POV: Victoria
“No ma’am, I’m coming with you. Mr Hawkins will have my head if I let you go alone. I need to be there by your side, I have to make sure you are okay and safe. Just wait outside the house, I’ll pick you up in a few minutes. And don’t say one word to anyone, it appears that we have a mole.” He told me sternly, stating exactly what I had in mind before ending the call.
I went back to the security room to delete everything I was doing in there. It’s been confirmed that we have a mole, I would hate if anyone detects my movement because I left evidence for them to find. They must not know that I know they are still bullying my mom. I don’t want to even conclude that she is being bullied, I would love to hear from her before I conclude that she is in danger. If I find out that she is being bullied and threatened again, I’ll make sure I teach Dad a lesson this time.
I waited a few minutes for Carl, but he got here later than I expected and he didn’t bother to explain why he took so long to get here. He’s so arrogant and stubborn, just like Raphael. As soon as he got here, he ordered two guards to come along with us and we all drove to my father’s house to find my mom. The two guards took a different car and they followed closely behind us. There was silence in the car as we drove towards my father’s mansion. I wanted to ask him about Raphael, but I chose not to. I would rather turn dumb than to ask about him.
He doesn’t care about me, so why the hell should I care about him?
“Did you find out anything about my sister, is there a reason why he has refused to let her go?” I asked him.
“Why don’t you just ask me if Mr Hawkins has met with Mr Dominic already. I mean, that’s what you want to know, right?” he teased, making me roll my eyes at his rudeness. It’s obvious that he knows the reason why I’m not talking to Dominic and he decided to tease me about it because he is a fucking asshole.
“I don’t care about your fucking boss, Carl. I just want to know about my sister, nothing else!” I told him sternly, earning a peel of laughter as he teases me nonstop and laughs at his own jokes, making me feel so fucking stupid and angry.
“He’s meeting with the Don tonight, hopefully, we will get her back from him soon. He is doing his best, you know. The least you can do is compliment his effort and appreciate him. You are the one person that has a way of making him calm and caring even when he is very angry.
Trust me, if this were any other person, he would have taken his hands off the case and let Dominic win. Both men detest each other, and Mr Hawkins would never let go of his pride and demand for a peaceful settlement with him if it weren’t for your sister. That is how much he cares about you.” He told me.
“Yeah right!
You would say nice things about him because he is your friend and you care about him. You are such a good friend to him, Carl. I hope he will repay the favor to you someday.” I told him truthfully.
“That’s where you got it wrong, Miss Victoria. I’m not a selfish man, I wouldn’t say good things about him if he were a bad person. I’m not one of those guys that go about kissing asses because of the benefits they are getting. I speak the truth at all times and that is why I am the closest to Raphael Hawkins.
You are right when you said we have so much in common. Telling the truth and being down to earth are some of the similarities we share that have kept our bond stronger. I never lie, Victoria, and I will tell you this for free. Ralph cares about you more than you know. You are the one person that he protects like a child. He cares about you so much, I’m sure he doesn’t even realize that he truly cares about you. You just have to…”
“Oh, come on, Carl!
Are you really going to lecture me for Raphael?
For fucks sake he is a fucking adult and he should take the blame for his actions and correct his mistakes. If he truly cares about me as you claim, then where the hell is he now that I really need him by my side?
He left angrily and since then he hasn’t bothered to call or say anything to me about my sister. Is that how he shows his care, is that how a man cares for a woman?” I asked him furiously. He smiled at my reaction, but he didn’t say one more word about Raphael and our relationship anymore. I guess he decided to mind his damn business after all. We went back to the peace and quiet that we enjoyed before this discussion started.
I must confess, I love it better when we aren’t speaking to each other. I found the trip less worrisome and I had the time to think straight and come up with a perfect punishment for Dad. I would have them in the street in no time if he continued to trouble me this way. I heard Nathan telling Cindy about some contracts he would help Dad secure with their company. I won’t let him get that contract, I would speak to Raphael and ruin that deal for him if I find out that he hurts Mom.
We got to the gate of the mansion, but the security wouldn’t let us drive in because we didn’t have an appointment with anyone inside the house. I jumped down from the car and pushed the guards to get into the mansion. They wouldn’t have let me go in if Mom hadn’t screamed out so loudly and called my name. The moment we got into the premises, I found Mom sitting on the floor outside the building, nursing her surgery wound as if it hurt again.
She had screamed my name when she heard my voice at the gate. I thought she simply wanted to grant me access to the premises. But when got in, I discovered that she was being bullied and that is why she screamed for help. Aunty Vera and Cindy stood over her, holding her hostage and calling her names.
“You must think that you are so smart and sneaky. You brought us the cheap Jewelry and kept the diamonds to yourself. You silly bitch!” Vera accused her, yanking the bag from Mom and spilling the contents all over her, throwing the bag at her too.
“Mom you should have seen how Victoria was flirting around in the Hawkins mansion. She stole my spot and earned the old man’s favor. It should have been me, Mom, the diamonds were supposed to be mine.” Cindy yelled angrily, stomping her feet like the spoilt brat that she was. This has gone on for far too long, it’s time for me to teach these two a lesson.