"I couldn't believe we missed something big about Sawyer." Thomas heaved a long sigh and took the chair in front of me. He went silent after the pause that he gave after his sentence. So many emotions ran across his face; anger and fury competed with each other. Now I was curious; rarely would Thomas dwell on anything, and now, he was deep in his thoughts too. That combination is not good, and it always is bad news, very bad news.
I didn't disturb him; knowing him, I let him vent out however he wanted. "Apparently, the Sawyers' family is doing much more than oil import and export at the harbour." I hummed, having the inkling of feeling Thomas's sour mood. "When I received the report, I couldn't believe it, and I cross-verified it twice." He continued, frustration evident on his face. "Dante, we should do something about this at the earliest. They are human traffickers, targeting teens and minors." He gritted his teeth as he finished the sentence. Sawyer's family had an okay reputation; things were running well, but suddenly there was an upgrade in the reputation. Now, they are the most elite and respected, have built very good contacts at a high level, and of course, they are super rich.
"Dante." He needs to calm down. I passed the glass of water toward Thomas, which he gulped. "Minors, Dante, can you believe it?" A shaky chuckle left him. He loves kids and always would get along with every kid, irrespective of the behaviour some kids have these days. "We, we should do something about it as soon as possible." He was pleading and desperate. He rarely uses that combo.
I leaned on the chair, contemplating the situation. I need to act soon, or else Thomas would take matters into his hands, which I don't recommend. If I act, I will risk too much, which I can handle, but I am worried about Rowan. I am doing this for him; he is targeted, but things may become too rough for Rowan. I should upgrade his security; that's the only solution for now, and I need to inform my dad about this.
"Have you collected everything?" Thomas nodded at that. "With foolproof measures, they can't escape from this." He stated in a sharp tone, and I nodded in return. "You should make sure everything is uploaded on every site by tomorrow." He was taken aback and was in shock. He didn't expect me to act so soon, I guess. "I will call my dad and update him about this. If things turn crazy, he should intervene." Thomas nodded at that. "I will," Thomas slowly spoke. "By tomorrow, I will make sure their reputation is rotting in a gutter." He barked the words furiously.
"What about Shreya? If her family gets involved, things may get complicated, with or without proof." I hummed at that. "No, she wouldn't be involved." "Are you sure?" "100%, upload everything, Thomas. Don't worry, I will handle the rest. " A small smile crept from him after hearing my encouraging words.
I was scrolling through my cell, standing at the window. "Oh, my god," Rowan shouted. "Oh bloody, is it true?" His words once again; I didn't know to whom he was directing the question. I kept scrolling; Sawyer's were already trending. "Dante." He was beside me in no time, showing me the screen about Sawyer. "Can you believe it?" His eyes went wide, watching my face, and I wanted to swim in those blue eyes. My eyes fell on his bare body. He had walked in only a towel from the bathroom and didn't change into an outfit. He was pushing my button one way or another, testing my patience.
"Can you please change?" A groan left my mouth after the sentence. He knows that I play both ways, right? Rowan rolled his eyes at that. "It may not be a six-pack, but I don't think I am bad enough to watch." I sighed at that; only if he knew. Sometimes, he should think before saying such things. "Change, Rowan." By coughing, he went to the wardrobe.
"Do you think it's true? Oh my god, I knew Tristan from childhood." By wiping his hair once again, Rowan was beside me. I nodded to his question, confirming the news. "Trafficking, seriously?" He spat the words in rage. "I knew him from my childhood, God, Damit," he went on. "The Sawyer family was a bit off, if you ask me, especially Tristan." He was rewinding his memories. "His parents never liked me; I don't know why." "Ignore them." "Well, they gave me a good reason for that. You bet I will." He smiled while saying, and I nodded.
'Pick up the damn call.' I shouted at the name displayed on my phone screen. It was the 10th time that I was calling; still no response. 'Pick up, pick up. I kept muttering the words, and at last, a lazy voice came from the other end. I suppressed the curse that was threatening to leave my mouth. 'It was not time for this. 'I chided myself. "Shreya, please help us." She chuckled. "I think we messed with the wrong guy, Tristan. I knew he would win, though, and guess what, he found your uncle too. Anytime the news would be all over the media." She spoke casually with a smile. That had slipped my mind, oh god. Desmond's co would be in a form anytime soon, and the news would make them stable, that's for sure. "Shreya, please help us. My dad is in prison, and no one is helping us. No one is coming forward, Shreya." She once again chuckled at that. "Come on, who would?" she taunted. I don't know what was irking me more, her casual talking or her voice. "Shreya, please help my dad. No lawyer is taking the case; please do something," I begged. She hummed, and the call went silent. "Did you know about this, and no lies, Tristan?" I tried to come up with a lie, but I knew she would catch me. Now, I don't want to lose her too; she is my last hope. Since last night, I have been devastated, drained, and afraid. I need her right now, and I know she can help me.
