Friends of Foe?
Maria Estates
“Sorry to disturb you Ma’am but the situation had turned critical. We can’t control it anymore.”
Joseph told Evelyn with a heavy heart who was sitting on her chair, her gaze stuck on the bundle of newspapers sprawled all over her table.
Another tragedy knocked on her door as someone murdered Miller and blasted the entire building. A way to erase all the evidence. Evelyn as usual didn’t remember that Miller was killed ruthlessly by a dark shadow who brutally strangled him with a leather belt. All she knew was that she was molested by Miller and fortunately got saved by Brandon. But for some reason, her heart wasn’t ready to accept him as her savior.
Her employees greeted her with this shocking news that blew her brain away. First Ryan, now Miller. Whoever approached her with evil intentions was being wiped off by her guardian angel. Someone was protecting her while staying in the shadows but his ways were wrong and she had to face the consequences of his crimes.
And just like Ryan, history repeated and her throat was being held for Miller’s death. Not a single employee of his company was alive ’cause as soon as she was taken away there was a huge explosion that devoured the entire building.
This time the picture took a different turn for Evelyn. Absurd rumors of her having connections with the underworld fan out in the city with people calling her the ‘Red Queen’ who gets people murdered in cold blood if they try to become an obstacle in her way of success.
“Your life is in danger and so is your image, Ma’am. I think someone is targeting you to take down our company.” Sara spoke while looking at her with a worried face.
“Cut the crap. I think it was stupid of you to meet Miller all alone after what happened with Ryan.” Mr. Jonathan Smith grated out after a long time while shooting daggers at Evelyn. He was the company’s director but belonged to Gilbert Corporation who were the venture capitalists of Maria Estates.
“You were the one who is constantly bringing disgrace to our company with your uncontrolled temper, not anyone else, Ms. Clarke.”
Evelyn instantly looked up and shot him a glare.
“I admit my fault but you also know why I did that.”
“Of course, I know.” Jonathan scoffed and banged his palms on the mahogany table, his nostrils flaring, “But for preventing one trouble you invited another. You do know that you have some liabilities for my company also. We are major stakeholders and to conduct such important meetings, you require our approval too. You just can’t decide things on your own.”
Evelyn curled her fingers, rage surging through her veins, “That’s why I never signed the deal in the first place and invited Miller to our company to deliberate upon when he started arguing with me about the blueprint of the project. Get your facts straight before jumping to conclusions Jonathan.” She snarled.
“How dare you-”
“Enough Mr. Smith,” Joseph interrupted and held him back who jumped from the chair while glaring at Evelyn.
“You have no right to offend our Boss also. Don’t forget that she has the upper hand here.”
“Upper hand?” Huffing out loud, Jonathan jerked his hand away and straightened his coat, “Don’t forget that Mr. Mason Gilbert invested 50 billion dollars in this company only with the motive of gaining profit. Ms. Clarke, you have risked the company’s future and now we won’t let you take calls all by yourself. The next investor will be decided by us and you will be obliged to do business with the clients whom we approve. And that’s final.” Saying that he shot all of them a daring look and exited the cabin while slamming the door shut.
Joseph released a cold sigh and glanced at Evelyn who was sitting with her head hung low. He then looked at Sara who mirrored his meticulous expression.
“I am sorry Ma’am, it’s all because of me,” Sara muttered under her breath.
Evelyn cut her off by raising her palm and shook her head, “What’s done has been done, Sara. And Jonathan is right. You know I can’t defy him. If they take the shares back, our company would collapse in a day. Moreover, I think it will be good if Mr. Gilbert takes things into his hand. Our motives will still be the same. Maria Estates’ progress,” She said and flashed them a smile but they both saw how fake it looked.
She was hurt and upset.
Joseph was deeply saddened as it was the first time, he saw Evelyn this hopeless. She was the pillar of the company but the recent incidents had shaken her confidence.
“You both return to your work and Sara, bring me coffee. I need to complete my paperwork.”
They both nodded and watched how Evelyn engaged herself in work without meeting their eyes. They wanted to share her grief and comfort her but turn down their idea. Evelyn would never let them see her tears.
As soon as they exited, Evelyn took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes vigorously. But her throat again clogged up turning her vision blurry.
“Damn it.”
Her hands trembled as she removed the lid from the glass and chug down the water in one go.
“B-Better.”
Smiling to herself, she resumed her work while suppressing her feelings just like she used to do.
*****
“Mom, I’m home.”
Evelyn shouted while throwing her bag on the couch before plopping on it.
“Mom-”
“She isn’t home, Ma’am”
Stella spoke as she came running to Evelyn while carrying the tray in her hands. She then offered the girl a glass of water who was looking at her with raised brows.
“What? Where did she go? She didn’t tell me that she was going out today.” Evelyn asked her as she took the glass from the tray.
Stella bit her lips, that was the question she was trying to dodge, “S-She... Mr. Tate took her out.”
Her hold on the glass tightened.
“When?” Evelyn inquired while grinding her molars.
“After you left,” Stella told her with difficulty but a scream left her mouth when Evelyn threw the glass on the floor making her jump back in fear.
