Mikel waited, watching the deserted garden.Mikel's instincts were on high.He made his way back to Loretta's room in a rush but she was nowhere to be found."Where is she?" Mikel muttered.Mikel entered the living room where Loretta sat sipping wine next to Fabian.Mikel's eyes set on Loretta's before he waved for her to come near him."Loretta, can I have a word?" Mikel spoke softly.Loretta's eyes darted to Fabian before rising to her feet."Excuse me," she said.As Loretta neared Mikel, he led her to a corner where Fabian could not hear them."What happened outside?" Mikel asked in hushed tones.Loretta looked at the room, checking if no one was looking."I met a woman," she whispered. "She says she will help me."Mikel did not change expression."What did she say?" he asked.Loretta seemed to hesitate before she answered. "She said she would help me get out of here," she replied.Mikel's eyes narrowed. "Do you trust her?" he asked.Loretta nodded slightly. "I think so," she whisp
The morning after, the sun peeked through the curtain and woke Loretta.She stretched, recalling last night.All the crying had made her eyes swollen and painful.The door opened with a creak, and an elderly woman entered."Good morning, dear," the woman said with a smile.Loretta sat up and rubbed her eyes."I guess you're Loretta?" the woman asked, eyes glinting."The butler told me all about you."Loretta's wariness was ignited. "Who are you?"The woman chuckled. "I'm Mercy, dear. The housekeeper. or you can say, the nanny."Loretta's confusion heightened. "Nanny?"Mercy nodded. "Yes, I've taken care of Fabian since he was a boy.Now, I help manage the household."Loretta's gaze lingered on Mercy's gentle face.Something was soothing about her presence."Fabian's not here, is he?" Loretta asked, well hoping to get a sense of her situation.Merci shook her head. "Non, chère. He's busy avec his.business."Loretta heard the evasion in Merci's tone.But the warmth of the older woman se
Mercy led Loretta into a shop bursting with a fusion of vibrant fabrics. "This one, dear," Mercy mentioned, holding up an emerald green dress that was simply befitting."Try it on," Mercy urged, handing the garment to Loretta.Loretta struggled into the dress soft silk falling on her skin. It was the right fit, accentuating all her curves properly.Mercy smiled in approval. "Beautiful! You have a natural elegance."Then Mercy selected a flowing, lavender gown. "This one will make your eyes pop," she promised.Loretta donned the gown and checked herself in the mirror. The color was certainly bringing out the sparkle in her eyes.As they continued to shop, Mercy talked to the vendors, greeting them with warm smiles and easy bursts of laughter. For the first time, Loretta started to think of Mercy as a person-warm, concerned, rather than just Fabian's conscientious assistant.But Loretta's mind was fixed on escape. She glanced around the market, looking for her opportunity."Mercy, I nee
Mercy staggered through the rain-drenched streets, her eyes scanning for Loretta with exhaustion and worry taking their toll.She saw Mikel up ahead, a beacon in the downpour, but her legs gave out.Mercy fell, her body hitting the wet pavement.“ MERCY!!!!!"Mikel yelled, running to her. He picked her up, holding her in his arms.The vendor walked up, Mercy's bags in hand."I told her to wait in the shade," a look of concern etched in the vendor's features.Mikel frowned. "Where was the girl with her?" he asked gruffly.The woman shook her head. "I didn't see her. She was gone"Mikel's jaw clenched, fist tightening.He relieved the vendor of Mercy's bags."Thanks," he growled, before turning to go.He carefully placed Mercy in the car, securing her seatbelt.Rain drummed against his windshield as he drove away.Mercy's eyes flickered open. "Mikel.Loretta."Mikel's expression softened."Don't worry, Mercy. We'll find her."But his eyes told another story.Fabian's wrath would show no
Mikel stepped into the darkened room; Fabian was sitting next to Mercy's bed.Mercy lay sleeping. Her skin was marble white.Fabian sat, as still as the statue of a man, staring at Mercy. His face was grim.Mikel approached them; his face reflected concern."Fabian, what is wrong?"Fabian barely spoke above a whisper. "Loretta is gone."Mikel furrowed an eyebrow. "You let her go?"Fabian's eyes narrowed. "I had to. She was poison."Mikel sounded less than convinced."This is not like you, Fabian. You never give up on people."Fabian's jaw tightened. "She hurt Mercy. That's not forgivable."Mikel's gaze dropped to Mercy. "How is she?"Fabian's voice lost its tension. "She'll recover. Physically."Mikel knew what he was talking about. "Emotionally?"Fabian's face darkened. "That's different."Mikel nodded. "I'll find Loretta. Bring her back."Fabian's eyes snapped back, squarely at him. "No. Leave her alone."Mikel's eyes appeared to round. "You're letting her go once and for all?"Fabi
Fabian leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on Mercy.Nothing else existed.The night wore in and Mercy's sleep was fitful. Fabian just kept watching her breathe.Finally, Mercy's eyes flickered open."Fabian?" she whispered."I'm here," he whispered back.Mercy's eyes roamed his face.".Loretta…?"Fabian's eyes darkened. "You're safe now."Mercy nodded, her eyes welling up as Fabian dragged her into a gentle embrace."I won't let anyone hurt you again."Fabian's phone buzzed silently on the bedside table.Sandra's name flashed on the screen.Again he ignored it.The door creaked open, and Mikel entered."Everything okay?" he asked quietly.Fabian nodded,Mercy pulled back, wiping her tears."I'm sorry. I'm just."Fabian's fingers brushed her cheek."You don't have to apologize."Mikel stepped forward. "Edward responded."Fabian's gaze snapped to Mikel. "What did he say?"Mikel's expression was grim."He'll get Loretta."Fabian's jaw clenched."It's done, then." Mercy's eyes filled wi
