Chapter 102 Worry
On Monday afternoon, a report about drugs being smuggled in the Nelson Group's transport vehicles instantly shot to the top of trending topics.
Rachel saw this report just as she was leaving the Art Association's office.
She had come today to discuss the exhibition pieces with two painters and the exhibition organizer from the association, and the discussions had run from morning into afternoon.
The entire exhibition featured 99 paintings in total - Autumn had 46 pieces, and the remaining 53 were Leo's.
She looked at the content of the report and stopped in her tracks, a trace of surprise flashing in her eyes.
Benjamin had acted this quickly?
She thought he would wait until Thursday to make his move.
After all, that day would allow him to catch everyone in one net.
"Rach, what are you spacing out for? Let's go." Autumn noticed she wasn't moving and deliberately came back to call her.
Rachel snapped back to attention, looked up to meet her eyes, and smiled lightly. "Autumn, I'm afraid I can't go eat with you guys. You all go ahead - I still have something to take care of."
"How can you just leave without eating? You have a baby in your belly." Autumn said disapprovingly. "No matter how busy you are, you need to put something in your stomach."
She hadn't told Autumn that her pregnancy was fake.
The only people who knew the truth were Carol, Jennifer, and Benjamin.
As for the Parker family, she hadn't even mentioned being "pregnant" to them - there was no need to.
After weighing it carefully before, she hadn't planned to tell Autumn either, but since Autumn had a collaboration with Stargaze Gallery, through all the back and forth, she'd heard about it from other employees.
At noon today, everyone had been discussing things so enthusiastically that they'd forgotten about eating.
It was only when Autumn mentioned being hungry, and with matters still not fully discussed and no time to go out to eat, that the Art Association's vice president finally ordered some food.
She smiled brightly, her voice warm. "Didn't we eat some snacks at noon? I'm not hungry yet. If I get hungry later, I'll just grab something to eat on my own."
Hearing her say this, and not being the nagging type, Autumn didn't insist further. "Just don't let yourself go hungry. Where are you headed? Should I drive you there?"
"No need, it's easy to get a cab around here. I'll just take a taxi."
Rachel waved her hand and walked to the roadside to hail a cab. "Azure Sky Law Firm, please."
More than ten minutes later, the car arrived at the entrance of the law firm.
Rachel looked at those large characters on the sign gleaming in the sunlight and suddenly realized she'd forgotten to ask if he was at the firm.
Just as she was about to take out her phone from her bag to call, suddenly, a familiar low and cool voice sounded behind her.
"Rachel?"
Rachel froze, turned around to look, and saw a tall, upright figure standing six or seven yards away.
Benjamin was wearing a dark coffee-colored coat, with golden sunlight wrapping around him in layers, dispelling that hint of cool indifference in his demeanor, and for once showing a touch of warmth.
Benjamin gazed deeply at the radiant figure in the warm winter sun.
The afternoon breeze brushed past gently, as if it could penetrate through clothes and flow into his cold heart.
He walked over, his voice low. "Why did you come here?"
Rachel said, "I saw the report. Lachlan was arrested?"
Benjamin's gaze fell on her beautiful, defined face, then shifted away, his tone still flat. "Yes, he's already been taken into police custody. I just got back from the police station. Come on, let's talk in the office."
The police station.
That was probably about those 20 pounds of drugs belonging to Lachlan.
Once in the office, Nathaniel brought two lattes without even asking.
Rachel noticed Benjamin's cup was also a latte, which surprised her a bit.
In all the times she'd come to his office, she remembered Benjamin always drank black coffee.
This was really the first time she'd seen him with a latte.
She looked up and happened to meet Benjamin's deep, cool eyes. She moved her lips and spoke. "I thought we'd wait until Thursday to take action."
Hearing this, Benjamin nodded. "Yes, the police originally planned to wait until Thursday, after the last batch of drugs was delivered, before taking action. But Lachlan has been making quite a few moves these past few days, and there was also an incident on the Maple Grove City side, so they had to act early. The batch that arrived in Dawnlight City yesterday has already been searched. As for the remaining batch, it's in the police's hands now. It won't be long - at most two or three days."
Hearing this, Rachel slowly breathed a sigh of relief.
A single gram of drugs could easily destroy a family. The sooner these drugs were seized by the police, the more the risk was reduced.
The Nelson family must already be in chaos now, too busy to look after themselves.
And Lachlan couldn't be saved either.
She shouldn't ask too much about this case, so she changed the subject. "I came today because there's something else I wanted to ask for your help with."
Benjamin picked up his coffee, took a sip, looked up and nodded slightly, indicating she should continue.
Rachel pressed her lips together and asked carefully, "Do you have a way to get a micro camera?"
Benjamin paused slightly, his brows furrowing unconsciously. "What do you need that for?"
Rachel hesitated, opening her mouth but not knowing what to say for a moment.
His patience had always been good. During the few minutes she hesitated, he didn't make a sound. Finally, Rachel told him her plan.
The more he heard, the tighter Benjamin's brows knitted.
When they had dinner a few days ago, he'd had a vague guess, so he wasn't particularly surprised, but now hearing her plan with his own ears, his heart still couldn't help but sink.
He reminded her coolly, "This is too risky for you."
"I know, but to achieve the goal, you have to pay the corresponding price." Rachel picked up his words. "This is the fastest and most direct opportunity to dump the shares on Steven. Besides, I don't necessarily have to get seriously hurt - as long as the baby 'miscarries,' that's enough."
Actually, yesterday she'd contacted that private investigator, but he wasn't in Dawnlight City, and it would take three days for him to send the item over.
Not enough time.
Unable to find anyone else, she had no choice but to come to Benjamin.
Although Benjamin was a lawyer, she was certain he could get this thing.
Benjamin looked at her, his dark and unclear expression showing his disapproval of her plan.
Too dangerous.
But all the words of persuasion circled around his mouth and fell back into his stomach.
This was her decision, and he respected it.
Both gave each other time to think. After about fifteen minutes, in the quiet office, his voice sounded again. "When do you need it?"
"Tomorrow at the latest."
Benjamin nodded. "Tomorrow afternoon, I'll have Nathaniel deliver it to you."
Rachel set down her teacup and stood up. "Okay, thanks. I'll go now and let you get back to work."
Benjamin didn't say anything, watching her walk to the door. Even after the office door closed, he didn't look away, his brows still tightly furrowed, a hint of worry flickering in his eyes.