REVENGE OR LOVE

CHAPTER THREE:GRIEVING

{ZACHARY PENTHOUSE}

The loud sounds of thunder and the storm from outside were relentless as the storm battered the city with unyielding fury. The thunder roared through the sky like an ancient beast shaking every corner of the city and the wind howled around the whole environment, threatening to fall trees and break branches, and the heavy raindrops slid down the windows of Zachary’s penthouse, it felt like nature was grieving too. Outside the skyline view of the city was blurred in the dark, lights flickered like distant memories. Inside, the penthouse that once felt like a cocoon of warmth and calm for Zachary after a stressful day at work now felt so hollow. The soft melody of classic music echoed softly across the living room as Zachary slowly walked towards the large glass windows, he stood there motionlessly staring at the way the raindrops slid down the glass like slow, silent tears and cold fog forming where his breathe touched, as he tapped anxiously against the glass of whiskey in his hands.

Memories flooded his minds and conflicted thoughts wrestled with his conscience, the charity gala was supposed to be a of Legacy, champagne and celebration but the smoke had come faster than anyone would have expected. He could still hear Lora’s voice echoing over the chaos, she had refused to escaped but instead she insisted on going back to check if any other person who needed help, her hairs were scattered and some part looked burnt, and her dress were torn and some parts of her cheeks were burnt, but she looked more beautiful in that moment.

“I should have stopped her but it’s too late now, she’s dead”.

His jaw clenched.

“I am to blame, it is all my fault” he said to himself, barely audible and choking in-between words “I should of stopped her or I “I am to blame, it is all my fault” he stammered as hot tears finally poured down from his eyes “I should of stopped her or I should have gone back with her, I should have dragged her hands, I should have done something, why…why… did I have to let her go back into that building alone?? He asked no one in particular as he started punching on the walls of the penthouse and didn’t stop till his blood was visible on the white walls.

His breath caught as a fresh crack of thunder hit the clouds. He stared into his own reflection onthe glass, barely recognizing himself. Hollow eyes. A jaw that hadn’t unclenched in days and a injured fist, blood still dripping from it. A man drowning in guilt behind silk curtains and designer grief.

“She trusted me,” he muttered, voice barely audible.

The storm answered with a fresh roar.

He looked down at the glass in his hand. The whiskey tasted like ash now. Everything did.

He was so lost in thoughts that he hadn’t even noticed that the glass of whiskey in his hands had slipped, he was brought back to reality when he felt the cold whiskey on his skin, he looked down and sighed as he bent down to pick the shattered glass on the marbled floor, only to notice that he had fresh thin trailed of red blood on his toe but he felt no pain because this pain was nothing compared to the one in his heart.

Suddenly he saw a tall silhouette at the balcony of the penthouse, when it moved closer Zach stood up and opened the door for him, immediately he opened the door he snapped angrily “ I have told you countless times that you should be using the front door when ever you come here”

“ I am sorry young master, but you told me never to get seen when coming here” Matthew Responded shakily but composed.

Matthew was his Special agent and hidden assistant.

“Don’t call that” Zachary said angrily, before Matthew could say another word he heard a loud sound on his ear, it felt so hot that it echoed in his brain, it was a slap.

Without flinching Matthew quickly bowed his head in apology, as he rub his reddened cheek “I am so sorry sir, I didn’t mean to get you upset, forgive me”. Zachary gave him a sad look before walking pass him as he sat on a couch, immediately Matthew noticed his injured fist and injured toe. His fist had both old and new injuries and the old ones didn’t look like it was healing.

Matthew walked out of the living room and came back with a first aid box he stared at him without a word before dropping the first aid box on the table and opened it to reveal its contents. Zachary watched him but said nothing, the atmosphere between them was tensed and Matthew was afraid that another word from him would make Zachary angry and he hated to see in angry or sad. At this moment he wanted to pull Zachary into his arms and hug him tightly but he was scared that wasn’t a good idea so the only thing he could do at this moment was dressed his injuries quietly.

When he was done, he went to the kitchen and prepared a cup of hot Willow bark tea for him. He looked down at the cup and how the steam curled gently from the rim of the ceramic cup as he picked it up and placed it on a tray “Drink this while its still hot” he said gently as the dropped the cup on the table next to where Zachary was seated.

Zachary didn’t look up at first, his gaze was fixed on the bandages wrapped tightly around his knuckles, a reminder of his rage or maybe just how grief could make even a man like him loose himself, finally his eyes lifted, filled with something very fragile but not tears. “I shouldn’t have taken it out on you, you didn’t deserve that” he apologized.

