Rabbit Hole (Romantic-Suspense)

Chapter 28: Henry Co (2)

Chapter 28: Henry Co (2)

“Okay, see you later, love!” Lennox said waving, walking out of the department’s office’s room.

Then, a sigh of relief escaped through my officemates mouths.

I wish him walking out of the door could relieve me too. I thought, continuing to double-check every document needed for the bidding.

“Mae, auntie, wait for me,” I mumbled, feeling desperate inside. That for the first time in my life, I’m feeling excited to meet my brother, the one I loathe the most.

Then, a random thought struck through my mind.

What if, I have avoided Lennox and understood Dove’s poems ahead of time? What could have possibly happened?

If that’s the case…Will Mae and auntie be at peace right now?

Then, a realization hit me.

The answer’s no.

Mae and aunt will still be in this mess because before Lennox started being a creep, there are my two half-brothers being full-pledge jerks before I became aware of what’s right and wrong.

Now, one of them is about to taste the karma he sows.

“Ah, this is going to feel good,” I mumbled knowing what’s about to come on his way.

3rd Person’s POV

On their way to her brother’s company, CG Incorporation where the bidding will be held, Alice looks outside the window. Thinking about how she’d react when he sees him continuously plays in her head.

Heart slamming against her chest, as the passing minutes thrills her, a memory appeared out of the blue catching the almost forgotten detail that once made her mind chaotic, she abruptly looks at Lennox, who’s now humming in good mood.

“Hey, I suddenly remember something,” Alice said, bringing up the matter.

“What is it?” Lennox asked still eyes on the road.

“That detective you were talking with?” She uttered, trying to remember the detective’s name. About the detective, Lennox called regarding Mae’s disappearance.

“Oh, you mean detective Allan?”

“Yes, how are the things going on with him?” Alice asked, referring to the search investigation.

“Well, I told him we already found Mae after she called that time—” Lennox mindlessly said, telling the truth the lies he told the detective.

“You what?” Shocked, Alice asked, looking at him with bewildered eyes.

Wait, so did he just use that detective to add pressure on me? Damn it—I should’ve known. She thought understanding the circumstances.

Lennox, realizing he just had a slip of tongue, pressed his lips and winks at her glaring eyes. Alice sighs, although a bit surprised at how late she realized things, the matter didn’t disappoint her knowing it's Lennox.

“But, he could’ve helped us locate her while we’re going forward against my brother—“

“Mhm, why? Don’t you want the police are out of this case?” Lennox said.

“Yes, I want them out but on second thought since we’re going this far to confront Clyde—don’t you think that detective could’ve patch things faster—“

“They’ll only make things complicated and if you want the detective to be here finding Mae, then choose Alice. Me or that detective?” With what Lennox said, Alice realized the reason why she wanted the police or the detective out of the problem in the first place.

With them, the probability of the problem getting solved will be less than zero as his brother could easily null the police authority towards him with money. Just like how her brother usually—always got out of conflicts.

And other than that, the police, especially the detective could dig more things deeper than the issues at hand.

But, with Lennox, knowing all the things he’s capable of, be it legal or not. Alice knew he’s the man that can match her brother’s tricks.

“Never mind,” Alice said, looking out of the window. Not giving the whole satisfaction and joy to Lennox, as she doesn’t plan to admit that she’s choosing him.

“So, you’re choosing me?” Lennox asked, grinning playfully. But, feeling not having the emotional capacity to argue with him, she chose to ignore him.

Then, Lennox giggles, feeling excited to finally meet Alice’s brother in the flesh who he just known through reports and photographs. He tries to open a conversation with Alice.

“So, this brother of yours, what’s he like?” Lennox asked, slyly trying to swing Alice’s mood.

“Don’t you already know?” Alice, asked, looking at him in irritation and disbelief.

What’s he trying to do now?. Alice thought, remembering how Lennox discloses every detail about her brother which most of them were unfamiliar to her.

If there’s anyone here who knows him more than would be you, Lennox. She thought looking back outside the panoramic and moving view of the city.

Then, Lennox laughs at how Alice reacted, as he got the rolling sharp eyes, arching brow, and irritated groan he wanted.

“Oh, come on, I only want to know if we’ll vibe together or not,” Lennox said, although he knows the answer, he’s onto the conversation to pull Alice from brooding silence.

“Don’t worry, you will.” Alice briefly said and thought—that’s why I’m stuck with you now.

Remembering the guts it took her to knock on his penthouse’s door that night despite cracking Dove’s poem about him still gets her as she could still clearly feel the creeps. The feeling of how scared her heart must have been pounding, beating hard against her ribs that night.

