Chapter 8

I was a nervous wreck the whole day. It's safe to say that I messed up a lot at work today, and now I'm thankful that my boss knew why I was messing up.

I wasn't given a lot of work to be handled. And wasn't given anything to mail to clients or anyone outside the firm, thank goodness. Mr. Carlton spent the entire day in his office not coming out even once.

I couldn't help calling Liam at least every two hours to check where he was and if he was OK. He was getting very annoyed at this point, especially since I wasn't telling him the reason for my paranoia.

It was half past five when I was called into Mr Carlton's office again. I somehow felt that it wasn't work related, and I felt nervous as to what he had to say.

I knocked on the door and entered when he asked me to. He was sitting behind his desk talking to someone on the phone.

He looked like his normal intimidating self with that aura of power that he radiated by just his presence that made everyone shake in their boots.

It made me horrified all over again, how I had been clinging on to his very expensive shirt ruining it with my tears. And how I had felt so much comfort being just near him. What was wrong with me seriously? I was losing my mind for sure over the turn of events my life had taken.

He looked up when I just kept standing by the door, not moving. He waved me to sit down. I went and gingerly sat myself down on one of the chairs next to his desk.

"Yea, thanks, George. Yes, I will inform you." He hung up the phone after that, giving me his full attention.

I felt dread at seeing the look in his eyes, I knew he had bad news. I was scared if I would be able to handle it or not. I gulped, waiting to hear the verdict, as I stared at him like a scared little mouse.

I almost groaned as he closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead with his thumb and forefinger. He was making me feel more and more anxious.

"Ashley," he finally said, making me let out the breath I was holding. "You told me your ex-husband wasn't a good man. Did you know something, or were you talking about how he treated you?" I hesitated, not wanting to answer. I squirmed in my seat, feeling very intimidated under his scrutiny.

I wasn't sure I should be talking about the drug trafficking. Nobody knew that I knew, and revealing that I did, might put me in even more danger. Like I said, I wasn't sure I could trust Mr. Carlton that much.

"Do you know he is involved in human trafficking." He had spoken very softly, but it felt like a tornado just hit me in the face. My face had lost all of its color as my mouth silently fell open. David, who are you? I wondered, hearing human trafficking over and over again in my head.

No matter what, it's hard to comprehend that a person whom you had once loved could be capable of so much evil.

A tiny part in your brain always keeps justifying his behavior. That he's not that bad. What he does isn't that bad. I just didn't want to be treated that way, that's all.

But hearing the words human trafficking... a new kind of fear crept into my heart, and I felt myself shudder.

"No..." I whispered in disbelief.

"He is being investigated at the moment. They haven't got any solid proof on him yet." He told me, quietly eyeing me.

My eyes kept darting around in panic as many thoughts flitted through my mind. And suddenly, one thought had me whipping my head up to meet Mr. Carlton's eyes. "Hhe..why.." I stopped my stuttering to try to calm down by taking deep breaths. "Why do you think he is suddenly asking for us?" I felt so much fear, I had started shaking.

Mr Carlton leaned forward, still watching me closely. "Well, my guess is in what's in the message he sent you." Confused, I tried to remember the messages, trying to connect them to what he just said. "It's time to fulfill his duties as the son?" He helped explain.

"No!" I almost screamed. My eyes turned wild. "He can't! My son. He wants to train my son to be like him?" I asked in disbelief, shaking my head wildly as tears threatened to come out again.

"I guess so, Ashley." He told me sadly.

I stared at his sharp gray eyes, looking straight into mine. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I kept looking at him, but my mind was else where. I had to make a quick decision. For Liam's sake.

"I have to leave Mr Carlton." I told him with determination. He looked at me confused. "I have to take my son and run away. I don't care anymore, what David would do to me if we get caught. I know my fate won't be any better if I stay even. I am Liam's weakness. He would do anything to protect me. David will use me against him, and I can't allow David to turn my son into a monster."

With that, I stood up on my shaky legs. I had to leave immediately. I couldn't waste any more time. By just sitting here doing nothing, I am putting Liam in even more danger.

But a hand grabbed my arm, stopping me. I turned around to Mr Carlton, who was right beside me. How did he move so fast? I wondered, looking at his empty chair on the other side of the desk and then back at him.

"Where the hell will you go, Ashley? Do you have someone or somewhere where you could go? Mind you that whoever tries to protect you could end up in danger, too." He informed me, his face taking its usual stern look.

