Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Later that evening...

Still feeling a little shaken on what happened awhile ago, I was pacing back and forth in my own room, still recounting the events.

I can't believe that I almost got raped by Yoshida Seira's boyfriend, Shin Serizawa.

And what did he mean by "everybody knows my reputation?"

And most importantly, what happened to Van after his face to face encounter with her bodyguards?

One idea suddenly entered my mind.

==================

I was already waiting at the library when I heard a knock on the door. I secretly prayed that my plan would be successful...

"Come in." I said.

The door opened, and my personal bodyguards stepped inside the library.

"Please sit down..." I said.

They all obliged.

"I know all of you are loyal to my father, but I still have the right to know..How long have you known the paparazzi named Van? And what are the things you know about him?"

I went straight to the point.

The guards stiffened from their seats.

I took out an impatient breath.

"Let's all admit it. If he wasn't at the same place to rescue me, I'll be a rape victim already! For goodness' sake tell me everything you know about him!" I said, as I was getting impatient.

"Do you really want to know, Miss Seira?" one of the guards spoke out.

"Yes...Everything." I stated.

"That good-for-nothing paparazzi is one of your father's greatest enemy...He always plays a dirty trick to your family. Who knows,maybe it was part of his plan to rescue you because he's trying to do something that can destroy your family's reputation?" one of his bodyguards commented.

I thoughtfully frowned, after hearing his explanation.

"What are you talking about?" I demanded him.

"Based on the investigations that made by private detectives hired by your father... The accident that you were involved in 8 years ago is connected with your father and Van." the guard continues with his story.

"T-The accident?" I whispered.

"----You and this other girl were involved in a different accident, but it all happened in one place. She was a highschool girl who died at a very young age. She died because one heavy debris hit her head and it caused a lot of damage to her brain. The falling debris was from the construction site where your family's hotel is currently in place. At the same time, you got into a traffic accident. Both of you were rushed to the nearest hospital, but you're the only one who survived, and the other girl passed away." explained the bodyguard.

"A-And the girl who died---was me?" I unbelievably said to myself.

"---The girl who died in the accident has a very close relationship with that paparazzi guy. He's been watching you and your father for so many years now, and I'm sure he's plotting a revenge on you. He believes that the construction of your father's hotel is to blame for his friend's untimely death." the guard added.

"And he's doing all of this for the sake of revenge?" I whispered.

The other guard stood up and puts a small memory card on top of the table.

"You should take a look at this, Miss Seira...This might help answer some of your questions." he suggested.

I stared down at the memory card on top of the table...

"Who and what should I believe in?" I murmured to myself.

I decided to go back to my room and slid the memory chip on my laptop...

======================

At the same time...

"Where the hell are those clippings?" Van angrily muttered, as he continued searching for a certain folder in their small Archive Room. He drove to the publishing company as fast as he could after his stint at the hotel awhile ago.

"---hey,why are you here?What happened with the drug exchange deal?" asked his Editor-in-Chief who appeared on the doorway without even knocking.

Van lets out an unprintable curse as he heard the Chief. He was startled for a moment there.

"Darn it, Chief! You don't have to scare me like that!" he complained.

The Chief raised his hand in the air as if surrendering.

"My bad. Now, what happened with the case?" he went back to the subject again.

Van started thinking fast for a good alibi.

"My cover is blown." he said.

"What?Why didn't you call me for backup?" it was the Chief's turn to utter a curse.

Van opened his mouth to say something, but he stopped because he saw his Boss frowning at him.

"Dammit, they did this to you?!" the Chief exclaimed.

It's all because of Yoshida Seira.

"That's it! I'll do the surveillance instead. I'll give you another assgnment to cover." the Chief quickly decided.

"C'mon, Chie! It's just a scratch! It won't kill me!" Van insisted.

The Editor-in-Chief gave him a reprimanding look.

"Save your breath, you can't change my mind anymore." he firmly stated.

The Chief was about to walk out of the archive room when he suddenly stops at the door when he remembered something.

"Oh, don't tell me you forgot about Reiko's release today from the hospital?" he probed, as his eyebrows raised a fraction.

"Damn! I almost forgot about it!" Van frantically said.

"Tsk. Just like what I thought... By the way, if you're looking for Seira Yoshida's file, it's on the upper right corner on that shelf." the Chief surprisingly informed Van.

Van was stunned for a moment. When he regained his composure, he spoke again.

"How did you know I was looking for it?"

The Chief gave him a smile.

"Seira Yoshida is your new assignment." he decided, then he stepped out from the Archives.

Van drily smiled as he watched the old man go.

"That old man is starting to get cheeky." he whispered to himself.

He grabbed a small ladder and went to the upper right corner of the shelf..

And the Chief was right. He instantly saw the folder which has Seira's name on it.

After he went down the stairs, he dashed out from the office to get to Reiko on time...