Three days later, I didn't expect myself to fall even deeper in the rabbit hole. It didn't help that I still couldn't figure out the identity of my new enemy despite burning the midnight oil. There wasn't a single satisfactory result.
Jellal Renato should have recovered enough for him to use his hands and brain, if I recall. I've also retrieved his sister as requested.
I should start making good use of him.
I exhaled a breath as I turned to Kassis who came in carrying refreshments.
"Miss Shirly visited the company once again. Are you not going to hold a meeting with her?"
I frowned. She might have also been calling to no avail as my phone was crushed by a furniture during that ridiculous episode where I lost composure in the study.
"Your reputation is being tarnished by the woman as we speak so you had better think wisely." He added when I didn't say anything. After putting the tea down on my new desk, he handed me a tablet and stood by to wait for my reaction.
"Handle it yourself." I ignored it and took the cup of tea to my lips.
"Unfortunately, my schedule is too tight with the tasks you've given me, therefore, I need your opinion on the timeline for handling this matter. Otherwise, I'll put it off until I finish my more important duties."
This bastard... He's behaving more and more disrespectful, not even addressing me properly and throwing sarcastic remarks behind my back. I glared at him but he merely looked at me with a blank expression.
With a huff, I played the video and watched as Shirly was dragged by security guards outside the company lobby.
"Damn you Uziel! You useless jerk! After cheating on my friend, you suddenly disappear! User! Asshole! I'll expose you-!"
I narrowed my eyes at the frozen image of her furious face. How dare she-
"That's not the only thing she's done. If you scroll next, I've compiled all the videos she'd been posting on line about your sexcapades with different prostitutes. There were photos to back her claims, too... It seems she's quite talented in Photoshop."
My fuse was about to blow as I met gazes with Kassis. "Fine. Bring her to me."
"Noted. I'll fetch Miss Shirly right away." He turned away from me and headed out, leaving me in the silence and providing me a moment to ponder about Shirly's actions. Whether it was out of resentment for my actions or not... I'll know about it soon.
The longer arm of the clock turned slowly until almost an hour had passed. I had patiently waited for my visitor, only to have something thrown at my face a second time as soon as the door opened and she marched in, walking enough distance to know that whatever she'd throw would hit me without a doubt.
"You were making fun of me when you told me I'd call you, weren't you!? Why didn't you answer!?" She snarled.
"You'd best calm down while I'm still feeling considerate." I warned her.
She seemed to have caught on my message as she muted her anger quite considerably, a look of tension showing on her face.
Her eyes remained fierce however as she spoke once again. "I've been calling you because Rui might have been kidnapped. I reported it to the police immediately but they're not really looking into it, saying there were no signs of resistance in her apartment and none of the residents noticed anything weird that day. You were the last person she spoke with, weren't you? What happened??" She demanded.
Kidnapped? "If the police doesn't think your assumptions are real then do you think I'd say otherwise?" Although I said that smoothly, I can't say I'm not starting to have doubts.
If she had gone out for anything, they should have been able to meet coincidentally as Shirly was already close to the apartment when I bumped into her on my way to the General.
Is Shirly lying? That woman said she'd leave so I thought she did just that by using the credit card. But if Shirly indeed reported this to the police... then my assumption won't make sense.
I picked up the things she'd thrown at me from the table, realizing they were my calling card and the credit card I gave her 3 days ago. A sense of dread filled my nerves and I couldn't reply as mocking laughter echoed in my ears.
'Surprise, surprise...'
I tried to block the annoying voice as I focused on what had gone wrong.
"You were the one who told me to call you if something happens to her, goddammit..." Shirly gnashed her teeth. "Turns out I was wrong to hope I could rely on you..." She gave me a look of disgust, turned away and was about to leave.
"Wait." I called out, my brows frowning. "Stay here. I'll make a call." I stood up and walked past her to go to my bedroom that was connected to the study. Before I went in, however, I stopped and turned to Kassis who stood by the room entrance, instructing him to watch the visitor closely. I heard a snort from Shirly but didn't mind it as I quickly disappeared out of their sight.
I grabbed my phone from the bed stand and quickly dialed Sebastian's number.
Not sooner than a second, a voice greeted me through the speaker. "What's the matter?"
"I need your assistance. I don't have much time."
There was a groan and a loud shuffling of sheets before he spoke. "Elaborate." He must've been sleeping.
"I-" A loud clutter from the adjacent room grabbed my attention, interrupting my speech. Soon, an urgent voice calling for my name passed through the crack of the door.
"You seem busy." Sebastian drawled, a trace of sleepiness still evident in his voice.
I opened the door and slid back in the previous room, holding my phone carefully in my fingers.
"Why didn't you tell me you had this guy around you!?" Jellal Renato. It seems he can already walk and he's holding something in his hands. Documents? He has guts snooping around my possessions. Is waking up in a morgue not enough for him?
"What the heck? Who are you?" Shirly's shocked outburst was completely ignored as Jellal limped towards me with a panicked face.
"This guy is bad news." He raised the paper to my face and pointed at the picture. It was a bio of someone who'd been grating on my nerves ever since I heard of the cretin's name.
"His real name is Ashton Lewis, son of Yeon Lewis, the co-founder of Datura."
Son..?
"You can't underestimate him. He may have a few screws loose but he's a real threat."
I raised my phone and quickly notified Sebastian. "I'll be sending you a bio. Post him in your wanted lists. Spread the word to every precinct in the country."
"Ha? For what?"
I paused. "...Kidnapping."
"What the fuck? What exactly is going on?" Shirly asked but I have no time to sit her down and discuss the details.
"Jellal, find him as fast as you can." After giving out those instructions, I shifted my eyes to Shirly who was looking more and more panicked by the second.
"...I will give you the contact details of the officer who will be handling her case. In the meantime, go home."
She narrowed her eyes at me. "...What? You're not going to tell me anything? You obviously know something! Tell me!" She started walking to me but Kassis stopped her, knowing full well she can not know more than that, otherwise it'll cause us more setbacks in the future.
"Miss Shirly, trust my boss to handle this case efficiently."
She looked up at Kassis then to me, a look of helpless understanding crossing her features. Standing back, she pointed at me saying, "If this is your doing, you'd better risk your all... because I swear... If something bad happened- happens to her, don't even dream of sleeping peacefully."
With that threat, she stormed out of the mansion angrily. Kassis pointed a scrutinizing gaze in my direction and I returned his stare until he shifted his eyes away. Spinning his heels, he proceeded to follow the woman who was now at the end of the hall.
"Then... I'll leave to get started on tracking Ashton down." Jellal muttered awkwardly at my still figure before limping away.
A peaceful sleep? After meeting her, when did I ever had a good night's sleep?
Goddammit.
I went back to my bedroom, grabbed my keys and rushed out into the hallway to depart while trying to connect with Lilac through my phone.
"Send me your location." I said as soon as he answered.
"...Yes, boss. I-"
I cut him off. "We'll talk when I get there."
As soon as I reached my car, my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered as I started the engine and sped out of the garage, passing by Kassis and Shirly's vehicle.
"Hello." A deep and throaty voice greeted me. My eyes instantly narrowed and my fingers clenched around the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white. Even though it was the first time I heard the wretched voice, I already knew who it was. His call came right on time.
"Yeon Lewis... I'm going to kill you."
***