Truths and lies

“She never lied.” Zayn interrupted the moment she was about to defend herself. He stepped in, standing in front of her.

Edward was astonished when he stood up against him. He rose from the couch, looking at him with ferocity. “Who the hell do you think you are? Who let you into my office? Get out before I call the security.” He seethed.

Gwendolyn parted her lips, she put a hand on Zayn's shoulder, attempting to caution him to be careful with his words. He glanced back and assured her with a smile, telling her that ‘he'd handle it’. She sighed softly, standing back. Although she didn't trust him she had to leave him to do it. After all, Doctor Walton must have told her father that she was never pregnant.

“Sir, I love your daughter. I won't stand here and watch you telling her to lie for you. If you can't seal a business deal without selling your daughter to a man she doesn't love, forgive me but I must say this, you're not supposed to be called a father. And you…aren't you ashamed? As if breaking her heart isn't enough, you're also patronizing the weak. I don't know what you want from her, but I'll chase you to the end of the world if you don't leave my woman alone.” His eyes were as cold as ice immediately, staring at Austin like he was going to slit his throat if he ever uttered a word. Nonetheless, Austin's body quivered at his threat. No man ever spooked him out before. He had never encountered someone as scary as the man in front of them before. He had some intimidating ambiance he couldn't decipher. “That's a promise.” He added.

She would have jumped on him out of excitement, seeing the looks on their faces, Zayn had frightened them with his words. He waited for a few seconds, anticipating the first person to speak up but none of them uttered a word. He turned around, held her hand, and with a last wistful glance at them both of them exited the office.

Austin abruptly stood up. “Who is he?” He demanded solemnly.

Edward cleared his throat. “I don't know. I've never seen him before. I've never seen them together before.”

His eyes dazzled with wonder while pondering, he had never seen him before, and judging by his look and how he walked, there was no way he was an ordinary man.“Don't worry, Mr. Brook. I'll talk to my father about our agreement.”

His heart throbbed anxiously. He approached him by skipping a step close to him, he didn't want to think otherwise but Austin was unpredictable. He could do and undo, if he said he was going to talk to his father, perhaps about the termination of their contract which could be a whiff of scandal. He wouldn't allow that to happen.

“I'm so sorry, Mr. Whitlock. I didn't mean to annoy you. Just give me some time to talk to her. She will soon come back to her senses.”

He chuckled. “She's with another man's child. I can't father another man's child. He said he's going to chase me to the end of the world, I don't want that.” He shook his head vigorously.

“But about our deal… ”

“Dad wants to do business with you. We'd love to partner with your company, Mr. Brook. It's not a must that she accepts the marriage.” With that, he gestured to his assistant then both of them exited the office.

Edward groaned feebly. He strolled to his desk, opened his drawer then picked up the pregnancy result Doctor Walton sent to him. He unfolded it and read the result again. “Five weeks pregnant.” He mumbled underneath.

As they reached the parking lot, Austin hit his car and groaned miserably.

“Sir… ”

“He made me look like a dimwit there, Brandon. What should we do to him?” He stared at his face for his suggestion.

Brandon dampened his lower lip, contemplating a suggestion but he couldn't think of anything. “Sir,”

“Find out who he is and report to me this evening. I hope he's a nobody so I can make his entire family suffer for their son's sin. Instead of chasing me to the end of the world, I'll chase him to his grave by burying him alive. Am I not kind enough, Brandy?” He said with sarcasm. Somewhat he was enthusiastic about his plans.

Brandon nodded. “Roger that, sir.” He held the door for him, and Austin hopped in. Brandon joined him in the car then the driver drove out of the company.

****

The maid filled the flute before handing it to him, Austin collected it then sipped his champagne. He narrowed his eyes at Jack that wouldn't stop prattling. He had the yen to throw something at him, he was able to stifle the desire.

“Are you listening, buddy?”

He nodded. “What now?”

“Why are you so desperate to have her as your bride? You have Stella. Or are you going to break up with her?”

