Chapter 43
Chapter 43 UNKNOWN POV
The street was buzzing with the afternoon traffic, cars honking their horns and chatters could be heard
from every corner of the street. People were milling on the sidewalks under the zing sun of mid-
autumn. I spotted the ‘said’ restaurant a few meters from where I was parked with the engine running,
then turned the key and killed the ignition. I looked around to see if anyone was looking and then slipped
out of the car, keeping it secret, yet normal to avoid attracting some unnecessary attention. Although I
didn’t understand why he chose this ce, where Vernero’s men were literally everywhere, I was at his
mercy and needed his help, so I had to run with whatever he said.
I pushed the door of the restaurant open and stepped into a very shabby interior. The seats were round
leather couches which were well off finished from how worn out they were, the table with bumps of
moisture. This ce may have been quite a diner back in the days. But now, not so much!
Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.
There were a lot of people around and it was really stuffy in here.
‘Watch it.” A waiter called out as he dashed past me at the speed of light almost knocking me off, then
walked by without much of a nce leaving me utterly disgusted that I got knocked over by such a pig
with no manners.
OV
While I was still trying to figure out why, of all ces, did Xander choose this one, I spotted his head from
the far end of the restaurant and made my way there. He was sitting with his back on me and I hurriedly
walked by him and plopped myself right in front of him.
He raised his head for a second, then refocused his attention on his te, and ignored my very possible
existence.
I scoffed and reclined into my seat, looking so calm but inside, I was seething. I have never worked with
such a maddening person.
“You had a chance to get rid of herst night. What is it that you were doing in that room?” I half-
whispered, half yelled at him. He took a fork and rolled a good amount of pasta and ced it in his
mouth, then chewed slowly, taking his precious time while he stared at me like he was thinking of all the
possible things he could do to me. But I wasn’t afraid of him. I have dealt with the worst!
“I had a little conversation with her.” He replied and looked back at his te. What the hell?
“What? I turned everything off so that you could get to that room without drawing attention. D o you think
it was easy? If I was caught snooping in the security room, the twins would kill m e. You had a chance
yesterday… and you…”
“Will you shut up for a second? I am really trying to eat here.” He barked instead, with his
American ent dripping heavily on his tongue.
I took a second and really stared at him. He was arrogant, insanely arrogant as if he was the most
untouchable. I don’t know why I even thought working with him on “this” would be a good idea.
“I hate people who stare at me.” He informed licking the white sauce off his fork. I just remained silent, he
wanted to finish his lunch in peace and peace was what I was going to give him.
“You want some?” He offered, pointing to his te with his fork,
“No. I am good.” I replied,
“Are you sure? Because they kinda like added some cheesy thingy here and then its sooo…”
“I just don’t get it.”
“Me neither. I mean it tastes so good. It’s gooey and very good, like the best pasta I have ever eaten.”
Was he been serious right now?
“What is so good about that bitch that everyone wants to have her? To protect her?” I asked finally,
exasperated about what I have been keeping inside.
‘She’s quite a charmer if you asked me. Got those perky tits and a very round ass. I’d hit on that every
second if I got a chance.” He said while pushing the te aside and then grabbed a serviette, then wiped
his mouth, and leaned back on his seat.
“Sorry about that one. I don’t work on an empty stomach.” He said with a very straight face and I so
wanted to murder him right now or not. If only I was still in the game.
“Do you want the east or not?” I asked furrowing my brows.
“M.m! It’s not “do I want it.” It’s when are you taking back what’s yours.” He contradicted staring right into
my eyes.
“The twins have the east, it’s theirs, and…”
“You mean my east? Mine?” He said smugly and cocked a brow. Anger brewed very intensely from deep
inside me.
“Yes fine. Your east. You want it or not?”
“Let me tell you something, you and I, we are different. You wear silky expensive suits and pretend to be
the good guy around them, but I don’t. But instead, you are just a good dog that barks to its owners. I
give zero shits about your grudge with Leigh-Ari. And I can sure as hell tell you that I don’t take orders
from no man. And I definitely won’t be taking them from you. The east is mine, and I will get it with or
without your help. And maybe Leigh-Ari will be a little bonus. Now, you better watch your back, else the
twins will know you’ve been snooping around. And I bet things won’t be too pretty for your old grey hair.”
He said with a very straight face
“You are threatening me.” I pointed out and heughed,
“Me? I don’t do that.” He said and got up, then stuffed his hands in his pockets,
“You’ll pay the bill, won’t ya?” And with that, he stormed out of the restaurant.
VERNERO POV
Sitting at therge dinner table with almost everyone around, I nced around and silently assessed. I
didn’t want to believe that among all of these people here, there was actually someone who tampered
with the security system. For what? Because nothing was stolen. And everything seemed to be in ce.
I had questions, and they all needed answers. But if I was working on an insider, then I had to be careful
with how I dealt with the case. Because it sure wasn’t simple.
“Are you full?” Leigh’s angelic voice pulled me from my daydream. I turned to find her staring at me with
a look of concern. I reclined back to my seat and continued my stare. Leigh just shrugged and stared
down at her te.
“There’s been a security breach. Someone tampered with the system.” I announced and everyone halted
with their eating. Forks and knives clung against the tes as people stopped with what they were doing
to pay attention.
“What happened?” Enzo voiced out with furrowed brows.
“The mines in the woods were all turned off, the cameras on the outside of the west wing were also off.
And what’s worse, there were no guards on patrol that side.” I said all these, staring intently at anyone
who may act weirdly.
“Is there anything stolen from your wing?” Lorik broke the silence,
“M.m. Nothing is out of ce,” I answered and turned to find Leigh-Ari looking ashen. Enzo spotted this
and then looked at me with questioning eyes.
“Did you do it?” The words left my mouth before I could stop them. And before I could mutter a quick
apology, her head turned and she stared at me with the most heartbreaking look.
“Why would I even tamper with your security system? I don’t even know where to start to do that. All I did
was tell my maids to take a night off because there is no point hawk-eyeing me while I am in the castle.”
She fired back with an angry stare.
“Okay.”
“No, it’s not okay. Whatever goes wrong in this house is always pinned on me. Why would you even think
that I was the one that did something to your damn security? Am I that bored with life?” She seethed
throwing her hands in the air.
“Calm down Miss Montreal. Boss didn’t mean that.” Lorik intercepted and she just continued
ring daggers at me.
“Or do you have something to tell us?” He said surprising us all. Leigh focused her attention o n him,
then opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again. She fidgeted in her seat and then
abruptly tore from the table. “I am going to bed.” And just like that, my evening was well ruined.