Camilla gave in to my request. I pestered my best friend, and finally, she agreed to meet me.
[Okay. Please send me the address of the place you want us to meet.]
[No need. Someone will pick you up and take you where I am.]
[Oh. Can we meet up today? Please, Camilla.]
I have a thousand questions in my head. I would not be at peace if I heard nothing from her yet. Thus, I waited for Camilla's reply, but it only arrived after ten minutes.
[I'll let you know when and where.]
Honestly, it disappoints me to read her reply.
Camilla treated me as if I were a stranger, and this hurt me because she often shared her worries and pain with me, and it was what I was used to.
In the past, I became her pillow she cried on, and my ears were ready to listen to her endless rants, and she heard no complaints from me, nor did I judge her.
[If you are available tonight. Then, please, let us meet. Okay?]
I did not give up and persuaded Camilla. At long last, she agreed.
"Okay. I'll message you later."
I breathe a sigh of relief while reading Camilla's response. Then my screen changed when I was about to type. It made me almost press the answer key button, which startled the hell out of me.
"Why is he calling me when he is in the other room? How bossy!"
I ignored the call and resumed typing on my phone.
However, I could not finish drafting my reply when someone called me again. This time, the crazy guy switched from phone calls to video calls.
Unfortunately, I pressed the answer key button.
"Why did you hang up?" Using a harsh tone, Crazy George questioned me.
He bellowed again; this time, my pupils dilated from his authoritarian behavior. Skimming at his handsome facial features, I frowned and shot a dagger look at him before I ended the video call.
Then I pointed my right index finger at my phone screen and sneered, "Do you think your gorgeousness will work on me? Humph!"
Anyway, I ended the video call that instant to speak to the guy in person.
Godmother Donny was sitting across from me. I excused myself and marched toward the next room with a sullen face.
Seeing the knitted brows on top of the crazy guy's eyes, I was tempted to laugh in my ass aloud. However, I don't want to argue with him anymore. I chose not to meet his anger; thus, I asked him lazily. "What do you want? Can't you see I am working?"
Before the crazy guy could open his mouth and retort, I cut him off first, and I was delighted to see when his face darkened.
Witnessing how his temper gets worse, it improves my mood to see him fuming in anger. He looked like he was about to explode.
I heard him let out a loud exhalation. He then scanned me up and down. I was uncertain whether I was hallucinating when I caught a glint in his eyes. But that was only a mere second. I could not make out if what I saw was real.
"Let's go." Crazy George abruptly stood from sitting on the sofa and strode in my direction. When I took a few steps backward, I heard him snort. He then asked, "Afraid of me, huh?"
My pupils constricted upon hearing him talk nonsense; thus, I snapped. "Why would I?"
After stating this, I turned around without waiting for his response, exited the door, and trailed the hallways. I was walking halfway when someone grabbed my arm.
"You seem to have forgotten that I am your boss now. I didn't permit you to leave. So, when I talk to you, you will listen to me!"
"Hah! My boss? You may be Anna's business partner, but I am not exclusively working for you! So you have no right to boss me around!" I snatched my arm and glared at the crazy guy who kept bugging me.
He narrowed his gaze. He pinned me on the wall and growled, "Aren't you afraid I will expose your affair with my cousin?"
Instead of fear, I let out a crisp laugh that pissed him.
"Go ahead! I'm not afraid because it wasn't true! The last laugh is mine!"
After I bellowed this, I gathered all my strength to push him away. After I got free, I escaped for my life even though I had no idea where I was heading.
I just wandered and did not notice that I had exited the store and reached a dead end in the mall.
"Krishna…"
For a while, I stood there facing the wall, then someone spoke behind me, and it caused my body to tremble. But the guy was quick.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."
Before I could utter anything, he apologized right away. Thus, I turned around and smiled, saying, "It's okay. How did you find me?"
The guy is none other than Rowan.
He pursed his lips when confusion was written on my face. He smiled and answered, "I called you out, but you didn't seem to hear me, so I followed you quietly and waited until you calmed down."
"Did you witness our bickering?" I asked him, and he nodded. I pursed my lips and smiled with scorn. "I guess you are here to defend your crazy, dear brother."
Rowan seemed not surprised when I called George crazy. It was as if he agreed with my statement. He heaved a deep sigh and smiled bitterly. It was ironic that he didn't deny my presumption.
