85
ESTELLE
“So you did all this to get to me?” I stood before my father in his house. A woman, just around my age, was still in a robe waiting upstairs. I didn’t want to judge women by their choices, but I couldn’t believe someone like her would be interested in a man her father’s age. That’s creepy and disgusting. “The product review, insulting my husband, and now you also ruined my marriage because you thought it was Gabriel’s influence that forced me to kick you out of the board.”
“Linden is just using you.”
“And you’re not? It wasn’t enough that you and Tyrion arranged my marriage to Klayton. I almost married that lazy good-for-nothing ass and ruined my life.”
“Why, I’m not surprised that he chose to leave you?”
“How did you know?”
“I only gave him a chance to pick a choice, and he didn’t choose you. Now I believe that he’s not after your money. On the other hand, you deserve better than him.”
“So you made him choice over what?”
“His friend will get killed.” His admission made me gasp. My blood went icy cold.
I stared at him in shock for a moment before I found my voice to ask. “What have you done, Dad? Who are you? What happened to the man who raised me? I feel like I don’t know you anymore.”
“You know for a fact that I did the right thing.”
“That’s what greed did to you, Dad. You lost your way. Maybe I should have just followed Gabriel and filed a complaint for the damages you’ve done.”
“You will not do that. You don’t have the guts.”
“Gustav, is it going to take long? I’m waiting.”
I glared at that bitch still waiting at the stairs. “This is between me and my father. Family, and you’re not family. You’re here because my father has money. If he’s poor, do you think you’ll even look at him, an old man, the same way right now?”
“Bitch.” She rolled her eyes before she turned and walked away.
I ignored her. I couldn’t waste my time on someone just like my father while my husband was missing.
“Just go back to your house, Estelle. You’ve already known your marriage to him wouldn’t last. You can’t just accept it because he satisfied you in bed.”
“Jesus Christ, Dad.” My voice was hard, my anger and frustration just beginning to come out of my chest. “Do you think I married him for sex? You don’t even know what we have because you never found it with Mom. I’m just glad she’s happy now with another man. You should try it sometimes, dating women the same your age who’s not after your bank account and expensive gifts.”
“Don’t insult me.”
“Why? Because you are better than me? Because I’m a major disappointment? And you know what’s best for me, right? Well, Dad, you broke my marriage, and my daughter will grow up in a broken family just like me. And it’s all because of you. The father of the year.”
“He doesn’t care for you, as I thought. He chose his man over his wife. Why are you even upset? When I just saved you from impending heartache. You should be thanking me because your parents know what’s best for you, and no matter how you mistreated me, I will always be here for you.”
“Wow. I can’t even believe I’m hearing this. Do you actually think that you’re still the good guy here after what you did to my company? Do you think I will still trust you? You almost bankrupted Star because you are greedy and can’t accept defeat. I’m done with you, Dad. You win.”
“I’ll tell you when I’m done!” He yelled at me. His face reddened.
“What else do you want to destroy? I have nothing left. The only thing that matters to me is gone. My marriage that makes me happy is over. Goodbye, Dad.” I turned around, ready to walk out of his house, when he called me.
“If I don’t see you tonight in your house, you will find out tomorrow what happened to his friend.”
I stopped and faced him again. “What are you gonna do?”
“Don’t test me.”
“There’s nothing you can do that you haven’t already done. Even my life, you already destroyed it. Congratulations!”
I met Sax, Kye, and Lynx two hours later at Osmium.
“What did you tell you?”
“In one sentence, leave your husband, or you will regret it.”
“Wow. He’s a father of the year.”
“Of the century, because he’s still richer than me, but he can’t manipulate me. So he decided to start destroying the people around me.”
When I paused, Kye asked, “What are you thinking?”
“I couldn’t think of anything that made Gabriel act so recklessly unless…” I closed my eyes when I remembered what he told me. “Of course.”
“What is it, Mrs. L? I’m lost,” Lynx said.
“You’re not alone, bro.” Kye seconded the motion.
“I wanna see his office.”
“Sure.” Sax took me to his office. Linden’s assistant, Hope, was there, unlocking the door for us.
“Is there anything you change in his office?”
“No, ma’am. I didn’t touch anything,” Hope replied before she left us.
“What are the things needed when someone goes off the grid?” I looked at them one by one.
“Money, preferably cash, documents, passport, ID. I wouldn’t use a credit card if I were you. I will use a prepaid phone, a burner,” Kye replied.
“I don’t know where he keeps his passport,” I admitted. I didn’t usually mind Gabriel’s business because I trusted him.
