Trapped in the Devil's Den

Chapter 3

Connor's POV

I was about to go back to my office after taking my short break when I bumped into someone. Coffee was spilled on my sleeves and I was about to lash out when she lifted her face. It's her the woman I saw at the club who looks like Elle. She might also be that woman I saw at the cemetery.

I couldn't speak, I just look at her intently. I saw fear in her eyes and it looks like she was about to cry. One of my staff came near her and whispered in her ear. She looked at the staff and spoke something but I couldn't hear it because I am surrounded by my employees mumbling their sorry's while wiping the coffee on my sleeve.

I saw the woman kneel down and it feels like I am looking at Elle. I felt like someone stabbed my chest when I looked at her in that position. I couldn't take it so I kneeled down and lifted her up. Everyone was shocked by my actions but no one dared to question them.

She looked at me with tears on her face so I immediately took my handkerchief and handed it to her. Shock, fear, all sorts of negative emotions are written on her face when I stared at it. She didn't move and left my hand hanging so I took her right hand and put there the handkerchief. The hotel lobby became quiet and everyone was watching us but the hell did I care.

"What is your name?" I want to know if she is somehow related to Elle but she might find it weird and I don't want my staff to ask who is Elle. No one knows that I had a fiancee since three years ago I am just a nobody but a subservient son who will do everything just to please his father. Back then no one cares about my personal life but right now I am the center of attention. All my moves are being watched and all words that come out of my mouth will be an issue to be talked about. They might start gossiping and topics about Elle's death might open up. I want those things to be kept private.

"M-Meghan S-Stavis S-sir." She stuttered while answering. Fear is still visible on her face. She was about to kneel again when I stopped her.

"Are you a guest?" I noticed that her hands are shaking and her face is pale. She still hasn't recovered from the incident that just happened but she was able to gather her courage to speak up.

"I-I a-am a-applying a-as j-janitress S-sir." She answered still stuttering. After a while, Martha showed up, the head of cleaning service and maintenance. She bowed her head, taking responsibility for what just happened.

"I-I a-am sorry Mr. H-Hayes. I w-wont h-hire her sir, I-I promise." Even Martha is stuttering while speaking, her hand is also shaking. It is a natural reaction for someone if they have done me wrong.

"It's okay I will just change my clothes." If it is other employees I won't show any mercy but it is Meghan, she is different. Shouting at her feels like I am shouting at Elle.

After saying those words I left the lobby. The mouth of my employees is wide since it is not natural for them to see me doing kind acts. They are probably wondering what happened to me but I do not care what runs in their mind I don't owe them any explanation. Think whatever they want as long as I don't hear it they are fine.

When I reach my office I called my personal investigator. I want him to investigate Meghan Stavis. I want to know everything about her. I want to know if she is connected to Elle. I know that having a look-alike is not impossible, I just want to clear my mind.

"Hey what is up Devil?" Damian my personal investigator/friend welcomed me with insults and irritated me completely when he followed it with a loud laugh that almost made me deaf. I immediately put my phone out of my ear.

"I have work for you i***t," I said with a serious voice so he would take me seriously.

"What is it?" He asks in a professional voice and I can imagine him sitting up straight like a f*****g competent investigator.

"Meghan Stavis." He laughed once again and started talking nonsense but I still listen.

"For the first time after three years, you fell in love again. I am happy for you bro, she's one lucky girl. Imagine she can use the empathy suite for free, just choose me Connor I will pleasure every f*****g hour," He said the last phrase using a small voice and flirty tone, he also followed it by a moan that disgusted my whole being. Isn't he terrified of saying those things? Cause I am.

"It is not what you think Damian, just do what I said. Send me all the information about her as soon as possible." I dropped the call and started signing the documents on my table, I should focus my attention on something else.

After a few minutes, my phone rang again and the caller's ID say i***t investigator which means Damian.

"Holy s**t! I am sorry to ask this dude, but Elle is dead right?" It is still a sensitive topic for me even though many years have passed so no one dared to mention the name Elle again, it brings back so many painful memories.

"Yeah," Elle is dead I am sure of that. I was the one who put down her lifeless body hanging from the ceiling. When I remembered those moments it feels I am back to that day again, back to the day of her death. My tears started to fall but I stopped myself from making a sound. I don't want Damian to hear my cries. I wiped my tears and exhaled deeply before speaking.

"Is Meghan Stavis related to...her?" I asked not able to mention her name because it might trigger my tears again.

"No dude. I checked every piece of information thoroughly but there is nothing that connects them. Meghan Stavis, 20 years old, daughter of Mathilda Jones and Henry Stavis. Her mother owned a bar and her father died when Meghan was 4 years old. Her father was buried at Clark cemetery...where Elle is also buried, but it is one of the well-known cemeteries here in our country and millions of bodies are buried there so it is not surprising that Elle and Meghan's father was buried in the same place." What he has stated is reasonable. We cannot connect Meghan and Elle just because of the cemetery but what made those information surprising is that I was able to confirm that it is Meghan, the woman who asked me a question at the cemetery last night, but I didn't want to interrupt Damian by saying that unimportant information, I will just keep it to myself.

"Meghan's mother has a live-in partner John Moore, they have been together for almost a year. That is everything dude, I will just update you if I find new information." Damian is really good when it comes to this stuff. Well, no wonder though since when he was a child he is already exposed to these things because his family owns the most powerful private security company.

