Chapter 8 : Catherine

The path I took led me to an exit door, which opened onto a poorly lit driveway that led me to an equally badly lit parking lot.

I was walking forward without really knowing where to go when I heard voices and cries. I followed the voices and saw the men Samuel was leading putting the girls in a van. It could be seen that the girls didn't want to go in, they were forced.

One of them put up an incredible resistance but was rewarded with punches by one of the men. I then saw Samuel get angry and yell at him:



"Is something wrong in your head? The Don doesn't need damaged merchandise."



I was very careful to stay well hidden behind garbage cans and the fact that the parking lot was poorly lit was in my favor, God only knows what they would do to me if they caught me.

So I stayed there, silent, without moving, until they left. Then I got up on the verge of tears, shit, I couldn't do anything for those girls and it pained me.

I walked back to the club wondering what was going to happen to the girls, who was this Don Samuel was talking about, and why he was doing this, but more importantly was Dereck involved?

He was the only one that could answer my question but I couldn't really ask him. After witnessing this I didn't feel like having fun so I sat in a corner of the club while my brother and Graham were busy kissing and dancing.

At that moment a man approached Shane and Graham and started an argument.



"This is not a place for fags," he said proudly.



"Sorry?" Graham said.



The man chuckled horribly before trying to land a right on Graham but Shane intercepted him and landed him a magnificent left. I wasn't going to just stand there and watch so I took off my heels before sauntering over to another guy who was screwing up Graham and jumped onto his back.

I then hit him on the head with my Louboutins, crossing my legs firmly around his rib cage.

I took the opportunity to tell Graham to go away, which he did quickly after giving me a worried look.

The man started backing up quickly and knocked me against a wall, the brutal contact taking my breath away for a moment and making me cry out. I didn't have time to get back on my feets as the guy was already charging, he sent his fist in my direction, I moved my head just in time, his fist entered the wall just next to my head.

I took advantage of his temporary immobile state to give him a good blow in between his legs. A cry of pain escaped her lips as I laughed. He collapsed to the ground and I kicked him in the stomach.



"Do you know how much those Louboutins cost me?" I said between each kicks. "You asshole."



Shane came to meet me, he had a split lower lip and some bruises but other than that he was fine.



"I see you don't need my help"



"Who do you take me for? Respect me, I'm a queen," I said, throwing my hair back.



He burst out laughing and dragged me out of the club, then he left me to go see Graham, they are so cute.

They then thanked me and left after saying goodbye and wishing me good night.

I then went home, and I couldn't sleep, so I made myself a coffee after taking a shower and started working on my project, which is to say the creation of the robot.

I sent a message to Dereck asking him to come to work tomorrow to start work, I didn't expect him to answer since it was four in the morning.



From Dereck: How did you get my number?



Me: My assistant gave it to me.



From Dereck: Ah, I see, why aren't you sleeping?



Me: I just couldn't sleep so I'm working on our project.



From Dereck: You should be sleeping.



Me: Said the one who is also awake.



He sent me laughing emojis.



From Dereck: You feel like you always have to fight back, eh.



Me: Yes, otherwise I wouldn't be myself.



From Dereck: Anyways, see you tomorrow or rather in a few hours. Go to bed!!!



Me: See you soon then, no, I won't go to bed.



From Dereck: That's your problem then.



This was the end of our conversation, I then realized that I was smiling, why am I smiling?

I could not find answers to that, I went to prepare myself with a smile on my face for the day ahead.



............................



It's been a week and I haven't heard from him, a week since the night we wrote to each other. I called him, I sent him a message, I even went knocking on his door, I also called his secretary, she told me that he had not come to work all week and that he had given her no sign of life.

She also told me that it was not the first time that this had happened. At this point I haven't stopped worrying and thinking about him, I can't even sleep.

I had made quite a bit of progress in terms of the base and structure of the robot, so I decided to go home since I wouldn't do much if I was going to continue pacing in my office thinking about him. I say goodbye to everyone as I leave, I tell my assistant to postpone all the meetings and appointments I had today until tomorrow.

Once done, I went down to the underground parking lot, I spotted my car, got in and left. As soon as I arrived at the Four Seasons I rushed to my suite suddenly remembering that I still had the double of Dereck's key.

I frantically searched all over the place until I found it under my underwear in a closet drawer.

Without bothering to lock the door, I rushed over to Dereck's suite.

Once in front of his door, I took a deep breath before inserting the key into the door.

Once unlocked, the door opened. I went inside. Everything was dark, the only source of light was the television which was on but no one was watching it. The suite seemed uninhabited, it looked like Dereck hadn't been here for a while. I then began to search each room until I found him in a room that I assumed was his room. He was lying in bed, his blanket covering all his body except his head.

As I approached him and got ready to talk to him, he started to say something.



"I am sorry."



Sorry for what? What is he talking about?



"I couldn't stop you from killing yourself, mom."



His voice broke over the 'mom,' he began to sob, what in the hell is happening right now. 



"I'm less than nothing, I don't deserve life," he sobbed.



Part of me wanted to comfort him, but the other wanted to know more, so I didn't do anything, which I regretted.

He stood up suddenly and put his hands on his head, then curled up on himself.



"No, that's not true," he growled. "I didn't do anything, leave me," he yelled.



I couldn't take this nightmare anymore, so I got on the bed and I gently shook him asking him to calm down, but with a quick movement he moved away from me, plunged his hand under his pillow. and pulled out a glock 39 and aimed it at me.

I froze in place, eyes wide, not knowing what to do. He was looking at me with bloody eyes, his chest rising and falling rapidly from his jerky breathing. Despite my fear I decided to talk to him.



"Dereck, it's me, Catherine," I said, looking him straight in the eye as I tried to grab the gun from him. "I mean no harm to you"



Slowly I wrapped my left hand around the weapon while the other rested on the hand which held the gun, I took it out of his hands very slowly then I placed it on the night table.

He looked me straight in the eye and seemed to recognize me, that glint of madness fading from his eyes.



"Catherine" he whispered before sinking down on my thighs.



I then began to stroke his hair and draw the outline of his face with my fingers.

I noticed then that he had lost some weight. It also showed on his face because his cheeks were hollow and protruding, I didn't like that a bit.

After looking at him for a while, I decided to clean his suite and make him a little meal, by doing so, maybe I won't think about what just happened. So I settled him down on his bed and left his room after placing a kiss on his forehead to undertake what I had decided.

One thing was sure, I was definitely going to get some answers.