Chapter 78: Chapter 78

CHAPTER 35

"You barge into my home, on a fine evening like this without as so much as regard for my privacy. Do you think I'll always be at your beck and call?" Judge Lahey says, standing at the front door. It didn't look like he was going to let us in.

"Judge Lahey, I agree, we've had disagreements in the past, but this is serious, and concerns not only me, so I beg you, I'll do anything. Just help us please. Listen to what I have to say."

"You threatened me, Ms. Richardson! You threatened me, in my home!"

"And I honestly do regret that now. I apologize. As I said, I'm willing to do anything."

"I too, can give you whatever you want. Name your price." Alex chimes in.

****

"Sign those papers." Judge Lahey says, bringing out a few papers from his printer. Alex and I take the papers. I go through the papers carefully. Alex doesn't even read them, he just signs. He looks at me. I look away, wondering if I'm doing the right thing. Marriage was not a small thing. It was a big deal.

"Didn't you think this through?" The judge asks. I'm about to sign the papers. I drop the pen, unsure. I didn't know if I was doing the right thing. How would Louis feel, how would Luke feel? How would my family feel? Alex pats my shoulders. I run my fingers through my hair. I pick the pen. I sign the papers.

"Congratulations. You're officially married."

"Please, can you backdate it? There's some—

"I know that. Things are usually sneaky with this one." Judge Lahey says, referring to me. Alex looks at me. I look away, uncomfortable.

Judge Lahey speaks again, "In reference to your means of payment, I want a seat."

I look at him, confused. "I don't quite understand you, Judge Lahey."

"I want a seat at Carrington Industries. Five percent." He says and I sit back, relaxing my back. I'm shocked but not surprised.

"I'm not the one. Didn't they publish that on the papers? I'm no longer a part of C.I. I lost my position as C.O.O, my power, rescinded."

"Until my signature doesn't get on this, your marriage can't be legal. So whatever it is you're both plotting— it won't work. Five percent of C.I or you both can get lost."

"You lost your position at C.I?" Alex asks me. I look at him. He didn't know?

"Yes, I did."

He gasps, "What, did you quit? What happened?"

"I didn't tell you I was working there as the C.O.O. How did you know?"

He looks uneasy. "I did my research. Plus, everyone knows who you are, Natalie."

"Are you agreeing or not?" Judge Lahey inquires. I roll my eyes.

"What don't you understand?! Ask for anything else, but I can't give you a seat at C.I if I don't have it!"

"I'll give it to you. Three percent." Alex says. I pause, wondering if I heard correctly. I look at him.

"Come again, Alex?"

"I own 37% percent of C.I. I should've told you."

I quickly look away. I didn't want him to look at me and find out I knew already. I had to play it cool, pretend like I didn't know a thing.

"Four percent." Judge Lahey demands.

"Done. It's yours." Alex says, and I look at him, stunned.

A week later. . .

Luckily, the cameras in Seldson Meester didn't record anything. The police had begun their investigation and as far as we knew, there was nothing placing us at the scene of the murder.

"Jane doesn't want to forgive because she feels used and abused. I can't help but wonder if she's done anything wrong by wanting to balance the scales, wanting to get revenge on those who hurt her."

The therapist responds, "Well, Jane was forced into an alliance she wanted no part of. Jane was raped, emotionally abused by her husband and her freedom was stolen from her. Although, Jane wants her husband to suffer for his crimes right?"

"Of course. She wants that." I respond to the therapist. Jane was a pseudo. I'd been seeing Doctor Lively for a few days. I needed it. Witnessing Jennifer's murder had really messed my mind up.

"But does Jane know that she's become like the very person she hates? Does she understand that she's likely to end up getting punished for all her deeds or her intending plans?" The therapist asks, and I'm taken aback. I hadn't done anything illegal until Laurel. I had taken Laurel against her will and if found out, I could spend time behind bars. I smile at the therapist. "We should pick up from where we left next time I visit, Doctor Lively."

***

"Lydia." I say, as I drive. It's on loudspeaker.

"Natalie." She responds, her voice cold.

"I'm not calling to apologize. I'm calling to reconcile. I don't like fighting with you."

"You're not going to apologize? Really?" She asks.

"Of course. I didn't do anything wrong. You know about my plans, you know what this entails so you shouldn't be as pissed off as you are. I have a goal to achieve and I need time to do it. You should understand that."

She scoffs. "You've become selfish. You've no time for anyone including your son, Natalie."

"Don't bring Louis into this, Lydia. Don't. I am a good mother regardless of your agreement or not. I would die for my son. I agree that for a little while, I wasn't spending as much time as I should have but that happens. You are selfish, Lydia. Think about i—

"I'm selfish?" She interjects.

"You are. You always want the attention on you, you always want me to focus on you and I'm sorry, but I can't give you all of my attention. As awful as that sounds. You're my best friend, my sister even. You are a good person, Lydia, but I'm not as great as you are. Well at least, not anymore. Call me when you're ready to talk things through." I say, as I hang up.

As I'm driving, I spot a flower shop. I park my car. I get down and enter the shop.

"Can I get a bouquet of daisies?" I ask the lady present in the shop.

"Oh, I'm not the owner, dear." The woman says, turning around. She was an elderly woman. She had a red pixie cut on that brought out her golden brown eyes. She had on a thick coat of mascara. "Oh." I respond.

"I didn't know you'd be the one I was sent to."

"Sorry?" I ask. Immediately, I scan the room, ready to get on my heels.

"I'm not a killer, dear." The woman says, giggling. I take a step back. She continues. "You have a bright star, let me see your palms." She requests, reaching out for my hands.

"I feel like I can trust you." I say, as I willingly give her my hands.

"You have a son. Have you ever lost a child?"

I nod, tired. "You will have three more blessings, but you can only choose one."

"What do you mean?" I ask, confused.

"There's a storm coming. You must be strong, else, you'll be lost forever. You must forgive and let bygones be bygones." She says, and I jerk off my hand. She continues, "That's the message. Forgive. Reconciliation must occur. There will be atonement, but you can escape it, if only you do not cause destruction."

"Stop talking. I don't know what you mean." I say, walking towards the next aisle of flowers.

"The universe watches. For every action there's an opposite and equal reaction. Don't forget." I hear her saying.

"Hello! Would you like a box or a bouquet of flowers?" A blonde woman comes in.

"Yeah, I would. Who's the woman with the red pixie cut?" I ask, curious.

"Red pixie cut? I have no idea. Maybe she wanted to get some flowers, darn! I just lost a customer!"

****

Taking the box of roses with me, I enter my car. I call aunt Ruth. She doesn't pick at the first ring.

"Hello, aunt. Did you sleep well? Good morning."

"My darling. Good morning. I had to watch Mark all night." She breaks down, "He's not improving." She sobs over the phone.

"What hospital is he admitted in?"