Alton's head throbbed with a pain so intense it felt like it might explode. He tried to stretch his shoulder, but a heavy weight held it down. He nearly tumbled out of bed when he saw Serena sleeping soundly beside him, naked. He realized with a jolt that he was also unclothed, and the sunlight streaming through the window made it painfully clear that something unexpected had transpired the previous night at the party.
He let out a lifeless sigh, unable to believe he had allowed this to happen. A sharp pang of guilt and sadness pierced his heart. He sat up in bed, closing his eyes, and couldn't stop himself from muttering a frustrated "damn it." The thought of betraying Mariana, his fiancée who was in danger at that very moment, was unbearable. He clenched his fists, feeling a surge of self-loathing. He wanted to punch himself, to punish himself for his stupidity.
He could barely recall anything from the night before. Now, here he was, naked in the same bed with his secretary, whom he considered a close friend.
"Al..." Serena's voice was a low murmur as she reached out and touched his shoulder. He felt the warmth of her palm against his skin.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled, "I don't know what happened."
Serena's voice trembled with unshed tears as she kept her head resting on the white pillow. He looked at her. "It wasn't your fault," he said, his voice laced with self-reproach, "I'm just a fucking idiot."
He tried to stand, but Serena's arms wrapped around him, pulling him back down. She held him close, her body pressed against his. He felt her cold tears against his back as she whispered, "I'm so sorry, I love you."
Alton was lost for words. He wished he could vanish, disappear, end his life right then and there. The words that had just tumbled from Serena's lips were genuine, unadulterated by any lies or misinterpretations. Her love for him was undeniable, her conviction was true. He could feel it in the way she clung to him, in the raw emotion that radiated from her as she spoke those words.
His heart ached, but this time it was a different kind of pain. He felt pity for her, for he knew he could never love her back. His heart belonged to Mariana, and it was locked away,it was sealed tightly.
Alton do not know what words he can exactly reply to her,and he don't intend to answer her back at all.
He bowed his head, his hands reaching out to meet hers where they rested on his chest. He held them for a moment, then slowly pulled away.
---
Donovan Clarkson's voice was a low growl as he spoke into the phone, the rum in his other hand sloshing precariously. "Do you have any idea where she is now?
You should, it's almost 24 hours and no news?Are you all fucking kidding me!?" he demanded, his words laced with a barely contained fury.
The response from the other end of the line was clearly unsatisfactory. Donovan slammed the phone down with a force that made the table tremble. "You are all fucking useless!" he roared, his face flushed with rage. "You need to find her overnight, or I will blow your brains out!"
Donovan was desperate to find Eagle's daughter. But his desire was not driven by concern or paternal instincts like his boss. He had a different plan, a plan that was as cold and calculating as the rum he was drinking.
He wanted her dead.
He had been by Eagle's side for years, pretending to be a loyal confidant, a trusted advisor.He worked as Eagle's lawyer and the one who always manage his business undusted or clean up his mess,he's certain that without him,Eagle was almost nothing.That's what he thought.
He was currently 26 years old, 15 years old when he first met Eagle, he was an orphan and his current boss gave him his name and reputation but he do not simply believed that he owed him for that.
His true ambition lay in seizing control of Eagle's empire, his wealth, his power. The thought of marrying Eagle's daughter had filled him with disgust. He wanted the legacy, the power, but he didn't want to be tied down to someone, to be a puppet on a string. He wanted to be free, to control his own destiny.
Killing Eagle's daughter was not a matter of malice, but of calculated strategy. It was the perfect solution, a chess move that would pave the way for his own ascension. Donovan saw it as a necessary sacrifice, a cold, hard truth that would ultimately benefit everyone involved. He envisioned Eagle, devastated by the loss of his daughter, forced to relinquish his control over the business. In his mind, it was a favor, a way to free Eagle from the burden of a legacy he could no longer bear.
Donovan, a man of ambition , believed he was simply taking responsibility for what he deserved. He had spent years by Eagle's side, observing, learning, and strategizing. He had witnessed the toll the business had taken on Eagle, the weight of his legacy crushing his spirit. Donovan, however, was different. He wasn't burdened by the past, by the weight of tradition or the ghosts of decisions made long ago. He was a man of the present, a pragmatist who saw the future with clarity and ambition.
He had no desire to be tied down to Eagle's daughter, to be a puppet on a string, forced to navigate the treacherous waters of a family business. He wanted the power, the wealth, the legacy, but he wanted it on his own terms.
He saw the killing of Eagle's daughter as a necessary evil, a calculated risk that would ultimately lead to a brighter future, not just for himself, but for the entire organization. It was a ruthless and cold-hearted plan, but Donovan believed it was the only way to ensure the survival and prosperity of Eagle's empire. He was not just a man of ambition,but a man of action, and he was willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals.
It does not matter how many lives of the innocents he will continously take,
as long as it will lead him to success he will never regret it.
***