Falling in Love with You

Chapter 3 What is Forgotten!

Jonathan POV...

I felt waking up from being buried alive with a pounding headache and my chest burned like hell carrying the shame like a smoke clinging to me. I hissed stumbling to lean on the headboard of my bed, then the remnants of last night came crashing like a storm.

Fucking video!

'That f*****g video! Damn it!' I murmured again.

'Who would do this to me?'

That video was buried five years ago and we paid enough for that video to shut down. Why release today when I am supposed to take my father's place?

This is not a coincidence but deliberately attack. This is very personal or more than what we think about. I couldn't control myself furious about who is attacking my family. Flipping my room wasn't enough nad keep punching the wall until my knuckles bled.

"Who are you to do this to me!" I shouted before tossing my bed.

While thrashing my room, something deeper is gnawing at me. Far from humiliation and its worst among the worst but I couldn't find buried deeper in my head. I'm trying to recall every bit of that night that it wasn't supposed to happen but luck is elusive.

After that evening, I kept telling myself it was a mistake and it's nothing, it's just cons of being young, wild and carefree. It was a reckless act fueled by anger and mixed with beer.

But something is whispering in my gut beside what I already know about that incident and the fact that I don't recall her face no matter I try.

Yet in my thoughts her laughter is familiar and that sound haunts me like a ghost.

“Jonathan! What are you doing there?” My father’s voice slammed against the door as he knocked, but I ignored it. After a few more minutes, the door was kicked wide open. He looked at me without sympathy but with a serious face.

“Fixed yourself now!” He barked straight into my face without looking at my room.

“You’re coming with me.” He added with no room of discussion.

To my surprised he took me to the shooting range where he always kills his stress. I thought he was going to punish me for bringing shame to our family. Without a word when we arrived, he handed me a gun.

“Starting today, this will be your training ground." He said. I frowned couldn't follow his lead.

You need to learn how to protect yourself anytime."

“From who?” I replied but his expression became dark.

“That is what we are trying to find out!" He said while loading his gun quickly. Looking at how quick he is beyond his age made me awed. My stomach churned to what he said. This wasn't about the scandal anymore but more dangerous and personal.

It was my first time firing and my hand was shaking. I almost missed everything while he got all bullseye as he ws prepared for a war. I just realized my father is stronger than I thought of him.

Staring at him, I realized he is not worried about the company but about me.

After all the things I did today made me exhausted, forgetting about Jessica. Just as I reached the lobby I saw him waiting for me terrified. Scared my father would see us I pulled him outside and she dropped a bomb I didn't expect.

"Babe, I found who leaked that video!"

"Who?" I said in between gritted teeth angrier than last night,

"It ws Gertrude!"

"What!" That's impossible! She was a kind, smart and beautiful woman.

She's the woman I kept thinking about while holding my girlfriend's hands. She's a friend who looks at me with care and protection.

"I didn't believe it either but someone told me she likes you and is mad that you chose me." She almost whispered grabbing my hands.

I stared at her digesting all the information she just said. If calculating the time she disappeared, it all points to her but something inside me is flipping my reactions.

Should I believe her or need more investigation? I'm trying to think she is innocent! Then something twisted feelings stirred in my chest, something worse than regret.

My mind remembers about notes. Long conversations and laughter. Calm moments while laughing with her but still her faceless.

For some reason, I am doubting my decisions, even the woman I chose. To clear the misunderstanding, I brought Jessica for dinner but the night was filled with Gertrude.

I only hear her voice.

Covered by her thoughts.

Worst my eyes see her.

And I hated myself for this unknown feeling suddenly changing the sail of my boat. If she really betrayed why do I feel it's heartbreak rather than anger? When I got home, my father immediately called me in his study.

“Sit.” He said and his expression was unreadable. After he told me about the scandal, I said, "Dad, I know who leaked the video."

He looked at me meeting my eyes, “Who?”

I swallowed hard before replying, "It's Gertrude!"

Silence passed before he stood up and his chair slammed backward. "What did you say?"

“Jessica found out! She helped me out." I said not missing a bit. He shook his head hissing before turning his back he whispered something.

"No! That's impossible dad!" I whined in disbelief. He stared at me like I confessed something beyond murder but what comes next was more shocking.

"Because she is the face of the Star Group of companies!" I staggered shocked.

It was the empire no one can beat and people don't know the huge name behind that company and recently they have built a lot of towers becoming one of our enemies. The company should not underestimate the capabilities. I still can't believe she ws the hidden heiress.

"She was friend and never told me that!" I murmured.

"She's not supposed to!"

"But why?"

Dad didn't respond just when I pieced the pieces together but still couldn't find the answer. "Dad!"

"What is it more that I don't know?"

This was the loudest silence he had ever had. Without a single second he unlocked his drawer and pulled a yellow envelope putting it on the table.

Instantly, I recognized my handwriting. "Five years ago, you wrote this to someone." I looked at him still confused.

"What!" But he nodded. My hands trembled as I opened the envelope. Inside was indeed my handwriting. My jaw drops bewildered reading it.

If anything happens to me, remember… You were the girl in the bathroom.

My head spun pulling my breath away from my lungs suffocating me. "No!"

The scandal, the forgotten cheerleader and burrying alive was not because to protect me. It was bigger than that! I raised my head and met my father's gaze. "What did I do?"

But before he could respond his phone rang frantically. "Sir!" The voice from the other line. He listened and all the colors from his face drained. The call ended, and he looked at me like it was the end of the world.

"Jonathan..." He couldn't continue as his voice cracked.