Chapter eight

Alina

 

Panic engulfed me as I stared at the moving body, there was no way I was going to be part of a murder case, not when I had just started living, not with everything else.

“What the hell have you done? He is not breathing, he is not moving!” I screamed at Sebastian in the middle of my panic attack while I hit him repeatedly over his chest.

At that moment all I could think of was the media, the headlines this will carry, oh God.

“Get yourself together. He was going to hurt you” His voice held no remorse, as usual, it always sounded as if that were the only thing he cared about.

“What do we do?” Charles was going to kill me.

Sebastian brought out his phone and I could tell he was dialing a number “You should go, I will handle it” He said and before I could even protest he shoved my keys into my hands.

But I didn't move, if I left, I would have another secret and he would have the upper hand.

“Go”  He repeated. His tone held finality and without any protest, I opened the door, slammed it shut, got into my car, and drove home without looking back. My hands were shaking as I held onto the wheels. My whole body shook and my eyes were glued to the road in front of me “Don’t look back. You can’t afford it” I reminded myself repeatedly over and over again while praying that this wouldn’t be the end of me. And if eventually, it wasn't, then I would be in a more bigger trouble.

Once I made it through the gates of the mansion that had now become my home for the past five years, I parked the car and rushed inside the house, desperate for a drink of water. As soon as I entered the kitchen, I started drinking and trying to calm down, she walked in.

Vanessa my half-sister.

“Where have you been?” Her eyes held their usual death glares. She didn't like me and she didn't hide it.

“Out”   Was all I could manage between chokes on my drink. She looked around me, searching for something but instead of finding it her eyes settled back on my face.

“With one of your numerous men? Are you still sleeping around to earn favours my dearest sister?”  She spat those words like acid, making me shudder from head to toe. But I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me react more than once. So instead of answering, I took another large gulp from my glass.

“Goodnight” I turned to walk away when an abrupt hand on my shoulder stopped me. I turned around, expecting to find her glaring at me but instead, I found herself smirking, which I hated.

“Have fun with him”  It seemed like an invitation, which made me frown in confusion. “Or not” She added, turning away to open the backdoor.

That night I couldn't sleep. I waited for him to call me and when I couldnt wait anymore, I called him.

He didn't answer, it didn't even ring at all.

Was the creep dead? Had I just been part of a murder case? Did someone know about us? I had so many questions but no answers.

That night passed away slowly.

The next morning I couldn't sit still “Fix me a meeting with Sebastian Wolfe” I told Clara as soon as she appeared in my office.

She froze for a little bit before nodding. “He will be expecting you by ten” she returned.

“Good” I nodded in return, “Thank you”

She looked at me like she wanted to say something but decided against it and left the room quickly, clearly worried about whatever I was planning to do, which irritated me.

Why? I had no reason to be, she was only looking out for me. What was I even doing?

I was not productive. I pretended to go through the files in front of me but I was deceiving myself.

When it was past 9, I had the driver take Clara and me to Sebastian’s office. The feeling of dejà vu engulfed me, reminding me of the person I once was, the person I wanted to forget.

We walked into the same dark-haired secretary. She froze when she saw me, and a look of recognition hit her.

Anyone would have reacted the same. I was a different woman.

“How may I help you, ma'am” she forced herself to say.

“Alina Grant, I am here to see your boss and this time I have an appointment”  I responded without breaking eye contact with the lady and her face turned red.

“Right! Follow me, please” She led me towards a large office and knocked twice before entering the room “Miss Grant has arrived” She announced.

“Let her in” I heard Sebastian rough voice behind me before I even stepped further into the room without Clara.

Once the dark-haired secretary left, I was face-to-face with him.

“Did you think about my proposal that fast? Hi Alina” He greeted me calmly.

“Sebastian” I nodded curtly.

“Sit”

“I am not here to sit. I want to know what happened to the man from last night?” My voice came off strong and confident but my heart felt like a hammer hitting a wall inside me.

“You mean the same one who tried to harass you? I almost felt flattered that you had come to say thank you”  He replied dryly. His expression didn't change.

“Yes. That man. Thank you but  I need to know what happened to him, is he dead”  I spoke firmly yet quietly.

“Dead? No no, not necessarily. Why do you ask?” He continued playing poker face like he hadn't just thrown a life-or-death situation into the mix.

“You know perfectly well why I'm asking”

“Well I handled it and that's all you need to know”   His reply lacked the emotion I wanted to hear and his tone annoyed me beyond belief.

“Handled it?” I shouted at him.

He sighed “Yes Alina, handled it”

I was stunned.

He had gotten up from his chair and walked towards me, holding my hand. I pulled it away and backed up into a corner as he moved forward “Stop it! What are you trying to prove? Are you trying to make my life harder than it already is?”

“It's not always about you Alina”He had me cornered, his cologne tickling my nose as he stood in front of me.

One of his hands found its way to my face. It was warmer than I expected from a cold man.

His fingers traced purposeful patterns in my cheek as they traveled downwards and caressed my neck. I wanted to stop him yet I shivered involuntarily. It felt almost soothing.

I saw him gulp and suddenly there was a knock on the door causing me to jump.