"What?" I asked, my voice low and breathless as I registered his words.
"Yes, ma'am. I'll explain everything." He promised.
"Ma'am, your speech.." Claire interrupted; uncertainty rang in her voice. She didn't know whether to attend to her work or do something on my behalf, by stepping out of her role.
"N-No.." The word flew unsteadily from my lips and I gazed back at Cameron, "Tell me, now!" I said sternly, after gathering my strength.
"I suggest we remove ourselves from the crowd, ma'am." Cameron gazed at me with worry as he spoke the words, yet another reason to cause a dreaded feeling to crawl into the pit of my stomach.
I nodded, before turning to Claire, "Distract them." Her eyes widened at my order; to actually step out her role nonetheless. I could see the gears working in her mind through her eyes, before she reluctantly nodded.
I pushed Cameron forward, "These findings better be accurate!" I hissed, "You're costing me a fortune, Cameron! This expansion builds my company up to multi-billion standards!"
"Yes, Ms. Kwon, I know." From the corner of my eyes I could see him roll his eyes, causing me to glare at him. "My apologies." He cleared his throat.
I knew, I should ask about mother first, but I wanted to prolong that for as long as I could. For a part of me feared I could be the reason behind what could have happened to her, and the pity that laced Cameron's voice, when he spoke of her only pushed me closer and closer to the flames and her screams. I had tried everything to push them back, but now, thinking of the possibilities, the dream came rushing back to me, along with the caressing of the flames.
My mind tried to search for something.. anything to keep me from remembering the dream and as my eyes landed on the champagne glass I was holding, the Venturi's words came to mind. As I passed through the crowd, my hate for Venturi only grew, shoving down the nervousness that was creeping up, along with the fear- an emotion I hadn't felt or had the need to feel in a very long time.
Gritting my teeth, I placed glass down onto a table I had passed by. From the rushing off my feet, and the fast movement of my hand, it toppled over under the influence of gravity, spilling the remainder of my drink. Even though I had heard the glass clanking against the table and the champagne rushing out, damping the soft cloth that covered the table, I had not cared, for the words he spoke swirled in my head, pushing the words out of my lips, "Is it the Venturi?" I asked, keeping my voice low as we tried to get through the crowd.
Smiles, along with odd looks were what I had received as I pushed Cameron through with me, but I brushed them all off with a small smile, hiding what I was truly feeling. If there was anything the business world taught me, it was to keep true emotion off your face, and walk with confidence, cursing them with a smile. The world worked in wicked ways and in order to fit in, some wickedness must come from you, otherwise you don't stand a chance in this world, it will tear you apart until you have nothing to hold onto. To fight, you must become a player in the wicked games they played, but it was your choice of response that mattered.... play it legally or illegally...
"I'm afraid, he's not the one that planned this, ma'am." Cameron's head turned towards me, just as we climbed up the stairs. An emotion crossed his eyes, a look of pity, and some disbelief of his own. Cameron's eyes cast down with a frown, an expression of not comprehending the reasons behind something... behind my attempted murder.
I gulped as his words reached my ears. So, Antonio Venturi spoke the truth, he wasn't the one who planned it. He wasn't one responsible for what had happened. I had foolishly pointed my finger at him, hoping to calm the frayed nerves of my body, and give me some sort of sanity.
Other names crossed my mind, trying to figure out this puzzle myself. If Venturi wasn't the one, then whatever I had caught myself in, it was bigger than I ever imagined.
Suddenly, mother came back to mind, only for me to remember the horrifying screams as the fire tried to consume her... fully. I gulped, trying to shove down the fear that grew stronger. Fear crumbled away every bit of confidence and fierceness in life, it was an emotion I refused to feel.
The taste of fear had been long forgotten, and now it was slowly rising within me again.
Once Cameron and I stepped into a room, I immediately asked, "And mother?" I asked, trying to keep all nervousness and fear of my voice as I spoke. I needed to know now, I could no longer prolong the inevitable.
Cameron released a breath before he began, "Ma'am.. did you hear about the fire that occurred inside the Kwon Mansion?"
My eyes widened at his words, "F-Fire?" I couldn't keep my voice steady even if I tried. Her screams penetrated my mind, making me fight the urge to cover my ears as my heart thumped against my chest, slowly clouding over her screams. I gulped, trying to keep my fear at bay as I dug my nails into my palms.
He sighed once again, "They don't know how it happened," He frowned, "Apparently, couldn't find the source."