"You are right. I want to apologize on behalf of my brother. I admitted he truly was short-tempered. But it only happens when something or someone has triggered his mood."
"His mood was triggered, and the one it caused is me? Is that it?" I scoffed, lifting my left brow upward as I went on. "Now I was blamed for how he was in a bad mood since yesterday?"
I felt ridiculous thinking that Crazy George only had an awful temperament from time to time when his terrible attitude was saying the opposite. He's been hostile to me 24/7.
Rowan gazed at me. He opens his mouth but shuts it again. I crease my forehead, impatient for his explanation. But I could no longer wait. So I ridiculed him by expressing my feelings.
"Heh. Of course, you will justify his behavior because he is your brother, and you are doing your best to protect his image. Right?"
Rowan shook his head and replied to me. "He is an excellent brother and a wonderful friend. But he hates people who are liars and deceivers. For those who harm him and his loved ones, and the people George found as traitors, he ensured they would live in hell. Krishna, I know you understand what I am saying."
'Tsk.' I pursed my lips. Listening to Rowan's reasoning, it is evident that he also believed I was a lowly mistress who was not worth thinking highly of.
"Do you believe I am that kind of person? How could you say that I have an affair with your cousin?"
Instead of replying, Rowan pulled out his phone from his pocket and showed me a photo.
In the photo, a man and woman are intimate with each other. It was taken at night. So the woman's face is a little blurry. And because it was unclear, the woman looked a lot like me.
"It was taken last year," Rowan explained.
Indeed, the woman in the photo has a little resemblance to me. Camilla and I grew up together; although we were not blood-related, her parents and mine are very close.
So many behaviors that Camilla and I had shared.
However, she became elegant and with class, while I am just a simple girl who could care less about my appearance.
After I had studied the photo enough, I returned Rowan's phone and said, "I'm not the woman in the picture."
No matter what, I could not have the heart to expose Camilla. Not yet. But I want to speak with Florian and beg him to break up with my friend.
'That's right. I'll have to speak to him!'
At this moment, I was determined to talk with Florian, so I sent a quick text to Jerry, querying the development of his investigation.
Even though Camilla has already contacted me, it was best that I have more information about where she is staying in this city.
"I have to be somewhere. Please tell Stella that I will leave first."
"Krishna..." Rowan stretched out his arm and grabbed mine.
My head drooped, peering at his hand. Realizing his action, Rowan was reluctant to release my arm. Staring at me intently, he uttered all of a sudden.
"Florian may have no feelings for Stella, but she is crazy in love with him. She once attempted to end her life. I don't believe that you are a completely heartless person. So please, we don't want to see Stella being sad and thinking of doing such a thing again."
Rowan made me uncomfortable, but I could not defend myself or explain things without exposing Camilla.
"Okay. Don't worry. I will try my best that Florian will choose her."
Does Rowan understand what I am saying? I wonder... I think he will assume that I am talking about breaking up with his cousin.
If it were his comprehension, then I would let him believe I am Florian's mistress.
"Krishna, wait! What are you planning to do?"
I left that corner, and Rowan followed me. I stopped walking and faced him.
"It's my affair, right? Then give me some privacy to settle the things that needed to be fixed. Okay?"
Upon saying this, I patted Rowan on the shoulder, then turned around and resumed walking.
"Krisha…"
I heard Rowan calling my name. He was still chasing me, so I sped up. I saw the elevator door was about to close. I hurried and yelled,
"Wait! Please hold it for me!"
"Krisha, stop right there!"
Rowan still did not give up but chased me. He instead ordered me to stop using firmness in his voice. I was relieved when the men in the elevator held the button and waited for me.
I entered the box. As the door closed, I peeked at Rowan, who missed following me inside. He looked panicked, but I also noticed the sharp glare in his eyes.
But he is not looking at me but the man towering over me.
Curious, I look up and meet the gray eyes staring at me with such intent. I don't understand. But his eyes were somewhat familiar.
However, it was impossible. Maybe it is just a coincidence and similarities because my George is long dead.
"Who is he?"
"Huh?" It surprised me when the guy spoke all of a sudden. My forehead creased with confusion. I mused, 'Why is he querying me? Do we know each other enough for him to ask me that?'