Framed by Love

“STOP!” “Your hands in the air!” “Now!” The clicking sound of guns and the loud rustling steps of the police surrounding the large building before the firm voice of the police officer settled in the room. He seemed to have led the group, his demeanor was authoritative as he dispersed officers all around the corner. Before the arrest. “How could the police miss this?” A frustrated look crept Lena’s grieving face as she straightened in her chair, her gaze fixed on the man seated in front of her. The white-bearded man in his sixties asked with a disheveled look, his gaze still on the document flat on the table. “Where did you get this from Miss Vale?” “I do your job and all you can do is sit there and ask me questions.” Lena’s voice cracked with hurt while her fingers balled into a fist. “An arrest will be made.” The calm voice of the lieutenant filled the room. Lena stepped to the side of the senior officer in charge of the arrest as he addressed the other officers. “I’m coming with you.” “That won't be necessary ma’am.” His gaze was still on the other officers. “Besides, you've done the right thing. What's left for us is to do our jobs.” He turned to face her fully. The deep but calm voice of the deputy officer emitted from the back as he strode forward, his gaze on the senior officer. “She’s coming along with you, Officer Lewis.” The senior officer without hesitation let out a “yes sir.” in a still form. The ride to one of the biggest gala events of the year, this time in a police van, was one with mixed feelings for Lena. She’d attended one of those with her family because the billionaire who hosted it was a close family friend. However, it was this same billionaire who’d betrayed them and she was on her revenge mission about to disrupt the event but she was relieved to have the man who'd destroyed her family with his curated testimony in court arrested and put to jail but she also felt she was in the wrong for taking this action rather than having a conversation with him. The event graced the presence of the richest and most influential personalities from across the country including high-earning celebrities, each got down one by one from the rare and expensive kind of cars only the very rich people could afford. The ladies were draped in designer shiny dresses with flashy colours and lots of diamond jewelry on their neatly made hair-dos, their ears, the high line of their necks, and the edges of their wrists and fingers. The men were draped in mostly black tailored suits designed in different patterns and costly cufflinks with their neat haircuts. The paparazzi got to work with the flashing lights of their cameras focused on everyone on the long, flashy red carpet. After long minutes of pictures were taken, everyone proceeded into the hallway entrance of the gigantic building that was more guarded with muscular escorts draped in black suits and black shielded glasses each one of them with an acoustic tube earpiece. The paparazzi were not allowed into the building. The main man didn't grace the red carpet matter of fact, he never did. He didn't like the attention drawn to him. He was more business-minded, seizing the advantage of the presence of the elite personalities he’d always hosted for great business deals. The police had rallied and taken their positions outside the building. Lena waited outside with them. And in a few seconds, Officer Lewis alongside a few other officers stormed the entrance of the building with their long pointed guns in hand, their heads slightly buried on top of the firearms and their focused gaze as they rounded up the escorts and moved into the building through the entrance. Kade Laurent froze. He was draped in a well-tailored black suit fitting his entire long frame. His brown hair was perfectly sleek to the side. His neatly shaved beard showed his well-chiseled face structure with his ocean blue eyes glistening through the lights. The man was drop-dead handsome. Officer Lewis strode to his back reached for his wrists and locked them in the double U-shaped metal with a click sound. He then guided him through the stunned faces of the important individuals while low whispers filled the room as he was escorted outside the building. The paparazzi of course had a filled day with the flashing of their cameras every second in the direction of Kade Laurent. Questions flew around earning no response. The chaos broke out as the paparazzi started reaching in the direction of the police van to get a response from Kade whose gaze was now fixed on Lena. Kade was detained at the police station, his civil rights were read to him by Officer Lewis. Kade hadn’t uttered a word since his arrest. Lena stepped past the official at the front desk towards the holding room when the deep guttural voice from her back that caused her to come to a full halt spilled. “And what do you think you’re doing?” She closed her eyes and flipped them back open when she turned fully to catch a glimpse of Officer Lewis. “And why do you care?” He strode towards her until they were close enough. “You’re not supposed to be in here.” His gaze was fixed on her brown eyes. “You should leave.” She steadied her voice enough to hide her dissatisfaction. “And if I don't?” Her gaze shifted from the room shielded with a glass where Kade was held. Officer Lewis’ gaze flipped from hers to the direction of her gaze and back to her. “It's not your job to go in there. Please leave.” Lena’s gaze flickered back on him. “Fine. I'll leave. But this is not the last time you'll see me.” She stepped past him and out to the front desk when her phone buzzed. She hesitantly reached for her phone and tapped on the green icon as she placed the phone to her ear. The high-pitched voice from the receiver greeted. “Good afternoon, Miss Vale. I’m calling to inform you that your signature is required for the foreclosure of the Vale estate this weekend. Failure to comply will result in legal consequences.” For a second, Lena didn’t understand the words. “The paperwork has been finalized,” the woman continued, tone remained indifferent. “Kindly make yourself available. Thank you for your cooperation.” Lena swallowed thickly. The walls around her suddenly felt closer like she was confined in her doom. “O-okay,” she tried, though her throat had gone dry. “Thanks for your understanding.” The line went dead. Lena dropped the phone slowly, her fingers shaking. The Vale estate wasn’t just a house. It was the last proof that her father had once been powerful. The last place that still carried his scent and his presence in the long, echoing corridors. They’d already taken his name. They’d taken his wealth. They’d taken his freedom. Now they were taking the walls that sheltered his widow and daughters. By this weekend, they would have nowhere to go. Lena inhaled a sharp breath, blinking back the tears in her eyes. If she signed, she lost everything. If she didn’t… the law would come knocking. Her fingers tightened around the phone as a name burned in her mind. Kade Laurent. Was she going to finish what she started?