Chapter12
1373 Words
CHAPTER 12
On their way home from work that day, the ride was silent, no one wanted to say anything. Belle didn't know why Adam did what he did, if it was for a good course or a bad one, and Adam didn't want to answer any question.
“Are you in a hurry to get home?” He asked.
“No, why?”
“I need to stop by somewhere if that's okay with you.”
“Uhm.., okay, sure.”
With that, the driver took a U-turn. In 15 minutes, the driver parked in front of a cemetery. Adam and Belle both got down from the car, and Belle was wondering what they were doing in a cemetery.
“What are we doing in a cemetery?” She asked.
“Today is my dad's 26 years death anniversary, so I wanted to pay him a visit.”
Belle stood still for a minute, unsure of what to do or say.
“We should have brought flowers.” She finally spoke.
“My dad was allergic to flowers.”
“Ohh” She got curious, “what did my biological father like and what did he dislike? If he had known that my mum was carrying his child what would have been his reaction? Would he have denied it?”
“We are here.” Adam broke the silence.
They were standing in front of a grave, it was a simple, yet elegant headstone, made of polished black granite. The name “Alexander Hamilton” was etched into the stone in bold, silver letters, with the dates “1965-1999” inscribed beneath.
The grass surrounding the grave was neatly manicured, and a few stray leaves had been carefully swept away. It looked so peaceful.
Belle Looked at Adam and imagined what her father looked like, she wished she had met him.
“Do you have a picture of him?” She asked.
Adam reached out to his suit pocket and carefully brought out a worn, folded photograph. The edges were creased, and the corners were bent; he unfolded the picture, and a faint smile crossed his face as he handed it to her.
As she collected the picture, she gazed at the faded image and it felt like she knew this man; like they had met before, and that was the final conviction she needed.
She studied the picture; his eyes, his smile, the way his hair was styled, then she got curious…
“Do you mind sharing what killed him? Was he sick?” She asked.
Adam took a huge swallow.
How does he explain to her that her parents had a hand in his father's death? How does he tell her that he intends to take revenge on her for what both or either of her parents did?
“It's getting dark, let's head back now.” He quickly switched the topic.
“We've been here for like 10 minutes, why the hurry?”
“Like I said, it's getting dark. You wouldn't want to be at a cemetery late into the night, it can get scary.”
“I don't mind, let's just stay for 10 more minutes then we can head back.” She said.
Adam sighed “so what are we going to be doing for 10 minutes?”
“We don't have to do anything, keeping him company is enough.” Belle said softly. “I'm still curious though. What happened to him?”
“For the second time, curiosity killed the cat Belle. Trust me, you don't want to know what happened to him.”
Everywhere became quiet and a tear slowly slid down Adam's face. He quickly wiped it off so that Belle doesn't see it.
The drive back home was just as quiet. On getting home, Rufus was seen waiting for Adam in the living room.
“Welcome back sir, I'd like to have a word with you please.”
Belle walked straight to her room not wanting to disturb them.
“Rufus I already know what this is about and yes, I know what I'm doing.” Adam told him.
“Do you? With all due respect, you're losing track sir!”
“I'm not Rufus, I'm not.”
“So explain why you're helping her become CEO when you're supposed to be doing the opposite.”
“Wait… you know I'm your boss and not the other way round right? Adam queried.
“It would be a crime for me to forget sir.”
“So why are we having this conversation?”
“We are having this conversation because for more than 10 years it has been my job to make sure you stay on track. Today's your dad's death anniversary and they've been no progress in taking down the Bailison company, do you think your dad would be happy about that?”
Adam walked to his room to prevent Belle from hearing them and Rufus followed behind.
“Taking down the Bailison group has been my mission for the longest of time and NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING, can take away that focus. So I need you to trust every decision I make and not question it. Do you understand me Rufus?”
“I trust you but I still need clarification on why you made that move.”
“Very well then. I plan on buying as many shares as possible at the company but that won't be possible if there's no one on seat. Buying of shares isn't possible when there's no official head.” Adam explained.
“Let's say I understand you, so you need Belle to be CEO before you can take any action?”
“Correct.”
“That's why you need her there as soon as possible and reduced the 6 months to 1 month?”
“Correct.”
“Why do you need the shares though?”
“To take over the company and bring it back down with my own hands. That's the only way.”
“But Belle is going to be CEO by then.”
“Well according to history, no one has ever had more shares than the Chief Executive Officer but I'm about to break that record.”
“Then she'll have no choice but to step down.”
“Correct.”
Rufus gave a round of applause. “It's good to know you're still on track sir. My mind can now be at rest.”
“Any report today? I've not heard from the boys since morning.”
“Our goods is currently on air, I'll let you know once it arrives.”
“Alright, that'll be all then. See you tomorrow.”
“Good night sir.” Rufus exited the room, leaving Adam to his thoughts.
* * * * *
James paced his study like a caged animal, the blinds drawn tight, the air thick with silence and frustration. On his desk sat the still-warm remains of his intel’s final report; unfinished, encrypted, bloody. Adam had snuffed out his only lead with precision, like he always did.
James clenched his jaw and slammed his glass against the desk. “You think you’ve won,” he muttered to no one. “But you’ve only made me desperate.”
And desperation makes a man dangerous.
He dropped into the leather chair and opened his laptop. There had to be someone, anyone, who hated Adam Hamilton as much as he did.
Hours passed. He sifted through news clippings, financial reports, surveillance data, old police files, anything he could find. Most of it was scrubbed clean. Adam had covered his tracks well.
Until James stumbled across a name.
Xandros.
He clicked deeper.
A known ghost in the underground. Rumors of him running a faction that clashed with Adam’s operations.
James froze.
A grin slowly crept over James’s face. “The enemy of my enemy…”
He grabbed his phone and dialed a burner contact, a fixer known only as Dorian.
“I need to find someone,” James said. “Someone buried under the dirt.”
Dorian hesitated. “A name?”
“Xandros Roosevelt.”
A pause. Then a low chuckle. “You’re playing with fire, Mr. James.”
- Writer
