Although we'd initially planned to SKIP this week's update, we decided that it is more important to us to not disappoint those who waited for us and have read the special chapter, than to challenge those who didn't♡♡

So legit, if you have not read the special chapter BEFORE coming here, it is sadly your loss.

Anyhow, in either cases, this chapter is going to be a roller coaster so BUCKLE UP!

And give it ALL the interaction it deserves, because it holds a LOT of surprises :)

P.s. The soundtrack we have in mind for this chapter is the trailer music :)

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His words took some moments to sink in.

As I'd seriously not expected him to phrase such a thing with such ultimate clarity, being him.

'You have fallen in love with Rickard, no?'

Huh?

What the... hell?

Why would he ask... such a thing... now?

My heart clenched at the sudden rush of thoughts sailing into it, as all aimed to check for what the Chairman just claimed about me.

I gulped, as I clenched my fists, and for some reason, one thought suddenly rose and dominated all those around it.

And that was the promise I'd made to Rickard Ellington Conway, earlier.

'To never share what one knows.'

Yes.

It didn't matter whether what he was saying was true or not.

I... I should not give any... definitive answer...

I tightened my jaw, as I assembled every single ounce of strength I had in every corner of my body. Fixing my eyes into his, I froze my gaze in my best attempt to imitate a shadow of the coldness his son has.

As I flinched not.

"I don't believe you are expecting an answer to your question-like statement, Chairman."

I was genuinely surprised by my own voice, with all the dead seriousness and coldness it contained.

In a sense, it seemed as though at this moment and this place, I was fearless.

Fearless whether he was gonna kill me or not.

My body kept on shaking, but I kept on clenching back, in an attempt to keep myself intact.

"Whether I assure or deny your accusation," I gulped, "You will still believe whatever you please. And so, there's no point."

He didn't flinch, as he kept on fixing me with his unmoved gaze.

I could swear I believe he saw me as an insect, because the massive indifference and frost in his eyes would not pass as being aimed at a human.

It was not possible someone could be this unfazed by another human's presence.

I bit my lips, "But in all cases, I believe I have been under your son's employ for enough time to have become compassionate with his issues, that is all."

Perfect, Char! No stutters or hesitation, you go Champ!

An idea shot to my head at this, clenching my heart.

Yet nevertheless, I knew it served my purpose perfectly.

My heart ached, sinking at what escaped my lips emotionlessly:

"Besides, the President has Miss Carolina, no?"

Tears threatened to fall, and yet I let them not.

It was painful. Even if I knew the truth.

To admit flat-out that... he already had someone, even if it was a lie...

The Chairman's expression changed not, and yet, for a split of a second, something glinted there...

Triumph, once again.

He knew how hurtful such a thing was.

I made sure to not show it explicitly though, as I pursed my lips, clenching my jaw.

"I hope this makes it clear that I will still be loyal to my employer, no matter what."

My battery had successfully run out at this statement, as my entire body ached.

Apparently the toxin, even though supposedly lasts for fifty minutes, left lingering after-effects of fatigue and muscle pain.

From before me, the Ellington Chairman held his left hand up slightly, eyeing his watch without a flinch.

He shifted, and I jumped slightly, seeing he'd pulled out a mini pouch from his inside jacket pocket at this.

And he threw it.

In my direction.

It landed beneath my shaking legs, and he wordlessly left me to bend down with my collapsing figure, as I picked it up.

Well, at least I knew it probably didn't contain explosive material, as he wouldn't kill himself with me.

My breath stuck in my chest, as I opened it.

....

My eyes widened at the components, as my heart froze, clenching in a manner I've never felt...

It was that feeling of extreme pain.

The one you knew would never heal.

It was the one which, once it takes place, you knew it never really decays, but might just disappear in the subconsciousness for some time.

But resurface in the same intensity, every time it does.

And I recognized when was the last time I felt this same pain.

It was in the seconds my father got shot right before my eyes.

Painful, burning tears traced down my skin, as my eyes remained wide in complete disbelief.

This...

The pouch contained two things.

The first of which was a revolver I recognized too well... More like, could never in a million years forget.

And the second was a... necklace.

One with a locket. Which I also recognized too well.

It had a simple silver color, with a round shaped locket hung on it.

A loud sob escaped me, as I eyed the picture inside:

It was us...

Mom, Theodore, me, and... him.

This...

It was my dad's locket necklace.

My father always carried it around for good luck, he used to tell us so.

My eyes snapped to the revolver again.

This...

Flashbacks from when my father had this revolver held up at Rickard Ellington Conway back in Tottenham shot to my mind.

Yes, maybe the revolver alone might have not been his, but... once combined with the necklace...

I knew exactly what this point was meant to emphasize for me.

These were my father's last possessions.

I cried, in grief.

As my hands shook over the possessions, and I just pulled them to my pained heart, which could not stop clenching so painfully.

From before me, Trevor Ellington Conway eyed me in silence, as though savoring my broken state in pure sadism.

"The revolver is full, by the way."

My eyes widened.

What... did he say?

