Chapter 6 Betrayal
I could not sleep no matter how hard I tried, even when I had closed my eyes so tight
Carson's reaction wasn’t what I expected. He was too calm, too composed. He didn’t even try to deny anything, he just told me to mind my business.
I wanted to believe he was telling the truth. I really did. But something felt off.
“Maybe I'm overthinking”.I said to myself trying to shake off the feelings.
If those documents weren’t important, why was he hiding them? And why did I see my father’s name on one of the files?
I sighed, rubbing my forehead.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized I needed to talk to someone. Someone I trusted. And that person was Fred.
Fred had been there for me when my father was arrested, he was the one who supported me when I had nothing. He even convinced me to take this job, even though I hated the idea of working for Carson.
He was my best friend, but something inside
me whispered that I should be careful..
I needed answers, and I wasn’t going to find them lying in bed all night.
I grabbed my phone and sent him a text.
“ Hey, are you awake?” I typed.
“For you? Always. What’s wrong?” He replied.
“Can we meet? I need to talk to you” I replied back.
“Of course. My place or yours?” Fred typed again.
I checked the time and it was almost midnight. Going to his apartment might feel too personal but I didn’t want him coming here either.
“ Let’s meet at Joe’s Lounge in 20 minutes”.I replied again.
“ See you there”He responded.
After I dropped my phone, I grabbed a jacket and my purse, still unsure if I was scared or just about to step into something I wouldn’t be able to walk away from.
I got to the lounge and Fred was already there when I arrived, sitting in our usual booth with a cup of coffee in front of him. The moment he saw me, he smiled.
“Annabelle,” he said, standing up and pulling me into a hug. His arms were warm. “You okay?”he added.
“I don’t know.”i replied uncertainly.
“Tell me everything.”He said, pulling back from the hug.
“I found something about my father's case in Carson's place” I replied quietly.
“Its really confusing to me,and I wondered why” I added.
“What do you mean?” He asked.
I didn't answer immediately, because I suddenly went cold. I mean I had always told Fred everything from the beginning but this felt different. Still, I forced myself to speak.
“There’s a hidden room in Carson’s house. He gave me the key himself but never told me what it was for. I found a file with my father’s name on it.”I said.
“A hidden room?”He replied getting curious.
“Yes and I saw pictures, documents and something about Sinclair Enterprises being involved in my father’s case” I said.
Carson caught me before I could read anything, but, fred I think Carson knows more than he’s telling me.”I said again.
“Did he threaten you?” He asked me.
“Not exactly. He just told me to stay out of it.”I said and shook my head.
He was silent for a moment then he spoke.
“Are you sure you saw your father’s name?”He asked.
“Yes,” I said. “I know what I saw.”i added.
“And you didn’t take anything? No pictures?” He asked.
“No. I barely had time to react before Carson walked in.”I said.
“Damn it,” he muttered.
“Why do you sound like you already knew?” I asked, getting confused by his reaction.
“I don’t,” he said quickly. “It’s just a lot, that’s all.” He said again.
Something felt off.
Normally, Fred would be furious. He’d be ready to storm into Carson’s office, demanding answers. But right now? He just looked… frustrated.
Like he was thinking instead of reacting.
“Fred, do you know something I don’t?” I asked.
“What? No, I know nothing” He said sharply.
“Then why do you keep asking about the pictures? And why do you look like you’re not surprised?” I asked again.
“I’m just trying to understand the situation,” he said quickly. “Annabelle, you have to be careful. Carson is dangerous.”He added.
“You think he’s behind this?”I asked.
“I don’t know. But you need to keep your distance from him.”He said.
I studied his face.
He was saying all the right things, but something was wrong.
For the first time in my life, I wasn’t sure if I could trust Fred.
And that terrified me.
Later that night when I got back home,I still couldn’t sleep. My conversation with Fred kept replaying in my head, it was like he knew something because he acted rather too cold.
“Why did he react like that? Why did he keep asking about the pictures? And why did it feel like he already knew what I was talking about?” I asked myself all of this with no one to give me a proper reply.
Then I figured out that I needed to clear my head so I grabbed my coat and stepped outside for a walk. The streets were quiet, only a few cars passing by. I turned a corner and I felt the urge to look at the restaurant not far from my view.
Then I saw Fred. He was standing outside a fancy restaurant, talking to someone and not just anyone. But with Victoria Claire.
“What the hell was Fred doing with Carson’s stepmother?” I asked myself.
I quickly stepped behind a parked car, watching them. Victoria was speaking with a serious expression while Fred just kept nodding and nodding. After a few minutes it seems Fred sensed someone was watching so he turned and our eyes met.
For a second, neither of us moved. I just stood right there in shock, not sure if I was to move or not. But right there I knew I had trusted the wrong person all along.
I had just made the biggest mistake of my life. Fred isn't whom he claimed to be.