Matthew looked at him as he picked up the cup from the tray and handed it over to him before responding “I have taken worse, from worse men and I don’t mind taking anything as long as it for you and from you, I owe you my life since rescued me back then”.

“I’m not a worse man ….am I?” Zachary asked still looking at the marbled floor and fidgeting with the cup in his hands.

"No, sir. You’re just a man in pain." Matthew responded as he watched him sipped the tea and gently closed his eyes as he leaned back, head resting on the silver couch like he was finally feeling peace as he exhaled

Without opening his eyes, he said “you should have hit me back.” After a long silent Matthew said “I did that’s why I dressed your wounds” the both laughed, it was Zachary’s first laugh since the fire incident.

Finally, Zachary opened his eyes and looked at Matthew, he observed him from head to toe before speaking. “What was so important that you had to come in the rain, I think you should go change up before you get cold.” Matthew nodded and walking into the guest room and reemerged few minutes later he was out of the bathroom, exuding a wild jasmine and oud scent from his shower gel, dressed in a casual wear and his damp hair combed back He walked towards the couch where Zachary was seated and handed him two flash drives containing cctv footage from the fire incident, “I think you need to see this.”

Zachary looked up at him slowly, the cup of willow bark tea now cold in his hands, untouched since the first sip “Can you turn on the Tv and also get a laptop from the office for me” Zachary said as he examined the flashes in his hands. The large television screen flickered to life casting pale light over the rain-slicked windows.

Two news anchors sat poised in a glossy studio, expressions grim but composed. “...and after a full investigation, the fire that claimed the life of the female billionaire and philanthropist Miss Lora has been officially ruled a tragic accident caused by electrical failure. City authorities say the maintenance office responsible has been reprimanded, and no foul play is suspected.” The first presenter said. “We announce with heavy heart that her death is a great loss the business world at large but the death can’t be brought back to life” the second presenter added.

“Damn it…” He set the cup down sharply, not slamming it, not this time but the glass trembled just the same. His jaw tightened, veins standing out slightly along his neck. His eyes were locked on the screen as if trying to see through it through the surface of the polished lie the world had accepted.

“They’re wrong, there’s no way she would have let herself burn in that fire unless she was murdered .”

Matthew reappeared with the laptop and placed it gently on the table, keeping his gaze lowered he said “She didn’t.” Zachary’s head snapped towards him. “What did you say?”

Matthew didn’t flinch he just responded calmly

“She didn’t let herself burn. But someone made it look like she did.”

A long silence passed between them heavy, electric, like the storm outside had found its way into the room, before Zachary finally opened up the laptop, plugged in the flash drive. The screen glowed to life. “Show me what’s in the flash” he said pushing the laptop towards Matthew.

A footage flickered onto the laptop screen, grainy at first, moving colors, and timestamp blinking in red. The camera appeared to be positioned in a hallway. Showing the events of that day, crowds were all over the hall and nobody looked suspicious and suddenly smoke filled the entire hall, curling like fingers around the corners. Distant screaming. Zachary leaned in, his breathe caught when he saw how he and Lora first tried to escape, she heard a wailed and ran towards the direction, it was a child. She picked her up and help her escaped

The image jumped, glitched, and skipped forward. For a moment, the hallway was gone, replaced by the charred remains of what had once been a luxury hall. The time skipped again. Four minutes gone.

Zachary sat back, the flickering light casting harsh shadows across his face. His voice, when it came, was quiet not broken, but brimming with restrained fury.“This isn’t the full recording.”

“No. Parts of it were corrupted or… deliberately wiped. I recovered what I could.” Matthew responded.

Zachary’s jaw tensed. His hand hovered near the tea cup again but didn’t touch it.

“I need all of it. Every second. Especially the beginning. The fire didn’t start itself someone must have done it”

Matthew nodded, stepping forward, voice calm but steady.

“There’s a way. But I’ll need time, and access to the main city surveillance grid. What we have here… this is just the surface.”

Zachary stood up, His movements were slow now, heavy with exhaustion. The storm outside had quieted, leaving behind the soft, constant patter of rain, like a whisper against the glass. “I want you to Start tomorrow. First thing.”

He looked at Matthew for a moment, before whispering a silent “Goodnight, Matthew.”

He turned without waiting for a reply, walking down the dim hallway, the soles of his feet silent against the polished floor. His door opened with a soft creak, then shut quietly behind him, leaving Matthew alone in the pale light of the laptop screen, where Lora’s blurred figure was frozen in time.