Chapter 111: Chapter 111

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

I grab the bed headboard as I ride my lover, who is now legally my husband. Now, we were bound by love, blood, family, grief and the law.

He moans, "Mm. . ." As he intertwined his hand with mine. I look deep into his eyes, tucking my hair behind my ear as I please him.

"Now!" He reminds me, and I get off him as fast as I can. I turn, and I head to the wardrobe, so I can get something to wear as he gets up, heading to the bathroom to clean himself.

I take out my clothes and begin to dress up.

"What are you thinking about?"

I turn around, almost startled. "How all of this has to end soon. Get ready, so you can go to the police, okay?"

He grabs my hand, "Promise me you won't do anything stupid, Natalie." He tells me. I look at him, unwilling.

He continues, "Think of our son. You don't want him to be called the son of murderers, do you?"

"You're saying it as though I'd walk up to them and shoot them in the head. Give me a break, Lucas."

"There's been rumors of you finally waking up. Caleb finds out, calls an emergency board meeting, and coincidentally, you show up, and a few hours later, he's found dead. Natalie, what do you think?! Wake up!" He shakes me, as I frown at him. He continues, "That's enough motive. You'll be the first suspect they take in."

"I admit that I might've said what I said in a moment of anger, but do you really think I'd be capable of doing such?" I ask him.

"Forgive me, but you're not thinking straight right now, ever since you woke up from that coma, you've become a different person entirely and this Natalie. . .She scares me. You're always aloof, too silent, you haven't even cried since you woke up! Is that normal? Won't you cry?"

"No!" I respond. "Get out of my way, Lucas. I'm warning you."

"No. Not until you tell me what exactly it is you plan on doing. I could even be of help to you."

"What exactly can you do? Remember, you're not as powerful as you used to be. You can never understand my pain. Emily wasn't your child!" I yell at him, my entire body shaking.

"That's it. Get it all out, even though your words sting. Remember you made me lose all of that power you talk about when you accused me of rape and turned me into a public spectacle." He responds.

"But you did it."

"And I hate myself everyday for it. If you're so he'll bent on having Caleb and God knows who else murdered, I might as well do it. Maybe that would show you how sorry I am." He says, turning around. "Caleb did nothing to you. You're only looking for a scapegoat to punish and Caleb happens to fit the description."

"Wait!" I move over to him, grabbing his arm. "I'll tell you everything under one condition."

"I'm listening."

"You'll help me. We won't have to do much. We'll use Kelly to destroy him."

******

"Can I have an apple, Emmanuele?" I ask, as I reach downstairs. I watch Luke come down the stairs.

"You look beautiful, my love." He says.

"Thank you. Are you ready?" I ask.

He nods. "Here," He says, handing me a brown envelope. I take it. He continues, "Stall him for as long as you can, and go to the window so whatever happens can be seen. I'll try to hurry the detectives so we don't arrive to late. It's 8AM. The meeting is scheduled for 9, so hopefully, I should be there with the police before it hits 10."

"I trust you. Thank you," I say, as I hug him. Emmanuele arrives with my apple.

"Thanks." I tell her, and she leaves as she realizes we're in the middle of a conversation.

"What about Kelly? How can she possibly get rid of him?" He asks.

"She will."

*****

Holding my apple, I enter the company in all my glory. I pause for a moment, closing my eyes as I inhale and exhale. I can hear the murmurs and whispers build up. I open my eyes, and I scan the building. My eyes fall on Diane. She smiles at me. I nod back at her, as I begin to head up the stairs, eating my apple.

I ignore all the chitchat, and head to the board room. I look at my watch. It is 8:40AM. I go in. There are just a few members seated. I smirk, as they gasp, obviously shocked. No one had seen or heard from me in over a year. It must've been shocking indeed.

"Well, did you think I was dead?" I ask, as I continue with my apple.

"Where have you been?" One member asks.

"You ask as though you care. Don't flatter me, good sir." I respond. "The other board members should be here any moment now, right? What about Caleb? I'm itching to see him. It's been one hell of a year." Just as I conclude, the door flings open with Caleb and a few men. He freezes as soon as he sees me. I smile at him.

"Don't just stand there. Come in. Let's begin, shall we?"

"You. What are you doing here? You have no right to be here."

"Why? It's my company, incase you've forgotten."

"Not anymore, it isn't. We're voting to have your rights solidified. You're not fit and are incapable of running CI."

"Bullshit. If there's someone incapable and unqualified to run CI, then it is you, Caleb."

"Just go. Don't let me have security throw you out." He says, and I can't help but laugh.

"Only one of us will be thrown out from here today, and I promise you—it won't be me."

