Framed by Love

Chapter Three: The puppet master

Her phone buzzed.

Lena reached for a bottle of water from the fridge as she reached for the phone on the flat kitchen counter with her shaky hands. She tapped on the green icon on the screen to pick up the call.

The familiar voice of her uncle greeted her from the receiving end. She needed a shoulder to cry on. The weight of everything she’d faced came crashing down on her as she sobbed through the phone.

“I can't believe he's gone.” tears flowed down her cheeks. “We’ve lost everything uncle. We won't have a place to stay.”

Eduardo exhaled a deep breath on the phone. “Even when the estate is not in my brother’s name?”

Only properties held in his name should be confiscated but they were taking the only one he’d left in Lena’s name.

Lena managed through her sobs. “The bank gave us till the weekend uncle.”

Eduardo’s upset but calm voice hissed through the phone. “What if I get you kids and your mom a place to stay for a while?”

Lena sniffed while she dabbed her eyes with the paper towel she reached for on the kitchen counter. “We'll appreciate it, uncle. But I don't want to give up the estate.”

“Come to my office tomorrow, Lena.” The serious tone from Eduardo coated the phone.

Lena answered. “Okay, uncle.” and the call ended.

“I miss him so much.” A soft voice broke the silence from the large living room.

Lena turned in the direction of the voice to gaze at the back of the long brown hair over the slim figure seated on the curved white couch. She stepped to sit right next to Gina who had tears rolling down her cheeks staring at the floor-to-ceiling windows, her elbows in her knees.

Gina slightly gazed at Lena. “I know whoever sent him to jail, finally had him killed.” She sniffed and returned her gaze to the floor.

Lena tilted forward to wipe a tear with her thumb. “I will fight this mom. Whatever it takes.” She let out a shaky breath.

“Zara told me Kade is suing us for defamation.” Gina steadied her voice. “Will you consider having a talk with him?”

Lena slightly pulled back. “He’s suing me. There’s nothing to talk about.”

Gina noticed that there was no changing her mind. She wrapped her arms around Lena. “Please stay safe. I can't bear to lose you too.” She stood up and strode towards the stairs in silence.

It was an early morning with the buzz of people walking the streets in New York and cars in traffic honking mixed with cold air. Lena stepped into the odraude, her uncle’s famous high rise penthouse. Her gaze fell on the familiar young blonde lady in a black suit jacket behind the counter.

“Good morning Miss Vale.” A slight grin crept her face.

Lena glanced at her as a smile coated her lips. “Good morning Flora, is my uncle around?”

Flora leaned towards the telephone with a finger on the button to listen to an inaudible voice. “Mr. Eduardo awaits you upstairs.” She nodded towards the elevator where a tall, muscular figure dressed in a white dress shirt tucked into his trousers with his sleeves rolled up waited to escort me.

Rojas has always been Eduardo’s wingman for the longest time.

The elevator stopped at the sixtieth floor while Lena walked into Eduardo’s private space. Despite being there several times as a child, she’d always felt as though it was her first time.

The dimmed fluorescent glow from the exquisite chandelier that hung high up in the ceiling greeted her. The brown L-shaped leather couch by the grey walls. The huge canvas with an attractive hand-painted colourful pattern hung on the wall. The open-spaced stylish kitchen was a few inches away from the wine-filled bar next to the huge staircase leading to the remaining rooms and the large hallway led to another living space with a two-way glass door leading to the balcony with a lounge area and a large swimming pool. The beauty was endless.

A familiar calm voice comes from the hallway. The tall frame of him with a slightly protruding belly in his custom black suit and sleek haircut walked briskly from the dark hallway.

“¿Cómo estás, mi princesa?” Eduardo wrapped his arms around Lena as he slightly pulled back to take a proper glance at her. (How are you my princess?).

“Muy bien, gracias. Me alegra verte.” She fell in step with him as he walked towards the bar to pour himself a drink. (Very well, thank you. I’m happy to see you).

He downed the whiskey. “I know it’s been a hard couple of years, Lena. And I know how you've been trying to bring down that son of a b***h for what he did to our family.” He dropped the glass cup on the glass counter.

He led the way into the living room and settled into the brown leather couch. She settled into the couch across from him. “Kade is suing me.” Her gaze remained on his.

His fingers ran through his chin while his brow furrowed. “Kade is planning to get back at you. But why did you follow the police, Mi querida?” That was not the best idea.” (My dear).

“I wanted him in jail. I wasn't really thinking.” Her gaze fell on Eduardo’s face.

Eduardo stepped towards the floor-to-ceiling windows and started walking back and forth. “A source tells me that he has the real papers of evidence.”

Her brows furrowed. “What does that mean?”

Eduardo stopped and his gaze fell on her. “We’d have to get a hold of those papers.” His eyes lit up.

Her gaze was still on him. “I could care less about the paper. I want to see him suffer.”

A knowing look crept onto his face. “Ven aquí, mi querida.” His gaze was still on her as she stepped to face him. “You say you both used to be friends right?” (Come here, my dear).

Her brows furrowed still not knowing where he was going with this. “Y-yes.”

He rubbed his palms together. “You're going to get it from him Lena.” A big smile crept on his face.

She let out a breath. A knowing look crept onto her face.

She’s going to break into his office. But as simple as that sounded, breaking into one of the most powerful men’s offices was no joke.