21. Chapter Twenty one
Chapter Twenty one
K endra
My night was restless. I couldn’t get Antonio’s mother’s evil smile out of my head. And I couldn’t shake off the feeling that I had seen her somewhere around Mr. Thompson before. I had to tell Antonio the truth about what was going on.
It was just a few minutes past 7a.m., but I strolled over to Antonio’s room either way. He was an early riser, so I was almost certain he’d be awake. And if not, then I’d catch his sleeping form just as he did mine the day before.
I knocked twice before letting myself in.
He was still asleep.
His strong features seemed relaxed, almost boyish, in sleep. I watched, transfixed, as his thick lashes—so much longer than mine—rested softly against his cheeks.
Maybe our daughter will inherit his lashes and his rich, dark hair, I thought wistfully.
Wait, what? A daughter? Kendra, slow down! When did I go from stolen kisses to imagining us with a child? How fast is this relationship moving? My mind scrambled to regain control.
“Longer than you know,” I murmured quietly to myself, a smile tugging at my lips.
I reached out, hesitating, and just as I was about to brush his hair, his eyes fluttered open. I froze, pulling my hand back, but he caught it mid-air and pressed it against his cheek, his gaze softening.
“Good morning, beautiful. What’s going through that pretty head of yours?” Antonio’s voice was a low, raspy murmur that sent tingles racing down my spine.
“Good morning.” I took a breath, letting myself savor the moment. “I was just imagining how beautiful your child would be if she had your lashes.”
He arched a brow, clearly amused, then pulled me closer until I was nestled against his chest. “You’re serious?” His voice was a warm rumble against my ear.
I shrugged lightly. “Maybe.”
He lowered his face towards mine, our lips a whisper apart. But just then, his phone rang, shattering the quiet intimacy of the moment. Antonio groaned, his expression darkening with frustration.
“Where were we?” he muttered as soon as the ringtone died, leaning in again.
Then it rang once more.
I couldn’t help but laugh softly. “I think you should take that.”
“Whatever it is can wait.”
I tilted my head towards the phone. “It doesn’t sound like it wants to.”
With a reluctant sigh, Antonio reached for his phone, glancing at the screen. His eyes widened, and he muttered a sharp curse under his breath. Swinging out of bed, he answered the call, his voice dropping into a low, tense tone.
As I lay there, my phone chimed with a text. It was from Thompson.
“I’ve learned that you’re over at the Michaelsons. Good job. Remember, Ms. Ryan, you have five more days.”
The reminder hit me like a punch to the gut. For a blissful moment, I had almost forgotten about the real reason I was here. But reality crashed back in as sharply as the message on my screen.
I needed a plan. Fast. Antonio’s mother would be arriving soon, which would make snooping around even more complicated.
But then, an idea sparked. Tina! If I could get her here, maybe I’d have a chance.
Antonio walked back into the room, his earlier smile replaced by a wary frown. “Are you okay?” he asked softly, his eyes searching mine.
“Yes, but…” I hesitated. “I have a favor to ask.”
“Anything, love. Name it.”
“Could I invite Tina over for a drink? I have some things I need to discuss with her… in person. It’s urgent.”
His brow furrowed slightly, but then he nodded. “Of course. We could even invite Jake over. And when you ladies are done with your gossip, we could all hang out and play games…”
He gave me a teasing grin, his eyebrows wiggling mischievously. “You know, maybe they could connect.”
I rolled my eyes, trying not to laugh. *Is he matchmaking?*
“Says the man who didn’t believe in love,” I teased.
He leaned in, his gaze intense. “I hadn’t met you then.”
“And what did meeting me do?”
“You made me fall for you… effortlessly.”
My heart skipped a beat. I knew I wasn’t being completely honest with him, and that lie between us hung over me like a dark cloud.
“So, is that a yes?” he pressed softly.
“Definitely,” I whispered, my eyes drifting to his lips.
***
Tina and Jake arrived at the estate shortly after, and we all settled outside in the lush garden, surrounded by meticulously trimmed bushes and vibrant flowers.
When Damon first showed me this place, I had been awestruck by its beauty. But watching Tina’s reaction was even better.
“I need to take pictures of this place!” she exclaimed, pulling out her camera. “It has to be part of my nature collection.”
I laughed. ‘Classic Tina’. For as long as I could remember, she had been obsessed with photography, even if she insisted it was just a hobby. Who studies photography just to make a hobby out of it? You guessed it: Tina.
Drawing her away from Jake and Antonio’s curious eyes, I led her to the far end of the garden where a small, stone waterfall trickled into a pond, shimmering in the morning light.
