Chapter 71
- Family tour
<<. Miles. >>
“She… is not here… She hasn’t come back home since Friday afternoon.”
My jaw clenches.
“Where is she?” I ask, trying to control my frustration.
Why the hell would he invite me in if she wasn’t home.
They are out for a family tour to Catalina islands….. I will call her father and I am sure he can help you get connected to her.” He says, taking up his phone from his pocket.
That would be helpful.” I mutter.
Then I realize something.
“Isn’t she picking your calls, either?” I ask.
“Oh! She lost her phone again,” He says ruefully. “She had a minor accident on Saturday. Poor girl is going through
some critical phase.”
“She had an What?”
“Oh, looks like she didn’t tell you,” he says wide eyed then frowns. “That’s not good. I expected better from her.” He mutters while using his phone. “No matter how angry you are, serious things should always be shared among partners,” He adds, glancing at me, then puts the phone to his ear and waits patiently.
His words do not sound like he is just some employee of the household. His attitude and demeanor tells me he is a trusted man in the family. Probably close to Avery.
“He didn’t pick up!” he declares, and I pinch my brows in frustration.
“Where is she, and who is there with her?” I demand. I am sure the accident was not a coincidence. A strange anxiousness is getting hold of me.
I need to send a bodyguard for her. Someone who will stay there by her side.
Orin gives me the resort location and tells the dreadful truth that her half sister Della is there too. A smart person would not pull off any new stunt or attack on Avery in front of all those family members. But on a holiday island, possibilities are endless. I know little about Avery’s half sister. The gossip in town is she stole Avery’s fiance two years ago. But what else is there? Why the sudden attacks?
I will send the evidence to the officer handling Avery’s attack case. But I have an inkling he will say the evidence is
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not enough to make any case. Although, the media can do wonders to take care of this problem.
I browse my phone thinking and my eyes fall on Jane’s phone number. The Sub I had sent into Avery’s room to take care of her. Jane and Jonas are in an open relationship. Jane is a news reporter.
I wait for a while for Avery’s father to call back and ask Orin some questions about the accident.
I am tempted to ask questions about Della too, but considering I am playing Avery’s husband, it will blow out on my
face.
He promises me he would inform Mr. Collins that I want to talk to Avery as soon as possible.
After asking relevant questions, I leave the Collins mansion. I have the resort address and Avery’s father aka my father–in–law’s phone number. I am planning to assign a guard for her right away.
After having a quick word with my security team, I call Noah and he picks up at first ring.
“Hey man!”
“How did your meeting with Avery Collins went on Saturday?”
“Oh Wow…. No Hi. No Hello… Okay!”
I roll my eyes. He is pulling my leg for my ‘southern hospitality‘ comment on Friday night.
“Whatever! Answer me now!”
“She didn’t come because-”
“She had an accident?”
“Yeah.. that. I was told it wasn’t that bad, but she was tired so she stayed back,” I nod. Orin told me that part already.
“Could you do me a favor, Brother??”
“Ooo Miles Miller asking for a favor.. Ask away…”
“I want you to call Avery’s sister… the one who is always with her…”
I haven’t seen her, but I was told she was always around a couple in New York. As far as I remember, she was staying with the same girl in the hotel, too.
“Lena.. Her name is Lena”
“Yea” Whatever.
“So Avery was driving her car and I want to know what happened to it. I want my security team to check it out tonight.”
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“Like now?”
“Yup!”
“And how can I help you?” He asks, puzzled.
“I don’t know. For starters. Ask her where that car is?” ”
“Oh Miles… that’s tough. I am not her boysister, you see… who can call her at midnight for a chitchat.”
“Come on, work your charms, Mr. Rockstar.”
“Fuxk,” he mutters. “I will see what I can do.”
“One hour Noah.”
“Oh for fuxk sake.. I am not Liam, so you can order me around.”
He is not. But Noha is too polite to refuse. I laugh.
“oh I dare not!”
“And Miles…”
“Yea…”
“Are you sure this is just a casual hookup going on… you sound way too worried about her…”
I pause to think. Am I?
<<. Avery. >>
It’s the third evening, and I am bored as hell. Last two days were productive and interesting. I discussed many details with dad after checking the accounts. Now I have a gasp about what is going on with the Thomas Collins Constructions. I can clearly see how much Della has relied on Ethan’s family. Strangely, David Johnson, Ethan’s brother, has quite some hold on many departments.
