Chapter 54 ENEMY APPROACHES
I found Greg at the hotel bar, visibly nervous, his leg shaking with anxiety.
“Why all the fuss, my old friend?” I called for his attention.
“You know why... That damned woman is here, ready to strike, and you're playing house with your secretary!” Greg shouted, losing his composure.
“Watch your mouth before you insinuate anything about Elisabeth!” I slammed my fist on the bar, drawing attention, and kept my fierce eyes on him.
Looking around, he motioned for me to sit beside him, ordering our whiskey shots.
“Sorry, I just can't easily accept what that cursed woman did...” My friend said, downing his drink in one go. “You know Victor is dead because of her. That ambush in the desert was to lure you in. Me, her... Damn it!”
Greg slammed his glass down forcefully, trembling with nerves. I observed his posture, sipping my drink calmly, then turned fully to him.
“You were foolish. That's in the past, and now you're trying to redeem yourself. If every time Heloise shows up, you cower and lick your wounds, our plan won't work, and I'll never have peace, not before my time...” I clenched my fists. “Greg, accept that you and your brother were manipulated by her. We couldn't save Victor, but we can avenge him!”
“I don't understand how you can forgive me for leading you into that ambush. I believed Heloise and her fake evidence. I truly thought you were the villain in this story.”Greg looked at me with tearful eyes, the weight of guilt pressing on him.
“My ex inherited her mother's madness, just as Elajah is heading down that path...The difference is that Forbes is more honorable and distances himself to avoid harming anyone.” I sighed, ordering another shot. “The blame for all this is mine, my friend. I didn't see her losing her mind; I wasn't there when they needed me the most.”
I placed my hands on his shoulders, squeezing firmly.
“The deaths of Gabriel and Victor are my fault and no one else's. This is the burden I'll carry with me for the rest of my life!” I kept my tone firm, despite the sadness eating away at me inside.
“No, we're blaming the wrong people...Heloise is responsible for everything we've lost!” Greg's eyes were blazing, hungry for revenge against the woman who took everything we loved from us. “She uses her illness as an excuse, but we know who the real monster is.”
“When all this is over, she'll have nothing left but a straitjacket and poverty, Greg...Don't worry, we'll avenge them!” I sighed, clutching the necklace around my neck with her photo. “How did you find out she was here?”
“We tracked her movements through her bank account. She had transferred a large sum to a pilot to bring her to Cuba immediately. Eduardo called me, saying that a mysterious woman had invited him to lunch with a tempting offer to sign a contract with the Forbs and destroy SoundStory.” Greg continued with a bitter laugh. “Heloise won't stop until she takes everything from you!”
“I don't understand. She's already taken the most essential things from my life...” I gripped my glass as the tremor hit me, stretching my hands to steady them, then wiped the sweat from my forehead. “Let her try her worst; we'll finish Heloise once and for all!”
“You need to rest, Patrick, and stop drinking, or the med—” I frowned at Greg, and he fell silent. “Just rest. I'm sure you exerted yourself a lot today with Elisabeth.”
He laughed playfully.
“A gentleman never discusses his intimate moments with a lady.” I raised my glass towards him in a toast, then turned and stood up. “Speaking of which, I promised I'd warm her bed.”
“Such chivalry.” Greg rolled his eyes, smiling. “She really did you good, didn't she?”
“In a way I haven't felt in a long time...” I confessed, walking and waving over my shoulder. “Make sure you don't stay up late drinking; we need you alert.”
“Killjoy!” he teased, laughing. I flipped him off as I walked away.
I entered the room, heading towards the adjoining room. As I opened the door, I was unexpectedly greeted by a leap in my direction. I dodged just in time, turning on the lights to find Elisabeth trembling, clutching another pair of heels.
“Why didn't you lock the door?” she shouted, visibly nervous, her eyes red and full of tears. Trembling, I moved towards her, making her step back a few paces.
“Elisabeth, look at me,” I commanded firmly. “You're safe. I won't let anyone hurt you again; do you understand?”
“You can't promise that...” Lis cried, sliding down the wall until she was sitting on the floor. I kneeled in front of her, reaching out to take the heels she was gripping tightly.
“Yes, I can promise that. I'm sorry I didn't lock the door. I didn't want you to wake up and think I had locked you in your room.” I smiled gently at the woman huddled in front of me, who was struggling to calm down. Furthermore, I ran my hands through her hair, noticing her tremors, and pulled her to me, sitting on the floor and hugging her. “You're safe.”
I reassured her, holding her in my arms until she calmed down.
“Did I hurt you?” Lis whispered, unable to meet my gaze.
“I have the reflexes of a cat,” I joked, lifting her chin to look at me. “I'm fine.”
“I told you it wasn't a good idea to be with me. I could have hurt you...” She stood up nervously, pacing back and forth, agitated. “I'm a broken person. You deserve better.”
“I have exactly what I want. Come here.” I pulled her by the hands, sitting her on the bed. “I'm not going anywhere, Elisabeth.”
“Patrick... I need to tell you something...” Lis gripped her clothes tightly, her hands turning white from the strong grip.
I held her hands, warming them with mine. I kissed her in an attempt to calm her mind, and she responded with a desperate, needy kiss. She started pulling at my shirt, trying to unbutton it.
“Lis...” I said it with our lips still touching. “Listen to me. I want you, but not like this.”
She stopped to look at me, letting the tears fall. I wiped the corners of her eyes, sighing.
“Tell me.” I insisted, pulling her onto the bed, placing her between my legs, and wrapping my arms around her.