Shattered Illusions

Chapter 20 - To jail

Alex's POV: 

Marcus is very annoying. He was giving me headache with all the incessant bickering about Zane's birthday. All he wants to do is fucking drink, so why do we need to change the venue and shit. I continued ignoring him and stared at my beautiful princess. God, I couldn't be prouder of her. She is so damn brave. Although I do want to kill the bastard who did that to her. My blood fumed upon hearing the details about what happened. No one deserves that.

As she answered the door, her sweet smile disappeared and turned into confusion and anger. I quickly rushed over to her. "What happened?" I was shocked to see the police officers, but quickly masked it. "What do you want officer?" I asked them. "You're under arrest Mr. Chase." My eyes widened. "On what charges?" "For fraud and embezzlement" I stood there shocked. How? When? I couldn't understand anything. "You have to come to the prison with us right now and may decide for a lawyer later." I nodded and went along with them with my head still held high. I know I didn't do anything wrong. But my heart broke seeing Allysa with teary eyes and a worrisome face. I wanna run back in the house, take her into my arms and comfort her. Hell, I'll kill whoever put me in this mess. Fucking bastards!

As soon as we reached the jail, Zane and Marcus came along with my lawyer, Mr. Andrew Lopez to negotiate with the officers and get the details. I ran over a thousand scenarios in my head where I might have done something wrong, but I  couldn't remember anything for god's sake. Allysa's voice travelled through the halls, she was crying. Fuck, I'll kill the motherfucker. 

Andrew and I were sitting in a small sutffy room with a pair of table and two chairs. He asked me various questions regarding who I have been meeting and what my top projects have been currently. I answered all of them truthfully, racking my brain for even the tiniest bit of suspicion about anybody. Ughh for god's sake! I yelled in frustration. "Calm down, Mr. Chase. We gotta think clearly for an action plan." I nodded. Andrew Lopez is one of the best lawyers in the city and also my favourite personal investigator. I know he'll figure something out. 

I waited in the jail, waiting for any word from outside about my case. I hate feeling this useless. 2 hours have passed and it's unbearable. Fuck! Suddenly the officer came and took me back to  that room again. Andrew was seated there with some papers in hand. I urged him to begin. 

"Today morning, an accident happened at your construction site. Two of the men died there while four of them were brutally injured. Upon inspection, it was figured that while the people paying for the complex's construction gave you a lot of money for that particular project, you only used half the money and bought cheap materials for the construction which resulted in weaker platforms and the death of the two workers. Also, you used the other half of the money for personal uses. That money was sent in an offshore account on false pretenses of ghost employees and phantom projects. Your signatures are there on the documents signing off on the use of the materials and other transactions." He finished and looked at me with pity.

I sat there flabbergasted. That fucking swine! He came like a friend and while I was busy with other stuff and wasn't really minding this project coz I believed in his competence, he created a whole web of deception and lies to fuckin' betray me. Why, Evan Miller, why?!?!! 

I discussed with Andrew the possibilities of why did he do this and what was he getting in return. "Did he have any kind of motto for revenge on you?" I thought for a while. "Not that I know of." He sighed. "We have to work harder on this than I thought was necessary." I nodded. "For now, the judge has agreed to grant you the bail, but you have to submit  your passport until the hearing." I sighed. "Of course."

After a very long day, I finally reached home. Allysa was waiting for me by the door. As soon as I entered, she  jumped and hugged me tightly, her eyes filled with tears. "I was so scared for you." I carressed her hairs. "I know, princess. But don't worry, I'm alright now. And we'll catch the actual culprit." She nodded, her arms wrapping around me tighter. Now, I felt home. 

After a long bath and dinner, I  was sitting in my study with Andrew, discussing the details of the case. Someone knocked on the door. "Come in." Marcus came inside, looking very serious and partly nervous. I narrowed my eyes at him. Did he finally come to his senses and was about to confess why did he come to New york in the first place. Well, his timing couldn't be worse. But I wasn't about to shoo my brother away. I raised my eyebrows at him, urging him to tell me what happened.

He took a seat against me and began. "You know how I insisted that I wanna come along here. Well, about that.. I took some money from someone to start my own business. I wanted to prove you and mother that I can be something too and I don't have to rely on your income all the time. But I lost that money in a futile  investment. Since then, I have been trying to recuperate the losses by doing something or the other. But I couldn't. And they began hounding me for their money. I asked them for some time, but they didn't let go and threatened to ruin me and my family. Well, that someone is Evan Miller." 

I looked at him shocked. "WHAT THE FUCK?!!" I yelled at my brother. "If you wanted some money for any investment, you could've asked me! I'm your fuckin' brother!" He winced. "Well that's the point. I wanted to do something without your help and I didn't  want you to know in case I failed." I sighed. There is no use in arguing with him anymore. "Get the hell out!" He nodded. "I'm really sorry, Alex. Please let me know if I can be of any help." He sighed and left. 

I felt bad for shouting at him. It wasn't like he was doing something illegal, but it was utterly stupid coz I believed I could've helped him better. Still, something doesn't add up. It seems like Andrew was thinking the same coz he said, "If he only wanted his money back, he could've asked from you. I think there is something more to it. It feels like an elaborate plan for some kind of deranged revenge." I nodded. "I know. But what is it?" We both just sat there thinking of various things. "Get me all the information about him. Where is he from? What does he do in his free time? Who does he meet? Everything!" Andrew took out a folder and gave it to me. "Already there, boss." I smiled. The best kind of people; competent as hell. 

"He belongs to westminster, that is really close to where I live currently. Maybe I can figure something out." Andrew nodded. "I'll try to join some dots too in case I find out something." I thanked him and he left. I heaved a sigh of exhaustion. It's been a long day and all I want now is to crawl back in bed with my Allysa and cuddle her to sleep. I made a quick phone call to my mother and went back up to my room.  

Allysa beamed widely on seeing me. "Alex! You're here." I smiled and took my place beside her on the bed, pulling her closer to me. "Yes, I am. I missed you." She pecked me on the lips. "Me too!" She started ranting about how she'd kill the motherfucker who landed me in this problem. I looked at her amused, thanking god daily that this beautiful angel is all mine. "Well there's something that you should probably know." I interrupted her rant. She raised her eyebrows. "My mother is coming home tomorrow." Her mouth fell open. "What?! Why didn't you tell me earlier? I could have prepared myself." I shook my head. "You are perfect, as you are now. Plus, I just made the plan. We have been living in london since my father died. And the person who tried to get me in jail lives close by. So, my mother could provide me with some useful information." She nodded her head nervously. 

"I'm excited to meet her as well. I hope she'll like me." I kissed her on the forehead. "Don't worry princess, she definitely will. Sleep now." She smiled and we fell asleep, safe in each other's arms. 

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