CHAPTER 4

It's been two months since Charles and his laughable offer.

Like expected, he didn't try to contact me again.

After series of failed attempt to get a job, I left for another City.

Fortunately, I got a job and visited my mother's grave every week.

I joined the others to applaud the speaker.

Currently, we were hosting a small party in the company I worked.

It was a growing finance house that recently reached a new peak worth celebrating.

Everyone was still cheering the speaker when I excused myself to the toilet.

While returning to my seat, I spotted someone whispering something to the speaker who happened to be the head of the finance department.

In the blink of an eye, her face hardened into a frown. That always happened when she was extremely mad.

What exactly could have happened to make her like that on such a bright day?

Hurriedly, she returned to the microphone, "If I may have your attention!"

People sitting behind me were begining to murmur.

"What's going on?" I asked a coworker beside me.

"Something is missing. I don't know what it is but it belongs to the invited guest. You know, our newest investor." He answered.

"What?" I gasped, covering my mouth.

How did that even happen?

"We are going to conduct a thorough search right now. We apologize for the inconvenience but it's mandatory. We implore your understanding and cooperation."

Security guards began combing through the hall.

When it got to my turn to be searched, I was asked to stand up.

In the process of rising to my feet, my bag fell from the chair and the contents in it spilled.

"That's it!" Someone yelled from the crowd.

Confused, I started looking around.

The accusatory looks and silent curses were all too familiar.

In a matter of seconds, I was sent back to my past.

"I don't know how it got there, I swear." I blinked back the tears that threatened to spill.

Somehow, a necklace had found it's way into my bag.

I didn't even wear gold jewelry so that was definitely not mine.

Judging from the heated stares I was getting, that was the new investor's missing item.

I had no idea how it found its way into my bag but who was going to take that explanation?

"But it's there, isn't it?" A strange man walked up to me.

His dirty blonde hair was perfectly styled with enough gel. His suit was worth more than I've ever had and his persona revealed that he was the new investor.

Like a flash, I fell on my knees, "I swear, I didn't put that in there. Please, believe me, sir."

I pleaded as tears freely flowed down my face.

"Let's talk about this at the station, shall we?" He gestured to the security guard who dragged me outside the hall, where the police were waiting to receive me.

"Stop!" I screamed and struggled with the guards.

"I didn't take it, I swear." I sobbed and continued struggling.

How was I being accused of something I didn't do, again?

There was no way I had come all the way here and gotten a taste of what a normal life was like only to be dragged back to hell.

Almost two hours later, I was seated in the interrogation room of Cardiff's police station.

After constantly telling the police officers that I had no idea how the jewelry got into my bag, I just stopped talking.

Until a proper investigation was made, I doubt they would believe me.

"Allison Claire Davies." The officer interrogating me called my name again.

"You have been previously charged with money laundering in Bangor. Denying won't do you any good. If you owned up to your crime sooner, it would be better for everyone. Especially you."

I had gone through this before.

His stupid threats didn't scare me.

What scared me was my past record. Knowing that, I doubted they were going to bother doing further investigations.

Even if they did and I was eventually proven innocent, my life here would not return to how it used to be, how I loved it to be.

I snapped out of my haze when someone else came into the room.

"Someone's here to see her." The other officer told the one interrogating me.

"That's now allowed." He frowned, obviously unhappy about the new situation.

He whispered something else that I didn't quite catch.

Whatever it was, it was enough to make the officer reconsider.

They both exited the interrogation room, leaving me alone.

Almost immediately, someone else entered the room.

I didn't bother to look up from the table until I heard the voice of my new company.

"It's been a while, Miss Davies."

My neck might as well have snapped from the force and speed with which I turned to look at Charles.

Again, he was dressed in a suit with an envelope in his hand just like the last time I saw him.

"What are you doing here?" Could the day get any worse?

"Proposing a deal."

"The same one as the last time."

"Fuck off, Charles. I said that before and I'm saying that again."

"How did you even find me?"

Why did today have to turn out so bad?

"The offer is better this time." He promised, taking his seat.

Too tired to argue, I let him speak.

"Like I said the other time we met, my boss was responsible for your freedom. Just like before, he's decided to be generous again?"

"What are you driving at, Charles?" I hissed.

"At the moment, your case is being filed and once that is done, it will be prepared for trial at the Court. Your past record will do nothing to help you during trials which means you're most likely to return to prison."

Did he think none of these had already occurred to me?

"If you would consider my proposal and sign the contract, my boss can prevent all of that from happening." The confidence in his voice showed that Charles wasn't bluffing.

I had no idea how he tracked me to my current location but I could bet every penny I had that Charles was not one to waste his time, promising something he couldn't do.

"I already refused the last time, Charles. What? Your boss couldn't find another person to blackmail into signing his contract?"

I desperately needed any and every help anyone was willing to offer me but my pride would not let me show my desperation.

Not like Charles needed me to show my desperation, he could see for himself that I was in a really tight corner.

"Trust me, Miss Davies, this isn't some shady business deal. You accept my boss's generosity again and offer him services as stated in the contract, I promise you, you will not be forced to do anything that's not stated in the contract. You are completely safe."

Slowly, I stretched my hand across the table and took the envelope.

I properly looked through the documents, taking note of every clause, rules and condition in the contract.

There was only one rule on the last document.

Neither party is allowed to fall in love with the other.

I had a feeling I was going to regret signing the contract but that was the only option I had.

It was either that or I returned to prison and I could not go back to prison.

"I really am not allowed to know who this boss of yours is?" I sniffed, blinking back the tears.

"Relevant information you need have all been disclosed." He took out a pen from his pocket and passed it to me.

The moment I signed the contract, Charles placed a call and the officer came in to take off the cuffs.

He didn't seem happy I was getting discharged but there was nothing he could do about it.

That alone, brought a smile to my face.

When we got out, the investor rushed to us, "I apologize for the misunderstanding."

Okay, what was happening?

Charles came from behind me, "I do hope we can keep this away from the press, Mr Ford."

For the first time since we met, Charles was wearing a very tight smile.

Mr Ford took a step back in fear and nodded, "Sure, sure. It was all a misunderstanding after all."

Just who exactly was Charles to this man to make him tremble so much?

"I'll let my boss know it was all just a 'misunderstanding'." With that, Charles dismissed Mr Ford.

After a few minutes of signing, I was in a limousine with Charles, like that night.

"Where are we going?" I was no longer proud enough to speak loudly or look at Charles while I spoke.

"A restaurant. You'll be meeting with my boss shortly." He smiled.

I swallowed and nodded.

After the exchange between Charles and Mr Ford, I had concluded that whoever Charles' boss was, he was no ordinary man.

One who could so easily manipulate the law and get what he wanted.

When we arrived, Charles led me to the VIP section but there was only one table and a man already sat at it.

"Are you sure this is where we're supposed to meet with your boss?" I asked him, staring at the man seated at the table.

I could only see his back but I swear he gave off a familiar energy.

The color of his hair seemed familiar too. Sure, I had seen a lot of people with brown hair but I could have sworn I had seen this particular hair somewhere.

"Yes." The man answered without turning around.

I turned to Charles who hadn't spoken since we got here.

"Let's get out of here." I grabbed his arm, ready to sprint when he spoke again.

"Nice to see you haven't changed one bit, mischief."

There was only one son of a bitch who called me 'mischief'.

I dropped Charles' hand and turned around to face him, "You."

"Good to see you too, Allison." He turned around and showed his face.

"Miss Davies, meet my boss, Mr Jacobs."

"What?!"