“HE TOOK HER OUT AND YOU DIDN’T EVEN INFORM ME!!!” Evelyn yelled; all the pent-up emotions burst out as she couldn’t believe that Maria was really choosing him over her.
“I-I am sorry Ma’am but she was the one who ordered me not to tell you that. It’s not my fault.” Stella cried while hugging the tray to her chest.
Frustrated Evelyn grabbed her forehead, she knew that Stella wasn’t at fault, and berating her wouldn’t benefit her either. So, she simply grabbed her clutch and marched to her room.
“So, this is how it’s going to be from now on. They just won’t let me live peacefully.”
Evelyn continued screaming while pacing in the room back and forth. Her mind was a mess and all she could see was red at the moment.
“First Ryan now Miller and then it will be someone else. I am sure the client whom Mason would choose for the project will also meet the same fate.”
Evelyn knew that someone was purposely doing all this. It can’t be a coincidence.
Suddenly her phone rang. Cursing under her breath, she picked it up.
“Now what?”
“Ma’am, there’s good news. The media-” Sara chirped from the other line but was harshly cut off by an enraged Evelyn.
“I DON’T CARE ABOUT THE MEDIA ANYMORE, SARA!! Jonathan said that Mr. Gilbert will be dealing with it right? Then let him I am also done.” Growling, she was about to cut the call but stopped after hearing her next words.
“No Ma’am everything is settled. Wills Corporation withdrew their case and the partners of Miller Estates also absolved you. Your name is no longer being linked to their murders and the cops even arrested people who were defaming you.” Sara beamed.
Evelyn froze. The phone slipped from her hand as not even a day passed and she was given a clean chit.
She should be happy, isn’t she? But Evelyn couldn’t bring herself to relax.
First Brandon’s abrupt presence in her house and then Maria getting under his influence and leaving her behind. And now her becoming guilt-free.
“What if Mr. Gilbert is behind all this? He would have definitely dealt with everything. I mean things aren’t hidden from him so it might be that he forced the media to drop the matter. But why did he get the people arrested? That wasn’t required.”
Stuck in thoughts, Evelyn crouched on the floor and was about to pick up her phone when something caught her eye. With furrowed brows, she padded to her bed and squatted to get the thing lying underneath it. Her fingers were contacted with a rugged fabric before she pulled it out only to find a denim jacket.
“Huh? A men’s jacket? What’s a men’s jacket doing in my room?”
Standing on her feet, Evelyn continued examining the dark blue jacket while talking to herself.
“Is it Brandon’s?”
Evelyn was perplexed as she found the jacket awfully familiar but she couldn’t pinpoint where she found it.
“Damn it. Stella!!!” Evelyn hollered as she decided to cut to the chase and find out the owner of this mysterious jacket.
Rushing inside, Stella bowed to her when Evelyn swayed the blue jacket in front of her eyes making her gasp.
“Whose is this-AHH!!”
A scream abruptly left her mouth as she staggered to the ground freaking the poor maid out.
“Ma’am”
Stella quickly grabbed her as Evelyn clutched her head which was pounding wildly making her dizzy. Some faint memories flashed in front of her eyes making her heart race in fear.
A tattooed hand.
Deep jet-black eyes.
And a sonorous voice that was murmuring some comforting words in her ears. She could only remember that.
“Stell- Stella, I- wait, what are you doing?” Evelyn asked Stella with a frown but her eyes widened in horror when she found Stella holding a syringe.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.” Tightening her hold around her, Stella covered her eyes with her palm before injecting the fluid into her system.
“Sleep tight.”
*****
The blonde beauty checked her surroundings frantically before she made her way to the humongous villa with cautious steps. Her heels clanked against the rough concrete before she was stopped near the black metallic gates.
“Can I have your ID, Ma’am?” One of the guards spoke.
Fidgeting through her purse, the girl removed her ID and handed it to him while the two female guards checked her clothes and her handbag thoroughly.
Finally, she was given the green flag and the guards escorted her inside.
The place was creeping her out as it was awfully too dark and silent. But her apprehension evaporated from her system when the huge mahogany doors were opened making her dazzled.
Her jaw dropped; the magnificence of the place always leaves her spellbound. Admiring the luxury silently, the guards took her to the living room.
“She’s here Boss.”
Their deep voices tore her trance.
The first thing she saw was a masculine figure draped in a black coat slouched on the comfy couch. His head was on the headrest as he silently gazed at the smoke rings floating in the air.
The man nodded at their words and took his time before crushing the butt of his cigar in the ashtray. The girl remained frozen to spot as she eyed his black mane and the multiple shining silver earrings in his ears.
He finally stood up to his mighty height and dipped his left hand in the pocket of his pants. Turning around, he looked at the pale girl who was about to faint because of his hot and perfect features.
“So, what’s the update, Sara?”
Sara sucked a sharp breath. Her knees turned weak as the man was too hot to handle but she had to get a grip on herself if she didn’t want to die.
Bowing to the brooding man, Sara clenched her fists and answered him.
“Everything has been taken care of, Mr. Black.”
*****