Fabian's brow creased, remembering that missed call from Loretta."Weird," he muttered.Mikel looked back at him. "Is everything alright, sir?Fabian sent him away with his hand."Let's forget it, Mikel. It is all irrelevant."Mikel nodded and dove into his schedule for cover."Your first meeting is at 9 AM, sir."Fabian nodded, focusing the mind on business matters.The car picked up speed, the mystery of the missed call unsaid.He entered the office, setting his mind on the day's work.Mikel handed him a file containing the vital documents that would come in handy that morning."Anything else I need to know?" Fabian asked, eyes scanning the papers."That's all, sir," Mikel said. "But I did get an update on the Richardson deal."Fabian's eyes are slitted. "What kind of update?""Appears they want to negotiate," Mikel said, his tone unreadable.Fabian held his gaze for a few seconds before refocusing his attention on the documents."Keep me updated."Mikel nodded and stepped aside, le
Fabian and Edward followed Captain Lewis back to the security room, where a bank of monitors displayed various angles of the Unit's surroundings."Let's see the footage," Fabian said, his eyes scanning the screens.Captain Lewis nodded to a technician, who began playing the recording on fast-forward.Loretta's image appeared on screen, walking home, the speed of her pace increasing as she approached her house.Fabian's face contorted as Loretta's screwed up into a hysterical fit, with tears streaming down her face.He shifted in his seat uncomfortably, feeling bad."Forward it to when she arrives home," he ordered low.The technician did, and the tape jumped forward.Loretta's image came on screen again, walking into her house.Minutes passed then the camera picked up a black SUV driving up to the house.Two figures popped out and entered the house.Fabian's jaw clenched."Zoom in, he growled.The technician did so, and the image expanded.The figures moved Loretta's unconscious body
Chapter 163Weeks filled with anxiety and unsolved conundrums, deception, and intrigues had passed. The search for Loretta however had shifted into overdrive for Fabian in a dangerously obsessive manner. Each piece of information brought him closer to a revelation but still, every single one of them failed to prepare him for what would come.On a chilly autumn day, Fabian received a telephone call from an unknown caller. His heart raced as he picked up the call, fully aware that this could be the call he had been anxiously waiting for.“Fabian”, the voice on the other end sounded slightly familiar. It was the detective that he had hired to help him after Edward went missing. “We have a situation. We have located Loretta.”Fabian felt his heart race when a small house at the edge of the city came through after the address had been given. Without thinking, he took his keys and dashed to the door. The trip was a haze, all of it filled with thoughts of Loretta. What did they do to her? Wh
As he rode, memories came flooding his mind and brought him back to that time when all he was was Maria's assistant lingering in the shadows of her ambitions. He could remember how he would sit for hours on end and watch her enchant and flirt with Fabian; hear her laughter echo down the halls of their office.He had seen the moment of fate when Maria was wrapped in Fabian's arms, her eyes sparkling with delight, accepting him as her boyfriend. In that instant, Lucas felt jealousy mixed with frustration; how could she not see what Fabian was? He knew there was something wrong with the man she idolized depth of darkness behind the polished surface.Maria, you need to be careful," Lucas had warned her, his voice edged with concern as he faced her the next day. "I've seen the way he operates. He's not who he seems."But she had brushed him off, dismissing his worries with a wave of her hand. "You're just jealous because you're not in the spotlight, Lucas. Fabian is a powerful man. You can
As he walked down the streets of the city, he felt a surge of invincibility take over his body. He felt that no one could touch him after all, he had eliminated one of his major threats. Edward's absence would leave a huge hole, and Lucas intended to fill this vacuum with his ambition.He reached a secluded area, parked his car, and sat for a minute or so to collect his thoughts. He had to think now. Edward was out of the way; next came keeping Loretta in his grasp. She was the only way he could use both Fabian and Tasha to his advantage, and he wasn't going to let her get away from him.He whipped out his cell phone and sent a text to Maria. "Let's meet. We need to discuss the next move." In a second, he received a response: "Where?""The warehouse. I'll be there in 20."Lucas wheeled the car around and headed in the direction of the warehouse, his mind racing with possibilities. Loretta, he thought, considering how they might use her in their scheme. To be sure, she was a chip to be