"Then it's lucky I have no one, isn't it. I'm just taking my son away from here, sir. Somewhere, David can't find us."

"He will find you, Ashley. Nomatter where you go. If he wants to, he can easily find you. And when he does, there won't be anyone there to protect you. And that man..." he said, shaking his head with a disgusted look. "Please don't go, stay here, let me protect you."

I stared at him, surprised at his actions. Right now, he was begging. His eyes were pleading with me. There was worry, dread, and a mixture of frustration swimming in his eyes. I couldn't understand why this normally cold and emotionless man, who always kept his distance from everyone, was suddenly so concerned about me.

"Sir, if you get involved, won't your life be in danger too? I can't allow that, Mr Carlton. It's my fight, I can't put any more people in danger.

"I'll be fine." He said instantly in a nonchalant way. I narrowed my eyes at him. "Dont worry about me. My problem isn't that. It's the fact that I can not take legal action on him without proof, so until then, he has the power to take his son." I gripped the chair next to me, feeling panicked hearing that again.

"Ashley -" He was interrupted by the sound of a notification on my phone.

I looked at my phone reading the message sent by David.

Who the hell do you think you are. Do you think you can stop me by hiring people to keep my son away from me? I will show you, you bitch!

I looked up at Mr Carlton, in alarm, the color draining from my face. I quickly dialed Liam's number, but it kept ringing. He wouldn't pick up. I dialed again, and still, he wouldn't pick up.

I felt a sob catch in my throat as I dialed again. Why wasn't he picking up? What was David talking about? Hiring people? I didn't hire anyone. And by messaging me like this, does it mean that David had been following Liam? And why wasn't Liam answering! David had seemed so mad, did he take Liam? Oh God, please no, I prayed as I kept calling Liam's number.

Through my peripheral view, I could see Mr. Carlton is taking his phone to call someone. He picked up immediately.

"Phil, what's happening there?" I watched him keenly as I kept trying Liam's number. But my jaw dropped when I heard Liam's name being mentioned.

I didn't realize that I had rushed to him clutching his shirt with my small hands while looking up at him, begging for answers. His face remained in a frown the whole time he was on the phone.

"Why didn't you call me earlier. No, I don't care how little it is, I need to be kept posted, ok? I didn't hire you to inform me after he gets kidnapped!" I gasped, my knees buckling, hearing him say that. He quickly grabbed onto my waist, holding me up while he continued his call.

After he hung up, he met my tearful eyes. At the moment, I didn't care who I was clinging on to. All I cared about was Liam.

"Do you know where Liam is? Where is he? Did David take him? Tell me please!" I begged him.

"He is ok Ashley, calm down. Your son and his friend just came back from basketball practice, and they are in his backyard right now." I felt myself sagg in relief hearing this. Of course, if he was playing, his phone would be in his bag or something, so he might not have heard it. But how did Mr Carlton know. I looked at him curiously, to which he gave me a guilty look.

"I hired someone to keep an eye on your son." My eyes widened in disbelief. How can he do that without my consent, and Liam, if he found out someone was following him, he would be so creeped out! I glared daggers at him while he gave out a sigh.

"Look, I had to ok. And I didn't have time to ask you. Anything could have happened while you were here. So I needed him protected, while I tried digging up skeletons hidden about his father. And I'm glad I did. There has been someone following Liam all day."

I gasped in shock at this revelation. Liam wasn't safe. If it weren't for the man, Mr. Carlton hired, I could have lost Liam today. That three day period given may have just been a distraction.

"Mu.. MrCarlton, thank you." I told him sincerely, my voice barely coming out due to the anxiety I was feeling."But I need to go home. I need to see him." I needed to see for myself that Liam was OK. Otherwise, I won't be able to calm down.

"I know, but I'm afraid I can't let you stay there anymore." He announced, sending me into yet another shock.

"What!" I screeched.

"David's guy is parked just a couple of blocks away from your house, Ashley. What if tonight he comes with back up. Phil can't protect you both from all of them. So it's safer if you come with me." He reasoned.

I knew what he said was true. There is a really big chance that could happen. I needed to protect Liam at all costs, and if staying with Mr Carlton was how to do it, then so be it...

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Hellooo. Decided to update this one early cause I'm able to write more this week. So enjoy!

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