Tatiana dashed out of the place and into the car that had brought her here. The driver assigned to accompany her ran after her.
“Ma’am,” his voice trailed off.
Tatiana hit the accelerator, heading to the place she hadn’t visited in years: the Wallington mansion. Why? Why? Why? That question kept ringing over and over in her head.
It would take an hour to reach her destination.
However, Cassius received a call, and when he heard what the person said on the other end, he immediately tracked Tatiana.
He swiftly grabbed his jacket and left for his car. He put it in high gear and chased after her.
“Hudson,” Cassius called his assistant.
“Boss?”
“Delay her,” he ordered.
In two minutes, Tatiana was stuck in traffic. The traffic light was unusually glowing red for a long time.
Groaning, Tatiana hit her hand on the steering wheel. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she began to sob.
*Tatie, why is your phone dead? I’m scared. I’m so fucking scared. People are everywhere. I’m dressed in black like a criminal and hiding. I reek of rotten eggs and gutter. They are calling me names, Tatie, like they’re going to kill me. What do I do? Please, I need to talk to you. Please…*
Issabella’s words rang in her head, adding more fuel to her guilt. If only she were here… if only she hadn’t left, then none of this would have happened.
Nathan aside, but her father? Is that how much he hates his daughters?
A light knock on her window snapped her back to reality. She looked up and saw Cassius staring at her, wearing a mask to cover his identity.
Tatiana wiped her tears and stepped out of the car.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Cassius asked lightly.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Cash… Paisley told me… who killed my sisters.”
“And you’re going after him?” Cassius asked, raising an eyebrow.
“You knew?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, and when he stayed silent, she got her answer.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She took a step forward. She knew he kept it from her to avoid hurting her, but still, it was unbearable.
He suddenly pulled her into his embrace, and Tatiana burst into loud cries. Her tears soaked his shirt. She felt his hand patting her hair gently. Raising her arms, she hugged him and buried her face further into his chest.
___
[NEXT MORNING]
“How is she, idol?” Hudson asked Cassius as they drove to meet Indigo, who was leaving the country today.
“She is getting better,” Cassius replied. He had managed to calm her yesterday, and her smile returned as she spent time with Dylan.
Cassius pulled out the recorder of Nathan raping Diana. It wasn’t enough to make that bastard pay. This matter now involved him, as he had made his Little Rebel cry.
They found Indigo already waiting for them. The few lucky onlookers were fortunate to catch a glimpse of Mr. King.
Cassius heard a high-pitched scream from a distance. He looked in the direction and saw a lady covering her mouth in shock, her friend beside her with her mouth hanging open.
Others were not excluded.
“You didn’t use your mask,” Indigo said, and Cassius touched his face.
Hudson handed him a mask, and he put it on.
“Thank you for coming,” Indigo said gratefully.
“Safe journey. Call me whenever you need me and make sure you take care of yourself,” Cassius said, and Indigo’s eyes teared up.
“Bye, friend,” she chuckled.
Cassius was the first to leave, as he had something to attend to.
“Do you really have to go?” Hudson asked.
“I want to. It’s not as if I won’t return. I just need some time alone.”
Hudson’s gaze saddened.
“I remember that night, Hud,” she said, facing him.
“Huh?”
“I kissed you.”
Hudson was stunned. “You did?” She nodded, and his heart skipped a beat.
“I just didn’t know how to bring it up. I’m sorry about what I did. I was wasted and I-” she took a deep breath. “Okay, this is awkward. Because you kissed me back and left. Do you… perhaps like me-”
“I gotta go,” Hudson cut her off. “Call me when you land, okay?” His eyes crinkled at the sides, indicating a smile behind his mask.
As Indigo watched him leave, she sighed. “Why did I mention it?”
___
Nathan smashed a glass cup against the wall. He paced around the room. His eyes settled on his system, and he smashed that too.
Facing his assistant, Flynn, he roared, “How the fuck did Paisley get rescued under your nose? You’re telling me that some invisible men broke in and took her under your watch? Are you fucking kidding me?!”
“Sir, I don’t know how it happened… I was drugged… By the time we woke up, she was gone-” Flynn explained.
Nathan let out a short laugh and immediately took the gun from his drawer, pointing it at Flynn.
Flynn’s eyes widened, and before he could react, a bullet was sent into his arm. A resounding scream tore from his throat as he clutched his bleeding arm. He crumpled to the floor, his face contorted with pain.
“Did you betray me?” Nathan asked, stepping forward. He pointed the gun at Flynn’s head.
“No, boss… I didn’t!” Flynn cried out. “I swear!”
“Only you knew where my wife was kept. Other men guarded the room without knowing what was inside. So tell me…” As Nathan set the gun again, it made a click sound that made Flynn’s eyes widen in shock. His gaze was fixed on the gun aimed at his forehead. “Who else did you tell?”
Flynn’s breath became erratic, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. His body tensed.
“I didn’t tell anyone, boss, but there’s someone I suspect,” he rushed his words.
Nathan tilted his head slightly. “Who?”
“Diana. The day you asked Paisley to be tortured, Diana was at the doorstep. Though she acted like she heard nothing, she is a suspect. Please spare me; I know nothing about it.”
Nathan’s eyes narrowed. Diana?
___
“Are you sure you’re going to act?” Jolene asked Tatiana, who was revising her script.
“I’m fine.”
Jolene sighed, knowing Tatiana was lying. Discovering that Issabella was killed by Nathan and that her father also had a hand in it was a big shock.
Cassius had told Jolene to call if anything went wrong.
Tatiana sighed when her eyes met Gavin’s. The man was at it again, staring at her with lust.
They began to act. Tatiana was lucky to be performing a devastating scene, so she played it well. While acting, Gavin wouldn’t stop staring at her. He sometimes winked at her.
Director Felix acknowledged the crew after they were done. The work for the day went quickly due to their cooperation.
Afterward, as Tatiana was set to meet Jolene waiting for her outside, Gavin blocked her with a smile.
“How may I help you?” Tatiana asked.
“Can we go get a coffee together, at least once…”
“I thought I’d clarified this to you, Mr. Gavin. I’m here for work, and let’s keep it that way. If you push this further, I’ll have no choice but to drop the nice attitude,” Tatiana said, not waiting for his reply as she walked past him and left the place.
Gavin scoffed. “Another rejection?”
He looked back at where Tatiana had left and mumbled, “What an ego.”
He ruffled his hair, and his eyes settled on the movie’s writer, who was clad in office attire with a pair of reading glasses resting on the bridge of her nose.
An idea clicked in his head, and he approached her.
“Hey,” Gavin greeted, and the woman’s eyes widened at the sight of him. She had a crush on him, especially because of his handsome looks.
When Gavin noticed the interest in her gaze he knew his motive was going to be easy.