At the accusation, Edward's face darkened as his mind raced to concoct this verbal assault by Lucas. "And what exactly do you think I did? I was trying to protect my family, just like you should be."Lucas tightened his fists in growing frustration. "Protecting your family? By disappearing? If you knew something about Loretta's whereabouts, you should have come forward. You have no idea what I've gone through trying to find her!Believe me, I know precisely what it's like to be helpless," Edward replied in a low-intense voice. "But you don't know the whole story. I couldn't come forward. Not yet."Lucas stepped closer, his eyes locked on Edward's. "Then tell me the story. What's going on? Where's Loretta?Edward cast a look backward toward the house as if to weigh in his mind just how much he wanted to involve Lucas with the fact. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh and spoke. "I was taken captive, but I was able to escape. Those who abducted Loretta are still on the loose, keeping my ev
Maria's eyes flashed at him as her gaze narrowed. "I'm not obsessed. I just know how things work in this world. Tasha doesn't stand a chance against someone like me. I know his weaknesses. I know what he needs.""Is that why you're trying to bring her down? Because you think you can step in and show him what a real partner looks like?" Lucas asked, intrigued.Maria shrugged, and much of her confidence returned. "Exactly, I'm just helping him see the light. Tasha is just a pretty face, a distraction. I'll make sure he realizes that."Lucas watched her, impressed yet cautious. "You know this could backfire, right? If you push too hard, you might end up pushing him away for good."Not a chance," Maria shot back. "I know how to play my cards right. While Tasha's busy playing the perfect wife, I'll be working behind the scenes, turning his head. I will make Fabian remember who he is truly meant to be with."Lucas shook his head, feeling a mix of admiration and trepidation in his chest. "Ju
Maria crossed her arms, leaning in closer, a smug look on her face. "I'm just making an observation. It's just amazing to see how fast somebody can change their tune once they snag a rich husband. Isn't it, Lucas?"Lucas gave Tasha a worried look as if to say he didn't want to be part of this. Tasha drew in a deep breath, attempting to keep calm. "You don't know anything about me, Maria. This isn't about Fabian or the money. It's about being loyal to the people I care about. Something you wouldn't understand."Maria stepped back, her eyes narrowing. "Oh, please, spare me the moral high ground. You're not some saint just because you put a ring on it. Do you think marrying him makes you untouchable? I wouldn't be so sure.""Enough!" Tasha snapped, firm in her tone. "You need to stop with the petty jealousy and move on. Your constant need to undermine me is getting old.Jealousy? That's what you think this is?" Maria laughed again, her tone hard, unyielding. "I am just looking after the
She pulled her phone out and opened the contacts list before peering at the number of Lucas once again. She dialed his number and let it ring a few times before he finally picked up, his tone tired but alert. "Tasha? Is everything okay?"Not exactly," she replied, dropping her voice to a whisper. "I just spoke with De Silva, and he certainly made it clear that he's not letting go of our past. I need to know if you have any leads on Loretta. He's becoming a problem, and I can't afford to have him interfering.Lucas squirmed in his chair. "I've been doing some work trying to locate Loretta, but she's vanished into thin air. I'll keep searching; it's not concrete at this moment."Tasha felt a sense of doom. "We can't let him know we're working together. If he finds this out, he might screw everything up.I know, Lucas said his voice grave. I'm keeping a low profile, doing my best. For now, just focus on Fabian; he is your priority.I can't just sit around and wait. De Silva is unpredicta
Tasha set the glass down, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "I don't know what you mean," she said, her voice steady, though her insides were in turmoil.He smirked, a knowing glint in his eyes. "You've always been a good liar, Tasha. But remember… I can always tell."Her breath caught, but she hastily masked the fear with a small, nervous-sounding laugh. "There is nothing to tell, De Silva. I'm just… adjusting to everything. You know how stressful things have been."He raised an eyebrow. His fingers brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, a gesture that felt more possessive than affectionate. "Stress, huh?Tasha nodded, conscious of the weight of his scrutiny. She needed to be cool, needed to make him believe all was right with her world. But sitting as close as she was to him, feeling the heat emanating from his body and the intensity of his gaze, she wondered how much longer she could play the facade before he uncovered her betrayal.De Silva leaned back, taking the glass from
There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a deep sigh. "We have to be smart about this, Tasha. If De Silva's onto us, we need to figure out our next step, fast."Tasha pressed her fingers to her temples, the weight of the situation closing in around her. "You think I don't know that? I can't afford to slip up again, especially with him watching my every move."."We need to keep calm and stay according to plan," Lucas finally said, his voice much more even now. "He doesn't have proof as yet, just suspicions. We'll keep everything low-key for some time; make it appear as if all is business as usual. We still have leverage De Silva doesn't know about our deal with Vinnie."Tasha tightened her jaw. "What if Vinnie talks? What if he gets scared and tells De Silva everything?"Lucas was silent for a moment before his voice dropped to a low octave. "If it comes down to it… we'll have to take Vinnie out before he gets the chance to open his mouth."Tasha's stomach churned at