CHAPTER FORTY NINE

CHAPTER FORTY NINE
Kael's POV 

The new information Aria is sharing is very different from what I expected to hear her say. 

I gave rapid attention to all she was taking. This wasn't mainly because I wanted to hear the explanations she was making. The session was being recorded. I just found myself more concerned with how Aria wouldn't get into worse problems because of this. And I knew if I let her handle it herself, she would run into even bigger problems.

“Why then didn't you take it up against him or confront him about it?” I asked her.

“I couldn't. I was a journalist at that time, and he never trusted me to keep things hidden from the company I worked with. I didn't even figure out he was ever into such, but I knew he was dealing badly. Every time I try to speak with him or get information on the company, he always says, "It's best I stay away from it.” 

“When you took up the business, what happened then? You can't tell me you didn't realise when you were called, being the only family left alive to take responsibilities for the business.”

She paused for a second before she said, “When I realized what the foundation on which the company was growing was, I didn't want to take it up, but I kept receiving threatening messages that Allen has some unfulfilled deals which were in million and whether I decide to run the company or not, I was going to have to pay nonetheless.”

She looked at me in the face, “Kael, I didn't have anyone to run to for help or any other choice I had to step in as the new CEO.”

“You had a choice, Ria. People always have choices.”

“No! Not always and I didn't. I just had to do something about it to keep my life.”

I scoffed. “So you proceeded with human trafficking to keep your life? You're just as evil as the people who were going to come after you; you just hadn't seen who would help you surface that side of you until all that happened.”

“No, I'm not. I did not indulge myself in any form of continuous trafficking. I would never do something as terrible as that. I was just pretending that I was going to do that, and since we had good connections, I made them sign new contracts and investments for the company, and I used the resources I could get to make solid money for the business, and I started paying back the debts my brother owed. Things just got bad because some of the investors were only willing to partner if we continued the business of trafficking, and they soon picked up that I wasn't going to continue that; hence, they withdrew from the company. That was when we started crashing because I've used the majority of our inflow to pay debts.”

I just hoped Ria wasn't saying all that she said to make herself feel like some superhero.

“You're sure what you're telling me is the truth?” I glared plainly at her. My hands are now on my lap, with my back well rested on the chair.

“I can't lie to you. If anything, you're the one person whom I know can help me out of this situation if you see fit. I wouldn't jeopardize that. You can check the record of the business since I last joined. You will find evidence of my transactions there. I wouldn't indulge myself in such an act. I can't.” She added. Her words seemed to carry much weight in my heart. 

A part of me is happy because I really would not be fine seeing her behind bars for a crime. I don't even know how to feel about the fact that she's being labelled for such a crime as this.

“How then did this get out to the press?” I sat up and asked.

The information that leaked is intentionally aimed at causing her a large fall. Ria must have gathered some enemies to herself because people around her must have seen how much she struggled to do the right thing, and they only released a half-baked story, putting all the blame on her alone.

“That one question is something I've been asking myself over and over. I don't think I have had clashes with anyone who would then decide to bring me down this way.” Her face fills with devastation.

“Fine. I need every evidence we can get on all the transactions made from your end to the collaborators of such inhumane acts, and we have to find a way to silence this past instead of speaking on it. If this goes more public than this, I believe we will lose the company, and I am not ready to lose my large investments in this company. So please, do all you can to get me quality evidence.”

I stand up, and the door opens almost simultaneously. 

Martin, a sergeant, walks in, accompanied by two other officers.

“Follow her to the company and get all the files she's to hand over to us for further investigation. This should be done discreetly and I don't want to wait for anyone else to have access to those files after you. Am I clear?” I ordered.

“Yes, sir!” They echoed.

“Also, drop her off at her house afterwards.” 

I turn to face Ria, “Don't think you're free from all this just like that. You must not leave your house, and you must not leave the country. Don't try anything stupid and don't make me regret my decision to trust you.”

She looked at me with pitifully gleaming eyes and nodded slightly. 

“You may all live.”

I watched as Ria was being led out of the room. She looked so pale, and I could have called her back to have some steaks before she journeys back, but I know that would be me giving her preference treatment.

“Wait,” I cut short their movement ahead, and they all turned back to me.