Chapter 14
1079 Words
Scot
It was a cosy evening, I could hear the distant hum of the ocean filling the quiet night, as the waves crashed softly against the shore
The private villa was the only place I could think of with everything that had happened in the office recently; I just needed to stay away.
For some reason, I was glad Vanessa agreed to come with me.
Just us, no one else, not even my bodyguards.
The paparazzi were the least I was worried about.
I should have felt at peace
But instead, I was restless.
Vanessa sat on the edge of the balcony, her legs curled beneath her, staring out at the horizon.
The sea breeze lifted the loose strands of her hair, and for a moment, I just watched her, she was so beautiful… She looked perfect.
She hadn't said a word to me, ever since we arrived i didn't know what to say to her either
I was aware my father spoke with her about something, but I didn't quite know what it was all about.
I leaned against the doorway, crossing my arms
“Are you going to tell me what he said?”
She didn't look at me “I don't know what you're talking about”.
I exhaled “Vanessa”.
Her shoulders tensed at the mention of her name, just barely, but enough for me to notice
“Do you think I don't know my father?” I continued, settling into the lounge chair across from her, “ he's quite predictable, you know; I guess he probably Implored you to fix me or something”.
She finally turned to face me. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes – they held something else
Something I wasn't sure I deserved
“Can I?” She asked softly
I didn't answer right away.
Could she?
Was there even a version of me that wasn't defined by anger? Of course, she wouldn't understand what I had to go through, and I wasn't going to prove anything to her.
I dragged a hand through my hair
“Did he offer you something?”
She hesitated for a second. A hesitation that confirmed everything.
“Of course he did, muttered leaning back in my chair “It's his style, bribes first manipulate later”
Vanessa didn't deny it
“He offered me anything I wanted”.
A bitter smirk pulled at my lips
“And let me guess. You turned him down”.
She gave me a look “You sound disappointed”.
I let out a short laugh, shaking my head
“No, not disappointed. Just ….confused”.
"Why?"
“Because Vanessa.” I said, meeting her gaze, “You had the perfect opportunity to take something for yourself. My father would have given you anything. A seat on the board, financial freedom…power. And yet, you walked away.”
Her expression didn’t change a bit. “I don't need power, and I don't wish to be your father's puppet”.
“Besides we're only married, no strings attached whatsoever, so I don't have to do what he says”
I studied her, trying to decipher what it was she really wanted; anyone would have jumped at that opportunity; c'mon, it wasn't that hard.
I smirked. “I do believe you have a reason, regardless of what you tell me."
Vanessa opened her mouth to say something but then something happened.
It happened so fast
I didn't hear the footsteps, nor notice any shadow lurking from behind.
It was a flash of movement, there was a glint of something; something metallic—a knife
My instincts kicked in before my mind could fully process It.
“Get down!” I barked, shoving Vanessa aside as the figure lunged forward.
Pain tore through me—not from a blade, but from the sound that followed.
A gasp
A choked, pained breath
Vanessa!
I turned immediately, horror tightening around my throat as I saw her.
She staggered backwards, her hands pressed against her side, blood seeped between her fingers
I tried to run after the figure but he was too fast, i snapped back to reality, knowing running after him was pointless, i had to face the reality before me, my blood turning ice-cold as I turned to her, seeing her in so much pain made me question everything I stood for instantly
She was sinking to the ground her body trembling, I moved to her side catching her before she collapsed
“Please stay with me”, I raised, pressing my hands over hers, I pressed deep to try and stop the bleeding.
My eyes searched around for my phone, I gripped my phone from the floor and called for help, my hands trembled, i had never felt this way before this feeling was intense all I wanted that moment was to stop the pain Vanessa was going through
She tried to smile, but it was faint “You look…frightened, that's unlike Scot Greyson” she whispered
“Of course, I'm frightened!” My voice was rough
I had seen a lot, faced death before, stared it in the eye and never flinched
But this — her—bleeding out in my arms?
“Help is coming, “I promised, even as I cursed myself for bringing her here, for letting my guard down, this was supposed to be a safe place
“They'll be here soon; you're going to be fine, Vanessa. Hang in there,alright?”
Her finger brushed against my thumb, there were weak
“I'm…cold.”
She gave a faint chuckle, but it turned Into a wince
I sighed, no, I couldn't lose her
I wouldn't lose her
The sounds of sirens cut through the night, and the pounding sounds of feet of security and paramedics made me glad
“Find him,” I growled at the first officer who approached me
“Find the bastard who did this”
“Sir…he's gone. We found no one nearby, but we'll search diligently until we catch the culprit. Do you, by any chance, recognize the person?”
Gone?
That wasn't possible, I lifted my head scanning through the darkness, my pulse thundering, there was nothing no shadow
“He was too dark, wore black clothing and had a black mask on”
Whoever had done this—would beg for death by the time I was done with them
- Writer
