Not many hours passed, but he caught sight of my diamond earrings and told me to take them off.
"The earrings, Lexi," he repeated. "Take it off." I slowly take them off but stop, holding them in my palm. He aggressively seizes them and throws them on the ground. Julian traps me there, in his office, right by the desk. "He knows too much."
My body goes stiff. Still, Julian, who looks identical to Aaron but acts differently, is a scary story within itself. "And you're looking at him like he's your knight in shining armor. Like he knows who you truly are," Julian adds, just before the cold end of the gun is pressed against my stomach.
The silence fills the room, like it's stretching us all wide open. And then he whispers, "Tell me, did you tell your 'Consultant' about the nights in this office? About the file my brother hid in the floorboards? Or... are you waiting for him to find it so you can elope together?"
I am trying not to give him leverage over me or over him. Forgive me, Ethan. "Why do you think I fooled him for? I want you to inherit the company."
The coldness of the gun faded, which means he put it away. "I can tell you where it is, if you are a good boy…" I said, my voice not shaking. Ethan, if you're watching this, I am sorry. "Or maybe I can give it to you. After all, your brother blindly trusted me."
No. He didn't just blindly trust me. We loved each other. And I would have guarded it with my life. Julian paced the office while I straightened myself.
I made eye contact with a security camera nearby.
And then my eyes are glued to Julian. "You can trust me, J. Where have you hidden my parents?"
**
When I finally can escape, it feels like heaven has eventually touched my lungs again. The drive is in my bra now.
The van skids to a halt, and I climb in. Ethan doesn't say a word, just nods. I've done a good job. That much is clear.
The rest of the ride is hushed. I am devoid. There is nothing left in me as we all go back to the hotel.
"He only gave me coordinates or some numbers. And maybe we can find them?" I say, finally, when we get into the hotel room. My voice cracked. Even the idea that something happened to them.
Ethan was rifling through what looked like files. "What're you doing?" I asked, blotting away my tears that were now coming in.
Rosie is busy, fingers flying across the keyboard with rapid precision. The air is thick with tension as the silence wraps around us like a live wire. Anything could be possible, but unless something happens, we won't know for sure.
Rosie looks up as the computer pings. Ethan looks at what's there and uses his body as a shield. Whatever he just saw must be horrendous if he doesn't want me to witness it.
"What? Are they alive? Are they okay? I need… to see."
I attempt to push him away, but he grabs me, steadying me. Keeping me there. "Don't look at the screen. Whatever you do, do not look at that screen."
Rosie and Layla let out a gasp. I know what that means. And they sure as hell aren't telling me.