CHAPTER 4
1512 Words
SEBASTIAN'S POV
I looked at her again and shook my head, she was fidgeting a lot, and it annoyed me.
“You need to breathe,” I snapped at her, but she ignored me. I looked at Vanessa who was not much different from her.
I didn't know why I had followed them, I could have just stayed in my office, but here I was in the backseat of my car, watching her spiral.
“Elara, breathe,” I stated, this time almost pissed.
“I am breathing,” she snapped. “This is breathing.”
“No, that's panicking.”
“That's called having my sister taken away.”
Vanessa glanced between us from the front seat. “We’re almost there—”
“What if we are too late,” Elara interrupted her. “What if they've taken her?”
“They haven't,” I stated calmly.
She turned to me sharply. “And you're so sure because?”
I shrugged. “I just know they haven't.”
She looked at me for a few seconds before facing the road. I looked at her then, her hands were shaking.
“We’ll handle it,” I found myself trying to assure her.
“You keep saying that like it's nothing,” she snapped. “It's my sister we're talking about, not one of your little situations.”
“Well, it's a situation.”
“It's my Sister!”
“And panicking won't help her!” I shot back. She glared at me hard.
“You don't get to tell me how to react,” she finally said.
“I get to tell you what works,” I stated.
She laughed bitterly. “God, you're unbelievable.”
“We’re here,” Vanessa muttered.
My phone beeped. My lawyer.
Lawyer: I’m inside. Situation contained.
************************************************
“Where is she?” Elara asked a staff member immediately we got into the school.
“Miss please—”
“My sister, Maya Moore. Where is she?” She cut off the staff.
A man stepped forward. My lawyer.
“Miss Moore, your sister is safe,” he calmly told her.
Elara turned to him immediately and he nodded.
“They didn't take her. I made sure of it.”
Her face lit up immediately, relief.
“Who are you?”
“Cain Jackson. Your lawyer,” he replied with a stretched hand.
Elara froze. “What?”
The lawyer nodded. Elara looked at me immediately, and for the first time since we met, it wasn't an angry look. After a few seconds, she took his outstretched hands and nodded at him with a smile.
“Can I see her?” Elara demanded and the lawyer nodded.
“Of course you can, let's get going,” Cain prompted.
Elara didn't move. “And them?” She whispered. Her parents. The lawyer understood too.
“They left a few minutes ago,” he assured. Elara heaved a sigh of relief. I had done a little research on them but I wanted to physically meet them.
We opened the office door and then–
“Elara?” A small voice whispered.
“Hy sweetheart,” Elara said, her voice so cracked I was sure it would break.
The girl jumped down from the seat and ran into her arms. Elara dropped to her knees, holding her tightly.
“They almost took me.”
Elara stiffened. “What?”
“They almost took me,” she repeated,her voice shaking.
Elara hugged her tightly. “I’m so sorry baby but I'm here now okay. Nobody is taking you. Not now, not ever,” she assured her.
The little girl nodded profusely. Vanessa slowly took her from Elara and carried her up.
“We need to leave,” I stated.
***
We all walked outside. Elara was shaken but relieved. Vanessa was with little girl who held onto her tightly like she would be taken if she didn't.
“Thank you,” Elara said softly when we stopped in front of my car.
I shrugged. “I’m simply doing my part of the contract,” I stated. She nodded.
“Thank you for caring, it meant a lot,” she suddenly said. I looked at her, amused.
“I don't care about you. I’m simply doing what a good boyfriend should do.”
“Fake,” she corrected.
“The public doesn't know that, do they?”
“Right.”
I looked at her for a few seconds. “I have to be on my way. You should meet with the lawyer, I believe you have some catching up to do.”
“Aren't you taking us home?” She asked.
“No, you guys can find your way home.”
She looked at me like I was joking, but it was replaced with surprise when she realised I wasn't.
“You are really something else,” she murmured and walked off.
************************************************
The boardroom was tense and cold. A rival company was coming at us and everyone seemed to be panicking. I wasn't. I was ready for them.
“We need to be in check, we can't be seen lagging behind on anything because they can prey on our weaknesses.” Matteo, one of the board members stated.
“We don't have weaknesses Matteo, and no one would dare prey on us,” I replied.
He smiled slightly, “You've always preferred control over sincerity.”
“And you've always preferred waiting for things that can't happen,” I fired back and the room went silent. I stood up then.
“We don't fail in this company and y’all know it. This is not the first time a rival company is coming at us and we always know how it ends. There would be no difference this time. All I want is for everyone to do their work diligently and leave the rest for me.” I finalized and walked out of the boardroom.
My phone buzzed before I could reach my office. The family attorney. I picked it up.
“Your presence is needed at the estate today,” he went straight to the point.
“Why?”
“You will be briefed when you come.”
“Right,” I said after a few seconds of silence.
“And Sebastian,” he continued. “Endeavour to come with her.”
I ended the call. I knew who he was talking about. The fake girlfriend.
I looked at Vanessa. “Text me her address.”
************************************************
The door opened before the third knock. Elara looked at me with surprise, like she wasn't expecting me.
“Vanessa told you I was coming,” I stated.
“Well, I’m still surprised you showed up,” she deadpanned.
I took a look at her then, she was casually dressed in a simple gown that looked too good on her. Her hair was packed in a messy bun.
“Are YOU checking me out Mr. Rudie?” She teased.
I ignored her. “Why aren't you dressed?” I said instead.
“Because I'm not going out.”
“Well, you are. We are going to the estate.”
“You're buying an estate for me? So romantic.”
“Don't be funny, we are going to my family home.”
She blinked. “Wait, you're serious?”
“Go dress up, I'll wait in my car,” I said, not wanting to be invited in.
“Hold on,” she said. “You don't get to show up here and order me around.”
“I just did.”
“If we are to go anywhere at any time,” she continued, ignoring me. “I need prior notice.”
“You're getting it now,” I said calmly.
“That's not how it works!”
“It is for me.”
She laughed in disbelief. “You're not serious.”
“Go get dressed ms Moore,” I ordered.
“No,” she suddenly said.
“What?”
“You don't get to boss me around, so no.”
I sighed. “You don't have a choice.”
She scoffed. “So you think I'll just follow you like that?”
“Of course.”
“Why?”
“Because you need this.”
She stared hard at me for a few seconds. “The only reason I'll let this slide is because it's your first time. You do this again, I won't step a foot out of my house,” she warned.
I took a step towards her. “Are you threatening me?”
“No Mr. Rudie, it's a warning.”
I scoffed.
“Give me ten minutes,” she said and banged the door on my face. I knew I didn't want to be invited in, but that was rude.
My phone buzzed. A message from Adrian: ( Did the attorney inform you of the decision for you and your girlfriend to live at the Rowe estate? Fantastic right? I’m sure your girlfriend would love that)
WAIT. WHAT?
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