“In the house, but his other passports are probably in his office.”
Confused, I asked, “How many passports does he have? Is Gabriel even his real name?”
“No one should know this, but sometimes we use an alias. It is not standard, but to keep us safe. And yes, his real name is Gabriel Rembrandt Linden.” Sax looked for something missing in the office or out of place. “Maybe we should inform the boss.”
“Spies do that, right?”
“Yeah,” Sax answered.
“But Gabriel is not a spy.” I was curious, but I knew he was not.
“Nope. I’m calling Moses.”
“No. Don’t.” I stopped Sax.
“Why?” His confused eyes met mine.
“You have resources here. Use it.”
“They’ve been scanning Linden’s whereabouts in the city. Unfortunately, no one can access his access control card, even our head of IT, because he has a high-security clearance level in the building, even me, but he can do it through his phone or computer. So we can’t find anything here. His laptop is not here, too. I’m pretty sure he cleaned it up. He knows what he’s doing. The Gunner room is scanning all the CCTV and traffic cams as we speak. I’m sure he couldn’t dodge all of them.”
I sighed helplessly. “That asshole broke my heart, but here I am still trying to find him because Dad did all of this to tear us apart. Gabriel just gave up easily. I didn’t know what my father had against Gabriel, or my husband doesn’t care for me like I do.” Shit. My face flamed in guilt for what my father had done. Everything had to do with Jasper.
“Don’t go there. Yeah, this is your father’s doing, but I have a strong feeling that something is going on bigger than us.”
“Bigger than his marriage than Estelle and his kid?” Kye shook his head, disagreeing with Sax.
“Where the fuck is his safe?” Lynx was frustrated as he checked all behind the paintings, touched everything on the shelves, and still found nothing. He also pulled out books one by one that there might be hidden doors behind the racks.
I went to his desk and sat on his chair when I felt back pain. I put down his watch and phone back on the desk and picked up the book. “He was reading this book two days ago. He was proud as he told me he wanted to learn something since we both have no experience in parenting. He was excited until last night.”
“He was hurting.”
“I’m hurting too, Kye.” I blew a breath when I felt like I was about to cry again. “I thought he was the last person to break my heart, hurt me, and make me feel less like a woman. I even made myself believe that he loved me. I was wrong. There’s emotion stronger than love.”
“I don’t believe that. I don’t believe he meant it. I still believe he planned all of this.”
“For what? End of the world?” I almost forgot something. “What if Jasper is in danger? Do you think my father knows?”
“I’m lost.”
“He didn’t tell you, did he?”
“He’s been secretive lately, but I understand.” Sax didn’t hide the pain in his eyes.
“My father said something like his friend will get killed.”
“What the fuck? What does that even mean?” Sax narrowed his eyes at me.
Unknowingly, I flipped the book. Something fell on my lap—a piece of folded paper. I thought twice about unfolding it. It wasn’t mine in the first place, and I felt like I was intruding on something personal.
“What’s that?” Kye came. “A love letter? He’s not the kind of man who writes love letters, Estelle. I know him.”
“I don’t know. It’s in the book and fell when I flipped it.” I unfolded the paper. The content was a written letter to me.
“Son of a bitch,” Kye reacted.
“That asshole!” I exclaimed. My anger exploded. “I swear to God, I’m gonna punch him!”
“What did it say?” Lynx came, too.
I looked at them one by one. “It’s personal.”
“Did he mention something where he’s going?” Sax asked.
“He said he had to go to save Jasper one last time.”
“Son of bitches. Those two fuckers are my death.” Sax propped his hands on his hips as he exhaled loudly. “I swear to God. Linden wouldn’t just stay put and let us work. He has to do it by himself. He has to be the hero. The question is, where is he going? Do you know where he would be, Estelle?”
“Where the last time he went? You sent him there while we were on honeymoon, assholes.” I rolled my eyes at Sax. “You should probably bring big guns or inform a military officer in that area.”
“How do you know all of this?” Kye asked, still confused.
“Isn’t Jasper with the mafia? A Russian mafia.”
“I hope my theory is right. Find me a UV light.” Sax grabbed the book, flipping it. “Do you remember what page he slipped the letter in?”
“143, I think.”
“143, huh?” Sax snorted. “How cringy? That asshole has romance in his blood, actually.”
“He might be using an invisible ink.” Lynx joined Kye and gave the UV light to Sax.
He flipped the page to 143, turning the light on. “Uh-huh!” As if he just uncovered a hundred-year-old scandal, his eyes lit up. “I love you, brother. We’re going to these coordinates.”
“Right, and I have a husband to punch.”
