TESTING THE WATERS Caleb sighed. He didn't want things to escalate out of proportion especially since Liliana now knows he's the CEO. "No, I'm afraid you can't." "But why not? If Mr Benson has been arrested, what harm can he do to me?" "We had an agreement, and none of the two options given to you included your continuance at the headquarters, Miss Jonas. I'm trying to save your life, don't make things any more complicated." He spoke calmly but with an air of authority. "You are trying to get rid of me. Just say so." He didn't respond to her accusation. "I will be out of town for a couple of days - maybe weeks, depending on how things turn out in Brazil. And just so you know, a lot of the staff in the headquarters are either going to be sacked or transferred.""Why?" Liliana cuts in, her voice shaking. "Because when investigations into my parents' death and little sister begin, so many people would be found culpable. Anyone who directly or indirectly had any dealings with Mr
THE STALKER They landed and boarded a cab that will take them to a hotel. They chose one situated in a secluded but nice area uptown for security reasons. Lord Dezani asked Caleb to pay for two separate rooms but he objected saying they should book a suite instead. He knew his grandfather wanted to give him some privacy but he didn't want to stay far away from him. A text message came into his phone. "They know you're in town. Tread carefully," the content read. The old man looked at the number on his screen, it was an unknown ID. Caleb was unpacking their briefcases when he saw the strange look on his grandfather's face. "Seen a ghost, Grandpa?" he joked. When Mateo didn't smile he instantly knew it had to be something serious. He dropped the shirt he was holding and moved to sit by his side. "What's the matter?" Lord Dezani handed the phone to him. "Read the message." Caleb stared long and hard at the phone not saying a word. "Who else knows of our mission to Brazil?" his
WHO HIRED YOU? So Liliana drove past the hospital. She had changed her mind and was heading straight to the police headquarters. Hopefully, she might cover a safe distance between her pursuer and herself before getting to the traffic light at the T-junction where she'd be forced to slow down.Her brain was scattering sparks. She remembered that one of the precautions she learned during her safety driving lessons was to always use a hazard light whenever she was in distress. So she immediately turned on her double trafficator and accelerated at a breakneck speed. The driver of the red car copied her. Her hands on the steering tightened. Fear nearly made her lose control. As she approached the T-junction and started to slow down, she observed a black Jeep parked by the side of the road. But as she got nearer, the car started to steam like the driver just turned the ignition upon sighting her car. Instinctively, she sensed it must be a trap to sandwich her in between them. Liliana sw
THE TORTURE "I'm not afraid of you," Mr Benson said bravely. "You couldn't handle me when you were a much younger man, is it now that age has shrunken your balls?"Mr Santiago didn't flinch at his insult. He had handled hardened criminals; sterner and tougher than him, and they usually cracked in the end."Ah, I can see you remember me too well." He made some guttural noises with his throat. "How would you enjoy being humiliated in front of this young lad?" Mr Benson turned to glare at Caleb. Then let out a peal of cynical laughter. "He sure looks like he could do with a bit of entertaining - something that has obviously been lacking all his miserable life."No one saw Caleb's angry outburst coming. He surged forward and landed Mr Benson a resounding slap across his puffy face. He saw the surprised look in his eyes as his cheek reddened. He then followed it with a blow that sounded like iron hitting a wall on his fat nose. "Plop!"Blood spluttered from his nose. Mr Santiago looked
MUMBAI"There might be no need for you both to continue to stay in Brazil." It was Mr Santiago speaking. "My men can handle any and every investigation you need to be done."The DPO nodded his head looking at Lord Dezani for his opinion. He must have also thought the same thing. Mateo turned to look at Caleb who was leaning against the cold stone wall in the corridor."I think I agree with them. They are professionals and know better. Besides, there's the company to get back to. And I also have other things to do."His grandfather patted him on the back. "You're always thinking like a Dezani. Your Papa would be proud of you." The brief silence that followed his comment let the other two men whisper within themselves. It was a discussion about who will be in charge of the prisoner's welfare. "Mr Benson can't survive for long without food and water," the DPO pointed out."I will have my boys take care of his stomach - so long as he's cooperative." That last part needed to be emphasi
THE SURPRISE MEETING There wasn't much to do after speaking on the phone with his grandfather. And he didn't feel like going to the office again because it was already late in the afternoon. "Better to make an early start tomorrow," he said to convince himself. The truth was that he was having mixed feelings about seeing Liliana after the way his conversation with Lord Dezani went. So Caleb thought to use the remainder of the day to go out sightseeing. He didn't know any place of interest in Mumbai except what he read up on Google and the few places he had seen on drama series in Bollywood. Putting on a pair of army-green Chinos with a butter-yellow round-neck T-shirt and black trainers, he carried his black summer coat in case the weather gets cold and stepped out to the reception. "Going somewhere, sir?" the receptionist on duty asked him. "Yes. But I can leave my keycard at the reception if it's the hotel policy," he said, sensing it might be the reason the oval-shaped face
CAN I TRUST YOU? They found a space beside the dome to the right and sat on the stone slab. It was getting rather cold and Liliana started to shiver despite wearing her coat. Caleb quickly remembered her history with pneumonia and asked whether she would need something hot to warm her a little. "Tea or coffee?" "Can we get a steaming cup of coffee around here?" Liliana echoed rhetorically. Caleb's eyes darted around searching for a cafe spot. Just then a man walked up to them and offered to show them where the coffee shop is located. Lilliana sighed with relief. They went and sat down at one of the tables. While waiting for their order to arrive, Liliana told him everything that happened after he left for Brazil, including how the police were able to arrest one of the men who was sent by Pedro to harass her. "The guy went to my house in the middle of the night not knowing I was out of town," she said amidst clattering teeth. Caleb observed her reaction and turned around impati
STRANGE CALLERThey sat there not talking for another five minutes. Caleb offered Liliana his handkerchief to blow her nose and wipe her eyes. "I don't know why I'm crying like a baby. I'm sorry for letting my emotions run away with your story." Liliana said as she cleaned the mess on her face. "It's because you have a good heart. Even though at first I misjudged you to be an arrogant bitch." Liliana smiled amidst her melancholic state. "Everyone always thinks that way at first.""Everyone, you say? That's hardly surprising," Caleb said laughing lightheartedly. He was surprised at how comfortable he felt sharing his past with her. And now he was becoming curious about her own past. "Can you tell me a bit about yourself?" he asked as the waiter came to clear their table. Caleb realized his coffee was getting cold and drank it in one gulp. The waiter took the tray away. "I would say my childhood wasn't so much fun as I grew up without a father." Liliana began and her eyes started t