The Billionaire Who Saved Me

“Did you finally meet Mr. Dirk?”

From Garrett’s expression that morning, Amber should have been able to guess what had happened. Though it seemed ordinary, for someone like Amber, who had accompanied Garrett for years, even a slight difference in her boss’s demeanor could provide her with an answer. Even for this particular question.

Nonchalantly, Garrett walked over and sat down at his desk. He immediately switched on his computer and nodded.

“So.”

Oh, maybe there were one or two occasions where Amber’s guess was wrong. Because just a few seconds ago she thought that Garrett would not meet Dirk in the end. Or even if Garrett still wanted to meet him, maybe Dirk would try to avoid the meeting. Trying to avoid Garrett.

“But it didn’t go as I hoped.”

Amber’s brow furrowed slightly. Maybe her assumption was not too far off. “What do you mean, sir?”

“I mean…” Garrett took a deep breath. He exhaled slowly as he looked at his secretary. His expression was flat. It almost made Amber wonder what had happened. “… we met. But I didn’t get anything out of it.”

Amber understood exactly what Garrett meant. So she didn’t push any further.

“And about Mrs. Dakota.”

Garrett’s voice came back. He stared at his secretary.

“Just cancel the meeting with her,” Garrett whispered. “It’s completely pointless.”

“Alright, sir.”

Alone in his office a few moments after Amber left, Garrett stopped pretending. Pretending that he had been reading while Amber was still there.

One thing was bothering Garrett. Ever since the incident at Dirk’s house and the fact that Carolus had contacted him right after his arrival. It raised a big question mark in his mind. Was it a coincidence or not?

According to Garrett, it seemed too perfect to be a coincidence. When he had just arrived at Dirk’s house, Carolus contacted him immediately. As if Carolus knew that Garrett was there.

Was this really a coincidence? Or did Mr. Carolus already know that I was there?

Because, according to Garrett, it was almost impossible to be a coincidence. Whether he liked it or not, the bad thought crossed Garrett’s mind. That Carolus was watching him.

But with what?

Garrett took out his cell phone from the pocket of his suit. Weighing it for a moment. Trying to remember if there was a possibility that his phone had been sabotaged. But he doubted it. Because he and his phone were almost inseparable due to work.

He wanted to blame Dariel, but of course that was impossible. In any case, Dariel had not accompanied Garrett when he left yesterday. Neither did Garrett say anything to the driver to indicate that he would be meeting Dirk.

Then… who? Or… what?

Trying to stay calm and think, Garrett closed his eyes. Trying to track down any detail that had to do with him. Something that could possibly be a bridge for Carolus to observe him.

Garrett’s eyes opened. His expression changed.

The car?

*

Elice still enjoyed her days as editor-in-chief. No exception now. Where she did a review of the incoming articles. According to the schedule, the articles would be published this Saturday. And Elice had only two days to check them all. She had to be quick, because the next task was waiting for her. That was to arrange the final appearance of the articles. Combining content, pictures, and illustrations.

One article that was currently open on Elice’s computer screen was a news article about Garrett’s performance at Pacific Energy during his first six months. It was clearly an article that made Elice reflexively take a deep breath. Not to be subjective, but seeing news articles about her own husband was not something Elice was used to.

“I should get used to it.”

Maybe a little amusing. But there was not much Elice could do when she, who worked for a business magazine, was married to a man deeply involved in that world.

“All right,” Elice sighed. “What’s in here?”

Reading the rough draft of the article, Elice found that the discussion raised was not far from a summary of Garrett’s performance in his first six months on the job. Both the good and the bad of the moves he made. And then comparing it to the performance of the previous leader. That’s when the name of Elice’s late father-in-law appeared. Followed by her late grandfather-in-law.

In the middle of the article about Allan and Harlan, the mouse in Elice’s hand stopped moving. Elice furrowed her brow, trying to remember something in her head. Something she had read recently. Something that had touched her when she read the word “late”.

Elice’s eyes left the screen. She looked unsure, scanning her surroundings. She looked at the buffet, the sofa, the display rack, and then…

Elice stopped at a large cabinet not far from her desk. She stood up, turned the key, and opened the door.

Elice’s eyes moved quickly here and there. Searching. And then she stopped at a box underneath.

