Wealth (free and completed)

Chapter 22 - The Swerve

Janus

The next few days were intense. The private investigator went to work. With all the money I was paying him, I trusted that he would be discreet. He didn’t bat an eyelash when I said I needed to have my employee investigated. It was a typical request.

However, what was not typical was my engagement in investigating two things: Andrew’s possible stalking behavior and Valerie’s rape. Somehow, I couldn’t imagine Andrew having done it. He was about Val’s age. I couldn’t imagine him at eighteen, sneaking into Briar Hill with the purpose of raping the woman I loved.

Still, strange things had happened.

It was a swerve.

Suddenly, my father’s murder had taken a backseat to everything that involved Valerie. Her peace of mind was top priority right now. I wanted to know if Andrew was a friend or a foe. While I wanted the former, the latter seemed more possible – and ultimately, more convenient for me.

I didn’t like thinking this way. But I knew that good Andrew seemed to deserve Val more than I did, even with my billions to back me up. On the other hand, stalker Andrew needed to be apprehended. As soon as possible.

The day of the leather runway show arrived. Valerie had agreed to come to the first one, which would be targeting the rich and the famous. She said that she wanted to expose herself to cameras. It was not because she wanted the attention for herself, but because she wanted to see if anyone would recognize her as Laura Foyle’s daughter.

She wanted to stir the pot, she said.

When the night of the show came, Val wore a purple lace dress with a low neckline and only strings to cover her back.

“This isn’t you,” I protested, ready to find a blazer to cover her up.

“It might not be me, Janus, but it’s what my mom was like,” she said with a smile that declared I had no say that time. She would be wearing that sexy dress to the runway show. With Andrew.

“Well, you really meant to stir the pot. I think you will stir more than just that with that,” I murmured a little bitterly. More likely, I would be with Joseph and the other CEOs and board members, while she would be watching right next to Andrew. There were advanced accommodations for her wheelchair, but he would still be close enough to her.

“I will be watchful. See if anyone recognizes me as a younger version of my mother or if anyone recognizes Andrew.”

I inhaled and exhaled quietly. What could I do? It was my fault for not telling Andrew that Valerie was hands-off. We would also only be able to find out about his involvement in Val’s life if he didn’t know anything was afoot.

A few minutes later, he arrived. He drove his black Toyota Prius with the confidence of someone who lived in the area. I had to hand him that. I had been living in Briar Hill for close to eleven months and there were times I still woke up feeling like I didn’t belong. It didn’t matter that I was the only biological child here. That I was bound to Theodore Sangster by blood.

The rest were here because they were chosen, a nagging voice in my head whispered. Taunting.

I followed Andrew’s car closely. Even if he was stalking her, he wouldn’t try anything when everyone knew she was with her. It was the down times that were a little more dangerous. But did that mean I planned on losing sight of her? No.

When we arrived at the venue, the cameras were already flashing. Celebrities were walking the red carpet, with big smiles on their faces. Whitened teeth. Curled lashes. Hair extension. Sharp jawlines.

I would have to survive the night. These were potential clients, and I wouldn’t ruin the night with my prejudices. I was part of this world now. I was wealthier than some of these so-called stars. Unlike most of them, I didn’t bother with a driver. I drove my car and settled for valet parking.

Ahead of me, I saw Andrew walking patiently next to Valerie’s wheelchair. He wore his suit well and looked like he belonged to the scene. He smiled as if he was not intimidated by any of the celebrities.

Meanwhile, I was one of the wealthiest people there but couldn’t even muster a smile for the cameras. I walked the red carpet, hating how the cameras flashed on either side.

“Mr. Sangster! Janus Sangster! We have a few questions for you,” one female reporter screamed. She looked just about Val’s age and she was shoving a microphone past the ropes toward me.

I flicked my gaze to the entrance of the hall. It was actually a theater with a venue for runways. Andrew and Valerie were way ahead, but at least they looked like they were about to enter the building.

What could go wrong?

I approached the reporter and responded to the usual questions. She wanted to know how I felt about the show yada yada. However, she also went a little personal.

“What is it like to be in the presence of celebrities?”

I knew what she was digging at. A year ago, I would have been too poor to be anywhere near such a show. I would have had no connections to even be invited. This time, though, I was the organizer and a billionaire CEO. It didn’t matter that I was working for Tristan James, I also owned Sangster Leathers.

“It’s exciting, I guess,” I said, trying to inject some excitement there.

The only celebrity I was interested in at that moment was Laura Foyle, and the only woman I was interested in was already inside the building with another man.

The interview lasted another five minutes. I had never smiled too much in my life, spoke on a microphone, and tried to be as winning as possible. If I wanted to succeed in business, I needed to do this all well.

