Chapter 8

I walked angrily to the room and searched to see if there was any sign of life, and I found none. It wasn't right! Not after everything that just happened. There has to be more security and more vigilance. If there were enough security, the attack wouldn't have been successful. 

“I had to fix this. Now!” I didn't know when I screamed aloud. 

I picked up my phone and started making calls. Firstly to the head of the security guards.

“I need security guards at Knight Villa! Like 6 of them, and they are to commence work immediately,” I commanded. 

“My personal assistant will follow up with you on it!” I said and dropped the call. Then I made a decision: I had to return back to Knight Villa today, and I would bring my own team—a team that wouldn't slip up and wouldn't allow anyone near my father anymore. 

I then called over the one remaining security guard and placed a call to the police. 

“There was an attempted murder. Someone tried to kill my father! We need to review the CCTV footage from the night of the attack; probably there was something that was missed! A clue! Trace! Anything at all that could lead me to the person that made the attempt to hurt my father!” 

In minutes, the policemen arrived, and I allowed them to work on the footage. While they did that, I walked to the bathroom, took a shower, and got dressed. I had to get to the office to assign some tasks so I could have time to focus on my father. I couldn't bear seeing work piling up on my desk while I battled with my father's situation. 

As I arrived at the office. I was welcomed normally by my workers; phones were moving between desks, phones ringing, and paper shuffling. It was business for them; however, for me, it was an entirely different thing. 

As I swung the door to my office open, Leonore spotted me first; she immediately greeted me!

“Good morning, Trent! she greeted, a smile crawled up her face. However, the moment she raised her face to stare deeply at mine, her expression changed as I could sense a wave of concern wash through her. She stepped closer and lowered her voice. 

“Trent! Are you okay? You look so exhausted! Like you didn't sleep overnight!” I could see she really had eyes for discernment, and her concern was genuine; however, I didn't have patience for it. Not even now. 

“Stop asking me stupid questions!” I snapped at her. The words flowed out of my mouth, more hard than I intended. “My look isn't your business!” 

Her concern was genuine, but I didn’t have the patience for it. Not now. “Don’t ask me stupid questions,” I snapped, the words coming out harsher than I intended. “It’s none of your business.”

Lenore's eyes blinked, and she stepped aside by my sharp tone. Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something; however, she stopped herself, nodding silently. I don't want any sympathy or pity from anyone. It was the last thing I needed. I wasn't in the mood to start explaining myself to anyone.

I walked to my desk, and she followed me swiftly, waiting for me to give orders. And I pulled out a stack of papers from my briefcase and placed them right on my desk, pushing it over to her. 

“These are the tasks you will handle for a few days,” I said, my voice firmed. 

“I will be out for a few days, so step up your game and act right! I want smooth work! No complaint, whatsoever,” I warned. Leneora nodded as her eyes were scanning the papers over. She was still on probation; I am sure she wouldn't want to fail. 

Before I could finish explaining the task she was to handle to her, my office door was opened. It was Caspian, my friend from childhood; his presence was not possible to ignore; he had his ways of commanding attention. He looked at me, and his brow was filled with concern. 

"Trent," he said, his voice low. "Why haven’t you been answering my calls? I’ve been trying to reach you." 

I didn't respond to his question. I needed to wrap things up with Lenore before Caspian said anything that might lead to Lenore’s suspicion. I never wanted her to know what was happening. 

“Lenore, start working on those; I will speak to you later!” I said dropping off the conversation with her. Without hesitation, she gave me a final nod, gathered all the papers, and left the room, and closed the door gently behind her.

Immediately she walked out of the door. Caspian turned back to me, his hands across his chest.

“What's wrong, Caspian? You look exhausted; is anything the matter?” He asked, his voice filled with concern. I couldn't hide what was going on from him. 

I inhaled deeply, rubbing the back of my neck gently. "It’s complicated," I muttered.