My body released panted breaths as he spoke the words.
Couldn't find the source...
"What happened to mother?" Though I was scared of knowing the answer, I needed to know, prolonging it would only destroy me... cause my very ruin. I needed to know the truth, just as much as my lungs craved for oxygen.
"Mrs. Euna Kwon is alive, I assure you, but unfortunately she has suffered from severe third degree burns, all over her body." His words caused a strangled gasp to escape my lips as I tried to stay on my feet, but I couldn't, for the weight of what I have done fell on me, pushing me down to the ground.
"Ms. Kwon!" He yelled alarmed as he tried to help me up, but my legs refused to pick me up.
The fire.. I caused it.
I hurt her!
I burned her!
My hands covered my mouth trying to stop any more sounds from passing through my lips. Tears burned in my eyes as her screams filled my mind.
How?! What have I done?!
"I don't understand.." I found myself mumbling, "You're lying!" I snapped, refusing to believe anything he had said.
"Ma'am, you must believe me, I'm only telling you the truth." He said, "Ms. Kwon?" He frowned, as I shook my head refusing to believe what he had told me.
This has to be some sick joke!
"Did my father bribe you, Cameron?!" I snapped.
I scoffed at the nonsense that flew from my lips, if my father had bribed Cameron or tried even it would have been for the new updates of my case, not about the psychotic dream I had, for neither of them knew about it. I had told no one.
Cameron's face fell, releasing a long sigh, disappointed or maybe even hurt at my words, because Cameron was always a man of his words. He was a good man, one of the reasons I hired him, he wouldn't fall for any tricks my father laid on him, or ever go against my orders.
"How..?" I looked down at my hands, cursing my very existence, "The fire…" My breathing turned into heavier pants and my chest tightened as I remembered the roaring flames charging into her room, "Oh my God.." I sobbed, turning away from Cameron. I let the tears fall. I had lost myself into despair, I couldn't find my confidence to hold them in, nor the courage. I had almost killed mother, somehow, I had created the fire.
I balled my hands into fists, digging my nails into my palms again, drawing out blood as I felt the fire's heat that caused me no harm, but burned her, and what I hated the most was, that was my intention. The dangerous thoughts that crossed my mind that night, I was blinded by the rage and I wished for her to burn in hell. A sob wrecked my body as her scream grew louder and louder, "Oh my God.."
"Ma'am..." Cameron tried to reach forward to comfort me, but I slapped his hands away. I had never left a single tear fall since childhood, and here I was a sobbing wreck in front of my assistant, "Maybe, we should leave the rest of the findings until after the gala." He suggested.
"No!" I tried to keep my voice stern.
I was not weak!
"Ms. Kwon-"
"When did this happen?" I asked, cutting him off in the process.
He sighed before answering, "I heard the fire happened four days ago."
Four days ago... it only confirmed it, I was indeed responsible for what had happened.
"Who told you this? Why was I not informed?" I asked, biting onto my fists to keep myself from sobbing.
"Mr. Andreas Kwon wanted to keep it hidden, he said-"
"Bullsh*t, what he said!" I snapped, "He only wants to protect his image, Cameron!"
The unknown fire would put my father in the spotlight, forcing him to answer unwanted questions or rumours. The media would be all over him trying to obtain everything they possibly can.
When situations, such as these happened, especially if he wanted to hide them, my father would never talk or text over the phone for their matters. He was very cautious, you never know who's listening in; you must meet him in person. My father wouldn't have informed me without meeting him face to face, "You met him?" I frowned.
He cleared his throat, somewhat uncomfortable in the situation he was stuck in, "He tried to access the new information when I was with the detectives. He had informed me then." Cameron told me.
"He was worried about you." He added.
I let out a humourless chuckle and scoffed, "Trust me Cameron, the only thing Mr. Andreas Kwon cares about is his image."
Cameron sighed looking to the side, I guess he was waiting for me to somehow compose myself.
I wiped a few tears, taking in a few deep breaths.
This was seriously unprofessional of me.
I let out a deep breath, trying to stand up on my shaky legs and used the side table for support.
He followed suit, standing up.
"You said, you found out about the one responsible for the planned attack?" I raised an eyebrow.
He looked hesitant to answer, "Ma'am please, I don't think you're in the right state of mind to-"
"Tell me, Cameron!" I snapped.
"You're not going to like it, Ms. Kwon." Cameron said, looking somewhat frightened and worried.