"I wired you the money." I didn't bother to say goodbye, I just dropped the call without notice, we are like that.

I turned my swivel chair and faced the wide city. I leaned my back and closed my eyes. He is not Elle Connor, stop acting like she is.

Meghan's POV

I felt like the weight on my chest was removed when I saw Mr. Hayes walk away. I heard everyone exhale deeply, I guess it was not just me who felt extreme fear. I was back into reality when Mrs. Martha slapped my arm. I looked at her feeling sorry.

"Have you met Mr. Hayes before?" Mr. Hayes' eyes look like the guy from our bar last night. The one who stares at me intently but I am not sure since I only saw the eyes and not the whole face. Besides it is impossible for him to go to our bar, he is a billionaire I bet he only goes to high-end places, our bars can only cater for the middle class, not those high-maintenance people.

"No Mrs. Martha." I am maybe mistaken. It must be another guy, not Mr. Hayes.

"He acts differently though, I thought you knew him." Mrs. Martha's face shows that she is not fully convinced by my answer, but that's the truth I really don't know him.

"Different in what aspect Mrs. Martha?" I am a bit confused by her statement, isn't he naturally kind?

"He's a devil." She whispered cause she was scared that someone might hear her.

"He fires people even it is just a tiny mistake. He didn't show any mercy so his acts earlier are really questionable." Mrs. Martha continues to narrate all the evil acts of Mr. Hayes and based on her story he is not really a good person. When she was done speaking I added a possible reason why Mr. Hayes acted that way earlier.

"What if he is in a good mood when I bumped into him?" But Mrs. Martha aggressively shakes her head. Disagreeing with my reason.

"Mr. Hayes doesn't have that he is always in a bad mood." I just nodded to end the conversation. I was about to leave when I remember to ask something.

"I am hired right?" Though Mr. Hayes didn't fire me earlier, I just want to make everything clear.

"Of course, you are lucky." Mrs. Martha accompanied me to go out. Her strict aura is gone.

"Let us wait for a taxi here." We are now on the side of the road.

"It's okay Mrs. Martha, I will just walk." She looked at me with a creased forehead.

"My house is just near here." Lie. It will be an hour's drive so I bet I will arrive there in the afternoon since I am going to walk but I have no choice, I have no money and it would be embarrassing to borrow some from Mrs. Martha. I just met her. I don't want to abuse her kindness.

"Okay then, see you tomorrow Meghan." I smiled at her and after that, she turned her back and walk back to the hotel. When Mrs. Martha was completely gone I started walking. I am just walking for a few minutes when a car stopped and the window opened. I saw Mr. Hayes in the driver's seat and horrifying thoughts entered my mind. I remember all the cruel things that Mrs. Martha told me but I fought my fear and greeted Mr. Hayes.

"Good day Mr. Hayes." I bowed my head and was about to walk away when he called my name.

"Meghan." I immediately lift my gaze and looked in his direction. I waited for him to say something but he just stared at me. I was about to walk again when he stopped me.

"I will take you home." He then gets off his car and opens the door of his car's passenger seat. I want to decline but I am afraid that it might anger him. Despite the fear and uneasiness that I am feeling I decided to accept his offer and quietly sat in his passenger seat.

Connor's POV

I didn't know what is happening to me. The face of Meghan continues to flash in my mind. I cannot focus on my work so I decided to go to the lobby and look for her. Drake my secretary tried to stop me because I still have a meeting to attend but I don't think I can focus on that meeting. When I couldn't find her I asked the head of cleaning service and maintenance. She told me that Meghan go home and pointed in the direction where she last saw her. I took my car keys and walked into the parking lot and drove my car. I didn't know if I am driving in the right direction but I took the risk. After driving a few distances I saw her walking on the side of the street. I slow down and later on decided to approach her. I opened the window of my car and offer her that I will take her home. She was a bit hesitant but later on decided to get in. I looked at her before driving but she didn't see me because she is busy looking on the other side.

When the light turned red I stopped the car and look at her again. Everything about her looked like Elle. The way she sits in my car. The way he admires the view on the outside. I was back to my senses when I heard the car's horn. Meghan looked in my direction and she saw me looking at her so I avoided her gaze and continued driving.

"J-just turn r-right S-sir." She pointed the direction that I should take so like what she said I turned right, then she pointed at the two-storey white house. I stopped the car and get off to open the passenger seat. She thanked me before going out and I answered her with a nod. I was about to leave when I saw the woman who approach me at the bar last night getting out of their house followed by a man with a bulk body. That must be Mrs. Mathilda and her live-in partner John. I might look rude if I leave without greeting them so I chose to get out of my car.

Mrs. Mathilda once again examined my whole body like what she did in the bar so I stand up straight and offered my hands.

"I am Connor Hayes, Maam." I introduced myself politely and she took my hand.

"I am Mathilda Jones, Meghan's mother, you are the guy from the bar last night right?" I nodded, when I look at Meghan she look shocked maybe she didn't expect me to go to places like that.

"How did you know my daughter Meghan?" John butted in and I saw his hands caressing Meghan's waist. I looked at Meghan and I can see that something is off, Meghan looks uncomfortable but I stopped myself from punching John.

After a small talk, Meghan urge me to leave so I did. When I get inside my car I called Damian while looking intently in John's direction.

"I need some security," I told him the purpose of my call.

"For you dude?" He asked in a husky voice. He probably just woke up.

"For Meghan." After saying those I dropped the call and leave Meghan's house.