Chapter 150: Wow… so you’re going to be a father?
A pause. "But in the open books... make sure Amira remains the primary suspect." Julian’s brows pulled slightly. Not in disagreement. In understanding.
"A cover," he said. Amara nodded. "And while everyone is focused on her," she added, "we find the real culprit." Julian held her gaze for a second longer. Then nodded. "Okay. I’ll handle it." A breath passed between them.
"Did you ask what they argued about?" he asked. Amara shook her head. "There was no point," she said. "She wasn’t going to tell me." A small pause. "If it was about Leo... then that’s where we start." Julian nodded again.
Already thinking ahead. Already connecting pieces. "We’ll keep searching," Amara said, quieter now. "I will not stop," Julian replied. And this time. He reached for her. Pulling her gently into his arms.
Not tight. Not overwhelming. Just enough. Amara leaned into him without resistance. For a second. Just a second. She let herself rest. Then Julian pulled back slightly, his hands still on her arms.
"Don’t you think it’s time you stayed home?" he asked softly. "All this stress... it’s not good for you." His eyes dropped briefly to her belly. "You have more than capable people to handle things." Amara sighed.
"I know," she admitted. "But the company is only six months old. We can’t afford mistakes." Her gaze drifted out the window again. "If we slip now... we get wiped out." Julian didn’t argue. But he didn’t fully agree either.
"I hear you," she added, softer this time. "I’ll try not to stress. Okay?" He studied her. Then nodded. "Okay." But her mind. Was already elsewhere. Turning. Searching. Questioning.
If Amira didn’t kill her... Then who did? And more importantly. Why?
Amara’s hand moved slowly to her belly. Instinct. Protection. Because whatever truth they were about to uncover. It wasn’t just about the past anymore. It was coming for their future too. ---
Raymond wasn’t the kind of man who let things go. Not easily. He lingered near Janet’s desk longer than necessary, pretending to review numbers that no longer held his attention.
His mind was elsewhere. On Amara. On the way, she had left. On the tension in the air that even the walls seemed to remember. Finally. He leaned slightly toward Janet. "Everything okay?" he asked casually. "She left in a hurry..."
Janet didn’t even look up at first. "Focus on your work," she said flatly. Raymond smiled lightly, trying again. "I just thought maybe..." This time, she looked at him. Fully. And the look alone. Was enough to stop most people. "Listen," Janet said, her tone sharper now. "You don’t need to know everything that happens here."
A pause. "Actually...you don’t need to know anything that doesn’t concern your job." Raymond held her gaze. Then nodded slowly. "Understood."
But he didn’t move right away. Janet leaned back slightly, folding her arms. "And if you’re smart," she added, "you’ll mind your business and keep it that way." That landed.
Raymond gave a small, polite nod. "Yes, ma’am." And finally. He stepped away. But he didn’t stop watching. The hours passed. Slowly. Employees returned to their routines. The buzz of the morning’s success faded into a quieter rhythm of work.
But one thing remained. Amara didn’t come back. Not after she left. Not even once. Raymond noticed. Every hour. Every passing moment. His eyes drifted to her office door more times than he could count. Still closed. Still empty. Something tightened in his chest.
Not just curiosity now. Something deeper. Something restless. He waited. And waited. But as the sun began to set. It became clear. She wasn’t coming back today.
Raymond felt it. Not just a concern. But unease. Because whatever had pulled her away. Was bigger than he expected.
"It’s five p.m. You can leave now. Report tomorrow." Janet’s voice was calm. Almost kind. She even gave him a small smile. Raymond nodded.
"Okay." But the moment he turned. That smile vanished from his world. His jaw tightened slightly as he grabbed his bag. Bossing me around... The thought lingered, sharp and unwelcome. If she knew who he really was. Suppose she had even the slightest idea. She wouldn’t dare, not like that.
He stepped out of the building, the evening air hitting his face, cooler now, quieter than the chaos inside. For a second. He just stood there. Breathing. Trying to settle whatever had been building inside him all day.
Then. His phone rang. He glanced at the screen. And his expression darkened instantly.
He answered it. Rough. Irritated.
"Where are you right now?" the voice on the other end snapped. "I’ve been trying to get a hold of you since morning. You didn’t come to the office." Raymond let out a short, humorless breath.
"I had something more important to do." A pause. Tense. "You don’t just disappear," the voice replied. "You have a company to run." Raymond’s grip on the phone tightened.
"I said I had something to do, I will be in the office at night for the next couple of weeks so handle eveything," he muttered, his eyes drifting back up toward the building, the floor where Amara’s office was. Dark now. Empty.
"What are you up to again?" the voice demanded. Raymond didn’t answer immediately. His jaw flexed. His mind replaying moments. Her voice. Her face. The way the baby moved under his hand. A flicker of something crossed his expression.
Dangerous. Personal. "I’m going to be a father, that’s what I’m taking care of," he said finally. Silence. "What do you mean you’re going to be a father with who? Since when?" the voice asked, slower now.
Raymond’s gaze hardened. "It doesn’t matter." Another pause. Heavier this time. "...What?" the voice asked carefully. Raymond didn’t look away from the building.
"Yes, I’m happy, so just leave me alone." A breath passed on the other end. Then. "Good," the voice said quietly. "I guess you know what you are doing, congratulations."
The line went dead. Raymond didn’t move. The phone was still pressed to his ear, long after the silence had settled, long after the voice on the other end had disappeared into nothing. Slowly, almost reluctantly, he lowered it, his fingers tightening around the device as if it might ring again, as if it might take everything back.
But it didn’t. He stood there, staring ahead, eyes unfocused, thoughts colliding. Because this... this was no longer just a job. His jaw tightened.
"Wow... so you’re going to be a father?"