Love, Lies and Billionaires

“And Mr Blackwood?”

‘Shit! Alexander’ Maren’s mind raced. He was so quiet when William broke the news about taking the whole situation to court and why did he tell her about those documents in time?

It was as though he felt like it wasn’t going to work, so there was no use and had a Plan B…

“Ma’am are you okay?” Micheal interrupted, breaking into her thoughts.

“Alexander would do no such thing. He was ready to face the judge tomorrow. He had critical evidence that William was a criminal,” she blurted.

“Mrs Blackwood, I meant his father, Mr Blackwood senior.”

Maren’s eyes widened slightly in the realisation of what she had just spilled. That file was only going to be released in court, though how it was obtained was illegal and incriminating and now she had unknowingly blabbed about something so confidential.

“What was that about critical evidence, ma’am?”

“Maren baby. Are you alright?” Mrs Sharppe asked as soon as Maren set foot into the house.

“I’m fine, mom” she answered, walking past her mom to the minibar at an end of the living room. Her mom was quiet, but she could hear her words through the silence. “Yes, I’ve heard mom, his detective paid me a visit at the office this morning”

Maren uncocked a bottle and poured herself half a glass. “Where’s Nathan?” She asked. Her mom walked over to the bar and leaned on the counter.

“He’s up in his room with the tutor.” Maren just nodded and sipped the liquid from the glass. “Alexander was here earlier. He looked worried,” her mom added.

“They’ve probably gotten to him too,” she said, remembering what she had mistakenly said to the detective.

“Do you think he did it?”

Maren took a big sip from the glass and turned her eyes away from her mom in thought. “He wouldn’t do that. For as long as I’ve known Alexander, he’d see killing William as showing weakness and Alexander would rather fight and fail”

There was a pause and everywhere fell silent, with Maren sipping in the crimson coloured liquid.

“He deserved it” Mrs Sharppe suddenly said, making Maren almost choke in surprise. He was an asshole. I never actually liked him for you, Maren. I thought I could learn to like him since he made you so happy,” she added matter-of-factly.

“He deserved to die and someone had to do it”

“No no, stop it mom. Stop it,” Maren said as she dropped the glass and turned around to where her mom leaned on the counter. She hugged her mom from behind and rested her head on hers.

“You don’t have you say any of that,” she said in comfort. “And we do not talk ill about the dead anymore, mom”

Mrs Sharppe chuckled and patted Maren’s hand, which was wrapped around her waist as both fell silent and contemplated the past and present.

Mom, did you kill William?” Maren asked softly.

The woman scoffed. “I wish,” she replied, and Maren giggled. “Are you okay, baby?” her mom asked again after a brief silence.

“Mmm” she nodded, though her mom couldn’t see it.

“Mummy?” Nathan’s voice came from the staircase which he was climbing down from, accompanied by the tutor.

“My baby,” Maren called and let go of her mom to meet him. She kissed him on his forehead before taking him up in her hands and kissed his cheek, which always made him ticklish.

“You’re back early, mummy” Nathan said.

“Yes baby, mummy isn’t having one of her best days. But I’m fine, alright?” Maren said, and he nodded and dug his fingers into her hair.

“Mrs. Blackwood” the tutor called as she got down from the stairs and stood in front of Maren.

“What’s the matter, Miss Sarah? Did Nathan do something wrong?”

“No, mummy!” Nathan said, quickly

“I know, my love. You’re a good boy,” she said and tickled him, also trying to cheer herself up.

The young slender tutor chuckled, “Nathan didn’t do anything wrong, ma’am. He’s improved really well this week,” she said and flashed them a smile.

“That’s my boy,” Nathan giggled heartily.

“I just wanted to say that I…I um, I heard about your ex fiance, Mr Sinclair,” she began carefully and trembling as she spoke to avoid offending her employer. “I’m really sorry about what happened to him,” she said quietly.

“Oh, it’s fine. I mean, it was going to happen one way or another so it’s alright” Maren replied.

The lady nodded, not sure what she meant by that and she wasn’t about to ask her what she meant.

“Alright then, I’ll be on my way,” she finally said after a moment of silence. “Bye Nathan” she said cheerfully.

“Bye Sarah,” he replied waving his hand.

Maren’s smile was wide. She really wasn’t happy about William’s death, but the thought of the state she would have been in if he hadn’t died brought some light to her face. And seeing Nathan smiling, knowing she wouldn’t have to be worried about losing him, was just the best feeling ever.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Thinking of it now, Maren, didn’t Alexander tell you he had to help his dad with something yesterday?” Mrs Sharppe said and Maren’s eyes grew wide in the memory.

*****

“Well then, Mr Blackwood, if we can’t get to your father, we’ll get to him through you” Micheal said and a cloud of smoke clouded his view making him blink multiple times.

He stared and waited till the smoke cleared before staring directly at Alexander, who was seated restfully on a sofa beside him.

“What do you have for me?” Alexander finally spoke.

“Just a few questions sir” Micheal said and paused “Where were you on the day of Mr Sinclair’s death”

Alexander scoffed, his broad chest moving in motion. “I was on business with my father, as usual.”

“What nature of business sir, if I may ask”

Alexander raised a brow at the man for a second before turning away from him again, “We were to meet with some clients”

“Outside your companies?” Alexander turned to him again, this time with slight annoyance.

“Yes, outside my companies”

Micheal sighed silently, giving in to the fact that this man had short patience. “Very well then, Mr Blackwood. I was told reluctantly though that you have incriminating evidence against the deceased.”

“What?”