Chapter 64: Chapter 64

Chapter 64

RAVEL

PRESENT TIME

Hazel had to cancel our dinner plans that evening as she felt the need to be with David and his mother.

While it initially disappointed me, I respected her decision and embraced it wholeheartedly. The following morning, I made an attempt to reach her by phone, hoping to catch a moment with her before my departure to New York. Regrettably, my call remained unanswered.

With my keys in hand, I drove to her workplace, only to be greeted by her secretary, Agatha. She informed me that Hazel was still away in David’s hometown and wouldn’t be able to make it to the office that day. Left with no other option, I opted for a text message, expressing that I would be out of reach for a while as I was about to embark on a flight back home.

Back at the hotel, I found myself repeatedly glancing at my phone, eagerly awaiting a message from her end. However, the wait turned out to be in vain as my phone screen remained devoid of any notifications. As noon approached, I completed the check-out process and made my way back to the bustling streets of New York.

Later that evening, she finally reached out to me, extending her apologies for the silence that had left me hanging. Although she chose not to delve into the reasons behind the unanswered messages and calls, I opted to release any frustration and forgive her. After all, my love for her didn’t preclude her from having the autonomy to manage/her communication.

The memories of my past mistakes loomed, the moments of mistreatment and the painful image of me beside June in bed were indelible. Yet, in the face of all these undeniable facts, her genuine smiles in my direction remained a precious gift- one that I vowed never to treat lightly.

Elenor reclined, propping her legs onto my desk, a tumbler of vodka cradled in her hand. “So, let me get this straight,” she mused, her gaze fixed on me. “You’re suggesting a private party for her right here in New York, and you expect me to coax her into coming?”

-I let out a sigh, feeling a twinge of frustration at having to repeat myself. “Elenor, I’ve gone over this multiple times already.

What more can I possibly say to make you grasp the concept?”

She regarded me over the rim of her glass, her tone taking on a rasp. “There’s one aspect you’ve failed to explain,” she rasped, her curiosity piqued. “What gives you the audacity to assume you can just summon her down here?” A glare exchanged between us, and at moments like these, I couldn’t help but question whose allegiance she truly held. “She might have plans for her birthday, and you want me to sweep in and disrupt them? Why?” A scoff escaped her lips, followed by a pointed remark, “because you’ve got a little surprise party of your own planned?”

Why in the world did fate saddle me with this particular breed of human as my sister? Dealing with anyone more infuriating than Elenor seems impossible. “Could you possibly be any more exasperating?” I couldn’t help snapping. “Will you lend a hand, or should I just assume that’s far beyond your capabilities?” I retorted, my patience wearing thin. “I’d much rather have her celebrate her birthday with me rather than with David.”

A fleeting chortle escaped Elenor. “Fine, I’ll assist you, but there’s a condition,” she declared, her tone laced with a note of negotiation. “You’ll need to make your private jet available.”

My glare intensified as a surge of frustration coursed through me. “There’s a reason it’s called a surprise, Elenor. If she spots you using my jet, she’s going to sniff out that something’s afoot.”

She shot me a piercing glare in return. “I’m not resorting to a commercial airline just to do you a favor,”

she grumbled. “If you want me to head over to Seattle, you’ll have to release your jet for my use.”

“Why not use the Southwark family jet?” I suggested, my reluctance stemming from a desire to ensure the surprise wasn’t inadvertently spoiled due to the use of my own jet. After all, I had no international travel plans to hinder its availability.

–Elenor’s response was resolute. “I won’t be asking Mom for anything, so that’s off the table. I’m not going to beg her for the

jet, and you shouldn’t either.”

Exasperation gnawed at me, mingling with a begrudging resignation. “Fine,” I huffed, finally yielding to her stance. “You can

Chapter 64

have the jet, but please, just don’t mess things up for me.”

A self-satisfied smile played on her lips, a clear indication of her triumph. Tilting her head back, she polished off the contents of her glass. “Alright, spill the plan,” she urged, curiosity glinting in her eyes.

“What’s the game plan?”

I kept it straightforward. “I’ve rented a penthouse. Your task is simply to get her there. That’s all you need to do.”

“Hmm,” she hummed, setting down her glass and intertwining her fingers thoughtfully. “What’s the guest list looking like? I hope you’re not foolish enough to include David, right?”