My heart shook in agony, as I eyed him with wide and disbelieving eyes. "Huh?"

He fixed his steel bars into my orbs, as criminalistic frost radiated off of them.

"You just have to aim properly, Charlotte Thorne."

I clenched my teeth, my heart drowning in darkness, as flashbacks from the last time I'd seen my father started creeping into my heart.

And that numb and mad feeling started waking up again.

As I clenched my hand around the revolver, and somehow felt my heartbeats echo in my head like virtual shots.

I sobbed once more, as I shifted.

Raising the gun up, aiming in the direction the heart of Trevor Ellington Conway who stood before me, motionless, without a single expression on his harsh and terrifying features.

I couldn't understand what he was doing, but I knew one thing for sure...

That if the revolver really had a load, I could kill him now and here.

I had been taking shooting lessons for a while now, and a direct target like this was nothing for me.

I gulped.

Oh how many lives I'd save if I do this now.

Anger ate me over, as I completely shook, and my muscles clenched.

This is the murderer of my father.

And the revolver I was holding...

It was Ben Thorne's.

I bit my lips hard, as I gulped, looking into his features.

Big, big, big mistake.

As I took his features in, from the angled jaw, to the impressive height and broad shoulders, up to most importantly.... the eyes.

My heart sank, as one reality befell on me.

I would be killing his father.

And yes, I knew they were enemies.

I knew his father wanted to kill me.

I knew his father had killed my father.

But could I do the same to Rickard Ellington Conway, without having ever discussed with him what he desired as fate to his father?

True, Mr. Ellington always mentioned on how he'll make his father pay for all his deeds, and how he is planning for his downfall.

But did he ever mention an intention to kill him?

And say, he didn't, but I wanted to view this from the perspective that I wanted to avenge my father...

Was it worth doing the same to R.E.C like what was done to me?

I know he probably despised his father, and that Trevor Ellington has made his life a living hell, but...

If a single happy memory between them existed, and it meant to Rickard Ellington Conway...

I would never want to be the one who took it away.

I sobbed, "Damn you!" My teeth gritted, as I realized I could not do it, and saw his lips twitch. Again.

As though he knew that already.

"You continue to prove you are such an intriguing experiment sample, young secretary."

His voice had come in waves of chilliness, as he let his icy orbs devour me, mercilessly.

It was sunset, and the breeze had become warmer at this, as I felt the sun rays hit my trembling skin.

I cried in silence, realizing how bad he'd managed to hurt me this time, both mentally and physically.

The numbness of my body had started to decay at this, as I lowered the gun, my eyes fixing into his with full agony.

He wasn't looking at me, but at his watch again. Weird, he seemed like he was waiting for something or... someone...

I clenched my fists, "So how long is my visit going to be?!" I spat.

He didn't answer me, as he slowly, with the coldest of blood, raised his right hand up, keeping his sharp-edged look at the watch.

And... snap.

He snapped his fingers, as though giving some sort of... signal?

And my eyes widened, as my senses started perceiving what rose as a result of his gesture.

What the actual... fuck?

More tears streamed down my face as I realized how psychotic the person before me was...

As disturbing violin sounds rose.

Around five or six violins being played in cohesion, at once.

What the hell was this?

I felt as though I were in some cinematic scene, one of those that get your blood boiling and your stomach stirring from the intensity.

I gaped at the insane man before me, who had his eyes shut for a millisecond, as though savouring the first bits of the rising music.

Which was among the most disturbing set of sounds I've ever heard.

It resembled some death anthem, enunciating his victory.

He opened his eyes at this, and my legs went numb, as I stumbled a few steps back.

At the whole new stratum of twilight and calamity that befell over his steel grey beads.

His look no longer could be categorized as human in any possible way.

And his voice came absolutely unfazed and relatively loud, as though meant for someone other than me to hear:

"I hope you had a smooth flight, Alexander?"

I shuddered, my eyes widening at the name.

And they snapped some feet behind him at this.

Only to fall on a silhouette which emerged from the door of the rooftop at this, and I gasped, as I sniffed at his scene.

Rickard Ellington Conway stood as straight as an arrow.

And somehow, a younger mirror of his own father.

Broad shoulders, angled jawline, and sharp features.

He was slightly taller though, and his hair was pit black, still perfectly styled.

His neck muscles were visibly popping, and he had his left hand harshly gripped over his right wrist. The button of his suit was undone, clearly to give space for his buffed clenched muscles to pop up.

And his expression... Goodness.

It was something else.

Clenched jaw, pursed lips, slightly furrowed eyebrows, and... a pair of destructively storming frigid orbs. Long gone was the sea blue I always drowned in, and heavily emphasized was the dark steel which mirrored those of the Chairman before him.

Like a silent demon.

My heart sank at how frightening he looked.

Snapping my eyes back to the Chairman, I saw he still didn't turn, and yet his wording, let alone his expression, from the ultimate lunatic and freezing, unmoved look, to the pure victory reflected in his beads, mirrored he was very aware who the person behind him was.