It’s a miracle I’m not having nightmares about that night. She thought, still seeing Lennox’s devilish face that night.

Nightmares, huh? Suddenly, her thought flew away from Lennox’s penthouse to the vague nightmares she last had when shortly, Lennox's enthusiastic voice caught her attention.

“Oh, does that mean he’ll like me as a brother’s in law?”

“Ugh, why don’t you ask him, yourself?” Peeved, Alice said, showing no signs of interest as she blankly stares at the car behind them which seems to be going the same way as them.

Then, Lennox’s sudden silence took her eyes off from the side mirror where she was looking, finding it strange for him to suddenly shut up after pulling her mood off of her.

Curious, She looked at him but what she saw raises more doubts in mind.

“What are you smiling at?” Alice asked, seeing how his lips curve up in a very perceptible smile as his eyes seem grim, alarming her of what’s Lennox’s up to.

“Nothing.” He said, glancing at her shortly, still keeping the smile up.

“Oh come on, what is it now?” Not contented with Lennox’s response, Alice asked again. Sensing the smile’s far from nothing.

Then, Lennox giggles at her suspicious reaction towards him.

“Heh, you always look cute when you’re being like that and when you’re being a snob,” Lennox said, trying to make her divert her attention from him to her instead.

“Looks like I have to be friendlier now.” She mumbles, mindlessly glancing back at the car behind them. But, Lennox, hearing this out of Alice’s lips—his plan backfired at him immediately as his attention was robbed off from the matter he’s eyeing to her.

“Really? You will?” Lennox asked excitedly, beaming, like a dog wagging its tail.

“Yes—“

“Then, you’d be more attractive—“

“Never mind,”

“What? Hey, Alice!”

Ah, really, I may look good at talking with him but, no. The reality is that I can’t cope up with this guy’s mood. And if we don’t get there faster, this eccentric psycho will be the end of me—wait...

Right then, she notices something’s off.

“Lennox, am I imaging things or…that dark green car behind…”

“So you really notice?” Lennox said, in a calm tone. Cautiously observing the car behind, he tries to show his calm demeanor to keep Alice calm but, the message he has been giving off didn’t reach Alice.

As the nervousness already reached her.

“Huh?” Alice uttered.

Glancing sideways, Lennox saw how Alice grabs the seat belt hard in anxiety. Glancing back to the side mirror and to the traffic lights ahead, Lennox instantly thought of a plan to lose the car that has been tailing them.

“Hey—what are you planning—“

Abruptly hitting the gas, Alice felt the instant motion rush, sending her back slamming against her seat. Not being able to fight back up to the fast motion a part of her memory triggers—

“Let me out!”

“Let me out!”

Hearing the repetitive childlike voice same as her dreams, coming out from her mouth, in a dark caged room that seems to be moving fast and almost out of motion. Alice understood that the child shouting for help was her.

Alice sat there frozen, until they made it to the other side, leaving the car tailing them to the other side as Lennox successfully surpassed the intersection before the stop light’s countdown appears.

Worried, Lennox immediately checks Alice. Yet, Alice, holds her breath, seeing the blurry and feeling the experience in memory she couldn’t remember having one.

“Alice? Alice, are you alright? We lost him now.” Lennox said, caressing and patting her back, holding and squeezing her cold trembling hand as his other hand holds the wheel to reassure her.

“Y-yeah, who’s that? I haven’t seen the plate number on it—have you?” Disregarding a memory she thought was just her imagination, Alice shifted her mind back to what’s happening.

“No, I was also checking it out when I noticed it’s following us, but no, I couldn’t see it’s plate,” Lennox said, pondering.

“Could it be one of my brother’s men again?” Alice concluded as the only person she could think of the moment who can do that is him.

“We’re not sure, but we have to assume and be more careful from now on,” Lennox said, thinking of the possibilities.

“But…something’s not adding up.” He added.

“What do you mean?” Alice asked, looking back at the side mirror.

“Your brother, Clyde. He clearly wants us to win the bidding. So, why?” Lennox said, calculating her brother’s intentions.

“You’re right…” Alice agrees, realizing Lennox’s point.

Assessing the reasons that can’t seem to connect with what just happened; they arrive at the conference room still puzzled and until the bidding finished, their question in mind grew bigger as not even a shadow of Alice’s brother could not be seen inside. Because instead of him personally attending the bidding, an assistant came.

