Anger

Knoxville POV

As we made our way to the mall to oversee the recent sales, my mind drifted into a world of its own, consumed by thoughts and worries. The sound of Henry's voice broke through my reverie, "Sir, you have a call."

I turned to him, my expression questioning, my eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. "Who is it?" I demanded, my tone firm and authoritative.

Henry's expression remained neutral. "Your dad," he replied, his voice even.

I let out a dismissive snort, my lips curling into a scoff. What could my dad possibly want? I grabbed the phone from Henry's outstretched hand, my fingers wrapping around it with a sense of reluctance. I clicked the answer button, my voice firm. "Dad, what now?"

The line crackled to life, my dad's voice booming through the speaker, his tone laced with a hint of annoyance. "Why does it take you so long to answer my call?" he asked, his words dripping with expectation.

I sighed inwardly, my patience wearing thin. What was the urgency? I demanded, my tone direct and assertive. "Dad, want now?"

"Dad, what's going on? You're being vague," I said, my curiosity piqued.

"Turn back, you don't have to go to the mall again," he replied, his tone firm.

I scoffed, my frustration growing. "What do you mean? I'm already on my way."

"Tell your driver to stop and come back to the company. We have to visit somewhere together. I've already informed Maxwell, and he'll take over everything at the mall," he explained, his voice calm and collected.

I sighed, feeling my plans slipping away. "Pull the car over," I instructed the driver, who promptly stopped the vehicle.

I continued, trying to keep my tone light despite my annoyance. "Mr. Richardo, did you have to always do this? Why do you always cancel my schedule and fix yours? You know how much I've been wanting to be at the mall, especially today."

My dad's silence on the other end of the line spoke volumes, and I could sense a hint of stubbornness in his tone when he finally spoke.

"They are many days, and you can still visit the mall at any time," my dad said, his voice calm and reassuring. "Moreover, Maxwell will be there. He's your brother, and he can always help you out."

I bit my lower lip, feeling a surge of frustration. "Dad, you know how much I dislike Maxwell having anything to do with whatever concerns me," I said, my voice laced with a hint of desperation.

My dad's response was firm, his tone unwavering. "That has to do with you and your brother. I don't care what you both think about each other. This is my business, I worked hard for it, and my happiness is seeing my two sons work together for the growth of the company."

His words hung in the air, a palpable sense of expectation and authority. I could almost see him sitting in his office, his eyes fixed on some distant point, his jaw set in determination.

"I'll be back at the company," I said curtly, not bothering to elaborate further. With that, I ended the call, the silence that followed a stark contrast to the tension that had been building.

"Turn back and head to the company," I instructed the driver, my voice firm and authoritative. I handed the phone back to Henry, who raised an eyebrow in query.

"Maxwell, don't you think he convinced the chairman to let him go?" Henry asked, his tone laced with skepticism.

I smirked, a wry smile spreading across my face. "Did you think he would agree to him even if he begged? They must have a deal. You know my father too well," I replied, my voice dripping with a mix of amusement and resignation.

Henry nodded in understanding, his expression a mask of neutrality. But I knew him too well, and I could sense the unspoken questions lingering in his mind.

"Did you think so? Should I find out what's going on between them?" Henry asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he awaited my response.

I smirked, a hint of wistfulness creeping into my expression. "I don't think I want to do that now. My only focus is finding Electra and begging her to come back into my life," I said, my voice tinged with longing as I delved into the memories we shared. The ache of our last encounter still lingered, a painful reminder of the hurt I had caused.

Henry's expression turned skeptical. "Sir, are you sure we're going to find her? It's been five years, and despite all our searches, we haven't found any leads. Aren't you going to give up and probably settle down with someone else?" he asked, his tone laced with a mix of concern and doubt.

I chuckled, a low, husky sound that held a hint of determination. "Give up? No, Henry. I could never give up on Electra. She's the one person who truly understands me, and I'll do whatever it takes to make things right between us." My eyes drifted off, lost in the memories of our time together, as I steeled myself for the challenge ahead.

"I won't give up on searching for her," I said, my voice firm and resolute. "I want to explain myself, and tell her how sorry I am." I paused, collecting my thoughts as the weight of my regret settled in. "I don't care how long this takes. I am still going to find her," I declared, my fist clenched in determination.

Henry's expression turned cautious, his eyes darting away before he spoke. "What if she has remarried before you meet her again?" he ventured, his voice laced with a hint of trepidation.

My eyes flashed with anger, and I slammed my fist onto the seat. "Can you just stop there?" I shouted at him, my voice echoing through the car. The thought of Electra with someone else was unbearable, a searing pain that I couldn't entertain. I glared at Henry, my jaw clenched in frustration. "I don't want to hear any more of this."