He parted his lips at this, revealing his fatal vocals:

"Rather endearing of you, to have your forces attack the entirety of the building but spare the violinist band. I did not expect the playing to be heard when I gave them the signal to welcome you."

I gasped. There really was a band! One that he'd agreed with! He'd timed Mr. Ellington's arrival, including calculating that the president's forces would attack the forces in the building!

I shivered, for him to time all that means...

Rickard Ellington Conway started moving with military-like, harmonic and confident steps.

...That we had walked straight into his trap, didn't we?

Mr. Ellington's eyes remained as lethal, and he spoke not a single letter.

Passing by his father, his eyes fell on me, taking everything about my state in.

He didn't flinch, neither did all the terrifying components of his look waver.

It was among the rare times where his look...

Did not defrost for me.

He didn't look like he was eyeing anyone different than his father.

In a sense, as though he's at a deeper than usual level into that state of rage.

One beyond the one he snapped to in Dubai.

Or even snapped to when my father was shot.

I shuddered, noticing he was nearing me.

Unintentionally, my body shook, as I fixed my wide and shivering eyes into his.

He didn't flinch still, as he reached me.

I took a step towards him, and almost subconsciously, started preparing to embrace him, because I genuinely... needed to feel safe.

He didn't seem similarly inclined.

As he passed to stand before me, and turned towards the Chairman.

That is, blocking my view.

My eyes widened. "Huh?"

I could barely see his profile from my position, and I could one thing...

He wasn't pleased. At all.

His unwavering gaze was fixed into that of his father's, and his jaw shifted, as he parted his lips.

"You must be suffering an excess of men, to the point that you're innovating new ways to dispose of them, Chairman?"

I gulped, s-so all the forces belonging to the Chairman in the building...

What the hell... did happen down...

Trevor Ellington Conway did not blink, keeping his unfazed look in his son's direction, and the steels clashed.

"I would not say it was a case of excess in resources." He muttered, "It's more a case of..." His lips twitched, for the first time today, and that sent chills across my spine, as he continued:

"The benefits outweighing the costs."

My eyes widened, and yet the president flinched not.

As though he was expecting all kinds of answers from his father at this point.

On the contrary, I felt my blood freeze.

Because for him to be so casually stating that sacrificing his men was worth the benefit...

Then the benefits must be something neither Mr. Ellington nor I could imagine.

A cold voice came at this, snapping me out of my thoughts.

The voice was freezing, and emotionlessly arrogant, yes, but it was low, as though meant for only me to hear.

"Thorne? You are able to move, si?"

I gulped, nodding at my employer before me. "Wh-Why?"

He didn't look at me, as his neck muscles kept on popping madly. "Because you are going to leave before me, and meet with Romeo who's waiting for you in the floor beneath this." He ordered smoothly.

I gasped, "What?!" And leave you to face this psychopath alone? "Of course no-"

His voice came, cutting me off.

Now reading this sentence, one would think that he'd cut me off with a command, or some absolute order like 'You're in the way, Thorne!', or 'No arguments, Charlotte!', or 'This is not something I am willing to negotiate, Thorne!'.

Only, it wasn't.

Instead, it was a set of phrases that I honestly, with all what I had of mental capacities, did not expect.

He took a step back, keeping his back towards me, as he brushed his back against me, closing the distance between us but not while facing each other.

In a sense, it was as though he just wanted to...

Make me feel his presence near.

And his deep, authoritative, and arrogant voice came low:

"Tell her that she must have probably went through a lot."

I gasped, and my eyes widened, as I noticed his right hand move back, t-t-towards me?

Wait... The phrase he'd just said...

"Let her know that you are here now."

His voice came, again low yet with supreme power and unwavering dominance. It was as though he were a king announcing his coronation on the reign of influence.

And... this phrase too...

The disturbing music was still on, as his hand moved slowly...

Towards my free right hand behind him.

"And that you will make sure everything is going to be okay."

I became sure of the origin of the phrases he'd just said, as his right hand reached mine at this.

And it held it.

Tightly, yet also... gently.

With so much power and titanium, yet also... so much caution.

My heart sank, as almost unconsciously, tears strolled down my cheeks.

The phrases he'd just said... They were the ones I'd advised Esteban to say to... Emilia.

In order to assure her.

He was... reminding... me of them.

As though he... was saying them to me.

To relieve me.

And I'd be a liar if I said he hadn't... succeeded.

Because one way or another I...

I felt safe at this spec of a minute.

And I found my hand enclosing around his, as it shook.

It was a very painful and desperate moment.

Yet it also held hope, just by the mere fact that the Chairman had no idea what was happening behind his son's back -as the latter was literally blocking my view. To me, this felt like a mini reflection of how... Rickard Ellington would always... make his way through... right?

Upon my reaction, his majesty's hand tightened its grip further against my hand, as his gaze intensified by hundreds, if not thousands of folds.

He looked beyond determined.

And his murderous and dangerous look towards his father became more emphasized.

"Charlotte." The name escaped the pit of his throat in a low command, enough for me to hear. "I'll be down in no time." His statement came,