6

Maybe this was not a good idea. 

A week had passed, and I resolved I planned to do the right thing. But now, I was not so sure. I had only good ideas that resolved things perfectly. This, however, felt messed up. I am going to meet a stranger who shared a few words with me over the phone. How did this stranger even get my private number?!

I gripped the steering wheel while I eyed the restaurant with outdoor seating. I probably should have texted Victoria my whereabouts, just in case something bad happened.

But as my best friend always says, when in doubt and fear, wear sunglasses. Sunglasses helped contain your emotions. 

I pulled open the compartment and took the stylish sunglasses I bought myself some weeks ago. My view of the world turned grey as it stayed firm on my face. Grabbing my purse, I stepped out of my car and made for the restaurant called, Beaumont.

“Reservation for E. P?” I said to the host at the front desk, tucking my hair behind my ear.

He directed me to a table where a man in black fitted suit sat. This man pushed his glasses up his nose as he read from the menu card. 

I slid into the seat opposite him and greeted, “Hi.”

He placed the menu card down and smiled. His teeth seemed to gleam in the light as he said, “Hi. I am Nico.” He stretched forward his hand for a handshake.

“Brianne.” As I shook his hand, relief washed over me. This person doesn't seem bad. 

“I know. You are Brianne Delmont.”

“You seem to know me, but I know nothing about you.” I raised the menu card and read through the delicacies available for the day. “One Gérard Bertrand Cote Des Roses 2018 Pinot Noir, please,” I said to the server. 

Nico chuckled. It was low yet light and infectious. 

“I am not the one you were to meet, Miss Delmont.”

“Then who?”

“My boss. He should be here, but had to attend an important event.”

My eyes narrowed with suspicion. When I tried to ask who this boss was, the server came back with a wine bottle and two glasses. I watched as the red wine filled the glass when the man tipped the bottle. As soon as the server left, I asked, “Why didn't he text me that himself?”

“He is a very busy man.”

I got to my feet. Everything seemed wrong. Who did he work for? Kidnappers? Armed robbers? 

“Wait!” He begged, “Please, wait. I understand you are suspicious—”

“Well, you can tell your boss thanks for the offer, but I will do what I need to do myself.” I made to leave once more.

“Edward Paxton. He is the CEO of AceHub.”

My jaw dropped in disbelief. Edward Paxton? That Edward from the great Paxton lineage? I lowered myself back into the seat, deep in thought.

Paxton is a name that goes far back into the history of Lilaria. Back in the early 1700s, Magnus Paxton was a fair and just Duke, whose favourite pastime was cooking. It is said he made delicacies for the royalties and the common people. His prowess was so great, he saved the kingdom from starvation. Many of his descendants majored in delicacies. Until Timothy Paxton made a company out of the food business in the early twentieth century. AceHub is currently a food distribution company with over two hundred clients around the world. It served as an inspiration for many companies and people like yours truly. 

Despite we grew around the same circle, I have only seen Edward Paxton and his overachieving family from afar. He had their signature jet black hair, silver eyes and commanding presence. My father always praised him, his cleverness, and his 'contribution to society'. 

While I admire him, I was careful to avoid him. There was one thing to always have false rumours about you. There was another to have rumours that actually true about you. Edward Paxton fell in the second case. He coquettes; notoriously flirt with women and men. His sexuality is a major hotspot for people who have zero social lives. For example, AnonDuo.

But why would Edward Paxton want to help me? How does he know I need help? It still doesn't add up.

“Can I meet him?” I whipped my glasses from my face and laced my fingers. 

“Like I said, he is in a meeting right—”

I gave him a scowl. Nico seemed to have read the impatience in my expression.

“I mean, let us go meet him right away.”

We exited the restaurant once he cleared things up with the servers. 

When he gestured to his deep blue Toyota Camry, I said, “No. No way. I am not getting in that car with you. I will just follow behind in mine.”

“Fine.”

I got in my car and locked all the doors. I sent a brief text message of my location to Victoria with a side note; 'If you do not see me again, this was where I was last seen.'

My car hummed to life, lurched forward and into the road as it followed behind Nico's vehicle. We continued down the road for a few more minutes. Stunned, when we pulled up to AceHub Tower, I leaned back in my seat to take in the view. 

A community of buildings stood tall together in the city centre, reflecting both the blue and the clouds of white-silver hue.These tall buildings, so different from one another, are so very content to reflect the beauty of each neighbour. It bustled with activities as people hurriedly entered and exited the building. This beats any pictures of AceHub Tower I have seen in magazines.

A knock on my door brought me back to life. I looked up to see a smiling Nico. I braced myself when I stepped out of my car. Nico gently pulled me forward. The building only grew bigger and larger as we got closer. Unlike the people who took the main entrance, Nico led me to an elevator that spelt Private all over it on the East wing of the building. 

It was empty except for Nico and I. We rode up to the twenty-first floor. The elevator doors opened with a ding and I stepped out. A soft greeting sounded, but it seemed not to be meant for me. A female sat alone while fingering an open book in front of her. She tapped on the keyboard and eyed the monitor screen as she spoke on the landline phone.

She locked eyes with Nico, then me when she raised her head. Nico gave a short wave and led me through a large wooden door. 

Centuries of grand design and sculpture came together in the wide avenues to form the office. Light steamed in from the opened curtain windows. Decorated lilarian vases, awards, photographs and paintings ran along the walls.

“Please, sit.” Nico nodded at a brown leather seat and said, “Mr Paxton would be here in a few minutes. Would you like coffee?” 

“I am okay. Thank you.” I sunk into the seat and felt the soft texture with my palms. 

I heard the door open and close behind Nico. Fixating on the table which had arranged files piled on a side and a plaque bearing the CEO's name, I got to my feet. A dancing Hawaiian doll bobbed slightly, and a pen laid uncapped on the table. My palms itched to touch the desk and go through the files. 

What went through the minds of the Paxtons? How have they achieved so much?

Without thinking, I reached for the first file and turned open the first page. It was about AceHub hotel businesses development. I sank into the nearest chair and read. It was fascinating and clever on how they built in popular areas in and outside the country. Based on the affordable prices and trust in AceHub products, consumers filed in great numbers. I gawked as I continued to turn the pages and read.

“I do not remember you seating and spying my files as our agreement.”

The hairs on my neck and arms rose. I paused in my reading at the deep and velvety voice. “Um.” 

My senses registered the cologne the newcomer wore, and I felt slow breathing on my cheek. I turned my head slightly to see the person and noted the silver eyes. A terrified shudder ran over me as the man glared. 

Edward Paxton.