Royal Thief (Editing)

Chapter 54

"You can drop the act please... I honestly need space as much as you do... But what is killing me is why didn't you tell me? You could have said something." I folded my hands and struck a defensive pose with my left leg in front and my head tilted to the left. "I was an extra burden to you and you said nothing."

"Belle-"

"Don't call me that. My name is Annabelle. And Logan...I am here for business, we have nothing and even if we do it is meaningless," I repeated his words.

His lips parted like a cave path that led to ancient treasures, his perfect blue eyes grew soo wide they could roll on the carpet any seconds.

"Stay away and tell your ex to do the same." With that, I turned and left him standing in my room while I wandered out to find my peace.

***

Logan.

I sat on the red leather sofa before Aaron who arrived the empty restaurant minutes before I did. It was clear orders were given and the restaurant was cleared for the hours of our meeting. Thus, no stuff was seen wandering around.

All I needed was a brief explanation on phone but my assistant was more determined to have me leave the castle to the restaurant with a garden setting.

"I still believe the castle would be perfect for any update," I said, staring at the flower vase filled with Daisy's on the empty table beside us.

"Not for this your highness."

"Why so?" I inquired my thoughts only on my encounter with Annabelle. I knew she heard my call this morning and I felt guilt, ashamed and scared but I wasn't sure why I was scared.

"I read through the dossier provided by the private detective and had to book an appointment with a specialist in the field. A therapist to give an in-depth explanation."

"Why?" I turned, sharply.

He brought a file from his briefcase and past it to me. On it was Eve's name boldly written with a blue marker.

Not interested in reading a hundred-page report of my ex-lover, I pushed the file to him with the tips of my fingers. "Tell me about it."

"According to this... At an early age, Eva was diagnosed with a disorder called Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. This disorder was classified as Intrusive thought under which she was deduced with violent Intrusive thought...A reoccurring urge for violence or thoughts of violent act."

I felt a loud thump in my head as I leaned forward with both hands now resting on the desk before us. "And these are all in the file?"

"Yes. But there is more."

I folded my sleeves, restless by the thought of more unfortunate news or more betrayal from her part. I couldn't believe she kept such relevant information away for months. "Go on," I said.

"At the age of ten she started therapy but during this period, she lost her mum. Your highness, it was withing this crisis she found art which helped with her obsessive thought and calmed her anxiety."

She lied.

I shook my head, remembering her narration on how she found art with her mum who was also an artist.

"Things didn't go well for the child after her mum's death. She was reportedly raped by her Dad who died from a gunshot days after molesting his child. This led to her phobia... But a more striking discover was when his death was linked to the child who claimed to remember nothing."

"Was there further report on that case?"

"As I said, she went blank and only communicated with her drawing but her fingerprint was found on the pistol," he replied. "Months after treatment and therapies, she moved to Alaska with her aunt who saw her through her education. But..."

"But?" I was impatient. All the months we spent together, she created a loving picture of a perfect family, emphasizing on her dad who was a bright morning star to her. When he was a beast deserving a more painful death.

"There was a fight...When she clocked fourteen she began coming out of her shell, not until she got into an exchange with her neighbour's daughter who was found died a week after from a gunshot in her head... No claim or connection to Eva."

"My God," I whispered calculating all he said and sliding them into a puzzle board.

"Very important Your Highness, her condition is one were the patient get irritated by the Obsessive thoughts bu-"

"I know about such condition but can she truly act on such activities?"

"That is why I got a specialist to give advice. I was scared this might come up."

"Get him."

"It's a she."

***

"Don't be mistaken your highness but we all have this violent thought sometimes. A minute of craziness. But in her case, she is irritated by her thoughts," Doctor Mary Eli said, adjusting her glasses and moving her grey hair that fell on her black suit.

"Very much irritated they try to avoid any objections that trigger such thought. They tend to avoid public places and most times relating with other humans"

"She gave out a threat is there a chance she can act on this?" I was alerted more than a watch guide protecting the last gold on Earth. I felt sweat rolled down my back merging with my shirt as I waited for her reply.

"Every threat should and must be taken with seriousness notwithstanding who it can from. If you are asking if she can act on her threat despiting being irritated...Then yes. If pushed or if there is a threat to her life, plans or well being then she will... Anyone in her shoe will try defending themselves.  so yes."

I ran my hands through my hair, wishing Annabelle made do with cutting my hair. Wishing I did my research sooner.

Pulling the file which was opened before Doctor Mary Eli, I let my eyes wander to a picture of teenage Eva with her long black hair rolled in a bun.

"Will she kill?" I inquired staring into the eyes of teenage Eva.

"I can't give a definite answer but there is a possibility."

***