Chapter 2 - The Black Card's Owner

The pain in Belle's whole being seemed to succumb her into the darkness that she didn't complain when they made her sit in the corner of the shop while waiting for the policemen who indeed arrived after a while. 

"Officer brings this girl to the station, she stole this card and attempted to use it here. She is a fraud" the cashier pointed Belle to the police officers. The officers stared at her with a scrutinizing gaze before turning back to the cashier. 

"Have you tried to contact the owner of the card? Did the owner declare the card stolen?" the officer casually asked. 

"We have just informed the owner officer but his assistant received my call" the manager interrupted and explained. 

"Then we have to wait for them, I just can't arrest her without a valid complaint. You cannot even prove she stole it or that she has committed fraud" the officer explained while he looked at the crying girl in the corner. They were used to different acts of shoplifters, thieves, or fraud but the girl seemed to be too innocent to make such an act. 

Belle who is intently listening sighed in relief when she heard the officer, but she will still be in big trouble if the man who gave the card will not show up to clarify everything. 

They all patiently wait and as time passes by, Belle becomes more anxious and nervous. She fidgets in her seat whenever someone would enter the shop until a man wearing a business suit arrived. 

"I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting. The boss is in a meeting right now and I was sent by his executive assistant as his representative" the man immediately spoke to the officers as he reached their sides. 

Belle stared at the man who just arrived but she don't recognize him at all. It's a different man from who gave her the card. 

"It's okay sir, we all know the CEO is a very busy person" the manager responded with a very understanding smile. 

"So what happened here?" the man asked curiously.

The manager hurriedly picked up the card and showed it to the man. 

"This is the CEO's black card, we can recognize it everywhere. He is one of the very few who have this card. Today it was used by a mere student to pay her school stuff" the manager explained while the man was just attentively listening together with the two police officers. 

The man took the card from the manager to scrutinize. Flipping the card several times, ensuring he will not be wrong.

"Yes, this is the CEO's black card. But I'm not aware he lost this. He hasn't mentioned anything or even his executive assistant" the man said with his furrowed brows. 

"Yes sir that's why we detained the girl here for investigation. This is very serious" the manager added. 

"The CEO's executive assistant was already aware of the situation. I expect instructions will be given any time from now. The CEO was also made aware of the situation" the man assured the shop manager and the police officers with an assuring and businesslike tone. 

Belle's full attention is on the discussion and she can't avoid feeling so afraid of what will happen to her. She didn't know much about the man who gave her the card and she was not even sure if he indeed owned the card he gave her. If the card was owned by a certain CEO, she was not sure if it's the same man who gave it to her.

Trying to remember the details of their several encounters, she squeezed her brain to determine whether the man is wealthy or not. But she was sure the man looked rich enough.

They are all discussing the possibilities when a commotion was heard from the outside of the shop. Not long when uniformed security entered followed by a very handsome man. His very imposing and dark aura radiates the instant he stepped inside. 

"Mr. CEO good day" even if they all looked surprised, everyone greeted the very tall and handsome man with polite anxiousness. 

"It's a surprise you personally visited the shop, Mr. CEO. We just have some concerns regarding your black card" the manager hurriedly explained despite being nervous. He hasn't expected to see the CEO himself. Although the card is very valuable, he doesn't think the CEO would waste his time to personally go to the shop to check. He has a lot of secretaries and a very reliable executive assistant to do it for him. 

"Where is she?" the CEO instantly asked. His tone, hard and demanding. Ignoring the manager's pleasantry. 

"Sir?" the manager asked confusedly. 

"The girl!" the CEO's irritated voice thundered in the entire shop, making everyone flinch in fear. 

"We detained her here sir, the police officers are here to arrest her. Your card is safe and already in our custody" not hinting at the CEO's true motive, the manager explained with a proud smile.

"Arrest her? Arrest her for what?" the CEO grunted impatiently. 

"For…for stealing your card sir…" the manager responded nervously. 

"How did you know she stole my card?" the CEO retorted, sarcastically. 

"Ahhm...sir..." the manager stammered while lost in words. 

"Where is she?" the CEO asked again with his chilling cold voice. 

"There she is sir" one of the police officers pointed Belle at the corner who is still crying and looking so afraid. 

The CEO abruptly turned towards the corner and cursed under his breath. He hurriedly went to the girl who was gaping at him miserably. 

"Hey, come here" the CEO kneeled in front of Belle who was sobbing in the corner but her already red and puffy eyes were fixed on him. 

Belle continued to stare at the very familiar face while relief flooded her trembling body although fat tears continued to fall.

"I'm so...sorry, I don't have money anymore... I... I used the card but they...they accused me of stealing" Belle explained tearfully. She cannot control her stuttered words. 

"It's okay I'm here now, please stop crying" the man comforted Belle. Unlike earlier, his tone is soft while he gently wiped her tears with his thumb. Upon seeing her trembles, he pulled her to hug.

"I'm so afraid, the police will arrest me... I didn't steal anything, please tell them" Belle looked up at the man and begged. Her eyes reflect her fears.

"Shhh...no one will arrest you. Calm down, I'm here now" the man assured her and tucked her under his chin. 

"I'm afraid" Belle mumbled softly as she unawarely clung to the man. 

"Don't be, I'm here" the man assured her with his tender tone while caressing her long wavy hair. 

They became silent for a while before the man pulled her up from her seat. 

"Come on let's get you out of here" the man pulled Belle against his chest and brought her towards where everyone was standing, watching the scene in awe. 

With her face hidden at the man's chest and unaware, she was getting the man's expensive suit wet with her tears, she let the man lead her.

Every curious eye stare at the CEO who is hugging the puny girl tightly against his chest. The first time they saw the imposing man become gentle to someone. 

"Pete, get all the things Belle needed for school, I will bring her home now" the man ordered.

"Yes Ethan, I got it" Pete responded with his equally serious look. 

"I'll deal with you later" Ethan turned to the manager who gulped in fear, before turning away with Belle in his arms. His security men instantly surrounded the CEO and Belle the moment they stepped out of the shop.

With the CEO's departure, Pete and one of Ethan's secretaries were left to settle Belle's purchases. 

"Give me all of her things" Pete seriously ordered which the cashier hurriedly obeyed to pack and hand to him. 

"Thank you officers but this is all just a misunderstanding, you can leave now" Pete turned to the police officers and casually dismissed them. 

"Good day gentlemen, we will be going" the police officers politely bid them goodbye before they walked away. 

"Sir Pete I hope you could tell the CEO we are very sorry for the misunderstanding" the manager nervously begged for Pete's help upon realizing what happened. 

The CEO was known for his ruthlessness. A canny man in the business world. He only trusts very few people around him and one of those is Pete, his best friend since his university days and his very efficient executive assistant. 

"I will do what I can, but you just mistreated an important person to the CEO. The girl has his black card for a reason, you could have called his office first instead of the police station" Pete seriously reprimanded while he looked at the manager and the cashier with his intent and dark gaze. 

Ethan is very unforgiving, especially if it involves the beautiful girl whom Ethan has been protecting since he met her in the bar. 

"You should be careful in dealing with your clients, they all deserve due process. The CEO despised unjust treatment, you all must remember that" Pete added with his expressionless face. 

"Who is the girl sir Pete? She seemed to be so important to our CEO" the man who represented the CEO earlier asked. He can no longer contain his curiosity by what he just witnessed.

Pete looked around the curious faces of everyone before his earnest eyes settled on the store manager. 

"She will be the queen of the empire we are all serving" Pete announced casually before he turned towards the door leaving everyone dumbfounded. 

     *****😳😳*****