Chapter 4 The Plot Thickens

Maria's eyes widened.

"Carlos Maine? You've got to me kidding"

"Yes." My voice was steadier than I expected. "I had a risky meeting with him and we struck a deal"

"And you didn't think to tell me because you knew I'd be your voice of caution, right?"

I leaned back and averted her gaze.

"Yes. His name was the first I could think of. "

Maria studied me, her lips pursed. "You're right about that. Everyone in this city knows how much they despise one another. Matthew ousted the Maine Construction Company from its long-standing position as the top construction company in the city."

"And we all know he did it by playing dirty, all I need is to gather enough information to make him lose everything" I added with a bitter smile curved on my lips.

"Sierra, we both know Matthew is the deadliest man in Manhattan. Please, I need you to stay safe and watch your back. And is your family aware?"

"No, they're not. I'm afraid they'd be disappointed in me. Mama may suffer a health relapse if she gets to find out. And my siblings, they'd only make a huge fuss" I can't tell them. I'll sort this out by myself."

"Sierra." Maria's voice softened as she rubbed my hands gently with her French manicured nails

"You don't have to keep up appearances for your family. They're bound to find out"

"Yes I know. And I will. Just not yet"

I grabbed her phone off the table and dialed Carlos' number on her phone after retrieving his card from my wallet.

The phone rang, with my heart beating in tune with every beep. And then, a warm baritone answered.

"Sierra?"

"How'd you know it was me?" My breath caught

"Well. Let's just say I know things. Any progress from our last meeting?"

I swallowed "When can we meet?"

"I'll text you a location and time. Make sure you're not followed"

"Will do. Thank you" I ended the call and exhaled slowly, heaving a sigh of relief

Maria's eyes searched mine for answers "And? How'd it go?"

"He asked to have a meeting at an undisclosed location. I'll keep you posted"

"Alright. Just don't forget to stay safe and keep me posted"

"I will."

We rose from the table, and I wrapped my arms around the only friend I could trust with my entire being.

Sadly, she was all I had in this battle.

Her and Carlos.

The drive home was short and brisk. I slipped into the living room and sank onto the sofa, my eyes drifting to the pictures on the gallery wall. There I was, a twenty-year-old bride who looked like a fairytale princess clad in satin, smiling at the picture-perfect world that had been offered to me by the love of my life.

On a silver platter. In exchange for my dreams and aspirations. The glamorous beginning of Sierra's dilemma.

It was the wedding of my dreams. Or far beyond it. I had wanted a small intimate fairytale wedding, and ended up with a grand affair, the kind of wedding most women fantasized about. A wedding I now regretted. Miss Pamela had a foreboding about this.

She had kicked against this marriage and my relationship with Matthew. But I was too love-struck to heed her counsel.

And now, I wish I had listened

I snapped back into reality by a phone call.

It was Mama. I hadn't called her in the past week and knew she was going to reach out because it was quite unusual. Our ritual was to speak at least once a week.

I steadied my voice to avoid raising her suspicions and picked the call.

It was a brief one. She called to check up on me. Apparently, she had tried to reach Matthew on his birthday, but he busied her call on every attempt and didn't ring back.

"As expected..." I thought to myself while keeping up further appearances and pretending all was well in the picture-perfect home.

Lastly, she needed money for her medications. $5,500. I promised to send it right away, and did just that

After speaking to Mama, I attempted to reach Matthew and his office to no avail. I wanted to tell him I'd be out late to attend a fitness class at the Rux Center this evening, that was the excuse I could come up with. The intention was to meet with Carlos at the Maine Resort.

I dropped a message for him and informed the house assistants.

His reply came in almost immediately.

"I'll also be working late at the office. Get home before 21:00 and don't stay up"

Of course, he'd be working late. Sliding in and out of Natasha's thighs counted as office hours, didn't it?

The drive to the Maine Resort took roughly ninety minutes, a stretch long enough to leave my stomach aching with hunger and my body bone tired. The destination was secluded and tucked in a sprawl of white-roofed mansions and a manicured gold course. Sliding on my sunglasses, I drove past the gates, surrounding myself in quiet anonymity.

The Resort's ambience and magnificence was charming and disarming, its serenity soothing to my soul and offering a form of comfort I had longed for. I had an eye for exquisite designs and minimalist décor, and this space was a combination of both.

I was ushered into a private hall, and then into his office.

He was dressed simply , in a T-shirt and sneakers, with a phone pressed to his ear. The office resonated in the same resort's ambience. It was strikingly clean, accented with bold artworks and family photos scattered across the walls accented by hues of white light gleaming over the images.

My gaze drifted over them in keen observation until one froze me.

Miss Pamela

Her familiar smile, aged but still radiant stared back from the frame. My heart leapt into my mouth. How??

I stepped closer at the image, whispering aloud.

"Wait. How do you know Miss Pamela?"

It was impossible to be mistaken. She was my favorite professor, the one who saw me beyond grades and ambition and was a role model to me in college. She comforted me when life felt a little overwhelming and was strongly against my marriage to Matthew. She had missed the wedding for unavoidable reasons but still always offered me support whenever I needed it. Sadly, my marriage to Matthew had strained it further and his shadow fell so heavy over my life that I had drifted apart from everyone who once mattered.

"She's my mother," he said calmly, finally meeting my eyes.

Suddenly, everything clicked.

Miss Pamela had told me all about her golden son, the one she pinned all her hopes on after her marriage collapsed. She used to tease that we'd make a fine match someday, though life never offered us the chance.

He was Carlos Maine.