Her Suspected Billionaire

Chapter 29

Alice got inside her apartment and closed the door quietly behind her. She took off her shoes at the door and turned on the light. She knew Sheila was in because her body camera and microphone lay on top of the center table. She took hers off as well and dropped it beside Sheila’s. Then she headed to the refrigerator, got out a bottle of water and gulped it down at once. She had driven around town for a while when she’d left the office instead of coming straight home to clear her head. A part of her was scared that she would bump into edy649 or Clinton Clark, but the fact that her camera and microphone were with her was comforting. The camera and mic were transmitting feedback back to Derrick and two other detectives. Steven had shown Derrick the chat between Alice and edy649 and they had been able to go to the station and build a case with that, on being able to prove that there was actually a stalker. A team of officers had come to her house the night after that and two undercover agents were assigned to the case, along with Derrick. Alice felt like she was in a movie. She just hated that her friends had to be dragged into it, and she couldn’t wait for Clinton to be caught.

​She was about to head into her room when her phone rang. She took it out from the bag that hung on her shoulder and looked at the caller ID. It was her mother. For a moment, she hesitated from picking it, but then her fear that something bad had happened to her prompted her to pick it up and hear her. She hadn’t spoken to her mother in months with all that was happening in her life and hearing her mother’s voice say ‘hello’ when she picked up the call, made her wish she was a little girl with pigtails again.

“Hey, baby,” Mary’s calm voice spoke from the phone.

“Hey, Momma. How’re you?” Alice asked, sitting on a dining chair.

“I’m good, baby. I just wanted to check up on you. Haven’t heard from you or Sheila in a while.”

“We’re both good, Momma,” Alice said and wished it were true. “I’ve just been busy with work and Sheila’s really busy with the restaurant. She just started a new menu and it’s really tasking. Seafood.”

“Oh, that’s delightful. I’ll definitely have some of that when next I’m in Florida,” Mary squealed in excitement.

“Are you coming any time soon?” Alice asked apprehensively.

“It’s not decided yet, but I’m planning to. I haven’t seen you in months. I miss you, baby.” Alice could feel her heart beating faster. She had to make sure her mother did not come to Florida, not with all that was going on. Coupled with the fact that she didn’t think she still had a job after what went down at the office between her and Evan that night.

“Don’t come just yet, Momma. I’ll let you know when you can, okay? It’s just I’m really busy at work right now and I’ll be travelling for a business trip soon.”

​Mary seemed to believe her because she congratulated on working so hard and wished her and Sheila well. They spoke for a few more minutes about Mary’s new baking class and her plan to redecorate Alice’s old room at her house, before they finally said their goodbyes and hung up.

“Mary called?” Sheila asked. Alice looked up to see her standing by her bedroom door. She was wearing just a big t-shirt that Alice had not see her wear before with no shorts or trousers underneath.

“Yeah. Is Steven in there?” Sheila laughed and shook her head. Alice could see she looked tired and worn out and she was sorry.

“Hard day at work today?” she asked Sheila.

“I should be asking you. Steven said they saw your altercation with Evan.” Alice rolled her eyes. Of course they saw it. She just didn’t think they were obliged to tell Steven.

“Well done, Clinton. Because of you, everyone’s in my business now,” she muttered.

“Hey...don’t say it like that, Alice,” Sheila replied her. More than anyone, she knew how hard this was on Alice.

“I think I’ve lost my job though,” Alice said, quietly. Sheila walked into the living room and stood beside her friend.

“What exactly happened?”

“He’s just been acting like he’s the only human in the world and it’s tiring me. It’s stressing me out more than it naturally should because of everything else happening underground and I’m tired,” Alice began and started talking about all that happened at work that evening.

“We’re trying to pitch a proposal to a company called Think Tank Technologies based in Spain so we can be granted a contract by them to create and supply office furniture for the new branch they’ll be opening up in Florida. It’s a lot of work and I have written two different proposals for this pitch. He keeps turning down every single one.”

“Is it even your job to write proposals? You’re his secretary, not a member of the Planning department, aren’t you?”

“I thought it wasn’t, but apparently, Evan seems to think it is. Edith said she’s even written one before, so… I can’t exactly not write. I don’t know how badly the issue with his brother got him so worked up and I thought he’d be less uptight after finding out that it was Liam embezzling company funds and signing contracts he shouldn’t be signing all this while, but still… I’m sort of worried for him, but I was so upset today that I just damned the consequences and walked out on him while Nathan was there…”

“Nathan?” Sheila cut in.

“Apparently, he got some tickets for Moonfighter III and he wanted Evan and I to come along. I knew Evan wouldn’t go and I didn’t want to go with just Nathan, plus I was exhausted anyways, so I declined his invitation and then he goes to talk with Evan. Dunno if he was successful. If he was, they’d probably be in the cinema by now, I don’t know. It’s just that Evan is so worked up over this contract that it’s irritating. He gets no days off and he works a lot but yet, he has no fun. Who or what is he working for then? What’s the point?”

“Well…” Sheila began, a lazy smile playing on her lips. This wasn’t the first time Alice had come home worried about Evan and she had no desire to stop her from talking now.

“His mother is always on vacation. Liam doesn’t even live in the States. The only family member of his invested in the business as much as himself is his sister, Rebecca. And I can’t even say she’s been much help cause she manages the Switzerland branch and I’ve never even seen her before. I just wish Evan would have fun as hard as he works sometimes. He doesn’t even look like someone who has any hobbies. I bet working is his hobby,” Alice ranted on, making Sheila laugh.

“Working can’t be his hobby, Alice. He’s just pretty invested in his job.”

“Well, that’s not very healthy, is it? I mean, as much as you enjoy cooking and that’s basically your job, imagine doing just that with no fun stuff. Imagine not having me in your life for movie night or play dates.”

“Maybe Evan needs you in his life too. Sounds like you worry about him a lot these days, maybe you should help him out and hook him up with some fun activities. You just have to find out what he enjoys doing.”

“There’s not much I can do anymore anyways. I’m already fired,” Alice concluded with a shrug, and slid off the chair. Talking with Sheila had helped her pour out grievances about her job and she felt better.

“Oh, Alice,” Sheila said, pulling her friend into a hug.

“I’m famished. What’s for dinner?” Alice whispered, as they hugged.

“Way to spoil the moment,” Sheila laughed.

Alice went to her room to change before joining Sheila in the kitchen. They prepared a sauce for the leftover spaghetti they had in the refrigerator and sat in the living room watching another episode of Sheila’s latest obsessed TV shows while they ate. For a moment, all was well with the world again and Alice was grateful that she did not live alone.