"Yes, I knew." Once again, the line went silent. She has done so much, so much worse, and I don't think she is in a position to judge me. I tried to stay positive once the sentence left my mouth. "I can give you some advice, Tristan." I was confused by her words. "For all the good and bad times we shared. We have known each other for years; on that basis, I am advising you to run, Tristan." She spoke too casually, and I was taken aback at that. "What is that supposed to mean?" I shouted at her. "Calm down; you are in no position to shout." "And you are in a position to advise me?" I countered her. "Well, take it or leave it; it's your choice." She retorts. My head was spinning at that, feeling totally lost. I had little hope; no wonder she didn't attend my call from yesterday. "I was there; I supported you in everything, and at last, when I wanted you most, you are turning back on me." My voice was slow, dull, and full of ache. "Come on, do you think I would support something like this?" She taunted. "You have done worse, Shreya," I countered her. "With their consent." She clarified, and I sighed at that, not knowing how to continue with that.
The call went silent. I should have stopped my dad, as I was mature enough for that. Both of my parents wanted much more than what we had, and I didn't object as I was on the same page. Consequences are a bloody bitch, and I regret it. Something ripped in me as I watched police officers dragging my dad. His head was down with regret, shame, and guilt. My mother was doing everything from last night like me, but no result. No one, I mean not even one person, is coming forward. We were something in this society; to build this status, we did so much, but nothing is helping us when we need it. What's the use of having money and being an influential person? They are of no use when we need them.
"Shreya, please. I am begging you." "I know you were begging from the beginning of the call, Tristan." She pointed out the obvious, just to add salt on the wound. "You are in deep shit, trust me, Tristan." Tears started flowing from my eyes. From last night, I tried my best to be strong and lent a shoulder to my mom, but now, I couldn't. As usual, she broke me without doing anything. "Going against Dante has its consequences." She huffed, and my throat went dry. "I fucking didn't go against him." "I don't know what's between them. If you are against Rowan, you are against Dante too." She was trying to clarify something, but I didn't get her message. "So, you are backing off from Rowan." "Shreya would never back off." She spoke proudly. I don't know why, but I felt kind of satisfied after hearing her words. Soon, she is going to join me, that's for sure.
"After knowing everything?" I tried to cross-confirm. "Yup," she replied. "We never learn our lesson until it's too late," I spoke, wiping the tears. "Maybe, but I just need a night with Rowan, after that he is a done deal." She clarified her ultimate motive. I laughed at hearing her words. She wanted years with Rowan; now it has reduced to a day, and I don't know what more Dabte is going to rip from her. I will wait for that.
"Tristan, listen to me. You have enough money; just get lost and start over." Her piece of advice—I didn't call to hear this shit. "I don't know why you are off the hook, but take advantage of the situation." She continued. "You have your mom to take care of you, so refrain from doing any stupid things." She got me there. "Don't touch my Rowan, ok? This time before Dante, you would face the wrath of mine; be careful." My lip twitched at that. "Best of luck, Shreya. I will be waiting." With that, I disconnected the call. She will follow me soon enough; that satisfies me more than enough.
My family name turned into trash overnight. Stock value dropped to its lowest, and the directors exited the company without wasting time. The investors withdrew their investment, and there was nothing left to continue our life in this place. My dad's sins got us, and I am no saint; I have done enough. I need to pour water on conquering Desmond Co, which was my dream from college days. I couldn't hold anything anymore at present, just to latch on to what is left. I need to leave everything and run before things drag me in. I love my dad, that's true, but not enough to sacrifice my remaining life for him. No, I couldn't do that. Now, things scare me a little, and Dante is intimate and frightens me. I have taken my chances, and now, I should take advantage of the situation. I can't let go of this chance; I couldn't.
"Tristan is not giving a statement to the press, and I am wondering why?" Rowan grumbled at the dining table. "Is it ok, possible?" He pondered further, and I was perplexed at his question. "I never had a choice; whenever I committed a mistake, I was already dragged in front of the media, and the news would be all over." He answered my question. "I wish I had that privilege. Where is Tristan? No news about him?" He directed the question to me. "Could you stop chewing and talking at the same time? It's not the nicest thing to watch." My dad spoke, slow and calm, for the first time. "And again, I don't know how he is ok with it." My dad glared at me, and Rowan was confused. "Sorry." Rowan directed it to me, and my dad rolled my eyes at that.
We were on the bed, and already a yawn left me. Oh god, I am getting addicted to this. "Do you think our company would be stable anytime soon?" Rowan spoke as he slept too close by my side. "50% of the share price dropped, irrespective of half of the amount recovered," he added. "It will take a few years, but it will be stable; don't worry," I tried to reassure him. "A few deals and a flow of investment would stabilize the company in no time." Rowan hummed at that. "Why Sawyer was plotting against us was beyond me. Were they even alone in this?" I was hoping he would never ask the second question, and I was not going to answer him. The less he knows, the better. "Greediness." I also tried to dig into why Sawyer was against Desmond, but I didn't get any solid reason. It was just to be better and their greediness. "Really? Do you think so?" "Yes," I answered his question. "Anyway, tomorrow I am going to my apartment; my sisters want to spend some time with me," I said, ok to that, not really liking the idea of the present situation, and I can't stop him. "I will spend a night with them and be back." He further clarified, and I nodded half awake.
I turned toward Dante, who was asleep. I seriously do have questions about his sex life if this was the case, every goddamn time. Geez, this guy would always sleep on me, and he is sleep deprived. No medicine has worked on him; still, he always sleeps on me. This is outrageous. I huffed.