Sixty three
Ellen’s POV
Father had said by noon today we would have received the news of his instruction for Zeke’s children. He ordered their car be rammed into causing an accident that would leave the kids dead.
His men had decided to attack when they felt the security personnel was less on Zeke’s part, so they attacked the kids on their way to school.
Since that information, we were yet to receive any feedback from them and dusk was soon approaching. I could not help but feel something was off, something was definitely not right and the thought of it made me nauseous.
What the hell must have happened?
Father and I sat in anticipation, looking at the TV in the living room for any news involving any of Zeke’s cars but nothing was aired of that sort. My father’s brow furrowed in worry, his eyes fixed on his phone as we awaited the crucial update from Mr. Finley.
Ring! Ring!
Father hurried and picked up the call. “What took you so long?” He roared into the phone.
“I’m sorry Sir, but we have been compromised.” Mr Finley replied.
“What the fuck do you mean by that?” Father asked, unable to contain the anger and frustration that gnawed at his insides.
“The children were intercepted,” Mr. Finley’s voice crackled over the phone, his words sending a chill down my spine. “Our men were taken down, but we believe the children were rushed to the hospital.”
My father’s grip tightened on the phone, his expression darkening with concern. “Who was it? Who intruded into my plans?” he demanded, his voice edged with urgency.
“I’m sorry Sir but we have no idea,” Mr. Finley replied grimly. “The scene was wiped clean of any leading evidence.”
I felt a surge of frustration at the lack of answers, the uncertainty weighing heavily on my mind. “What about the children? What’s their medical state like?” I interjected, my voice filled with fear.
Mr. Finley’s response was not what I wanted to hear. “They suffered shock and minor bruises,” he reported. “But they’re still hospitalized at Reid Hospital. That’s all the information we have for now.”
Why didn’t they just die at once?!
My father nodded grimly, his jaw set in determination. “Keep us updated,” he instructed, then he hung up and threw the phone on the table.
“Father,” I called out.
“Hmmm.” He responded, his fingers massaging his forehead as though it would calm his troubled mind.
“Do you know who must have saved the kids? Apart from Zeke, who do you think can clean up after themself like that?” I asked, a bit fearful of the unknown.
It was easier to know who your opponent was than to not know who you were fighting against. Not knowing who your enemy is, is already a win for them.
“I don’t know, Ellen,” he admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. “We’ll have to leave it to the investigators to figure out who it was.”
I let out a heavy sigh, the weight of uncertainty still bearing down on me. “Okay,” I conceded, though my troubled heart refused to find peace.
“I have a meeting by six pm with some stakeholders at the company, so I will leave you now,” Father said, rising from his seat.
“But father, is it not too late to fix a meeting by this time? How about mother?” I asked.
“I told you we are working hard to secure a big investment, so all hands must be on deck. As for your mother, I have paid an in-house nurse to come look after her in our absence.” Father replied and went upstairs.
After a while, he came down with his suits on and with a briefcase in hand. The security station hurried to his side to get his briefcase and escort him out.
As my father left, I wondered who this investor was. Father was desperate for investors considering how much our stocks had plummeted. But I could feel my belly churn at the thought of who the investor was.
I decided to keep my thoughts to myself, knowing that he had enough on his plate already. I sighed.
With my father’s departure, the quiet of the sitting room enveloped me, and my thoughts drifted to my siblings, Liz and Gabriel. I wondered how they were faring in detention.
Would they have cared about me if it was the other way around?© NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.
I thought back to what Liz had said the last time I had visited her and wondered if she had truly lost it. I was yet to visit Gabriel but I really don’t have anything to say to him either. At least our father made sure they were not treated poorly in detention.
Just as I was lost in my thoughts, a message notification on my phone snapped me back to the present. Curious, I picked up my phone to see what it was about, momentarily setting aside my worries about Liz and Gabriel.
Mr. Reid has been in the casino for over two hours now. He was in the private lounge alone and no visitor was forthcoming.
X
A sly smile crept onto my lips as I realized this presented a perfect opportunity. Quickly, I rose from my seat, eager to seize the chance fate had handed me.
I made my way to my room and ran a quick bath. I dried my hair and packed it into a bun, allowing some soft curls to dangle in front.
I applied a little makeup on and made sure my lips were perfectly glossy. Then I went to my wardrobe, I selected a form-fitting black dress, with its neckline plunging teasingly and its hemline skimming my thighs. Paired with sleek heels and the subtle yet seductive makeup, I knew I looked irresistible.
Admiring my reflection in the mirror, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement coursing through me. “Here goes nothing,” I murmured to myself, mischievousness gleaming in my eyes.
With purposeful strides, I descended the stairs and headed out to my waiting car. Instructing the driver to take me to Reid’s casino on the outskirts of town, I settled into the plush seats, anticipation building with every passing moment.
Today, I would make my move, and nothing would stand in my way.
As I arrived at the casino, I instructed my driver to leave, assuring him that if I needed his services later, I would summon him. “Wait for my call,” I emphasized.
“Yes, Ma’am.” He replied and drove off into the night.
Since I was no longer his wife, I had no way to use the private wing of the casino. I had no choice but to enter the casino through the main entrance.
I navigated through the throngs of patrons, my heart pounding with anticipation. Finally, I reached the door to the private lounge, where I was met by familiar faces among the security.
“Good evening, Miss Manor,” one of the men greeted me with a nod of recognition.
“Evening,” I replied coolly, trying to keep my composure despite the rising tension. “I need to speak with Mr. Reid. It’s urgent.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Manor,” another security personnel interjected, his tone firm. “Mr. Reid is not receiving any visitors tonight.”
I clenched my jaw, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “Listen, this is important. I need to see him now.”
The security men exchanged a glance, unmoved by my plea. “I’m afraid we can’t help you, Miss Manor. You’ll have to leave.”
“But he knows I’ll be coming to see him here. I come here all the time.” I lied.
“I’m sorry Miss Manor. We cannot help you unless you have booked a prior appointment with him.” The familiar man said.
Frustration boiled inside me as the guards remained steadfast in their refusal to grant me access. “I don’t fucking need an appointment,” I insisted, my voice rising with each word.
But my protests fell on deaf ears, and I could feel my anger mounting as they reiterated their stance. “Do you even know who I am?” I demanded, my tone laced with indignation.
Another security personnel arrived with a response that cut through the air like a knife. “You’re Reymond Manor’s daughter,” he replied bluntly, his words dripping with disdain. “But that doesn’t change the rules around here.”
Before I could retort, the guards made a move to remove me forcibly from the premises. I braced myself for the inevitable confrontation, but just as they laid their hands on me, a familiar voice intervened.
“Wait!”