"Gentlemen, may we begin? We can ignore this crazy woman. Just pretend she's not here." He tells the men as he goes to sit. I watch him as he sits.

"Today's a great day, gentlemen. A new wave, a new beginning for Carrington Industries which will soon be known as Hi-Tech Atlantic." He says, leaving me baffled. My blood boils as I hear his words.

"Accounting fraud, tax fraud, embezzlement, slush funds, illegal bank accounts and transactions, racketeering and most interesting of all, murder. You really know how to do it all, don't you?" I ask Caleb, as I bring the documents out of the envelope and fling them at him.

"What are these, Natalie? You're interrupting us!"

"Why don't you take a moment to go through those?"

He goes through them one by one, and he gets up, obviously shaken. "These are all lies. Baseless allegations! Nothing but made up lies to ruin my image and steal my company!" He yells, getting up.

I laugh, "Your company?" I ask, him. "You must be really out of your mind. You're crazy and delusional." I tell him. "I will not stand here to try to make you believe that those, are proof enough to destroy you for good. Step down, right this instant as Chairman, and get out of my company." I warn him. I speak to the board members, "Whose side will you take? Mine, or his? You must decide wisely, because I tend to finish off those who stand against me when I'm really mad, and I warn you, I am really, really pissed off right now."

"You wouldn't dare." He warns them.

"Add unlawful threatening to that list, you, who the hell do you think you are?!" I face the board members, "If you think you can trust a man who has access to all your secrets, has had all of you watched for months to know if you were betraying him or not, then you must be out of your minds."

"Shut it! Who told you I did that? Where's your proof?!"

"I just guessed, and you just confirmed it. Where does your foolishness end? You never stop making silly mistakes."

"I vote for him to be ousted."

"I do too."

"So do I."

"I do."

"I do."

"No! How can you? Betrayers! Stop!" He yells, rushing to them one by one. He looked pathetic. Miserable, even. It was only the beginning.

"You can't take the company away from me!" He yells, rushing to me.

"Give us a moment, would you, gentlemen?" I ask. They begin to leave the room quietly as I watch Caleb sweat profusely. I walk to the window by the far corner as fast as I can. I turn around, hoping I could provoke him enough to do what I expected him to.

"You should've listened to me when I told you to leave. There's no saving you now, is there?"

"And I warned you. Your family isn't safe, now. Get ready to lose your son."

"Is that a threat? What can you do? You'll harm my son? You just keep adding problems to the ones you already have." I laugh, hoping it would make him attack me. I needed him to do so. "It's your last day as a free man, don't you think you should quickly rush home to your wife and children? They'll need the closure." The closure I was never offered.

"What do you mean? What have you done, you whore!" He yell, coming for me. Yes, come. You are just a few feet away from falling into my trap. He grabs my neck, and pushes me back. My heart begins to race as I realize the position I'm in. He's strangling me, and halfway out the window. I give it a few minutes, waiting for Luke to yell. Come on! He screams, and I finally get the signal. I hit Caleb's crotch and I free myself. I'm shaking, as I take deep breaths. He turns around, wincing in pain. I quickly tear my blouse as much as I can and scatter my hair.

"What are you doing," he asks, trying to get closer to me.

"I hope you rot in jail." I tell him, as I smirk at him. I walk out of the room, pretending to be shaken. Luke runs to me and hugs me.

"Are you hurt? You did perfectly well. Now, there's no escaping for him. His fate is sealed." He whispers into my ear.

"As it should." I respond. He takes his jacket off and covers me as the officers rush past us, into the office to arrest him.

"I have them the evidence, and I did just as you said. I gave them the voice recording and told them I didn't know who the woman was. I received it anonymously."

I look on, as I watch the crowd gathered down the stairs. My eyes fall on the Judge. I look away. Luke takes me down the stairs.

"Mr. Carrington." I hear some of the staff call out to him. He nods at them.

"We'll be heading home." Luke says, as we hear shouting. I turn back to look, and it's none other than Caleb.

"That's a lie! I didn't try to kill her! That bitch set me up! I didn't do anything!" He yells, as he gets dragged. He spits at me, but in a split second, Lucas covers me with his body, preventing the spittle from touching me. From above his shoulder, I watch Caleb get dragged out. He smiles at me as he's escorted out of the building.

"I'll be back! Watch your back!" He warns.

"We have to act fast, Natalie. I've hired some men who will keep me updated on all of Caleb's moves."

"If he can be bought over by you, then he can be bought over by anyone else. I know. I'll see Kelly tonight. I've been texting her since but she's not responding."

"Is she reading your texts?"

"She is." I respond, as we head to the counter. He brings out a bottle of Cabernet.

"Bourbon, please."

