The attorney stared in shock at what had just taken place in front of him. He stared speechless at a dying Damian as he clutched his neck, going breathless. He stared back at the side the bullet came from. He noticed a hole made in the glass. It was where the bullet had passed through. Whoever shot that had a lot of precision.
He called for help and Damian was rushed to the hospital. Few minutes after getting to the hospital, he was declared dead.
With no more evidence and the death of the only testifier they had, the investigations into the deep four were put on hold.
**Few months later**
After the death of Damian, calm returned to Jack. His company was now performing very well. It had been many months since Karen left, but he lived every day with the conviction that she was going to return one day. He hadn’t heard from her since she left and he had also refused to date again.
He parked his car in the parking lot of his company and stepped out. He noticed a strange car parked in the parking lot and shrugged. His company had different visitors daily, this might be one of them. He checked the time on his watch, he was a little late today. He took his suitcase and took his personal entrance. Using the elevator, he got to the last floor where his office was located. He walked past the waiting room where he noticed the back frame of an unknown man seated who seemed to be on a call. He ignored him and walked into his office.
He dropped his bag and had barely settled into his seat when a knock sounded on his door. “Come in,” he replied, thinking it was his secretary.
The door was pushed open and few seconds later, a male foot stepped in.
Roy Smith walked into Jack’s office with a smile on his face. This was the second visit he was paying to Jack and the first since he became an investor with him.
“Good morning Mr. Smith. Nice to meet you again.” Jack got up and shook hands with him. They had never met again since that day at the hotel.
“The pleasure is all mine, Mr. CEO,” Mr. Smith responded with a smile. He accepted Jack’s handshake, shaking him firmly.
“Please, have a seat,” Jack stated, pointing at the empty chairs in front of him. He took one, crossing his legs as he sat. “What brings you to Los Angeles, Mr. Smith? You know you’ve missed all our stakeholders’ meetings, right.”
“I’m sorry for that. I had other business to attend to. I could have sent a representative, but it missed my mind.” Mr. Smith replied. Hope business is going on smoothly?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes. Yes. Thanks to you, of course.” Jack smiled at him. “And, I don’t know if you have been hearing the news. Our rival company got shut down. Something about corruption and money laundering, ” he added.
Mr. Smith nodded, pretending not to have any idea about what he was saying.
They spent the next fifty minutes talking about business where Jack found out that he owned a few businesses across the world.
“I have to go now, Mr. CEO. I have a cruise ship to catch up with.” Mr. Smith spoke as he got up from his chair. They shook hands again and Jack accomplished him outside. He got into his car and drove off, with Jack waving at him.
****
Karen walked down the halls of the University of Melbourne where she was currently studying for her master’s degree. She held some textbooks in her hands as she walked past some halls where lectures were ongoing. After leaving Los Angeles, she had traveled to Melbourne, Australia where she had spent vacation, and a month later, she decided to enroll in college for a second degree. Thanks to the money she had, getting enrolled and being able to pay her fees wasn’t a hassle.
She couldn’t lie, she missed Los Angeles, she missed Jack especially. Staying these months away from him made her realize she had grown feelings for him. She had resisted every urge to call or text him and most times wondered how he was doing. Did he finally move on, or was he stubborn not to?
She had promised him that she would return and she was going to. Though not now, and even if he had moved on before then, she was going to take it in good faith.
“Good morning Professor Moore.” She greeted her lecturer as she got to the lecture hall.
“Good morning, Miss Smith. Do you have the project papers?” the lecturer asked.
“Yes ma” she responded, handing them over.
***
Mr. Roy Smith walked into the ship dressed in a short and matching shirt. He held a little bag containing a few clothes, cash, and some other necessities. Everything was settled now. Damian was out of the way. His businesses were flourishing, his investments were yielding profits, and most importantly, his daughter was happy in Australia. It was time to take that long cruise ship to Africa.
He picked a glass of wine from the tray the waiter held and gulped down the entire quantity before returning it. He walked over to the bar and dropped his bag on a seat before taking out his phone.
He typed in some digits before placing it on his ear. “Make the contact,” he ordered into the phone before returning it to the bag. It was time to enjoy the cruise!
***
Mrs. Lilian dropped the call she just had with her boss before picking up another phone from the table and typing in the number her boss had given her before leaving. The phone rang for some seconds before the receiver picked up.
“Hello! Am I speaking with Karina Smith?” She asked once the call was answered. “My name is Lilian Brown, I work for your father, Roy Smith.” She added fluently. Her boss had made her practice everything she was to say, from the pleasantries to the information she had to pass.
Karen stopped in shock as she heard the caller call her by her full name. Only a few people knew her name was Karina.
“Yes, I am,” she replied. The next response from the caller made her shiver. Her dad? She hadn’t set her eyes on him since the day they met at the cafe in New York. “How did he get her number? Had he been putting an eye on her and her movements? ” She thought.
“I have news from your father” the woman’s voice broke into her thoughts and she held the phone tightly. She had forgotten she was on a phone call.