Chapter 9: Chapter 9

ANGELIQUE SLOAN

The low temperature of my body seemed to make me frozen from where I was standing after Greyson and I turned around to face Joy. He held one of my hands and that was the only one that was warm, and even though I wasn’t comfortable with it, I still let him grip onto my hand tighter.

“I’m a year older than Angelique and there’s something that I would like to confirm first before allowing a stranger to conduct an investigation on her,” Greyson said, stepping forward to place me behind him. His broad back was covering the view of that woman who was making me nervous.

I can’t believe how he’s trying to protect me.

I heard the loud sigh of Joy, as if she already gave up before putting up a battle. “Considering how I am still a mere trainee, I’d let this disrespect of yours slide.” The rustling sounds of the leaves that were on the ground kept on vibrating on my ears as she successfully walked right beside me. “I believe that the both of you are no longer minors, am I right?” she asked.

“Yes,” I replied, while Greyson chose to simply nod his head.

“Then, I don’t think that Angelique still needs your supervision, sir. She can speak on her own and she has the right to do so, it’s not like she’s impaired.”

Joy has a point. And so, I decided to let go of his grip, then gave him a reassuring smile that I would be alright. He’s the only one who has evidence against the crime that I have committed, it wouldn’t be that difficult for me to get through this interrogation.

“Recently within this month, there has been a murder case that involved the prestigious Sloan couple. They were known for their exploitation of their daughter, either through an online source or through personal connections. It’s undeniable that they deserve to rot in jail, but it’s kind of unbelievable that they were suddenly missing,” Joy initiated the topic regarding my parents. “This morning, their bodies were found lying in a deep forest, and the catch here is that…” she paused for a short while.

Her eyes seemed to be shooting through the depths of my soul. “What?” I unconsciously mumbled as I began to get flustered with her stares. I felt Greyson pinching my arm from behind, as if to tell me that I can’t lose my control over something like this or else I would be caught right away. “What does that have to do with me?” I asked in an attempt to divert her attention to another topic instead.

“What’s your surname, Angelique?” Joy decided to throw a query instead of answering mine first.

I gulped in fear, knowing that my crime would be exposed the second that I utter my family name.

“Giovanni,” I answered in the speed of light, as if it really was my own surname. I didn’t bother gazing upon the man who was right beside me, thinking that he would question my choice of action.

Joy’s eyes twitched as if she refused to believe my response. “Miss Angelique Giovanni, then.”

I heard a soft chuckle coming from Greyson, however, I still felt comfortable. This is the only day in my whole life wherein I was at ease even though I’m quite in a pinch. “Angelique has been my wife for almost a decade now. Our parents arranged us for a marriage, and since the both of us didn’t oppose their decision, we haven’t filed any divorce just yet and I don’t think that the day will come for that,” he said. His explanation impressed me how he could flow with my plan. “And besides, we’ve been childhood friends, so we clearly know all of the positive and negative traits that we possess. We don’t even have any room for secrets, it’s too obvious when one of us is hiding something from the other, or if one of us is not in the mood for a conversation,” he added.

The trainee no longer had any rebuttals. She has totally fallen into our trap. “If that’s the case, then alright. I appreciate your cooperation despite my inconvenience, and I apologize if I sounded like I have accused your wife for a murder case that doesn’t have any involvement with her,” Joy sincerely mumbled at the same time that she bowed her head to the both of us.

While she wasn’t looking, Greyson and I made eye contact and from that, it felt like our mind and souls were connected.

“If y—”

Joy sighed, which interrupted my attempt to bid our farewell. “I must have received a prank notification from our department,” she whispered to herself. She was literally worried, her voice was full of regret that she chose to trust whoever it was that gave her that information.

“Aren’t those who do certain acts like that punished? Especially when you’re in the same department.”

“Yeah, it’s odd how there’s still no report regarding who it was that sent it to me,” Joy replied to him. “I got a call that this person saw someone leaving a dim street while covered in blood. And this person only told me the name Angelique, which explains why I have been in search of women who have the same name as yours… Plus, it might have also been just a coincidence how this person gave the address of the bar where I first met you, saying that it’ll answer all of my queries as it has a special connection with this woman named Angelique.” She began to bite her fingernails as if she was entirely anxious.

I let my hand rub my elbow. “There must have been some kind of misunderstanding. Maybe this person was hung up watching a horror movie of some sort.” I let out a short laughter to divert her attention into something else and just leave us alone.

Joy grinned in an awkward manner. “Maybe you’re right. Anyhow, I’ll be taking my leave now, I don’t want to further show you how unprofessional I am.”

We let a few minutes pass by before I decided to face Greyson. “How the fuck did someone else see me? Didn’t you tell me the other time that you were the only one who was on the scene, filming from a distant place?” I almost yelled out to him if only I wasn’t able to suppress and control my own pitch.

I’m frustrated, I can sense my veins about to pop out from my forehead and I might blow a fuse any second now. I’m terrified by the fact that someone that we don’t have any clue on his or her identity actually witnessed the crime that I have committed. My knees were trembling but I knew that I had to remain standing on my own feet.

I still have this gut-feeling that the police officer trainee and an aspiring detective, Joy, was still wary of me. I’m sure that she still has a lot of suspicion about me. Tonight would probably not be the last time that we would get to see one another, there will be a time where our paths would cross again.

“Why are you getting mad at me, Angelique? You’ve used my name and lied to her, did I protest?” Greyson muttered as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. I can imagine just how much he’s trying not to land his clenched fists on my face. “You can’t deny that you’ve killed your parents. I have the evidence, and I completely don’t give a damn about any other witness because I know for sure that I am the only one who has the video. And besides, we’ve already signed an agreement. I wouldn’t waste a lot of money over someone whom I can’t protect my funds with.”

Greyson’s choice of words made my heart flutter. It came out of nowhere, knowing that this isn’t the appropriate time to be feeling these butterflies in my stomach, especially from someone that I used to despise.

“I-I’m…”

“Let me handle this, Angelique. I won’t put you in danger as long as you’re my secretary.”

The way that Greyson mentioned the word ‘secretary’ was way too sexy. He muffled my hair as he gave me a reassuring smile, as if he would be willing to handle and catch all of my problems even if it would end up costing his life.

My parents might resent me while they’re rotting in hell, but sorry, I’ll freaking enjoy the rest of my life together with Greyson.

I won’t allow myself to die unless I really end up owning his surname.