Kneeling down, Elice ignored the other boxes labeled 1998, 1999, 2000, and so on. She even ignored the boxes marked 1996, 1995, or even 1994. She pulled out the box marked 1997.

Slightly dusty and musty, Elice had to cough a few times. She opened the top of the box. She searched inside and found it. A file with the name Harlan Alexander Morales in the title.

“Ah… my guess was right. In fact, it’s the news of Garrett’s late grandfather’s passing that I was thinking about earlier,” Elice murmured quietly. “Reported due to a heart attack. But the trigger for the heart attack is what has caused speculation from various parties.”

Elice quickly leafed through the file. She read several names mentioned there.

“At least that’s what Dr. Dakota said.”

Elice closed the file. Putting it back where it had been. And then she put the box back in its original position.

Taking a deep breath, Elice closed the cabinet. She sat back in her chair, but did not immediately continue her work. Since she had already delved into the old news about the late Harlan, her curiosity now led Elice to open a file on her computer.

Elice immediately went to the year 2017. The year in which the late Allan died. It was reported that he died in an accident.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

“There was suspicion of negligent driving, according to the police, there were anomalies in the victim’s injuries.”

Elice suddenly frowned. For a moment she was stunned. It was as if she had to digest the excerpt from the article.

“I’m not sure because I didn’t pay much attention to the news either. But wasn’t the cause of Garrett’s late father’s death actually an accident?”

The year 2017 was indeed a year when Elice was not yet involved in the business world and all its hustle and bustle. But for some explosive news, she certainly would not overlook it. Take, for example, the news of PT. Lameela’s bankruptcy.

To confirm her suspicion, Elice opened the Google search engine on her computer. Using the keyword “cause of death of Allan Alexander Morales,” she searched for the news she needed.

One by one, Elice opened each article that appeared. And Elice’s suspicion was right. The cause of Allan Alexander Morales’ death was an accident.

Elice returned to the article she had opened. She read it carefully and went to the folder where the article was located. Inside were several photographs.

“Oh my God.”

Elice quickly covered her mouth. The photos of the accident made her feel sick. From the condition of the badly damaged car that had crashed into a utility pole, to the blood splattered on the road, to the deceased victim who was no longer alive. Sitting with a broken face while his back was up. Like someone hit by a hard object.

Elice couldn’t bear it. She immediately closed the folder and reached for her glass of water. She tried to calm her stomach.

But the horrible image remained in Elice’s mind. Until she felt her body shaking. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead. And her heart was beating loudly.

“Oh dear. I shouldn’t have opened this folder.”

As much as possible, Elice tried to banish the frightening image from her mind. Unfortunately, the more she tried to forget, the more the image became embedded in her thoughts.

So, it wasn’t surprising that it took Elice a long time to calm down. When she finally sat down behind her desk, a question came to her mind.

“What did Garrett feel when he found out that his father had been in such an accident? It must have been excruciatingly painful?”

*

Garrett certainly felt something was wrong. And the strangeness only increased. Realizing that his movements were being watched, he felt a different aura when he entered the Morales residence.

The grand house no longer showed its luxury and grandeur in Garrett’s eyes. Instead, it exuded an atmosphere of tension and mystery. It made Garrett wonder.

Do I live here because I am considered a future owner and successor… or the other way around? Am I staying here just to make sure all my actions are perfectly recorded?

Garrett entered the house slowly. He watched without expression as he passed each servant who happened to cross his path. They greeted him, but Garrett made no response. The man seemed to be evaluating. Was the person before him truly a servant or perhaps a spy sent by Carolus?

As he climbed the stairs to the upper floor, Garrett looked down. Perhaps for the first time since he had lived there, Garrett realized how large and spacious the house was. And for such a large residence, Garrett now had doubts. Did he really know everyone who lived there?

“Garrett. Have you returned?”

Garrett’s footsteps stopped. His gaze turned to an older woman standing not far from where he was.

It was Daphne. Along with her private nurse. She seemed to be smiling. Like her usual smile. But this time it looked different in Garrett’s eyes.

“Garrett?”

Garrett blinked. Once. Then his feet moved slowly again. He approached Daphne with a look that made the grandmother furrow her brow.

“Are you all right?” Daphne asked, her voice filled with concern. “Are you ill? You don’t look like yourself.”

For a moment Garrett did not answer. He did not say anything. But then he said,

“I’m fine.”

*