responded, quietly wondering whether she was genuinely interested, or it was to make conversation. Ruling it as the latter, I giggled. “It has been a great experience. I won’t let this chance given to me be put to waste.”

Mrs. Rhodan’s opinion or thought on whether she liked my answer was left open once the elevator arrived. Both of us never spoke inside as more people flooded in with every passing floor level. She must have gone with the crowd because once they all exited on the third floor because I didn’t see her anymore.

The first floor, on the other hand, was nearly empty as I got out of the elevator, strolling towards the doors. Cedric’s money was safely tucked into the pocket of my pencil skirt. I didn’t bother putting on my coat since it is a short trip to the café and back to the office. Hugging myself, I braced for the freezing air to hit me instantly as I rushed out. Snow hasn’t fallen yet on Auburn City, but it was frigid. Promising myself to buy a warm drink, I gasped aloud as my hand was pulled to the left, taking my whole unprepared self and almost fumbling to the ground. Shrieks from passersby brought me to a still as something cold and metallic was pressed against my neck while a hand gripping me tightly kept me in place.

W-what’s going on?!

“Miss McKenzie, it didn’t have to be this way…”

Recognizing Hattie’s voice, my eyes grew wide as others who saw her pull a knife out scrambled away for safety. I could hear someone calling the police while the rest watched anxiously at what the waitress was about to do. Not wanting to end up dead, I soothingly patted her hand and tried to talk sense into her as calmly as I could.

“H-Hattie, what are you doing? There are plenty of people watching. You shouldn’t be doing this in broad daylight—or in any way! Put the knife down and let’s settle this in an orderly fashioned way… Okay?” As I spoke, I could feel warm tears staining my blouse as Hattie Johnson began to sob. Her flushed fair skin felt icy against my own, hinting she has been standing out here in the cold. However, I wasn’t prepared for her to yank me and hold a knife against my throat. “Hattie, listen to me. You’re not in the right state of mind. You’re not the type of person to do this, right? You’ve been nice—”

“Then why did you push me away?!” She yelled out in anguish along with frustration, then told the people to back off when they tried to approach us. “Don’t even do it! I swear, I will kill her if you touch me.” Focusing back on me, she whispered. “This wouldn’t be the case if you just listened to me, Miss McKenzie. Cedric Dixon is your enemy—the worst of them all! And to see you protecting him has driven me insane for I know the truth! The documents are all in my bag and if you just allowed me, you won’t be as confused as you are!”

A security team assigned to Dixon Enterprises then appeared on the scene. Instead of talking sense to Hattie, they threatened her to put the knife away with guns pointed at her. This merely heightened her hysterical state.

“Ma’am, please put the knife away or we will shoot—”

“Stay back!” She screamed, pointing her knife at them. “If you want to shoot anybody, shoot Cedric Dixon! He’s the real criminal here.” Her statement was met with confused expressions and disbelief.

Sighing at the hopeless situation, I nodded. “Hattie, I’ll listen to you… so please put the knife away. Hattie? Please listen to me.” Hearing no reply, I tried again. “I… I won’t see Cedric again. I’ll quit my job and leave him. So, please put the knife down.”

“M-Miss McKenzie…”

I didn’t know my coaxing would work as Hattie may have come to her senses, loosening her hold on me. Realizing what she had done, her knife fell to the floor as she murmured words of apology. The crowd watching then sighed out of relief while the rest urged the security guards to restrain her as they waited for the police to arrive. Putting my hand up to stop the men, I smiled lightly at Hattie in reassurance. Not wanting her to lash out once more. It made me wonder how she could believe me so easily when all I said were lies. Yet she did and somehow it was the truth for her.

“You must see these documents immediately, Miss McKenzie. They are—”

A deafening gunshot rang in my ears, jaw dropped as Hattie Johnson—still pulling out the proof she claimed to have—fell to the floor with a bullet wound on the side of her neck.