"I have already not liked any of this! Tell me, now!" I snapped again, my patience had run out; I could no longer hold anything in control, not even my tears that spilled from my eyes, caressing my cheeks. I was already ruined, my tears have taken their victory.
Cameron shook his head sighing, "Ma'am, I'm terribly sorry, it was your half brother, Mr. Jackson Kwon." My eyes widened at the name. My chest tightened from the shock that consumed my body, "He had it all planned, even hiring a Russian hit-man, under the name of Ermolai Ivanov, to purposefully cause the accident. The detectives and police had tracked him down just in time, he was planning on attacking you again. It was confirmed through the messages and phone calls he tried to delete, Mr. Jackson Kwon had contacted him informing him about this gala."
Raw anger burned within my veins as I registered the words he spoke, "Jackson went as far as trying to have me killed to have what's mine." I laughed like a mad woman, "So very desperate he was!" I exclaimed, raising my voice. I balled my fist long forgetting the cuts on my palms I had caused, from the anger that burned so powerfully within me I could no longer feel the pain, or anything else for that matter, the blinding anger took control again. A raging anger filled me, sparking sharply to create the flames that would once again roar into its glory.
My father would easily have handed him over my company without a second thought, not knowing what he had truly done to get it. And even if he did, my father would once again hide it, to protect his lovingly preserved image!
Money was the root of all evil!
That is why father did not want to help Jackson on his own. My father greedily held onto all his earnings like a selfish man. Jackson knew it was impossible to take our father down, so he turned to me... his next target.
The fire grew from the depths of my body, empowered from the anger that coursed through my veins, "He chose to play illegally!" I exclaimed, as the temperature in the room rose.
"Ma'am..?" Cameron frowned, loosening his tie as the heat rose. Sweat started to cover his forehead, glistening against the low dimmed lights, but I felt nothing, only the caressing of the invisible flames that consumed my body, causing me no harm.
The sounds of a wildfire cracked within me as Jackson's face came to mind, "To think.. that he would stoop so low.." I gritted my teeth, glaring at the ground underneath my feet. A powerful burning sensation fueled my body, letting the flames rise higher ...and higher.
"HE WILL NEVER GET WHAT'S MINE!" I screamed, allowing the flames to become visible before our eyes. The fire swallowed the room in a fierce grasp.
"MS.KWON!" Cameron yelled, before coughing. His eyes widened at the sight before him. A fire that mysteriously started. He gasped, suddenly meeting his eyes with mine, a look of fear and acknowledgement crossed his eyes, before an unshed emotion took over them.
The flames had given me their sight and I gasped looking down at my hands. Flames caressed my hands, giving me full power of the element. The fire in my hands rose, powerfully burning, and yet, no harm came to me.
I shook my hand, whimpering at the sight and the room we were currently stuck in, "Oh my God.." I heard Cameron whispering in shock and absolute terror.
"No! No.. n-no!" I whimpered, trying to shake the flames off my hand, "Cameron, get out now!" I shouted as he started to cough again. The smoke rose fast and if he stayed any longer it would consume his lungs.
He covered his mouth coughing, "W-What are you..?" He asked, fear laced his voice.
I cried, trying to shake the flames off my hand, but it simply wrapped onto my hands.. never letting go, "Just go!" I cried out in fear.. an emotion I had long forgotten to feel, now wrapped around me like a death shroud.
Cameron hid behind the dresser trying to escape the fire that would kill him, "Get out, now!" I shouted at him. His eyes watched with absolute terror... a monster before his eyes, before he dashed towards the door.
I turned away, trying to control the fire I caused, now actually seeing it before my eyes, it was certain... I was truly the one who had almost killing mother.. God, she would hate me for eternity! She would!
"No! Please!" I shouted at the flames, "Stop!"
Pathetic!
But right now, I was just about desperate to do anything to stop this fire, because if I couldn't the fire would spread, harm everyone at this gala.
While I hated many people down there, I did not wish be a murder.
My vision blurred as more tears leaked my eyes. I screamed as the fire tried to spread through the door Cameron ran out.
"No.. I need to get out of here.." I mumbled, dashing towards the back entrance, thankfully no one was allowed in these parts of the halls.
I gasped, hearing the crackling flames behind me.
With each step I took, the flames followed, as if they worshiped me, when I wanted nothing to do with them.
Slamming open the door of the back entrance, I ran as fast as my legs could take me in that state, into the wilderness the backside of the mansion welcomed.