Alistair's Pov

I scanned through the copies once again. Whoever tore it or had stolen it, was simply unaware of the fact that my father saved every little information in our company's private cloud, whose access was strictly restricted to him and me. I logged in using my private access as I switched the notifications off. I didn't want dad to find out that something was fishy so I restricted the notifications to myself. I tried comparing the data with the paperwork which was shattered on my bed.

I picked out a notepad and started circling the points which held weightage, which I had to ask my private investigator to throw more light on. Samuel Collins was indeed one smart dickhead. Every crime he did, including human trafficking to the trading of drugs, was neatly covered. No one could even point as much as their little finger towards him. I was going to expose him. I just had to figure out how.

Dad's words circled in the back of my mind. "No one knows about his son". I was always skeptical of who Charles was, and the fact that there could be a possibility of him being Samuel's son was on top of my mind. I unlocked my phone and called William. "Hey Big Man", I greeted him as soon as he picked up. William Forsman and his family have been my family's private investigators for years. We trusted them and confided in them in our private matters. He was referenced to us by my friend Aaron Reynolds.

"How's your dad now?" I could hear some concern.

"Doing better", I replied instinctively and continued "I need you to do a little digging"

"Shall I come over?" he questioned, however, he wasn't amazed. I could make that from his tone that he saw it coming.

"Dinner would be perfect. I'll ask mom to get your favorite meal prepared"

"Sounds like a plan", I collected all the papers and organized them basis the line of events to save mine and William's time. I placed all the papers in my locker and made sure to replace them with a new electronic code whilst locking it. I decided to call Zack and Chace as I rested my back on my bed. "First things first", I started speaking as soon as Zack picked up the phone, "Where's Chace?" I questioned as I continued.

"You sound serious", Zack ignored my question

"Because I am", I answered erasing any iota of his doubts relating to my current mood. "I need to know where Chloe was when I and Chace left the room"

"Making sure I was comfortable inside her"

"Stop it"

"She was asleep"

"How sure you are?"

"As sure as one can be", he chuckled and continued "my arms had a good breast massage. I can forget everything but that", I could hear him laugh, "No, but, jokes apart, she was asleep. I made sure to drop her home after she woke up. Everything okay..?"

"Where's Chace?"

"Now we are talking man to man" he paused "because your vagina couldn't do the talking, I had to"

"What the fuck do you mean?" I was fuming as I exactly knew where this conversation was going. I quickly pushed my feet in my shoes as I rushed outside the gate of my mansion. "Is he by Evelyn? I will fucking kill you, Zack. It was my call to make", I could hear him laughing on the other end of the phone.

"You should've made that call before passing your dick inside her", if I were anyway close to her, I would've punched his face and made sure it bled. "Fuck yourself", I canceled the call and drove as fast as I could. Chace wouldn't do it to me, but our gut is always isn't right, is it?

I tried calling Evelyn several times but was even more frustrated when there was no response. I mistakenly was about to run into a cow who was crossing the road, but then somehow managed to steer the wheel right. I sighed in relief and then reduced my speed. I, at once, reached the old building and threw myself out of the car.

I rushed inside and took a glimpse of the reception. There was no one. My mind once again paved back to my conversation with Rosaline, wherein she strictly said that she wouldn't allow any guy to touch her, but then again, it was Chace and she is quite aware of my proximity with Chace as a best friend. I rushed inside the cell where Evelyn was. I, without knocking, made my way inside. I was pulled back when I saw Zack, his clothes on the floor, his body on top of the woman. I hauled towards their directions and pulled him through his shoulders and threw him on the floor.

He shouted, "You son of a bitch", I sighed in relief when I took a look over the girl as I covered her with the sheets. She wasn't Evelyn. It was my Evelyn.

"Bastard, why did you play with me like that....?"

"I just wanted to cool your mind off the things you're stressing yourself over"

"You just made me more. Son of a bitch"

"Now if you spare me the drama, I'll continue what I started"

"Fuck you", I went towards the women's cell where Evelyn was. I called out for her as I waited outside patiently.

I saw Evelyn and instinctively engulfed her in my arms, curling my hands around my body. "I'm so glad. I'm only glad", I separated myself as I smiled "You are mine. You are only mine. I can't spare the thought of you with someone else." I stayed silent for a while as I continued to keep her close, I could see some women eyeing in our direction suspiciously. I, on the sudden thought of my lie being exposed, pulled myself back. The election was 10 days away. I was going to be the talk of the town. I was already, but it was all going to increase tenfold as the next day was officially the day when my father was going to announce me as his refill for the time being.

"I need to go", I whispered silently to Evelyn. "Take care of yourself", I meant it more than anything else in this world.

