CHAPTER 49: WHO TO TRUST?

"Hello ma’am, are you there?" Kendall’s voice sounded frantic, and my heart immediately skipped a beat.

"Yes, I’m here," I said in a whisper. "What’s going on? Your messages sounded urgent."

"We can’t talk over the phone," Kendall said quickly. "It’s too risky. We’ll need to meet somewhere."

"Meet you where? What’s this about?"

"The old warehouse on Fifth Street, near the docks. You know the one? Come alone, and come tonight around eleven."

"Kendall, you’re scaring me. Can’t you just tell me what you found?"

"Listen to me carefully, Mrs. O’Brien. You can’t trust anyone around you. The people you think are on your side... they’re not your real people. Your father’s dealings are much worse than you thought."

My blood ran cold. "What do you mean they’re not my real people? What dealings?"

"I can’t say more over the phone. Just... be careful who you trust. And come alone tonight. This is bigger than we initially thought."

The line went dead, leaving me staring at my phone in shock.

I walked back to the dining room on unsteady legs, my mind reeling from Kendall’s cryptic warnings. Erica and Axel were eating in silence, and the thick tension felt thicker.

"Everything alright?" Erica asked, noticing my pale complexion.

"Fine," I managed, taking my seat. "Just work stuff."

But I couldn’t concentrate on the food in front of me. Kendall’s words kept echoing in my head: "You can’t trust anyone around you."

What did that mean? Was he talking about Axel? Or is it Erica? Or the staff? About everyone in my life?

I pushed my food around my plate, barely eating anything. After what felt like an eternity, I excused myself.

"I’m not feeling well. I think I’ll go to bed early."

Erica looked concerned. "Are you sure you’re okay? You look really pale."

"I’m fine. Just tired."

I headed upstairs, my mind racing with possibilities. What had Kendall discovered that was so dangerous he couldn’t talk about it over the phone? And what did he mean about my father’s dealings being worse than I thought?

I was about to knock on Erica’s door to talk to her about everything when I heard voices coming from her room. I paused, recognising Axel’s voice.

"I’ve arranged a place for you to stay," he was saying. "It’s secure, and you’ll have protection there."

"That’s very kind of you," Erica replied. "But I don’t want to be a burden..."

"You’re not. It’s better this way. For everyone."

I knocked and entered. "What’s going on?"

Axel turned to me, his expression neutral. "I was just telling Erica about the arrangements I’ve made for her."

"Thank you," I said, genuinely grateful despite our earlier argument. "I appreciate you doing this."

He nodded curtly. "The car will pick her up tomorrow morning."

With that, he left the room, leaving Erica and me alone.

"How do you feel about this?" I asked, sitting on the edge of her bed.

Erica smiled sadly. "Honestly? I’m grateful. I know I’ve caused problems between you and Axel, and I don’t want to make things worse."

"You haven’t caused any problems. Axel is just... complicated."

"He cares about you, you know. I can see it in the way he looks at you, even when he’s trying to be cold."

I shook my head. "I guess he’s not just used to having too many people around him, that’s all."

"I guess so too. He’s got a lot on his plate. I mean, he’s the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar international conglomerate. Adding my problem to the equation is more than a burden."

I wanted to believe her, but Axel’s words from earlier still stung. "Maybe. But right now, I have other things to worry about."

"Like what?"

I hesitated, remembering Kendall’s warning about not trusting anyone. But this was Erica, my childhood friend. Surely I could trust her?

"Just family stuff," I said instead. "Nothing you need to worry about."

We talked for a few more minutes before I left her to pack her things. Back in my room, I watched the clock, counting down the hours until eleven o’clock.

Kendall’s warnings had me on edge. If I couldn’t trust anyone, that meant I had to go alone, despite his instructions. But what if it was dangerous? What if whoever had been threatening Erica was now after me, too?

As eleven o’clock approached, I made a decision. I would take one security guard with me, but I’d emphasise the need for absolute secrecy.

I slipped out of the house and found Roy, one of the security guards Axel assigned to me.

"I need you to drive me somewhere," I said quietly. "And I need you to promise me that this stays between us. No reporting to Axel until I tell you to, no questions asked."

Marcus looked uncertain. "Mrs. O’Brien, I’m not sure..."

"Please. It’s important, and I can’t do this alone. But no one can know about this till I’m certain. Do I have your word?"

After a moment, he nodded. "Yes, ma’am."

We drove through the dark streets toward the warehouse district. The area was deserted at this hour, with only the occasional streetlight casting long shadows across empty lots.

"This is it," I said as we pulled up to the warehouse on Fifth Street. The building looked intimidating against the night sky.

"Are you sure about this, ma’am?" Marcus asked, eyeing the building warily. "This doesn’t look safe."

"That’s why I have you here. I’ll wait in the car while you do a perimeter sweep."

"Okay, ma’am."

I waited while Roy went around the warehouse building, checking my phone from time to time. Roy returned after five minutes. "Seems pretty abandoned to me. But I still don’t like it, ma’am."

"I don’t either, but it’s a secret meeting. Just wait by the entrance, if I’m not back in fifteen minutes, call for backup."

I got out of the car and approached the warehouse. The front door was slightly ajar, which sent a chill down my spine. Kendall had said to come alone, but he hadn’t mentioned anything about leaving doors open.

I pulled out my phone and dialled his number as I stepped inside the warehouse. The space was vast and dark, filled with shadows and the musty smell of abandonment.

The phone rang once, twice and then I heard it. The faint sound of a ringtone echoing from somewhere deeper in the warehouse.

"Kendall?" I called out, but there was no response.

The ringing continued, coming from somewhere to my left. I followed the sound, my heart pounding with each step.

"Kendall, are you there?"

Still nothing.

I realised I needed backup and turned back toward the entrance. "Roy!" I called out. "I need you in here!"

I heard his footsteps behind me as we both followed the sound of the still-ringing phone. The warehouse was a maze of old crates and machinery, and the sound seemed to be coming from behind a stack of wooden pallets.

"Over here," I whispered, pointing toward the sound.

We rounded the corner, and I immediately wished we hadn’t.

Kendall was lying on the concrete floor, motionless, his phone still ringing from somewhere in his clothes or under him.

"Oh God!"