Chapter 13
1157 Words
CHAPTER 13
“I feel like I'm missing out on a lot.” Emma said to Belle while they were having lunch together the next day.
“What do you mean?” Belle asked.
“Adam called you ‘my wife’ at yesterday's meeting and you're asking me what I mean?”
Belle let out a laugh. “It was nothing serious, just a tactic he used.”
“A tactic? Or something has been happening that I don't know about.”
“Come on Emm…”
“Wait. Or has he fallen in love with you?”
Belle burst out a loud laugh.
“Why are you laughing? Did I say something funny?” Emma asked.
“Love? Did you just say love? Have you forgotten we signed a contract?”
“Well, if you say so then. But I still don't understand why he is helping you become CEO, don't you find it suspicious?”
Belle took a sip of her drink. “I don't know, everything just seems weird. I honestly don't know how to feel.”
“Did you guys have any prior conversation about your CEO position before coming to work that day?”
“Nope, he also took me unaware.”
“I personally find it suspicious though. There must be something he's out to gain.”
Belle sighed “what could it be though? I mean I already gave him the 25% shares he came for, what else could he possible want?”
Emma didn't say anything, she just kept on eating.
“Adam is just another mysterious case on his own which I'm not even ready to unravel.”
“Speaking of case,” Emma continued “the police are ready to re-open your parents' case, what do you think?”
Belle took in a deep breath. The word ‘parents’ ringing in her head. Normally, she would be happy about this news; but right now, she just didn't care -at least she thought.
“Belle you aren't saying anything” Emma snapped.
“What?”
“I said the police are ready to re-open your parents' case, and they said you can even come for questioning whenever you are free.”
“Okay.”
“Okay? Is something wrong? The Belle I know would be excited about this news, except there's something you are not telling me.”
“I have other things to bother about right now, let's just suspend the case for now.”
Emma couldn't believe what she heard “other things more important than your parents?”
Belle didn't say anything.
“After coming this far to convince the police to reconsider, you want to suspend it again?”
“Lunch is over, we have work to do.” Belle changed the topic and stood up.
Emma didn't press further, she had no choice but to respect her friend's decision.
* * * * *
It took two days.
James received a location written in invisible ink on a stained napkin delivered with his morning espresso.
“Pier 17. Midnight. Come alone.”
That was it. At that moment, he felt like he had just won a jackpot. He was so sure that something good would come out from this.
The place was abandoned, rusted crates, sea salt, and the stench of forgotten things. James stepped out of the car, coat flapping in the wind, eyes sharp as he moved toward the flickering dock light.
A single figure leaned against the railing. Cigarette glowing faintly.
James stepped closer. He could make out the scar above the man’s jawline now jagged, fresh, like someone tried to erase him and failed.
“Why now?” Xandros asked quietly. “Why come looking?”
“Because I’ve got nothing left to lose,” James said. “Adam took out my best man. My inside source. He thinks that’s checkmate.”
Xandros finally turned, eyes dark and unreadable. “Then I suppose you’re looking for revenge.”
“I’m looking for justice,” James corrected. “And you’re the only one who’s ever come close to taking Adam down.”
A hollow laugh. “I came close. And he left me to rot in my own blood.”
James’s expression hardened. “Then we want the same thing.”
“Do we?” Xandros tossed the cigarette into the black water. “You want to expose him. I want to destroy him.”
James didn’t blink. “Then let’s do both.”
Xandros studied him in silence.
“You really think the Board will believe you?” he asked. “You show up with a ghost and a grudge, and suddenly they’ll turn on their golden boy?”
James smiled thinly. “No. But if we play this right, we won’t need the Board. We just need the right pressure point.”
“And what’s that?”
“Belle.”
Xandros stilled.
James took a step forward. “She’s the only person Adam will kill for, lie for, and even burn the world for. And if we shake her... we shake him.”
Xandros’ jaw twitched. “I already tried that once.”
James’s voice dropped. “Try it again. But this time, with help.”
A long silence passed between them.
Then Xandros reached into his coat and pulled out a small flash drive. He handed it to James without a word.
“What’s this?” James asked.
“Adam’s sins. The ones he tried to bury with me.”
James pocketed it, heart pounding. “And you’re just giving this to me?”
Xandros gave a thin smile. “Not quite. I want in – every meeting, every move. You don’t breathe near Adam without me knowing.”
James hesitated for a second. Then nodded. “Deal.”
Xandros turned back toward the water. “He took everything from me,” he said quietly. “So now, I’ll take everything from him, starting with his peace.”
James glanced once more at the waves, then turned to leave. But before he could reach the car, Xandros voice stopped him.
“Oh, James?”
He turned.
“There’s something you should know.”
James raised a brow. “What?”
Xandros stepped forward, eyes gleaming in the dark.
“He doesn’t know yet. But Belle… she’s not who he thinks she is. Not entirely.”
James narrowed his eyes. “What are you saying?”
Xandros smiled.
“I’m saying… if you want to break him, really break him, then start digging into Belle’s past. You’ll find more than just a girl he’s protecting.”
James stared, tension crawling up his spine.
Xandros gave a mocking salute. “See you soon, partner.”
Then he disappeared into the shadows.
And James stood there alone, clutching a drive of buried secrets and a warning that promised only one thing:
This was no longer a game.
It was war.
- Writer