"You're a wine person. Since when did you start drinking whiskey?" He asks.

"There's a first time for everything, my love."

"Mm. Here," He offers me a glass.

"I can't wait to see Louis."

"I know. I can't wait either. We can video call him tonight, if you'd like."

"No. I don't. After all of this."

"He misses you. Won't you at least reconsider?"

"Instead of trying to make me change my mind, have one of your little minions or spies take me to Caleb's house. You had him watched, right? You should know where he lives."

"What about your aunt? What if the cops link the evidence and find out it's her voice in the recording?"

"I'm saving the best for last. Aunt Ruth won't except what's coming her way."

"She must have heard the news. She knows you've woken up."

"Then she better be ready for what's coming her way."

*****

"Are we there?" I ask Luke's man. "Yes, ma'am. That's the house." He responds.

I take out my phone and text Kelly once more. I inform her that I'm outside, hoping she responds after reading. She doesn't. I get out of the car and head straight to the door. I ring the bell.

"Kelly! I know you're in there, and I know you can hear me. Open up, I have something urgent to tell you!" I yell, but there's no response. I can hear a child crying. I continue, "Have you seen the mess? Do you know where Caleb is? What's happening to him? Open up, Kelly!" There's still no response to my pleas. I'm beyond frustrated. I take out my phone, and I text her again.

"I have very very important information that would determine not only my fate, but yours as well. Hear me out."

She reads the text. Once again, there's no response. I'm about to hit the door when it opens. I gasp, as soon as I see the condition she's in. She has a black eye. I go inside, and she shuts the door. I notice a man standing inside the house, armed with a gun.

"Who's that?" I ask her, almost panicking.

"Shh," He warns me. "Get over here. Quietly. Put those hands where I can see them."

"She's a friend." Kelly tells him. I turn to look at her, "Did he do this to you? Was it Caleb?" I ask.

"Shut it! I said come here!" He yells at me. "Who are you?"

"If I were you, I'd drop that gun." I respond. He laughs.

"I'll be forced to shoot if you don't keep quiet."

"The police have arrested your employer. They'll be storming in here any moment now. Besides, my men are outside already too. It won't end well for you if you try anything foolish." I warn him, hoping he takes my word for it.

"What?" Kelly asks.

"She's lying. She's lying, don't listen to her."

"Turn on the television. Check the internet. Caleb has been arrested. He faces multiple charges including murder." I state. Kelly looks at me, her expression, blank. He points the gun at me, and my heartbeat intensifies as I raise my hands.

Kelly turns the television on, and shuffles the channel. The news is there, boldly plastered on the screen. "It was bound to happen." I hear Kelly say.

I begin to walk towards the man. "What are you doing? Step back!" He warns, but I ignore.

"Natalie!"

"If you really wanted to shoot, you'd have done that the moment I walked in. If you hurt me, my husband will come after you. So I suggest, you sit your butt down and listen to what I have to say, or you go down along with Caleb." I warn him, shaking internally as the gun touches my skin. "Do you understand me?"

"Drop the gun and save yourself. I won't report you to the cops." Kelly says.

I add, "There's still some time before they arrive." Hesitantly, he drops the gun, and he scurried away. I heave a sigh of relief as he leaves.

"Do you want water?" Kelly asks me.

"Let's not pretend to be friendly, Kelly." I respond, as I sit.

"What's the information you have? That Caleb's arrested? Is that it?"

"Sit." I tell her, as I look at her. She disgusted me. It disgusted to be in her home, around her, when she was just as worse as Caleb.

"I'm sitting."

"He's facing multiple charges, murder inclusive. You and I both know you're an accomplice to that, and all his other crimes."

"I did no such thing. I didn't kill anyone, neither did I steal money from the company."

"You aided and abetted. Whether you like it or not, you played a significant role in all of his crimes—

"So did your aunt. I'm guessing you didn't know, but let me break it to you. Your dearest aunt, planned the bombing with Caleb. If there's anyone you should be having this conversation with, it's her, not me."

I smile at her, "You just confessed to what I was saying. You aided and abetted, Kelly, and of course, I know about my aunt. I know everything all three of you did, you don't have to tell me." She frowns, as she looks away. She gets up.

"Get out of my house. I have my toddlers to feed." She says, turning away. I grab her arm.

"Caleb is naming his accomplice first thing tomorrow morning once he's interrogated. My aunt has been picked up by the cops too now, I'm guessing. Now, who do you think Caleb's going to name?" I ask her.

"There's no evidence to prove that I was involved in any of what you're trying to accuse me of, Natalie. Besides, he would never give me up, not when I have his children."

"If he did give you that black eye, you'd be no less than a freaking fool to believe that. Caleb doesn't care about you, nor, does he care about your children."

