Chapter 46: Chapter 46

Two days later, it was a natural Saturday. The sun hid behind the clouds and the air in the city was stuffy.

Val stood in front of the same hotel room that she'd met with Attorney Chris in just a few days ago.

Knock! knock!

Val gently knocked on the door. She pursed her lips being anxious as to being in attorney Chris' apartment again.

When she saw his message to meet at his place just as last time, Val wanted to refuse. However, she thought it'd sound awkward for her to decline such. It could give off a hint that she was doubting attorney Chris' professionalism and had begin to see him as a pervert.

Besides, the matter they were to talk about wasn't something they could discuss in public. Who knew what Courtney could do?

Thus, Val agreed to the idea to meet at his place once again. But this time, she made it an objective to be especially careful around the attorney.

Val looked to the side and was enthralled by the sight of the grandeur corridor. She couldn't help but wonder just quite the expenses of building this complex. It was still just as thought-provoking as the first time she'd visited.

Shortly after the knock, the door was opened from the inside and attorney Chris in casual clothing peeked to usher Val into his apartment.

" Please, have a seat" Attorney Chris urged once they were inside.

Val raised a brow sensing that attorney Chris' was just as professional as he used to be. She could still remember the details of the apartment just as last time. The sofas were positioned around a generic coffee table, facing the wide television and a fireplace was right below.

Still cautious of how she had collapsed the last time, Val watched her steps as she moved to seat in one of the sofas. Attorney Chris slowly followed behind and moved towards the mini bar just as he did the last time.

Val didn't know if it was his protocol towards client, or maybe he had ambitions just as last time.

" What would you like?"

Val corked her head to the side, pretending to think for a while before saying. " Martini is fine"

" Alright" Attorney Chris nodded and proceeded to grab a bottle on the shelf.

Val settled in her sofa in the meantime.

" So, Miss Valerie Hawkins. I really apologize for what has happened at the company, it was an unprecedented occurrence..." Attorney Chris spoke as he made way to take his seat in the armrest facing Val with drinks in hand, just as he did the last time.

Val experienced a sense of deja vú.

" To be honest, it would have been settled if myself or Mr Richardson himself had been around town." Attorney Chris sighed in regret.

" I'm sorry you had to go through all of that despite the promises we've made to you" Bob had promised that no harm would come to Val in this scheme of his to counter Courtney in the divorce trial, he only needed her appearance in the company and that was all.

He and Attorney Chris had promised to keep close watch on everything in the company revolving around her to ensure her safety. It was due to this reason that Val could act with more confidence. Only for that incident where she was almost framed of theft to happen...

" To be honest, I was quite scared and had feared for my safety. I thought I was going to end up in jail and have my whole life in ruin back then. I won't lie and say that I hadn't felt betrayed by both you and Bob. But... it's fine now really..." Val stated in a honest tone. She didn't hide any of her feelings to attorney Chris. Instead, she poured it all out and it felt quite like a dump of a heavy burden.

Val looked down at the glass of Martini placed before her on the glass coffee table. Her throat yearned for it but she knew she shouldn't.

Val raised her gaze realizing she wasn't alone, only to meet the prying gaze of attorney Chris. He'd been watching her all this while!

" Heh! T-Tell me about why you haven't been around. Is it related to what you said had happened?" Val smartly switched topic, causing attorney Chris who was about to say something to open and close his mouth in reconsideration.

' Damn! did she realize something after the last time?'

" Well... " He smiled bitterly. " Mr Bob was caught up in an accident." Seeing Val's shocked expression, he quickly added" He was found at a murder scene and arrested"

" What?!" Val expressed incredulously. she shot her head forward in utter disbelief. " A murder scene!?"

' Why in the fuck is Bob at a murder scene?' Val couldn't make the connection at all. Her eyes constricted when a conjecture flashed in her mind.

' No way!'

" Haha! Not quite like you think... But he was set up by his ex-wife to be, Mrs Courtney Richardson. Apparently, the man had been killed before Mr Bob got there, but unfortunately, Mr Bob tried to help the man as he was quite still alive but he was mistaken to be the culprit. Thankfully, he had made an audio recording of everything he did in his phone and the forensics pointed evidence to his testimony..."

Hearing this, Val'a frown lessened. She had thought that Mark had actually murdered Courtney having fed up of her bullshit.

" So?" Val muttered, still trying to take in the information.

" He's been released on condition. pending investigation " Attorney Chris informed thinking Val was asking for the current situation.

Val lowered her head and thought in silence for a while as she broke in cold sweat having realized something grave from what attorney Chris had just said,

' Just what the heck does Courtney want? Going to such extent just to ruin Mark's life? That's crazy!

If Mark has been convicted of murder, she would take control of most of what he has... If not everything he has.

The anger, disappointment, and feeling of being betrayed and left alone that Val prior harbored after the attempt to frame her slowly dissipated into that of worry, concern and alertness. After all, who knew what that vicious woman could do to her as well?

" Any progress in the case?" Val asked. She very well understood that even with all the evidence, Bob still wasn't in the clear yet until they found the culprit.

" Not any that I know of, Mr Richardson has stayed behind to help. Besides, he couldn't leave the city anyway." Attorney Chris stated with a shrug.

" I see..." Val creased her gaze.