Love, Lies and Billionaires

As soon as Maren set foot into her company, the workers reduced their volumes to murmurs and stares. She wasn’t bothered, though.

It was only normal that they talked about how frightened she could be when the fate of her keeping her son was going to be decided the next day.

Head forward and accompanied by just one guard, she got onto the elevator, ignoring the greetings of some workers which she knew were just so they could hear her say something.

No matter how much she tried to comfort herself, her mind still drifted to the fear of what might go down the next day at the court and deep down, she prayed that Alexander’s plan would work out.

She wasn’t scared- at least not like before. It was more of an anxiety she felt just as the elevator opened on her office’s floor.

“Good morning, ma’am,” Louise greeted as Maren passed by her station. Maren ignored and proceeded forward to her office. “A man is here to see you, ma’am,” she added quickly and stood to follow her.

“Send him to my office in five minutes,” she said without stopping.

“No, ma’am,” Louise said, just as Maren got to her door and pushed it inward. “He’s already in your office,” she continued quietly.

Maren stood at the door and looked into her office. In there sat a man and two men in uniform, each standing on each side of him.

She took a deep breath and walked it, drawing the attention of the three men at once. “I’m not answering any question from journalists,” she stated and walked to her chair.

The man just smiled and kept his eyes on her as she pulled off her coat and placed it on the hanger.

“I’m not here to ask you questions for journalism ma’am” his deep baritone ran through her head as she took her seat in her chair.

She looked at this man thoroughly. His calm demeanour didn’t sit well with his muscular and evidently agile body. His brown hair blended with his white inner wear and brown long sleeve coat, which failed to completely conceal a scar from a deep cut on his arm.

The man stared back at her patiently. His lavender coloured eyes were mysterious yet beautiful the more they stared at each other.

“What, then, are you here for?” Maren finally asked, snapping out of her thoughts.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Well first, good morning Mrs. Blackwood,” he began , and Maren almost rolled her eyes. “I am Micheal Katz, a private detective investigating the murder of Mr William Sinclair”

“Do you…” Maren paused as what he said had just sunk in. She blinked multiple times, confused. “I’m sorry what?”

“I said I’m Micheal Katz…”

“I heard that part, Micheal,” she said dismissively. “What do you mean by William Sinclair’s murder?”

“Well, ma’am, I’m sorry to break the news to you this way, but Mr Sinclair was found dead in his safe house early this morning and judging from the state of his body, he seemed to have been killed last night”

“Hold up, hold up.” She tried to comprehend what he was saying. “So you’re saying William is dead, and he was killed last night in his safe house which I’m just knowing about?”

“Yes ma’am,” the detective answered patiently.

Maren chuckled, making the detective sigh. Exactly the reaction he was waiting for. “If this is William’s way of surrendering, tell him he’s still going to be expected tomorrow and he should stop spreading shit about himself,” she said and pulled open her drawer to begin her work.

The man gave a momentary smile and pulled out a picture from the inner pocket of his coat. He placed it on the table and slit it to her.

She paused from what she was doing and looked up at him, then she looked down at the picture when he gave her a go ahead nod. She slowly picked up the small paper and gave it a glance.

The more she stared at it the more she couldn’t look away. The scene in the picture was both disturbing and depressing.

William’s lifeless body was spilled on the ground in the middle of the dimly lit living room. His neck had been slit round just enough depth to make him bleed quickly and then there were multiple stab marks which looked like the weapon had been dragged down in a line to tear his body.

In summary, it was a terrible sight to see.

“No, no” Maren muttered, shielding her mouth with her to avoid letting the sob sound escape as tears began building beneath her eyes. “No, William, no!” she said a little more audibly, letting her tears fall freely.

She threw the picture on the table and supported the hand on her mouth with the other as she turned away and cried uncontrollably.

“I’m so sorry ma’am” Micheal said, snatching the picture and putting it back into his coat pocket. “I was told you were to get married to him approximately five years ago, but you called off the marriage because to found out about his promiscuity”

Maren could only nod as the tears choked her.

“And if not mistaken, he had been sleeping with your best friend” she nodded. “Now, five years later, Mr Sinclair was back to you to gain custody of a child who he had no investment or played a part in raising. How did you feel about that, Mrs. Blackwood?”

Maren stopped and cleaned her eyes, trying to control her emotions. She has dealt with detectives enough times to know that that was a trick question. And if she was bursting with too much emotion, she might raise false suspicions.

“I mean, I was angry.” she sniffed. “He appeared from nowhere to claim Nathan and even kidnapped him once. I have a lot of reasons to kill him, but I still felt something for him. I loved him.” She said, her voice giving away to more tears.

“Any idea who might have done this?” Micheal asked calmly.

“William had lots of enemies. Those he’d had something to do with and those he hadn’t spoken to directly. Including Irene…”

“And Mr Blackwood?”