I turned around because I couldn't face her anymore. My heart ached, it really did. I did promise to get Evelyn out of her problems but right now was not the time. I had to stay away from troubles and no matter how much I tell myself that it isn't one of them, deep within I knew that she was one of the most complicated ones. I did promise to do something about this place and rescue her from it, and I intended to keep every word of my promise. It was just that, right now wasn't the right time.

"Why does it sound like a goodbye, Arnold?" she questioned, her eyes refusing to deviate from mine. Her lips hung up, her face pale and her expressions demanding an answer she already knew.

"It isn't", I tried walking away but couldn't anymore when I felt a tight grip on my arms. "Be honest", she exclaimed, her voice breaking as she talked.

"I'll be right back at you. Wouldn't be right away but I sure will be. You just have to trust me. Do you trust me?" I questioned, if I were her, I wouldn't trust myself.

She nodded loosening her grip on me. I walked away, without turning behind, because I knew that the moment I would've it would weaken me, tear me to pieces, and right now I wasn't in a mood to be torn apart. If it wasn't for Zack I wouldn't have come to this place for a long, long time, but, I guess I must thank that douchebag for at least giving me an opportunity to bid farewell to the one person who affected me in so many ways.

It doesn't change the fact that I wasn't going to spare Zack from his behavior today. He took an opportunity to ridicule my brain during my vulnerable phase. Somewhere, I felt shallow that I didn't trust Chace enough. He would've never done something this unscrupulous to me. I despised myself for it and intended to apologize to my brother for it.

I then did what I should've. I sauntered towards the room where Zack was and caught him in a compromising position. His clothes lay on the floor, I ran towards it, grabbed them, and made my way outside the building. Zack, being the shameless loser he was, wrapped his lower body in a sheet as he proudly exited the building a while later. I snapped at him while he did so. The camera wasn't allowed inside the premises, but it sure as hell was allowed outside.

Zack looked at me, the mockery on his face disappeared the moment he saw me picturing him on my phone. I smirked as I drove away. I knew exactly what I had to do with his pictures, but I didn't intend to do it because I didn't have time for the games, but I was going to save it for later. I sure as hell was. Oh, and I made sure to call one of my friends to pick Zack's car up. So now, he doesn't have a phone, a car, and most importantly, he had no clothes. If he's bad then I'm his dad. I peeped at his picture and managed to smile a little. I knew exactly why he played the prank. His means are wrong sometimes but he did what he had to, to lighten my mood.

I checked the time and realized that it was 7 p.m. I decided to pay a quick visit to Chloe to clear my mind and strike her off my list. I called her and asked her to meet me at the café, which was equidistant to both our houses. She agreed to it instantly. After landing there, I ordered us soft drinks. Chloe didn't keep me waiting for long. She reached within half an hour.

"So, what makes me see your blessed face three times in a week", she side hugged me

"I just want to know that I can trust you"

"What makes you say so...?

"You know it's a crucial time for me and my family"

"And I promise you that you will have me by your side whenever you need me"

"Nice comforting words"

"You wish"

"I'm serious AL, why am I here?"

"Because I need to know what exactly did you do in my absence when Chace and I left...?"

"Is it about the shitty bro-code again?"

Chloe raised her brow as she questioned, "No Al, I didn't sleep with Zack. You may think of me as a whore, but I am not one. Even if I would've, I wouldn't do it at your place, during the time of your misery when I clearly came to comfort you. I'm disgusted, I really am"

I tried to calm her as I placed my hand above hers, "Shush", I tried to silence her "I didn't mean that, you know it, right?" I was just suspicious of the driver which dropped you home. I caught him trading some information to our competitor. If you noticed something fishy about him...?" I questioned, clouding a story.

"But I wasn't dropped by some driver. Zack gave me a ride to my house. I'm afraid I can't help you. I'm sorry I overreacted", she apologized. Oh, so she was right. She wasn't involved in it. I just had to cross-confirm the story Zack told me about. I hugged Chloe and thanked her for coming at such short notice as I exited my way outside the café.

Within a while, I was inside my house. William was engrossed in a conversation with my father. I decided to break their conversation, "Dad, I can handle this", I shook my hands with William. "We were just having an informal chat", dad surrendered his hands as I took over.

"So, I'll let you finish your 'informal' conversation and wait for you in my room?" I questioned rhetorically

"I thought I had to meet you by your dad's study"

"Well, sometimes change is the only constant", I smirked "I'll see you then", I walked upstairs to freshen myself up. I removed the documents and carefully arranged them on my bed as I placed a chair close to my bed for William as I knew he wouldn't be comfortable sharing the same bed.

"So, you're here"

"And I have everything you need in this small baddie", he removed a pen drive from his pocket. I quickly attached it to my laptop and waited for it to give me permission to extract the encrypted files. "what the fuck", I gasped "How did you know that I needed information on Charles"

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