264 Stalker
“What do you want to talk about?” Desmond asked as soon as Evan stepped in through the study room door.
“You can’t wait to kick me out, can you?” He smiled mischievously but took a seat on the couch. “Would you like me to stop the construction of the aquarium?” He asked.
Desmond looked up from the drawing he was gushing at, which was a cute family drawing from Rosaly.
“If you cared so much about Preston and Fort Group, you wouldn’t be asking me this.”
Evan couldn’t argue with that. He crossed his legs at his knee. “To be fair, I didn’t steal this project. It may have been handed to my company with malicious intent but it’s not my fault. The culprits on my side have already been dealt with.”
“But stopping it would not bode well for you.” Desmond read the words on his mind without having to think.
“I don’t want to break the bridges between us because of a simple project. It’s not actually simple, but what do you think of selling it to me?” He suggested.
“I object.” The voice came from the door and the men both looked over. He had not felt the need to shut the door since it was just Zaria and Rosaly in the house, but he was still puzzled to see her.
“Zaria?” Evan shifted to face her. “I’m sorry but this is a business discussion and although you are an executive employee of Preston and Fort Group, it would be better if you didn’t meddle with this.”
.....
Desmond facepalmed. “I wouldn’t speak to her that way if I were you.”
“What do you mean?” Evan shifted his gaze between the two of them, dreading when Zaria sat on the bean bag where she could see both of them clearly.
“I did not pull all nighters for an entire fortnight to come up with this project just to sell it. This project was meant to help Preston and Fort Group grow.” She crossed her arms over her chest, not allowing for negotiation.
Evan didn’t back down. He was shocked that the excellent project was designed by Zaria-not that he ever looked down on her. She just kept surprising him each time he thought he had her figured out.
“I understand that. Which is why I didn’t sweep it under the rug.”
She scoffed. “I call bullshit. You had enough time to stop the project before it took off. You just didn’t. Is that because you knew it was excellent and no one would have sold it to you willingly? Didn’t you just grab the chance to blackmail us?”
“I wouldn’t call it blackmail.” He argued and looked to Desmond for help. Was he the boss here or was she? Alas, the look on his face made it obvious that he was leaving the final decision on this to his girlfriend.
He took a deep breath. “Look. You can name whatever price you want.”
Zaria pondered for a long time. “The golf course and co-ownership of The West.”
“Are you kidding me? An entire golf course and my family’s resort for an aquarium?”
He was flabbergasted that she even suggested it. The West was one of the most popular resorts in Europe, and it had been passed down generations of the West family. If he ever gave anyone the right to be a decision maker, his grandfather would have his head.
Besides, the golf course was not much different.
Zaria shot a reassuring smile at her boyfriend discreetly and focused her gaze on Evan.
“Then leave out the golf course. We can work around the resort. I will buy the required shares from you.”
“That’s still a stretch. Let’s talk about something else.” He dismissed, but she didn’t drop it.
“Think about it. We can meet again once you make your decision.” She offered a kind smile.
He stared at her for seconds before standing up and going over to Desmond’s desk to grab a post-it.
“See you tomorrow. 6pm,at The West.” He scribbled down the floor number and time and stuck the note to Desmond’s desk, his eyes catching a glimpse of the drawing he was gazing at earlier.
The little girl had drawn circles for heads and sticks for the neck and limbs. The man was obviously Desmond and he couldn’t figure out who the woman was, but he guessed it had to be Zaria based on how close they were. Rosaly was between them, holding their hands.
The picture was so perfect that it made him reminisce about his own past. The expression was wiped off his face immediately as he turned to Zaria. “Don’t be late.”
Then he walked out of the door and shut it.
Silence shrouded the study for a while until she stood up to pick the sticky note.
“He actually agreed. There’s a chance we can get ownership rights over The West. But why did he look like I shot an arrow through his wound?”
He traced a finger down the drawing he had noticed Evan stare at. “Because you shot an arrow through his wound.”
____
Ever since Natalie learnt about Devonte’s condition, all she wanted was to know the truth. She didn’t know what would happen once she did. All she knew was that she had to find out everything.
Asking him was not the perfect option. Since he had decided that he didn’t want her to find out, he might be upset if he learnt that she already knew. And provoking him was the last thing she ever wanted to do. So, she resorted to unethical means.
She had learnt through Roland that he was meeting the producer of his former movie to discuss the sequel so she waited in the parking lot, with the driver’s seat reclined so far that it was hard to notice her, and with a packet of chips beside her.
“This is probably what stalkers do.” She muttered to herself and laughed. It was not funny.
After what felt like an eternity of waiting, he finally left the hotel. At least Roland told her the truth. She had been worried that he lied to her. He had bugged her with questions about why she cared for his schedule so much and she ignored them.
Devonte said goodbye to the middle aged man who left the hotel with him, who was probably the producer, and went to his car. Luckily it was too far from her position. She only had to dunk her head a little until he drove out.
She waited a few beats and followed, immediately catching sight of his car when she drove out. She let out a sigh of relief when she managed to leave unnoticed. She had been afraid that a security guard would walk up to her and demand to know why she had gone to the hotel and not left her car.
Devonte took a left turn and she followed, keeping some distance between them. When his car stopped, she slowed down and parked hers several cars away. She dunked behind it to watch him enter a building on the opposite street and rushed to catch up.
She stopped at the reception in the lobby, out of breath. “Hey, my boyfriend and I missed each other outside. There are many people. Did you see what floor he went to? He is wearing dark jeans and a blue shirt.”
The woman at the reception gave her a deadpan look, calling out her bullshit. She slid her identity card across the reception table, with several folded bills under it. “Please. It’s urgent.”
The woman cleared her throat and carefully pulled the bills out and returned the ID. “Twelfth floor. He is a regular here and comes to see Dr. Stanley.”
“Thank you.” That made it easier for her to know where to go next.
Dr. Stanley’s secretary was a nightmare.
“Dr. Stanley cannot see you without an appointment.” She dismissed.
“Well, help me make one then.” Natalie nearly snapped.
“I’m sorry. He is booked through the rest of the month. Maybe next month.”
Natalie took a deep breath to stop herself from punching the secretary in the face. She had slid into the restroom when Devonte left the shrink’s office and was certain that no one entered after him. She needed just a minute!
She had the urge to throw her name around but while that would earn her the appointment and probably the co-operation of the shrink, it might just make it easier for Devonte to find out that she was here.
“Look. I know there is no one in there right now. I need just one minute.” She pleaded.
The door opened and a man who looked to be in his early forties walked out, his nose in the air.
Natalie grabbed the chance. “Dr. Stanley! I’ve been trying to meet you. Do you have a minute?”
He was about to dismiss her when he saw her clearly. “Are you from the Sparks family?”
She smiled awkwardly. “My surname...used to be Sparks, yes.”
As if that was enough requirement, the shrink led her to his office.
Initially she didn’t want to use her identity but if it made him-and his staff-respect him a little more, she wouldn’t lose the chance.
“What did you want to see me about? I assume regal families usually have private psychologists for whatever reason they think that’s necessary.”
Her mouth gaped slightly. This man was salty.
“I believe you are my husband’s psychologist.” She started. “He was here a moment ago.”
“Your husband.” He scoffed out a laugh. “Are you talking about the movie star? I didn’t know he had a wife.”
“Movie star?” Her eyes widened. Was it common for psychologists to address their patients using their careers, and in such a condescending tone?
“I meet women like you every day. If you are here to ask for his records, you should know that I can’t help with that.”
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