Chapter 25: Chapter 25



Annabelle POV

As I watched the drama unfold from behind the fountain, I couldn't help but chuckle. No one would want to be caught in that crossfire, even though you were a badass secret agent with a hidden agenda. So, I wisely stood behind the fountain and observed. Not a moment ago, I had discovered a deep secret about the Harrells that had been earth-shattering. I hadn't planned on eavesdropping, but as I had stalked through the sea of bodies in the ballroom, I had accidentally caught a whiff of the conversation between Mr and Mrs Harrell, as they stood beside a closed-off section of the room, arguing. Truthfully, I hadn't been able to resist listening in.

They had another child.

I began to wonder if that was the reason I had been given Charles as an assignment. According to my boss, all I needed was a key, which Charles obviously didn't know he had, and if I could deliver that key to my employer, my job would be done. Which would, in turn, prove to my father that I wasn't incompetent.

Thank God Laura wasn't with me when I discovered this piece of information. Only God knows what she would have done with it. I had used her as a decoy to get away from Charles after we stepped into the room. The moment we were away from Charles and Eric and had gotten to the food court, I had immediately gotten rid of her, thrusting her into a conversation with one of the state ambassadors who I knew was a hopeless womanizer.

From the moment I had sighted her in Eric's arms, I had known she was a money-grabbing whore. And a few minutes into our conversation, she had completely proven me right. It was better I pitched her to that ambassador than let her get her filthy hands on Eric. Moreover, I needed her out of the way so I could go around getting the necessary information that my boss had conveniently kept away from me.

When I had gotten the letter in Abuja, I immediately knew something was up. I couldn't help but feel like the job was more than meet the eye, and I just knew I was being kept in the dark. The instant I had gotten to the safe house, I convinced Sam to drive me to the airport as he had promised and warned him not to let my father know that I wasn't in the state anymore.

I hadn't thought my plan through when I had boarded the flight, but I knew I had to at least finish up the assignment. Now, as I walked throughout the ballroom and gathered information, I began to recognize the error of my ignorance. I needed a plan if I was to successfully complete this job. There was more to the Harrells than meet the eye, and I was going to find out what the fuck it was that made them a target.

After moving around the room and gathering as much information as I could, I settled behind the water fountain that was situated by the corner of that hall, to get a strategic view of Charles and his mother.

From where I stood, I could hear them bickered like children. I decided to walk back to the group, so Charles could introduce me to his mother as his date. At least that would be a healthy distraction from the pointless agreement they were having. Also, I had a feeling that Charles was already curious about my whereabouts. This was the perfect time to join them again.

As I stepped out from my hidden spot, Meg suddenly appeared. I froze, her presence stopping me on my tracks and I immediately doubled back behind the fountain. What on heck was she doing in Lagos and this event? This couldn't be a coincidence. Looking at her, I couldn't help but notice how different she looked. A far cry from the waitress I had seen in Abuja.

What on earth was the girl up to? I had researched her thoroughly a few days earlier but discovered there was nothing to her, absolute nothing. She was just an orphan girl that had done some rough things to survive. But apart from that, she wasn't a threat, until now. I was still trying to make sense of the whole scenario when Amy appeared.

I frowned.

What the fuck was going on? First Meg, now Amy? What was she doing in Abuja? Had she been invited to the ball? But how did she know the Harrell's?

Everything was still spinning in my head when I felt a hand grasp my shoulder.

I spun around almost immediately, not expecting the touch as I was deep in thought.

"Annabelle," I heard a deep baritone voice call even before I saw his face. Dread filled my heart as I look up.

"Dad," I muttered.

I should have known he'd find me. Nothing could get past this man. I could only imagine what he had to do to Sam to get the information.

"The bathroom, now!" He drawled as he walked away from me. He looked good in his expensive tuxedo as he walked in front of me. He was ready for this ball as much as I was, if not more.

I shivered slightly in fear and apprehension as I followed behind him steadily, to avoid being noticed.

As I got into the bathroom stall, I felt a hand wrap itself around my throat as my back was slammed against the wall.

"Why the fuck did you disobey a direct order?" My father barked, his eyes boring into mine in anger.

"I--," I tried to speak but his fingers tightened around my throat, "Dad-you-are-choking-me," I croaked, trying to breathe through my nose.

He released me and stepped back. His anger was visible in the way his body shook. I sent a death glare at him.

"What the fuck dad?" I groaned, my voice, raw.

"You haven't answered my question young lady, what the fuck are you doing here?" He asked again, completely ignoring my outburst.

"Why did you pull me out of the case?" I fired back, "What are you hiding from me?"

"When did you become this stubborn?" He asked, his brows knotting, "I told you to stay off this case for your safety!"

"I can very well take care of myself dad." I drawled as I turned to the sink and took some gulps of water using my palms as a guide. The bastard could have killed me.

"Oh really?" My father drawled sarcastically. "Okay then, you wanna prove yourself don't you?" He asked slowly, a small smirk playing on his lips.

"Yes I do," I replied as I turned off the tap and turned to face him again.

"Then kill him."

"What?" I exclaimed.

"You heard me. Your mission has changed. Obtain the key, then kill him."

"You can't be serious dad, you so can't be serious."

"What's the matter, Anna? You've fallen in love with him?"

"No! That's not it! I just can't --"

I just couldn't what exactly? As I stood there tongue-tied, I couldn't for the life of me understand why I was hesitant. Why couldn't I bear the thought of Charles dying? Was I falling in love with him? That wasn't possible considering--

"Just can't what?" I heard my father's voice through the fog of my mind.

"He is a good guy dad," I mumbled, my eyes lowering to the ground in shame. I was not trained with sympathy. It wasn't in our DNA.

"Who's a good guy?" A familiar voice asked from the toilet door. I turned in the direction of the voice with my heart in my throat. Dread filled me. A dread that was worse than the one I had felt when I saw my father.

"Charles!" I blurted, my heart thundering inside my chest.

"Annabelle," Charles said as he set his gaze on me, his expression masked.

How much exactly had he heard?