7_ARNOLD

The man sitting across from him in the dimly lit restaurant swiped his hand down his face again for the umpteenth time that evening. His piercing grey eyes looked sunken with fatigue and he was spotting a fading black eye. He took a swig from his beer and looked up at him.

"Since you called that night, I never texted you" He took another sip of his beer "I said I would if I find out what Victor Duke wants from you, but I'm still working on it"

Jack was more like a brother to me, we've known each other since he started working as one of my Father's bodyguard six years ago, it was an instant click. I knew an honorable man when I see one and Jack was that man, that's why I've kept him close all these years even after Father fired him without reason. After I called him the night I was almost killed at my house, he promised to look into the threats. I received a text from him three days later asking me to meet him that he had some news. That was where I got attacked. But now he was sitting there denying ever sending me a text and somehow, I believed him.

I ran a hand through my hair and let out a tired sigh.

"I believe you" I muttered silently.

"I think my phone was hacked. That means whoever did this knows we are close"

I just nodded. My brain couldn't for the life of it think of anyone who would want me dead at all cost. They came to my office offering something irresistible, all I had to do was just sign as simple as that. I was always up for anything that would expand the business. I was so careful, I had a lawyer look through the documents, everything looked genuine.

The nightmare started after I signed the documents. I started getting calls demanding for outrageous amounts of money. First, it was for a charity, then it was for a homeless shelter. I paid because they were all for a good cause. Then I found out that the shelters they called never existed, they were just siphoning my money robbing me in broad day light. I decided to end the contract and that was when the threats started.

"This is much more than we think. I've done a lot of digging and I'm still coming short. Whoever these guys are, they are very good at covering up their tracks"

"I know you'll find them. If I didn't, I wouldn't have called you" I took a large gulp of my water and set the glass down on the table harder than I intended.

Jack looked up at me and gave me a subtle nod, I knew it meant trust me and I totally did.

He took the last gulp from his bottle and stood up to leave.

Something or rather someone crossed my mind at that particular moment and I found myself stretching my hand to stop him.

"Hey, I need you to look into someone for me. It's very urgent"

There was a brief silence where he stared deeply at me as he slowly took his seat.

"Who is she?" He asked slowly.

"Who said it was a she?" I gave him a look that made him chuckle slightly

"The eyes are the mirror to the soul; I could see it"

I kept quiet for a while as I just stared at him.

"If I knew, I wouldn't be asking you to find her"

He narrowed his eyes and ran a hand through his dreads.

"So, what do you know about her?"

"That's the problem, I know nothing about her"

He lets out an exasperated sigh and ran a hand down his face, hopefully for the last time today.

"How then do you want me to find her when you now absolutely nothing about her?"

I closed my eyes and as has been a norm for the past week, her face flashed before me, those intense eyes stared right at me.

"She saved my life and she also came to see me at the hospital"

"Which room where you at? I can hack into the cameras. There was one in the room, yeah?"

I nodded slowly "You know you could just ask to see the tapes"

He smiled "What's the fun in that and it would just waste my time. You said it's urgent"

I nodded again

"I just need an image of her and then my work would be easy. Just send the details to my email"

He stood up again

"Just give me a week" He winked at me and slowly walked out of the restaurant.

For the first time since she walked out of that hospital room, a week ago, I finally had hope of see her again.

*****

"You were hurt and you didn't think it was okay to tell anyone?" Hayley said bursting into my office.

She was in a black pencil suit with her light brown hair in her signature bob. Her blue eyes held a mixture of concern and anger.

"Good morning to you too" I muttered as I opened a drawer and pulled out the documents I was looking for. I didn't plan to come to work today or anytime soon until I was fully recovered but I had to stop by to get a really important document. It was supposed to be an in and out operation but apparently, I got busted.

"Dad and Mum have been so worried when you didn't show up to work for a week and have refuse to pick any of our calls"

"Then don't tell them. For all they know, I'm away on a business trip"

She lets out a sigh.

"What happened?"

"I was involved in an accident" I stated brusquely.

She narrowed her eyes like she didn't believe me but she let it slide and walked to give me a hug. I winced as I felt a pain jolt out of my ribs and straight to my head.

"I was so worried about you"

My family is not a close knit one. Everyone just focused on their own business. Hayley and I were never close. We just respected each other as siblings and always turn up for each other whenever the need arises and that was where our relationship ended. We never share secrets or call each other for late night chats. If ever we did call each other it was always strictly about work. I guess her being way older than me was also a contributing factor, I never saw her a lot when we were growing up, she was always on her own, planning out her life and staying out of my business.

She slowly unwraps her arms from me and took a step back.

"You should call Mum back. She is so worried"

I gave her a look.

If there is any thing Diane Rossman felt, it definitely was not worry. She was hardly ever around to really worry. I remember in fifth grade when I had come home early from school because I had a very bad fever. It was so bad that I actually thought I would die. Dad was on a business trip and Mum as usual was out with her friends partying and spending all of Dad's money, that was all she was really ever good at. The nanny called the family doctor and went ahead to call Diane, she was not picking up, when she finally picked, the only words she said were "He will be fine" and that was it. She never called back to check if I was fine and when she eventually came home late at night, she never stopped by my room to check if I was still breathing. According to her, I'll always be fine.

Hayley had moved further away from me and was walking out of the office, she got to the door and paused, with one hand on the door knob, she slowly turned to face me.

"You know she loves you right?"

I just gave her a blank stare. I really had nothing to say to that.

She stood for few seconds, maybe waiting for me to say something, when she saw I would not indulge her, she opened the door and walked out.

I let out a heavy sigh.

I already had a lot going on, I definitely didn't want to add more stress to my already stressful life. Making up my mind to call my Mum as soon as I had the time, I walked out the office and headed home.