Declaring they’ll have to return after lunch to decide what company out of them will have to win the project; Alice couldn’t help but feel impatient. Thinking about what just happened, infuriates her, her rage boils up until she made up her mind.

“I need answers,” Alice said after Lennox left her at the lobby to get the car ready at the drop-off area to pick her up.

Feeling impatient, as what just happened piques her off, she stood up from her seat and decided to ask the receptionist where her brother is but before she could make it to the reception area, someone bumps into her, spilling the iced coffee on her blouse, and her anger instantly fumes out.

Feeling déjà vu, she looks at the person who she has bumped into. There she saw a man wearing glasses, soft hair down, and a pair of apologetic bright eyes.

“Sorry, miss! I’m really, sorry!” The man continuously said, apologizing, pulling out a handkerchief.

“No, no, it’s my fault. I’m sorry; let me buy you another coffee.” Alice said, pulling out her own handkerchief. Embarrassed of how she almost lost control.

Ah, that was close. I could’ve ruined everything and caused a scene here. She thought, imagining how ridiculous and shameless she could’ve been.

Knowing Clyde, Alice already foresaw that he wouldn’t just let everything went smooth for her. The scenario of him not showing at the bidding is the most possible scenario. But despite that, she momentarily forgot about it as what happened earlier on the way there still sticks to her mind.

“That douche,” Alice said, speaking her thoughts while wiping off the coffee on her blouse.

“I’m—I’m really sorry.” The man apologizes again, hearing Alice’s pissed off voice.

Realizing she just spoke her thoughts out loud, she looks up at him and said immediately apologizes.

“No, no, not you. Anyways, I’m sorry about your coffee—“

“Ah, no please, you don’t have to. You’re blouse, are you alright?” The man said, waving his hands in front of her, to instantly deny her offer.

“Yes, of course, I am.” Alice sarcastically said.

“Ah…” The man uttered, speechless and nervous as to how will he comfort Alice. Then, seeing how sorry the man is, her conscience strikes harder.

Feeling sorry as she was the one who’s at fault, Alice started looking around for a coffee shop around the lobby.

Damn, this is Lennox’s fault.

She thought, blaming Lennox for the way she had talked. Because of him, I become used to dissing people—ugh that guy, what’s taking him so long?

“I’m sorry, but really I’m fine. Let me just repay that coffee so that my conscience can finally shut the f*ck up.” Alice said, looking around.

“Uhm…sorry.” But hearing her curse couldn’t help the man relaxed.

“No, really it’s fine. Let’s go—oh? You work here?” Alice asked when she notices the ID lace showing on the man’s neck, tucking it inside his sweater.

“Ah, yes! Nice to meet you—“

“Nice meeting you but I don’t have time for an introduction. Let’s just get on to it, do you have a coffee shop here?” Alice said, thinking Lennox could suddenly appear and scare the man more.

Seeing how this guy immediately gets intimidated, he wouldn’t last long if Lennox appears.

“Oh, yes yes, but don’t worry you really don’t have to—hey, wait.”

“Ah, there it is,” Alice said, walking towards the coffee shop near the entrance of the lobby.

After buying the coffee, Alice still couldn’t see Lennox around. Then she decided to seat and join the man at the coffee shop where from their table, she could easily see anyone who enters the lobby it.

“Uhm, I’m really sorry about your blouse.” The man said, still apologizing, brushing his head.

“No, actually I have to thank you,” Alice said, eyes at the lobby waiting for Lennox.

It’s already 11:10 am, should I just eat here? She thought, as the pastry and coffee’s aroma continuously pokes and tempts her.

“Huh? For what?” The man asked.

“For stopping me before I can do something crazy,” Alice said, imagining if things go south, she would have barged into her brother’s office and that could’ve ruined the plan and delay finding Mae and her aunt.

“Uh-crazy? What do you mean?” The man asked, worried. Realizing Lennox is taking longer to arrive, Alice pulls out her phone and text him.

“Oh, never mind. Anyway, looks like I’ll be having a lot of time now. So, what’s your name?” Alice asked while sending a text to Lennox.

“Really? You seem like waiting for someone, though?” The man asked, noticing her restless looks back and forth to the lobby since they walked into the coffee shop.

“Yes, but it looks like he’ll be late for some reason,” Alice said, noticing Lennox is unusually not replying fast on her text. And so, she decided to put her attention on the guy he’s having coffee with.

“So, what’s your name?” She asked.

“Ah, I’m Henry Co.” The man said, reaching out his hand to her, smiling with his eyes, tilting his head to the side.

Henry Co?