Chapter 39: Excuse Me?
In a world where sibling intrigue knew no bounds, Ian was not about to let a golden opportunity slip through his fingers. This was his chance to catch a glimpse of the individual who held the keys to his brother’s kingdom—a person with access to his brother’s house, private phone, and all those tantalizing secrets. With a speed that rivalled a squirrel spotting a particularly enticing acorn, Ian deftly retrieved his cell phone and casually strolled away in a different direction pretending to be on call.
Under the guise of a phone conversation that could rival an Oscar-winning actor, Ian adopted an undercover mode, trailing behind his unsuspecting brother, Demetri, his phone glued to his ear as if his life depended on it—though in truth, his life might very well depend on not getting caught. Despite the palpable fear that Demetri’s discovery could instigate an apocalypse, Ian’s determination to unearth the secret that lay ahead was unyielding. After all, what were brothers for?
As he skulked along the edges of shadows, Ian’s mind played host to an array of fantastical narratives, each more elaborate than the last, speculating on the identity of the mysterious figure who had captured his brother’s heart, and seemingly, all his passwords too. After all the couriers had probably taken it to Demon’s mailbox. And the other person had not needed to ask for the password to access the mailbox!
Slowly, Ian strategically stationed himself behind a modest pillar, an architectural ally in his clandestine escapade. The difference between the private lounge and the normal access was very different. There, Demetri only had to look back and Ian would have been caught, while here, the people were all bustling about.
Ian leaned forward and peeped around the corner before his eyes widened in disbelief. What was Arabelle doing here? Could it be that Arabelle was the person... No, Arabelle already went around claiming that she was Demon’s fiance and if Demon was interested, he could have married her. Also, hadn’t Arabelle been with grandfather when they had called Demon that evening..."
He observed as Arabelle said something to Demetri and extended a paper toward him, which he did not care to take. However, this helped him understand that Arabelle’s presence was probably a coincidental occurrence.
As anticipated, Ian witnessed his brother cast a glance at the paper before retrieving his phone and initiating a call. A jolt of surprise coursed through Ian’s veins as the phone pressed to his ear emitted a resounding vibration. Dam* it! He should have guessed that his brother would not hesitate in foisting off Arabelle. Making a swift attempt to compose himself, he answered the phone with a somewhat startled, "Hello."
His brother wasted no time, ordering, "Our grandfather has dispatched a guest. Fetch her."