”Stella is my pen pal and she's clingy. I can't marry her. I want Gwendolyn.”

“You broke her heart five years ago.”

“You know Whitlock never apologized for their mistakes. When she caught me with her assistant, I didn't want to apologize and look like a fool. I thought she was going to come back to me and beg me not to leave her. She never came back.” He put down the flute and gestured to the maid to leave. “That's what I love most about her. Stella has caught me cheating several times, I thought she was going to leave but that lady is obsessed with me.”

Alexander shook his head vigorously, disagreeing with what he said. “You're the one that is obsessed with Gwendolyn.”

“No, I'm not obsessed. I've fallen for her again.” He confessed calmly. He gazed steadily at Alexander and shrugged his shoulders.

His eyes flickered with curiosity. “When?”

“Whenever I see her on TV, my heart always throbs. I can't believe my ex-girlfriend has completely stolen my heart again. I think I'm in love with Gwendolyn. She's beautiful, independent, and successful.”

He shook his head with pity. He couldn't believe what his best friend was saying, none of it made sense to him at all. While they were chatting, Brandon entered the home bar.

“Sir,”

Austin glanced over. “Did you find anything?”

He nodded. He extended an envelope to him which he collected instantly. In the envelope, there were three photos. “That was the first time he was seen with her. It was at Peace Hospital. He has never been seen with her before and when I looked into his file, he was transferred from one of the hospitals in the countryside and Gwendolyn was his guardian.”

While going through his medical reports, he spoke up. “What happened to him?”

“He had an accident and he had been in a coma for thirteen weeks. Sir, even if Gwendolyn is pregnant I don't think the guy is the father of the child.” Brandon divulged knowingly.

A bright grin scrunched over his lips. He presumed things were getting interesting now that he knew who Zayn was. “He's an orphan?”

“I haven't looked into that, sir.”

“Do it quickly, I need to know what Gwendolyn is hiding from the world.”

“I'M FEELING SO ECSTATIC. Do you see the look on his face, Zayn? Gosh, I'm ready to pay thousands of dollars to see it again. Thank you, but how did you do it?”

He glanced back. “Watched movies, I surmise it helped. Now that I help you, you should also do your part.”

“Sure, you have my word. Thank you.”

Zayn didn't care to look at her, he walked up to a couch, sat down, and crossed his leg over. Lonnie and Lilith step down at the same thing. “Thank goodness you're back.” Lilith hurried to her side and then extended her phone to her.

“This was published online twenty minutes ago. It's about you and him. Gwendolyn, I don't like this. I thought you were going to resolve this matter.”

She glanced through all the cooked-up lies about her love life. She returned the phone to her and then shook her head. “Austin is behind everything. You know he won't stop unless he has what he wants. Let it go, Lilith.”

“No! This is bad. The director has been calling, I'm so afraid to answer the call. You have a film to shoot next two weeks and you never told me you're pregnant. I'm your manager, you're not supposed to hide anything from me because we'd both suffer for your mistakes together.”

Gwendolyn sighed softly. “I'm not pregnant.”

“I know Zayn isn't the father of the child you're carrying. Is it Mr. Wright?”

Her eyes popped up like it was about to be plucked out of her head. “The manager director? Oh, please. I don't mix pleasure with business. And it seems like you don't trust me, Lilith.”

“Of course I trust you and that's why I'm asking you to tell me the truth. I don't know what to believe.”

“Okay. I'm not pregnant. I lied about the pregnancy when Dad kept threatening me to marry Austin.”

“That asshole.”

“Yes.”

“But you shouldn't have lied. Everyone believes what they see on social media.”

“They should believe what they want to believe.”

Lonnie walked over, put his hand on her shoulder, and nodded multiple times. “You're the strongest woman I've ever known. Do you trust him?” He whipped his gaze on Zayn.

She shrugged apathetically. “I can trust him. He saved my ass today.”

“Let's send that asshole to the hell where he belongs.” Lonnie winked at her.