I couldn’t help but react to that notion. “Do I appear idiotic to you?” I retorted, incredulous. Her nonchalant shrug seemed to suggest that she considered the idea plausible. The urge to strangle her was strong at that moment.

“Just you, me, Raymond, and Adam, fresh from his military service,” I informed her, wanting to keep the gathering small and intimate.

She offered a sly compliment. “That’s a tight-knit group. Can I talk you into adding male strippers to the mix?”

My eyebrow arched at her suggestion. “I thought you and Raymond were back together?” I inquired pointedly, recalling his pursuit of her that day in Seattle. It seemed like they were willing to disregard public opinion.

“Raymond’s nothing but a coward,” Elenor spat out vehemently, her tone dripping with frustration that revealed her growing weariness of chasing after him. “Can you even believe that he carried me to my hotel room, locked us both inside, and pocketed the key? I was stark naked right in front of him and the guy didn’t even bat an eye.”

My frown deepened, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the level of detail she was sharing. “I think you’re oversharing, Elenor,” I interjected, wishing that perhaps my sister could maintain a bit more of a filter on certain subjects. Normal siblings tend to keep their sexual lives separate, but I suppose our dynamic is anything but normal.

She rolled her eyes dismissively. “Whatever.” Pushing herself to her feet, she stretched languidly.

“We’ve got three days till her birthday, so I’ll head to Seattle a day in advance. That way, she won’t grow suspicious of anything.”

I shrugged casually and opened my laptop, focusing on my work. “Do as you wish,” I said nonchalantly.

Her response was swift and laden with implications. “Oh, it’s not about what I wish. It’s about what’s happening, and since I’m flying out tomorrow, you better have that jet prepped.” She swung her purse over her shoulder, moving gracefully toward the exit.

“Elenor,” I called after her, prompting her to pause just short of the door. “Remember, keep it hush-

hush. I don’t want anyone, not even David, catching wind that she’ll be here in New York.” We don’t know who the ba stard is, and it could just be anyone. Until we find him or her, we have to be extremely careful.

She nodded in agreement and turned to leave. Just as her hand was about to grasp the doorknob, the door swung open, revealing Raymond on the other side. Their gazes locked, freezing them in a tense moment. Time seemed to stretch as they stared at each other, until Elenor finally broke eye contact and walked away, leaving Raymond standing in the doorway.

Raymond entered my office, taking a seat on the sofa as he settled in. “Our suspicion seems to be off the mark,” he mused, setting his tablet aside. I did some digging on Kelvin, and he’s still very much where he should be. It’s practically impossible for him to have orchestrated that.”

I cursed under my breath. I had secretly hoped that the blame could be placed on Kelvin, allowing me to bring this issue to a close. “Keep surveillance on him regardless, and let’s not halt our investigation,”

I instructed, my frustration evident.

“Understood, boss.” He picked up his tablet and woke the screen. “I’ve been delving into the world of professional hackers and trackers, and I think I’ve found a potential lead.” He pointed to an image on the screen. “This individual right here. He’s currently in Italy working on a job and is expected to return to New York next month.”

Sh it. “Next month is a long time. Triple his payment and have him come down here tomorrow.”

Raymond shook his head. “Hyde is principled. He doesn’t only do his job for money. He’s not going to leave Italy until he is done with his job, and if you pi ss him off, he’ll reject your job offer no matter the price.”

Chapter 64

“So what do you suggest we do?”

He relaxed back. “We wait. That’s the only thing we can do at the moment.”

Waiting. I seem to be doing a lot of that lately. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I blinked at Raymond.

“What’s your deal

with Elenor?”

His face tightened instantly. “I don’t understand what you mean by that boss.”

I glared hard. “I think you do Raymond. I honestly do not like butting into people’s private affairs, but she’s my sister, and I happen to care quite a lot.”

“Boss_”

I lifted a hand, shutting him up. “I am going to talk, and you’re going to listen,” I stated factly and he nodded. “If you’re not going to stop being a coward and take her seriously, let her go. Stop playing with her emotions.”

“Ravel, I really_”

“I do not want to hear your excuse, Raymond,” I interjected. I’ve listened to that long enough. “If you’re not going to take her seriously, then let her go.” Or I’ll be forced to act.