Right now, we are having a giant family dinner. Some of our relatives have joined us too. It feels like a rehearsal wedding. It’s an excellent test to figure out if Collins and Johnson families can survive together or not. My cheeks are hurting from the fake smile I have placed on my lips for so long. Everyone is smiling and laughing.
“Avery… where are you lost? Dont tell me you are thinking about work again!” Isabella says in a teasing tone and everyone laughs. Such a fake laughter. I want to puke.
Isabella and Anna are Della’s besties. At first, I was very surprised that Della had packed my bag. Everything in my luggage was fine. As if she did it without malice. On the top of that, she was polite with me. I am so used to her being mean to me. That is why her politeness was raising the hair on the back of my neck.
Now I am thinking she wanted to give me a surprise by ganging up on me with her besties. She has been passing me small teasing comments since Anna and Isabella joined us. I am getting a little annoyed.
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“Dont tell me you are thinking about you rich imaginary husband?” Anna asks, and a silence falls upon the table.
Anna, the pretentious bitch, will be the maid of honor. By pestering me, she is trying to prove to Della how sincere she is about her job. This holiday is a small preview of what would happen at the wedding. I am not even in the mood to attend it. But Dad will probably make me.
I don’t take Anna’s bait and shrug. “May be!”
I have an urge to look at dad right now. But I don’t dare. Dad had promised that this news will be a secret unless I introduce Liam to the family officially. Now that Anna has mentioned my husband, I am sure Della had told her about it. I don’t give a fuck if everyone at the dinner table knows I am married. I will not admit it until I want to. It will cause endless questions and I am not in the mood to answer them right now.
“Is there a news we dont know about?” Ethan’s father asks. I look at him and give him a tight smile.
“Well, I am sure if they want us to know they will tell us when the time is right…..” Mary, Ethan’s mother, says. Then she quickly changes the topic and asks Della and Ethan. “Sooo, have you finalized the destination yet?”
I am relieved that she took the focus away from me. Mary has been treating me kindly. I am not sure why. Is it because she feels thankful for my freaking kidney or she still thinks that I am her to–be–daughter–in–law?
Whatever, I couldn’t care less.
“There is a tie!” Joy says.
“Mom!! Don’t tell them! I want it to be a surprise,” Della says, leaning into Ethan. They have planned for a destination wedding. They are barely three months away, and they haven’t chosen a location yet. I thought that was one of the first things people took care of.
I swallow hard, remembering I had the venue booked five months ago for my so–called wedding date. I try hard. Still, unwillingly, my mind wanders to the time when I was making all these preparations… for my wedding. My eyes go towards Ethan and I see Della giving him a kiss on the cheek. My gaze meets Ethan’s. His eyes have a strange expression. He glances at my cleavage and hold his eyes there. A little too long. It makes my skin crawl. I look away from him. I am wearing a Square Neck Shirred Dress. It isn’t indecent.
Is it?
I take a quick bite of Rosemary Mushroom Risotto served on my plate, hoping the rich, creamy flavor would make me forget my past.
“Why havent you joined us at the beach yet, Avery?” Della asks. “We came here for holidays… its too bad you are still working here…“.
Here We Go Again… Playing the sisterly sister.
“Is it because you are still ashamed of your body?” Isabella says and my face goes hot.
“Isa!!” Don’t say that!” Anna rebukes her, trying to stifle her laugh.
“What!” Isabella says, making an innocent face. “It happens….. Fat girls usually have low self–confidence even after
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losing weight.”
Her statement hits home. 1… don’t have low self–confidence. But yes, I am still sensitive about such comments. I have heard these things my whole life. Every single day. It’s like a trauma that will probably never leave me.
I am torn between giving her a befitting reply and being polite.
To my surprise, Della says, “Stop being a bitch.”
I am stunned. What is happening? Why is she being nice?
We eat the rest of the dinner in silence, listening to the usual chatter of our parents and relatives.
When We are roughly done with dinner, Dad says, “Tomorrow morning we are going to a waterfall. Be ready on time, everyone! And Avery! you will join us.”
I groan. “It better not be early in the morning, Dad!”
“It sure is!” My distant uncle, from the corner of the table, comments and everyone chuckles. “Alfred loves to play a tour guide.”
Dad laugh and says, “Once I get retired, thats my plan!”
We get up and make our way to our rooms. I want to take a stroll on the beach so I make my way there. When I am passing through a passage of trees, someone grabs my arm and pulls me into the dark.
I shriek.