"He loves us!" She yells.

"Are you trying to convince yourself that he does? Listen to me," I grab her shoulders.

"Caleb will drag you in with him. He told me he'd escape under 24hours. Now, when he does, what do you think he'll do? He'll come for me, and he'll have you, the only other witness with heavy connection to him. The moment you land in jail, your safety—hell, your life, will be compromised, Kelly."

"He wouldn't do that. . ."

"Caleb is obsessed with CI. Surely you've seen that for yourself. He tried to kill me today, in public. He won't hesitate to get whatever, whoever comes in the way of him getting CI."

"Oh, my God. Oh, my God. My children." She laments, and I smile inside. Yes. I was hoping to use her maternal instincts as my weapon. It was working. She was right where I wanted her, falling for my manipulative words.

"Let me go, I have to go." She says, flinging my hands off her body.

"Do you think running away would save you? Do you really think so? Do you have any money? I'm sure all of your bank accounts must've been frozen, and given the situation, I can bet nobody in London would be willing to help you. How exactly would you run away, even if you could?"

"Then help me. Help me, please. I'll do anything. I can't go to jail, I can't!"

"Honey, you don't really expect me to help you, do you? After everything you both did to me?" I scoff. "Don't be delusional."

"Huh?" She holds my hands. I fling her hands off my hand.

"Help yourself, Kelly. Help yourself. You're the only one who can do that at this point."

"B-but, how do I do that? Natalie, please." She kneels. I scoff as I watch her grovel at my feet. How pathetic.

"What do you think? You have to stop him before he gives them your name."

"But I can't do that without you! I have nothing!"

"Oh, love. You can. You have everything. You're his wife. That's the greatest weapon you can use to save yourself."

"How? Tell me. Tell me, please." She asks, tears falling from her eyes.

"The world would be a better place without bad people, wouldn't it?" I say to her, as I tuck her hairs behind her ear.

"Are you sayi—

"Shh." I smile at her. "Rid us of the plague that threatens to torment us." I tell her, and her eyes widen as she looks on. I get up, and I find my way out.

I heave a sigh of relief as I step out. I would've destroyed you too, Kelly. It's just, I'm a mother too. I know what it feels like to get separated from your children. I could be cruel, but I would never inflict such pain on another mother. It would mean that I was just as bad as they were.

As I walk to the car, my phone rings. It's Alexander. I rush to the car and I take the call.

"Alex." I respond, startled. "I was going to call you."

******

Lucas is outside waiting for me as I reach the manor. I smile at him, and he rushes over to me.

"Hey."

"Hey." He responds. "How did it go? Did you get it done?" He asks.

I nod a yes. "I did."

"Did it work?"

I sigh. "We'll know soon enough." I say, as he holds my hand. We go inside.

"I had Emmanuele make us dinner. Go, have your bath. I'll be waiting for you." He says.

*******

"Hello? James?" I ask, as the line connects. "Yes, Natalie. I'm sorry for calling so late, but I need your help. I need special effects make up done on me tomorrow. . . Yes. Can you make it as early as 5AM? 6? Great. I'll see you soon." I respond, as I head downstairs. I'd had my bath, and I worn some PJ's. Similar to the one Lucas was wearing.

"Finally," Lucas says, getting up. "It's fine." I respond, as he gets up to get my chair. I sit opposite him.

"Mashed potatoes and steak. Mm." I say, as I dig in.

"I had the Cabernet chilled especially for you."

"Thank you, Carrington." I respond.

"Carrington. You haven't called me that in ages." He says. We both chuckle.

"Well, the only difference now is that I don't hate you. I'm head over heels for you. You should be happy."

"We've come a long way, haven't we?"

"Truly. We have."

"I remember when you were just a happy, unhappy, naive girl. I think I blame myself for turning you into this and, you know, bringing you into this mess."

"True, but then I wouldn't have the greatest gift I have, would I? My son."

"Trying to make me jealous?"

"You're second best after Louis."

"Please. I don't want to share my wife with anyone."He says, and we both laugh it off.

"This all started with your revenge, Luke, and honestly, at first I didn't know why you really wanted to ruin me and my family. Then, I was infuriated after you sent me out of the house. Then my revenge began, and I tried to ruin your company, the one thing you treasured. Then all of that ended, and our enemies started their revenge because, truth be told, Luke, we have used and stepped on people on our journey here."

"But it's not them that did all—

"I know. I'm just saying that we have done some pretty nasty things ourselves. However, this will be the last straw because we have to break this cycle."

"Our revenge."

"And the greatest way to achieve that, is by winning. We must get through this unscathed."

He nods at me. "Cheers." He says.

"Cheers." I respond.