Once freed, I strode toward the entrance. If only I could run on the red carpet without looking like a fool, I would.

Inside, the show was about to begin. I saw Joseph had reserved a seat for me, as he said he would. I was grateful. He had Lara on his other side. A part of me hoped that things would be normal with Joseph – that he had left his history with Emilie behind. After all, he was the only Sangster adopted child who was blood-related. At least, as far as I knew. My heart twisted at the thought of Val being another one.

There was something about her that made dad take her in. At the same time, he didn’t want to adopt her. He just wanted me to take care of Val. If he had left behind a letter explaining everything, things would have been so much simpler.

“Hey, Janus,” Joseph said, as I approached him.

“Hey.”

“Hi, Janus. Nice seeing you,” Lara said.

“Likewise,” I leaned over to her for air kisses. I didn’t like it, but hey, I might get used to this. I sat on the chair Joseph reserved for me.

“So, explain this to me. Was I merely confused when my mind went to the murky depths when it came to you and Valerie?” Joseph asked, wearing his usual poker face, but I could see some real confusion in his eyes. He pointedly looked at Andrew and Val across the runway stage. They seemed to be deep in conversation.

“What do you mean?” I asked, playing a little hard to get. I wanted to hear the words from Joseph himself.

“Well, I almost thought that the two of you have basically declared yourselves to be – you know,” he cleared his throat. Then, he adjusted his collar as if the whole thing was making him uncomfortable. Lara glanced at him a little curiously.

“What do you mean?”

“C’mon. We are both smart here,” Joseph whispered harshly. “We are cousins by blood, brothers by adoption. I knew what I saw, heard, and observed. You have been spending too much time in Val’s bedroom to be anything but her lover. Yes, it’s not going to look good, but at least you two are not blood-related. Marry her, and things will quiet down. You also get to make the end of your bargain, which is to take care of her. All problems solved. But what is this – why is your employee dating Valerie?”

Mmm. I didn’t expect him to be on board me and Valerie becoming lovers. I was caught off guard and I was tempted to tell him everything. I stopped myself. I could at least give him a few of my secrets and stop there.

“Valerie and I don’t know how to tell Andrew,” I said, making a big show of exhaling before answering. Well, it wasn’t much of a show. It was hard to say these words to someone I didn’t trust completely.

“So, you’re letting her lead him on. That’s dangerous, Janus Sangster. Get your girl back here as soon as you can. That young man may not seem as harmless as you think he is.”

“How do you know that?”

“I have a feeling about him. He’s too nice. Do you know what I mean?” Joseph was actually smiling. “When I saw you, I was glad that I wouldn’t have to deal with a sniveling fool. You knew what you wanted. I knew then that we were flesh and blood.”

“Oh, good to hear that you two are finally bonding,” Lara interjected. “Seems a little too intense, though. I think it’s because the two of you are too much alike and look too much alike, too.”

We were finally bonding, I guessed. However, this should not distract me from the fact that Joseph propositioned Valerie to become part of a menage a trois – enough to make her fear him and hide her improving condition. He had caused her a lot of trauma. Yes, he was young then, but still… It would be difficult to swallow. He didn’t even have much of a reason. My father took him in and gave him a good childhood.

Perhaps he had changed. I had to admit I just wanted a normal family. Maybe Joseph was right. I could just marry Valerie and hush all the murmurings around us. It would be strange at first, but it didn’t have to be unpleasant throughout. How could it be unpleasant to pledge forever to the woman you loved?

And yet, she was right there – next to Andrew.

The show finally began. The bags looked beautiful, carried well by models handpicked by Thora, the one in charge of PR. Andrew just decided to help out with the venue and other details, but Thora knew who was who. She knew which celebrity to attract and which model to use for what type of bag.

The trendy dance music, the sway of hips and arms, and the bright lights all highlighted the products. The lights only dimmed for the luxury bags designed for nights out, but there was also enough time to showcase them later. We would give the celebrities a chance to look at them more closely, even touch the samples. We were pretty proud of our leather goods.

Suddenly, I felt my phone vibrate. What could be the emergency? I was at work. Valerie was at the same venue.

It was the private investigator.

“I sent you the necessary information via your email.”

My heart pounded wildly. I checked my email app, and sure enough, there was a new email from the man I hired. The subject header said, “Andrew Simon – pertinent info.”

My hand was shaking. I was about to click on the email when I heard my name being called to go on stage.

“Mr. Janus Sangster. He’s the one who has made all of these possible,” Thora said. She was enjoying it, her yellow dress accentuating her caramel complexion and black hair. She had caught me off guard, but I needed to be up there.

The email could wait. Val and Andrew were still at the venue.