Humiliated And Hurt

DEVON

I woke up at my usual time, and after getting showered, I checked my phone to see Smith's message.

='Everything's going well sir! There's no problem at all.'=

I sighed but couldn't find that relief. I should be happy that finally, the factory's construction was picking up the pace. Seemed like my trick worked on TGF and its CEO.

But then why this voice in my head kept saying that there was more yet to come?

I shook my head and get ready for the day.

I reached downstairs for breakfast but lost my appetite, the moment I saw Mason sitting beside mom, laughing at something she said.

But then I caught dad staring my way. I had no escape from this situation. I took my place across from dad at the other end of the table.

I noticed uncle Joseph's chair was empty but didn't mention it because I knew how Joseph Burke was a sore subject in the house.

"Good morning, Devon!" Mom was the first one to greet me with her dazzling smile.

She must be spending more dollars on her dentist.

I nodded curtly. "Good morning!"

"Devon, have you slept well, my dear?"

I smiled at aunt Julianne. "Yes! I did."

I stole a glance into mom's way to see her engaged in a conversation with Mason again. As if I was not even present there.

I clenched my jaw. That was why I hated staying here... with people I considered my family. If it was not for dad's order, then I would have gone back to my penthouse rather than staying here to get ignored by my own parents.

I know they loved me, but that was not enough when you fail to show it!

I looked away and focused on my breakfast, but I felt a pair of eyes on me. It was irritating but concerning also. I lifted my gaze up to see dad staring at me.

Our eyes met for a fraction of a second and what I saw in his otherwise cold and intimidating eyes, shook me to the core.

Victor Sanders' eyes reflected fear!

Before I registered that thought in my mind, he looked away. I wanted to ask him why he was so tense these days, but this was not the right place.

I made a mental note of meeting him in his office later.

My phone rang in my pocket, and though we had a rule of not using our phones at the table, I picked it up. I never really abide by the rules anyways.

I received three disapproving glares and one complaining- but not to me. Mason looked at others mouthing- scold him.

But nobody said anything. I ignored them and said, "Yes, Christine?"

"Good morning, Boss! What are you doing?"

Her voice came broken and away from the speaker. The shuffling sound in the background told that she must be getting ready to leave for the office.

"What do you want?" I asked instead.

She paused. "Can't you be little polite for one day?"

"Christine!" I warned.

"Alright! Alright! Forget I said anything. Now listen..." After a pause of a few seconds, she continued, "I got a call from the police, officer J S William. They want to have a meeting with you in the noon.

I haven't given them a thumbs-up yet. What do you say?"

"Officer William?"

From my peripheral vision, I saw every head on the table snap in my way with shock written on their faces.

"Yeah, the officer-in-charge of investigation of Carson Holmes' murder."

"Okay. Fix them an appointment at One o'clock. I will have my lunch after that." I sipped on the juice while getting drilled by four pairs of eyes.

"Cool. See you at the office! Ciao!"

Christine cut the call, and I slipped my phone again into my pocket before I began eating. I was waiting for the tension to break, and it was done by none other than my dad.

"What does William wants?"

I heard how he never addressed people with their deserved designation and respect.

"He wants to ask me a few questions I guess.. regarding Carson's case." I answered calmly.

Aunt Julianne and mom looked at each other worriedly. But what caught my attention was how Mason's face paled instantly.

Why?

"And?" Dad prompted.

"And I have said yes to a meeting."

I watched him curling his fingers tightly around the fork in his hand before he declared, "Cancel the meeting."

"I blinked. "Why?"

"Because I am saying so. You are not going to face any interrogation or get involved in this investigation. No police would come anywhere near you, Devon! Do you hear me?"

I pursed my lips, my brows knotted in annoyance.

"You have to give me a justifiable reason first dad."

He threw that fork on the table that clinked against the porcelain plate.

"Stop disrespecting me, Devon! I am your father and you will do as I say. Do you get that?"

"No, I don't." I placed my fork down slowly on the plate before meeting his eyes.

"I want to know that when every person in the family is cooperating in the investigation, why only I have to stay back?

They just want to ask me a few questions about Carson. Dad, that man was a government official working on the accident at OUR construction site.

He has a wife and a six-year-old son. Isn't this our responsibility to help in the investigation at much as we can? That's the least we can do for his family dad!"

I didn't know Carson very much, rather at all except for his professional life. I didn't meet him personally. We just happened to bump into each other at some event, I guess. I don't even remember that short meeting clearly.

But what I definitely remember about him was that he was a genuine man, loyal to his job. When we met... I thought he wanted to say something but decided against it last minute.

That detail I remembered vividly but didn't pay any attention to it.

But now that he had faced such an unfortunate death, was it possible for him to tell me something related to the threat he felt?

I had no idea!

But if I tell that to the police, then they may find a thread to continue their investigation.

"Shut up, Devon!" Dad's thunderous voice broke my chain of thoughts.

He stood up angrily, glaring at me. Mom was instantly on her feet and by his side to calm him. But I knew for sure that she also blamed me for this other fight in the Sanders' villa.

I saw aunt Julieanne reaching for dad's hand to stop him, but I knew him too well. He would not stop until he won!

"Don't try to teach me, Devon! You don't know a single thing about what happens around you. For ten months, you are caved in that penthouse of yours and your office room and for the rest of the time, you just disappear from the face of this earth.

We don't even get to reach you in that time. And yet you are teaching me how to deal with things?

I am the one working my ass off for three sixty-five days, every single year. So you shouldn't forget who has a better understanding of things here.

You are not going to meet William, and if you do, then I swear I will throw you out of my property for disobeying me, Devon. And don't think it is just a verbal threat! I mean it!"

More than dad's words, Mason's wicked smirk irked me. I also stood up, matching dad's heated glare.

"Stop threatening me with the old threats, dad! I never asked you to hand over everything to me on the golden platter. I am ready to work my ass off for three sixty-five days and build my own world.

I don't work in the Sanders' Group only because I carry your name but because I have earned everything that I have!"

"Devon! Pease!"

"No, aunt Julianne!" I threw a cursory glance her way. "This is NOT FAIR! I am not asking you for any wrong thing dad. I just want to help in finding out a murderer. I would probably not give any useful information to the police. But at least let me try for the sake of my conscience."

Dad's face darkened as he glared at me with clenched teeth.

"Devon! Don't make me remind you of the same thing again and again. You have promised to always listen to me and never disobey.

Haven't I done enough for you to keep you safe? Is this how you are going to repay the debt?"

My body tensed. My mind stopped working for a second before his words scorched me.

Did he just say that?!

"I made a mistake by staying here for these four days. I should have gone to my place. Don't worry dad. I remember my promise and I will not break it."

I was too humiliated and hurt to breathe another breath in that tense air. So I left and rushed out of the villa to get to my office.

Dad was right! I should remain caved in my penthouse and my office for ten months of a year, waiting for the fresh breath of the two months that would take me away from my reality.