When Calliope entered her house, she was welcomed by stifling silence and an empty hall. She tried to calm down and stop trying to think about the news she had heard on the radio in the car while returning home.
She was sure that neither her father nor her dead husband would want her to involve herself with the family business. Although she was the chairwoman of ClickNext, it wasn't hidden from her that she was just a chairwoman in a name. They had made clear to her that under any condition, she wasn't allowed to enter the business world and make a fool of their legacy.
It had come to her attention that the ClickNext empire was slowly crumbling and there was no one to save it. She was what her family called an imbecile and disgrace.
But she wasn't who she was once upon a time. How could she let her father and that man define her worth when they never tried to understand her in the first place?
There was no point in sitting alone while the entire Wilding empire was fading away at a frightening speed. Why must she not try to save it?
Those old fashioned and narrow-minded men had left the word many years ago. She couldn't let Amadeo be on the streets like her. She must do something to save her home and his legacy.
Why did she give away the reins of her life to someone? For Amadeo. She married a man much older than her for Amadeo. She bore all the pain and suffering for Amadeo. To legitimate his birth she declared him her son. She made him her sole heir. She did everything for Amadeo. And now how could she not do anything when Amadeo's future was in grave danger?
The poor boy had no idea that his screwed up ancestors had written his fate a long time ago.
She pushed all those voices screaming at the back of her head where no one could hear them. She could and would do it!
Running to her room, she pulled out her laptop and commenced her research on ClickNext. It was after midnight when she had read all the articles she could find on the internet, did she muster up the courage to dial the number.
Only she and a handful of other people were given this number.
"Your Grace," A deep masculine voice greeted her.
"How are you so certain that it's me?" Calliope couldn't help but ask. It had been more than two years since she left the home and met all these people. She was surprised that he could still notice her even before she could say a word or appear before him.
Then again, it was Laxamus Dyke they were talking about. He was vigilant and way too intelligent for her sanity. His probability to commit a mistake was like zero.
"Your Grace, I'm always certain when it comes to your presence," His voice unusually soft. " May I ask how you have been?"
Did she just hear the block of ice talking to her with a voice full of emotions?
Was this the end of the world?
"You are asking as if you haven't had your man following me everywhere," Calliope grumbled.
"I haven't," He said truthfully.
"It's hard to believe, "Calliope narrowed her eyes on the phone.
"Madam Janet made sure that every information related to you is confidential," Laxamus replied her. "No one but her knows about you."
Calliope just sighed. She couldn't win against Jane. Then again, she loved that woman to death.
"How have you been?"Laxamus asked again.
"Good, "Calliope smiled as she remembered the day she spent with the children and Callum. But then the scene where she fell on Callum entered her head and she tightly closed her eyes to shake it off her mind. What's wrong with her?
Why was she recalling that embarrassing scene?
Laxamus believed her. He would always know if she was lying or not.
"I apologise for going against Madam Janet's orders," He said after a while. "But the situation demanded that I break the code of conduct for once. It was an emergency."
"That's a first, "Calliope muttered.
"I apologise?" Laxamus didn't understand what she meant.
"I haven't seen you breaking your so-called rules and loyalty ever," said Calliope.
She remembered every episode of Laxamus's loyalty since her childhood. He was appointed as her guard when she was ten years old. He wasn't much old either, just a fifteen years old boy. Oftentimes, he had gotten punished by the late duke on her behalf if she ended up offending her father. She wasn't afraid of punishment but she was afraid of Laxamus getting punished on her behalf.
"My loyalty still rests with you, "Laxamus immediately answered. It seemed like she had pressed his sore point. Nevermind, she couldn't talk to him for more than five minutes without pondering how useless she was.
"Tell me what do you expect me to do at this time?" Calliope nonchalantly asked.
"Just come back, "Laxamus said. His voice still very respectful.
"Laxamus, do you think it's the right time to come back?" Calliope questioned. "Shouldn't I let things calm down first?"
"I can't answer Her Grace's question as I have no information why she left the Dukedom in the first place," Calliope heard him say.
This smart ass.
Then again, no one except for Jane knew why she had run away and why King's men were searching for her.
Moreover, she couldn't inform him over the phone that she was a murderer.
"I'm sure you aren't allowed to discuss confidential information over the phone," Calliope said, trying to change the course of the conversation. "Send the car, Sir Dyke. I will be there as soon as I can. Please note that the car shouldn't raise anyone's suspicion."
She hung up the call and texted him the address.
….
Author Note: If you want to imagine how Laxamus Von Dyke looked, just imagine Ian Somerhalder.