Chapter 24
Damien's POV
I love fun places, I love having fun. California is a fun place to be but I know more fun awaits me here in New York. I have unfinished business that I need to sort out before flying back to my comfort zone.
I am also back here because of how much I miss New York and because of one other person, Aidan. I miss him. I miss seeing his contorted face. I miss feeling the pleasure I always derive from taking what belongs to him.
This is why I am here now, to take something else and destroy it.
I won't hesitate to destroy him now that I have the chance. I want to take my revenge now. I don't want to wait any longer again.
Fifteen years is a long wait already. I want to destroy him and his father for making me lose my mother at a tender age.
Trevor is the real enemy but I want Aidan to have a taste of the torture and pain his father had caused me, for not stopping his father from killing my mother right in my presence. Aidan saw him but he didn't stop him. He was my best friend but he became my enemy that day.
I am sitting in front of the furnace, thinking of where to begin my revenge when the phone rings on the small stool beside me. It jerks me out of my thoughts and I pick it up.
"She is here, boss", Donovan informs me.
"Let her in", I instruct and drop the call.
I have few businesses to deal with in New York, I have most of my company's main branches in California and Chicago but I know coming down here can make me win the award. I also know Aidan deserves it because of his current net worth but I won't let him get it.
Father is willing to help, he wants his revenge but I told him I was going to handle it. When I told father what I saw that night, 15 years ago, he didn't believe me at first because he trusted Trevor who was his friend and business partner.
I spent years trying to provide proof to my father that Trevor is not who he thinks he is..
Father wanted to take action but I stopped him. I want to take the honor of seeking vengeance on behalf of my father by torturing Trevor and his son slowly till it becomes boring and I finish them off. The door opens and Donovan leads the girl in.
"Here she is, boss", he tells me and I turn to take a look at the girl. She gasps when she sees me and I smile.
"Sir?" She clasp her hand over her mouth. Surprise replaces the fear on her face.
"Sit, Esther?" I reward her with one of my cute smiles.
As she sits on the sofa beside me, I can see how tense she is, darting her eyes from me to Donovan's well-built body as he stands beside me with a pistol.
"Don't get worked up for nothing, I'm not going to hurt you. I just need a favor from you in return for this", I place an envelope on the table. She shifts her gaze to it and look back at me inquisitively "That is $1000", I announce. She gasps with wide eyes before grabbing the envelope.
I grin widely. "All you need to do is tell me about your boss."
"My boss?" She asks back, with a furrowed brow.
"Yes, I want to know what Aidan has been up to recently. Tell me everything you know and this money becomes yours", I grab the envelope from her and drop it back on the table.
She shuttles her gaze from me to the envelope, contemplating whether to go ahead and spill so she can go home with the money or keep shut and let go of the money. I don't know her but I am not surprised she knows me. I am famous.
After drafting out my plans on how to start the fun with Aidan this year, I decided to get an informant first and Donovan suggested we bring Esther, Aidan's receptionist.
"I'm waiting, I don't have all day", I mutter, watching her. It is dark already and I asked Donovan to bring her to me after she closes from work. I intend to pay Aidan a courtesy visit tomorrow in the office.
I can't wait to see the look on his face when he sees me. I am going to laugh in his face. I am a winner and I have always been a winner in our battle for 3 years, since I have taken up the task of seeking revenge.
"What do you want to know, sir?" She gulps loudly, staring at me.
"Everything you know", I emphasize on the "you know", pointing my index finger at her. "Starting from the award, what he is currently doing towards winning the award, the girl he is dating at the moment, and his business deals that you think I can also do."
I glance at Donovan briefly before speaking up. "I don't really know much of what he does now but I am being paid by Tessa Rodrigue to monitor the girls that go to his office and the girls he goes out with." The name Rodrigue sounds familiar but I can't place where I know the name from.
"Who is Tessa?"
"The girl his father wants him to marry." She explains.
"Oh, really?" I laugh out loud. I can't believe Aidan is now ready to settle down, I thought he would never find someone to love after I took Paige from him. I don't love Paige, I only wooed her to get back at Aidan.
"Yes, but he doesn't like her." She adds.
"I want a picture of her before tomorrow morning, Donovan", I turn to him. I didn't care whether he likes her or not. She is his woman and that is enough.
"Get the description of her and other information from Esther after we are done here", I say.
"Yes, boss."
I face Esther again. "Go on."
"I don't think Aidan is doing anything towards winning the award, I think he is confident he is going to win."
I am going to prove him wrong. "What about his business deals?"
"I don't have much knowledge about that either. I think Chloe, the secretary, is the best person to answer this question."
"I don't want any Chloe. You are the one I want the information from." I lean forward to pick up the envelope.
I throw it towards her and she catches it. "Go with the money and find more information that will be useful to me", my voice is stern.
I am disappointed that the information I am getting tonight is few, even though the mention of the woman in his life is worth it.
"Question Chloe and tell me whatever she tells you. And be fast about it."
"Yes, sir", she stands up. Donovan stands in her way.
"Let her go", I order him. She is hugging the envelope to her chest. Donovan steps aside and she walks to the door.
I can no longer hear her footsteps and the creaking sound of the door to show that she is gone. I turn back to check out of curiosity. She stands by the door, like someone who has something else to say to me. "Talk. What is it?!" I am wondering if she wants more money.
"I overheard a conversation Aidan was having with someone on the phone two days ago, probably his friend, Richard."
"What did you hear?" I ask her.
"He said his father wants him to marry Tessa so he can win the award with her father's influence now that you are back in New York."
I am shocked. How did he know I am back in New York? I am hoping to startle him tomorrow with my presence and have him thinking all day about me but it is now obvious that Aidan is a step ahead of me. "Is that all?" I look up at my informant at the door. She nods like a scared hen.
"You can go!"
She turns back and takes the exit out. I bring out my phone and check the picture on my phone.
"Get ready to see me tomorrow, Aidan. You are going down with your father." I mutter out aloud before keeping the phone down and watching the burning fire before me, wishing it is Aidan or his father.☐☐