Her jaw dropped. “How…? Who even builds a waterfall in their garden?”
“I asked the same question,” I chuckled.
For a few minutes, she clicked away, capturing every angle. But when she finally glanced at me, her smile faded, replaced by concern. “Okay, spill. What’s really going on?”
I sighed, showing her the text from Thompson.
Her face tightened. “How does he know you’re here?”
“I have a theory…” I trailed off. “But I’m not sure yet.”
“Creepy,” she muttered. “So, what’s your plan?”
“Funny you should ask.” I gave her a hesitant smile. “That’s why you’re here.”
Understanding dawned in her eyes. “Oh, no. No, no, no.” She shook her head vehemently. “Whatever it is, Kendra, it’s risky, and I don’t like it.”
“Please, Tina. I have to find something. And soon.”
She crossed her arms, her expression stern. “Okay, but we need to be smart about this. You can’t just sneak into his father’s office. They probably have cameras everywhere.”
“Are you sure you really want to do this?” Tina asked, eyeing me carefully.
“I have to,” I whined. “I only have today and a few hours tomorrow to figure something out.”
I sighed. “Then what should we do?”
Tina raised an eyebrow. “Do you have a better idea?”
I slumped. “No.”
Before she could reply, Antonio’s voice called my name. “Rapunzel, let down your hair,” Tina teased, just as Antonio appeared in front of us.
“Ladies, the party’s out there, not here,” Antonio said with a wink, pulling me into his arms.
Tina cleared her throat. “Dear lovebirds, I’ll be going back to the party.” She grinned and disappeared.
“What’s wrong?” Antonio asked, concern in his eyes as soon as we were alone.
“Nothing, I’m fine,” I lied.
“Are you sure?” His voice softened.
I nodded, resting my head against his chest. “I just want to hold you a little longer... to remember this moment.” My grip tightened, knowing this weekend might be my last with him.
When we finally returned to the garden, we found Tina and Jake laughing together. A table had been set up with snacks, wine, and fruit, probably brought by the staff while Tina and I were by the waterfall. As soon as they saw us, they stopped whispering, but Antonio and I exchanged a knowing look, both smiling.
“Who plays chess?” I asked, trying to keep my mind off the plan.
“Your hus—” Jake caught himself mid-sentence, slapping a hand over his mouth. I blushed and looked down to hide my face.
“He mostly plays alone, though,” Jake finished, clearing his throat.
“That sounds boring,” Tina said, wrinkling her nose.
Antonio shrugged. “My brainless friend here doesn’t know how to play intellectual games, and my brother’s too busy with other things.”
While everyone laughed and played games, I was barely present, my mind spinning with Tina’s plan. A dull headache began to form.
How did I end up in this situation? Of all places, why did I have to rent an apartment in Antonio’s building? He must have noticed my distraction, but he didn’t say anything. He just kept glancing my way, concerned, while Tina and Jake were fully absorbed in the games.
“I need to use the restroom,” I finally said, excusing myself from the group.
They nodded, too engrossed in their competition to pay me much attention. I made my way toward George’s office, nerves jangling.
As I approached, I heard shouting. I crept closer and realized the door wasn’t fully closed. After checking that no one else was around and scanning for cameras, I peered through the crack in the door.
Inside, George was arguing with a woman. His ex-wife, Eve.
My instincts as a journalist kicked in. I pulled out my phone and hit record.
“I want a seat on the board of directors!” Eve demanded.
“You can’t have one,” George replied firmly.
“I’m not asking, George. I deserve a share of the company.”
“That’s why you get a monthly stipend.”
“That’s not enough! I have a right to be on that board.”
“You can’t have what was never yours,” George said coldly.
“I’m your wife,” Eve shot back.
“You ‘ were ’ my wife. You lost that title when you filed for divorce twenty-one years ago.”
Eve crossed her arms. “Fine. I’ve already set my plan in motion. I came here to give you one last chance to comply. If you don’t, I’ll go public with what I know.”
George’s face hardened. “Why are you doing this? Why now?”
“I didn’t ask you to kill your best friend just to claim full ownership of the proceeds from Don’s estate, did I?”
A loud gasp escaped me before I could stop it. They froze, looking toward the door.
Panicking, I darted down the hall and ducked into a nearby restroom. My heart pounded in my chest as I saved the recording. I stayed hidden until I was sure they had left, then tiptoed back to my room, my thoughts racing.
Once inside, I jumped into the shower, hoping the hot water would calm my nerves. But no amount of steam could wash away what I’d just heard.
Antonio’s father had killed his business partner. The rumors were true. And now, I have the proof.