Chapter 2 - Ambushed

Celeste POV

“She is starting to suspect us and will probably detect the secret today” I said, swirling the wine in the glass I'm holding.

“I need you to lure her out to 26th street with a text that you have information about her father's death, that it was planned by someone else and from there let her join her father at the great beyond”

“When she takes the bait, you finish her smooth and clean, no mistakes” I poured out the wine slowly into the drain.

“I'll send the part payment first when you finish the job you'll have the rest”

“Yes ma'am” he replied me

Adrian and the company and all the inheritance can only belong to me Lianne, you have no place here. You are better off with your dad. I thought with a smirk while looking into the mirror of the ladies room.

*********

Lianne's POV

I rushed to my room, I need to check the accounts. The financial records of my father's company.

I opened my laptop and entered the needed password to assess the Smith group financial records. My eyes scrolled the records quickly, it looked clean at first, free from any errors or mismatched accounts.

Then I saw it, hundreds at first, then I saw thousands and millions of dollars that have been moved out of the company account to an unknown account.

As I checked the account with more scrutiny, I noticed that all these amounts have been moved under my signature and my name. Who is the person stealing from me? Then it clicked, what if it is Adrian or Celeste.

I carefully copied the account number and cross-checked it with Adrian's account number, the one I have with me. It matched. This can't be true. I stood up slowly, my fists clenched tightly beside me.

If it truly is Adrian, It may not be only the money that was stolen from me. I need to verify something else. Heart pounding inside my ribcage in fear of what I'm about to discover, I walked briskly downstairs towards my study room.

I opened my office and walked to the private safe in the room, praying to everything I believe in that what I am looking for will be there.

I entered the safe combination and to my uttermost shock the safe is clean, spotless clean. All the documents, ownership documents to the company, real estate and all other inheritance my father has left for me is gone as if it was never there.

I recalled the conversation between me and Adrian some days before our engagement when I was foolishly in love with him and still grieving my father's death. He had tricked me.

“Lianne these documents are for the estate in which we'll be living in after marriage as well as other properties of ours” Adrian said, eyes sparkling with so much joy and sincerity, which I gullibly believed in.

“I already added my signature, it's remaining yours” I had picked up the document and saw my company's name on it.

“What is my company's name doing here?” I asked him, suspiciously.

“Come on baby” he said softly “you seriously don't think that I want to acquire your own company do you?”

“Whatever I own is yours, the same should be applicable to you after all we are getting married soon” He said soothingly and I blushed, foolishly believing him.

“You'll sign here, here, and here” He said, flipping open pages of documents.

“But why are the documents so many” I had asked

“That's because we're not talking about only one house here baby, I plan to give you half of my properties”. He had lied smoothly and I had also foolishly believed his lie and signed all documents.

I have been deceived. It is over. No it isn't, I must confront him about this, about why he would do this to me, why he chose to betray me like this.

Then my phone vibrated the second time, it is another unknown number that has just sent me a text. The text reads “Your father was murdered”

I hold my phone with trembling hands, my mind blank for a moment while I try to process the text I just received.

Then as if on cue, my phone rang and I picked it up hesitating slightly.

“Come to 26th street and wait at the intersection if you want to know who killed your father” a cold male voice said from the other end of the phone. The man said and the call ended with a beep.

Who could have killed dad? Even though he has business rivals he always tried not to be on the offensive side.

These are the thoughts that filled my mind as I stumbled down the hallway, to the elevator and finally to the parking lot where I parked my car.

Turning on the ignition, I stepped on the gas and drove out hurriedly with only one location in mind, 26th street. I need to meet the person that sent me this message and find out what exactly happened to dad.

As I reached the intersection, I slowed down and looked around. Everywhere is quiet, too quiet as if something is about to happen.

Then I heard a low rumbling sound coming from the other side of the intersection. I looked at the source and my eyes went wide, the hairs on the back my neck rising. I saw a truck car coming at me with top speed.

Everything happened in a flash before I coukd even think of driving away

“Bang” the collision sent my car tumbling through the air, tires screeching before it finally landed on its back.

Then everything went quiet.

I struggled to open my eyes, my head spinning and my eyes unfocused and hazy.

“Am I dead already?” I whispered and looked around. I'm still at the accident scene.

I tried to move my body, to get out of the car. But my legs are hooked.

Is this it? The end of the miserable fiancée that was cheated on by her half sister. What a cruel world. I felt a tear slip down the corners of my eyes. I tried to move again trying to see anything through my hazy vision as much as my eyes would allow but all I could make out was smoke.

If I could just have someone to save me, if only I can have another chance and survive this I promise I won't be this foolish and take revenge.

As my eyes closed slowly in resignation I saw a figure walk over slowly to my ruined car. I tried to stretch out my hand which felt so heavy towards the figure coming

Who could it be? I have no idea but still I muttered softly in hope.

“Help me…”