Chapter 20

"How do you know my name?"

It sounded like a stupid question when I asked out loud, it's not like I have forgotten she is a Card.

She casually inhaled her cigarette then turned around.

"You're General Ralph's granddaughter, no?"

I swallowed hard.

"What? Do you think you disguise is working?" she asked coldly.

"I don't know how you know me, but I certainly don't know you so pardon my fucking confusion" I spat harshly.

She stared at me for a few seconds then sat down.

"My neck has been aching me recently and staring up at you would be a chore. Have a seat please"

Her politeness rubbed me the wrong way but I sat down anyway, opposite her with my teeth gritted inside my mouth.

"Thank you. I am an old… acquaintance of the General and the reason he got silenced was because he was digging into something that turned out to be deeper than he expected"

Excellent, she wasn't beating about the bush.

I leaned forward, "go on"

"That's all"

I stared at her in disbelief.

"I'm sorry but I was under the fucking impression that you know who killed my grandfather"

"I'm sorry" she began without missing a beat, "but who the fuck implied that?"

I had to mentally will myself to calm down. How can someone be so fucking annoying?

"Then why am I here?"

She slowly took a drag of her cigarette and massaged her eyelids like I was exhausting her.

"Who killed your old man or what he was digging into that got him killed is none of your business. He wants you to, wanted you to know that he got justice for his death nothing else regarding it. I was sent to you for another reason"

With my stomach was in knots, lips dry and palms sweating; I asked Egypt-Martin.

"Who killed him?"

"None of your business. I was under the fucking impression that you aren't deaf"

I really couldn't stand her anymore then I stood up to my feet.

"I don't know what you are fucking trying to pull but I can't stand the nonsense you're spewing anymore. For all I know you don't have any information concerning my grandfather and you're fucking with me as revenge for your kidnapping"

She suddenly began laughing and the sound startled me. She laughed so hard that she clutched her stomach and smacked her knee.

"Revenge on you?" another round of that annoying sound, "I did not see that one coming. Miss Black, how relevant do you think you are? Fuck, you should be very embarrassed for even thinking that and as for the kidnapping, did you even know Matteo a day before my visit?"

It is official. I hate this woman. I abhor her.

"If you know something talk" I seethed. "If you don't I'll walk out this door and make sure we never see each other again just like you wished"

She stubbed out her cigarette with a sigh then adjusted her seating position and leaned forward.

"You have two options Georgia"

I bristled "it's Geo-"

"I don't give a shit. Sit down or walk out"

I glared at her but returned to my sitting position, it's not like I had anything to lose. The door opened and Taiga walked in with an icepack.

"Bloody teenagers" she muttered under her breath and collected the icepack from him. He chuckled and sat down beside her.

Before I knew what was happening she had walked around the table and started pulling off my jacket. I immediately flinched away from her and adjusted my clothes.

"What the fuck are trying to do right now?" I asked still clutching my clothes tightly with eyes the size of golf balls. 

"Put a fucking polite tongue in your head kid" Taiga replied.

Egypt's brow furrowed and she blinked slowly a couple of times then inhaled sharply through clenched teeth.

"I feel like I've heard that sentence somewhere" she muttered then turned to face Taiga, "where did you hear it?"

It was his turn to frown and when he opened his mouth she clapped loudly in recollection.

"Castlevania"

"Who?" He asked.

"It's an animation"

"Anima-" he sighed, "what are you talking about right now?"

She cleared her throat and stood straighter.

"Forget it. The ice is for you, to reduce the pain" she stretched it out to me.

Well couldn't you have said that instead of trying to undress me? I thought.

"I should have given you the ice pack instead of trying to take your clothes off. My bad"

Every cell in body froze. She didn't- she didn't just read my mind right?

"I don't read minds, your body language and facial expression made your thoughts very obvious" she spoke again and returned to her seat.

I stared at her suspiciously then I decided to forget about it.

"Egypt-" her scoff stopped me.

"Did you just call my first name? When did we become friends or age mates? You have a lot of nerve and no respect you little brat" she suddenly scolded me leaving me dumbfounded.

"Well" I started again, "if you are not going to tell me who killed my grandfather then why are we talking to each other?"

"Isabella Park"

I frowned "What?"

"How does she have blue dreadlocks?"

"What does her hair have to do with my fucking question?"

Taiga's facial expression changed at the profanity but Egypt grabbed his arm to stop him from sitting upright.

"It is an unexpected hairstyle"

I gritted my teeth and took a deep breath to calm down.

"She lost a bet with her assistant and that hairstyle was the punishment"

"Your assistant has an assistant, that's some next level shit"

Taiga grimaced at the profane word.

"To answer your question, the General wanted me to make sure the handover of his companies to you is smooth when I am assured you know how to run them on your own"

"Why would you be given such a role? Besides I have a competent assistant"

"First I am a CEO, your number one shareholder and biggest investor. Second, Isabella wants to make sure you never ascend to that position

"I don't believe you. You are a Card not a CEO the last time I checked, a glorified thug and I trust Isabella" I fumed.

"Glorified what?" She asked like she was shocked.

"Thug and I don't like you"

"The feeling is mutual you little shit"

"Can you two stop?" Taiga said looking between the two of us.

"I'll pretend you didn't call me a thug, and I have proof regarding what I said about Isabella. Your grandfather gave it to me".

"Where is it?"

"I'm sorry, I can't hand it to you yet"

This was the height of it, farewell, my patience, it was a good fight...

"CEO-" I began with feigned calmness and an overdose of sarcasm.

"You are too impulsive and stubborn, I will help you handle Isabella when the time for it comes".

I stood up and began to pace, I couldn't believe what I was hearing but she had no reason to lie plus I have to rule out the possibility that she was deliberately trying to fuck with my head because of her kidnapping.

Someone of her caliber didn't have to go through this means to ruin me forever, it seemed highly unnecessary. But about Isabella I just cannot take Egypt's word for it.

I finally stopped pacing and faced her.

"Regardless of what you say, I trust Isabella wholeheartedly"

She stared at me for far too long than was comfortable then sighed, "Keeping you from acting irrationally when you see the truth would be a nuisance so I guess it is better for me that you still trust her"

"I am not saying I believe your gibberish but if you turn out to be saying the truth I'll have to fire her"

"It is not gibberish and darling, Money Making 101. Keep the enemies in your household close. You'll hardly find any of my business partners and employees that hasn't thought of killing me in coldblood"

"Why am I not surprised?" I muttered under my breath.