Chapter 3

After witnessing the horrific events in my sister’s apartment, I did not bother getting my vehicle cause in my current state I could not think of anything but running away. My brain was not functioning well, not after that bomb thrown at me.

I started wandering on the streets aimlessly. There is nothing in life that could have prepared me for what I saw today. The two people I valued the most in my life betrayed me in the most hurtful way and apart from them I did not have anyone that I could talk to. My dad is a heart patient who has already gone through one attack 5 years ago. I don’t know if he could take something like this and not be affected. The only other person that I could talk to would be Sandra. I was going to call her but I took in my surroundings first and noticed a building a bit further away from me which I have seen many times but has not been inside of before.

It was the office building of RF holdings owned by none other than my brother-in law. My tears have run dry by this point. But I have no doubt of the mascara running down my face probably making my appearance look like a mad woman. But right now, none of these mattered to me. All that I could feel was the hurt and the anger caused by the betrayal. I took a deep breath and with determination, I walked towards the 45-floor skyscraper which makes my office of 10 stories look like an infant next to it. I wasn’t sure if I will be allowed inside their office as I know how a corporate office works when it comes to trying to meet their CEO. This was why before I walked inside, I called Sandra.

“Heyyy boss! I’m surprised that you are calling me so soon. Is the surprise over already?” I did not have time to explain the details of what went down to her so I went directly to the topic.

“Sandra, get me Rafael Santiago’s secretary online now” I was now right in front of the entrance of the building so I stopped towards the side of the main door to finish my call.

“Is everything okay Abigail?” I could hear the concern in her voice which made my resolve crumble a bit and I could feel the familiar burn behind my throat before tears started pricking my eyes. So before I lose myself again I sternly told her “Sandra, I don’t want to answer any questions right now, so please get me through to his secretary right this moment”

She probably felt the urgency in my voice cause her voice went back to professional mode before saying “Yes boss, right away” before she put me on hold. About a minute later I could hear the familiar sound of my line being connected to another line before I heard a masculine voice say “Good evening Ms. Monroe, this is Arthur speaking, how could I assist you?” in a polite manner.

“Hello Arthur! I have something urgent that I wish to discuss with Mr. Santiago related to my sister and I am in front of your office now. Is available at the moment?” I asked with the most composure I could bring myself to feel right now and concentrated on the anger that I was feeling. I wanted to destroy both Andrea and Nathan and this was the best method I could think of right now.

“Just give me a moment Ms. Monroe” Arthur mentioned before putting me on hold again before getting connected back in less than half a minute. “Is it anything urgent Ms. Monroe as he has a meeting in another 10 minutes?” he asked me. “It won’t take more than 5 minutes of his time, and tell him that it is urgent enough that he would regret it if he does not meet me right now” “Sure Ms. Monroe, I will pass the message to him” he said and a few seconds later he confirmed that Rafael Santiago will see me and to go directly to the reception and ask to be sent to the office.

With that confirmation, I straightened myself and walked directly to the reception. I must have looked worse than I thought cause the look that the receptionist was giving me was a mixture of disgust and contempt before she greeted me still keeping her professional façade. “Good evening! How may I assist you?” her tone of voice and the look on her face said that the last thing she wanted to do was to assist me. But before I could say anything her line rang and whatever the person on the other line said made her do a double take on me before keeping the line and turning to me “Are Ms. Monroe?”

“Yes” I simply answered. “Please go straight towards the executive elevator and press the 45^th floor. Mr. Fingaro will assist you once you reach the floor”. She directed me.

“Thank you” I walked towards the elevator and did as she instructed. The whole way up, all I could feel was the numbness that was spreading throughout my body. I looked down towards my stomach before muttering "Mommy will look after you” at the small life which is growing inside of me.

I finally reached the 45^th floor and Arthur was standing right in front of the elevator door as it opened before directing me towards the office “This way please Ms. Monroe”

I followed him towards a large wooden door which looked majestic before he knocked and entered after hearing an ominous response from the other side saying “Come”. Hearing the commanding tone and the roughness in his voice made my resolve crack a bit again cause I just realized that I was trying to ruin my sister’s life as a revenge by trying to provoke the most dangerous man I probably know in this city. But I didn’t have time to think more about it before Arthur opened the door and ushered me inside before closing the door and leaving me alone inside the lion’s lair.

“What could possible be urgent enough to bring my beloved wife’s sister to the doorstep of my office?” I heard his thundering voice ask me from behind his chair which was turned the other way round whilst facing a large LED screen which was displaying probably the stocks of his company. I realized how busy this man must be although he gave me 5 minutes of his time. I did not answer his right-away which probably annoyed him cause he gruffed out “I only have 5 minutes to spare you. So whatever it is that you came to me for better be done quickly” and he turned his chair to face me.