Trapped

Chapter 35: AFTER

Chapter Thirty Five:

Having a plan in mind.

—

I WAS GROWING impatient and frustrated as more days passed by.

Despite the mere fact that Kaleigh informed me that the incident wasn’t actually an accident, and that someone wanted to kill us—my two weeks worth of memories still hasn’t come back to me. Giving me a little information to know what could’ve happened during the car crash. I can’t fully just tell anyone that someone wanted us dead when I can’t even clarify the truth on my own.

“Max, the investigators are doing their best to do what they can with the case. You don’t have to stress yourself over this.” Sebastian breathed, leaning forward and placing both elbows on his lap. I could see that he’s fighting the urge to hold me in his arms—afraid that I might react negatively about it. And he’s right about that, I wouldn’t want him doing that to me despite being in Maxwell’s body. “Please, just rest. You haven’t healed yet,” he suggested, and I know that he wasn’t talking about my physical state—but my mental state.

With his response, my eyes fell to the ground, staring particularly at the black slides that he wore. He was tapping his left foot on the carpeted floor, as if he was trying to calm himself down from saying anything insensitive to me.

“I just want to help with the investigation. Maybe it would help fasten the case.” I insisted, biting my lower lip. My hands fumbled on the sheets of my bed, I couldn’t look straight in his eyes as I didn’t want to see the expression plastered on his face at this very moment.

“Help with what?” he injected, patience growing thin by the second. “You can’t even remember what happened, Max. What will you even tell them? It’s not going to help quicken the investigation if you’re going to just guess what really occurred on that day.”

Aware that he’s just worried for my well-being, I released a dejected sigh. I know that he was only saying that because he didn’t want me to get involved with the case. Just like what my mother said, it’s best to be completely excluded from the investigation because it might just trigger me at some point. While I do definitely agree with them, I just can’t seem to stand idly doing nothing while the person who did this to me and Maxwell is still out there—probably living their best life knowing that they killed at least one of the Luciano Corporation Heiresses.

“Then let me just meet with Karen,” I voiced out with conviction and this time, I gazed directly into his eyes, wanting to let him know that I’m serious with my words.

Sebastian was indeed shocked with my response, his mouth agape. When he realized that he didn’t respond for almost a minute, he shook his head. “No,” he answered sternly. “Nothing will come out of it. Surely, it wouldn’t benefit you at all, Max.”

“I just want to ask for some information.”

“Karen already provided everything needed that there is to know. It’s all over the news and the article, Max..”

“But what if they aren’t telling us everything? What if the investigators are hiding something from the public so that the criminal wouldn’t be aware that they’re onto them already?”

“Then that’s good, let them do their job. I won’t let you involve yourself over something so dangerous, and I know that you’re family would feel the same thing about this”

We were embraced with silence after that. No one uttered any sound but we were still staring at one another—seemingly like we were measuring the depths of what just transpired. Whenever my family is involved in a certain topic, it was enough to keep myself under control once again.

Of course, I love my family deeply. That is something that’s very obvious to everyone who knows me. Everything I do is for them. I wouldn’t want to disappoint them once I decided to defy their instructions with the ongoing investigation.

But still, I wanted to know.

“Why don’t you rest, Max? It’s been a long day, and I know you’re tired.” Sebastian suddenly said, shaking me out of my train of thoughts. His brown doe eyes appeared like he was almost pleading with me. “I know you want justice to prevail but your safety comes first to me, to us—your family. We don’t want you to suffer the same fate again just because you want to dive deeper into this. We want you here, Max. We want you alive.”

That was the last thing that Sebastian told me as we both got ready to sleep.

He was still sleeping on the sofa inside my room—Maxwell’s room. The set-up was still the same because he was afraid that I might experience another panic attack anytime soon, and he wanted to be in the same room as me when that happens.

Sebastian was already snoring in his place while I stared at the ceiling. The night light inside Maxwell’s room allowed me to partially see silhouettes of things. I stared at the unlighted ceiling light bulbs, while my thoughts wander to different things.

My mind still can’t shrug off the revelation that Kaleigh said to me.

— there is someone out there that wants me and Maxwell dead.

But who could that possibly be? During this time, I don’t even know who would do such a thing. Although, I’m aware that someone has a motive—like all criminals do.

There are tons of people who hated us—personally, or just as a whole family. Most especially when my grandfather is the owner of Luciano Corporation; one of the thriving companies in the past years. It’s already been established, and gained a lot of positive feedback from many people. Being at the top, we have a lot of rivals in the same industry who might have wanted to shake my grandfather’s wellbeing by having both of his granddaughters in an accident—hoping to have both killed. But unfortunately for them, I was still alive… not just in my own rightful body.

Aside from that, there are also those inside the company who might have a grudge on us because they wanted to take over. I’m aware that there are members of the board who don't agree with me being the next CEO of the Luciano Corporation even if my grandfather hasn't even announced specific details about it yet. Apparently, they’re threatened about me taking over his position due to the fact it hasn’t even been two years since I started working there, and most members of the board spend more than ten years in the company.

If I’m to list all possible suspects that might be involved with this, I’ll have about five people in mind.

First would definitely be Gregory Luciano, the brother of my grandfather, Viktor. He had been very vocal about the fact that he wanted to take over the company for more than years already—but granddad wasn’t open to that idea. Predominantly because Gregory didn’t help much when the company was just starting way back. Only did he show his interest when it garnered a lot of people’s recognition and received a lot of profits. We all know that he just wanted the company all for himself because of the money attached to the position.

Aside from Gregory, I could definitely say that his son, Barry, and his wife, Hannah, would share the same sentiments as him wanting to harm me and Maxwell. If Gregory was to take over the CEO position, he would gain a lot of financial benefit inclined with the job. Moreover, he would want an heir of his own to inherit the position as well. So if Gregory is to acquire Luciano Corporation, Barry would automatically own the company in the near future.

Surely, his family has a lot of motives for wanting us killed.

The fourth possible suspect would be Shelley Evans, my former manager when I was still new to the company. She treated me very badly back then, because according to her, ‘You only got hired due to connections’. Shelley had a huge beef with me due to that reason so she continued on making my newly-hired-self a living hell. When I asked for permission in regards to sending a project proposal to the higher-ups, she rejected it, then eventually stole my whole project that she rejected. Which got her suspended after proving that she had stolen my work. Now, she was working at a small firm with a low salary since what she did tainted her employee record—not many companies wanted to hire her after that.

I would definitely say that she deserved it. For I have been very patient with all the mistreatment that she gave to me, but when it came to stealing my work; I was willing to fight back.

Before she left the company she told me, ‘You will pay for this, Chandria.’ And I have an inkling that the incident might be the one she’s pertaining to.

The last one I had in mind was Peter Clements, a member of the Board of Directors. The man has a huge share percentage in Luciano Corporation. While he is great doing his job, he consecutively expressed his intentions of wanting to acquire the company. He was willing to pay and even triple the money that he offered to Vikor.

Although, I’m not fully knowledgeable on how the conversation went.

Closing my eyes, I tried to picture everyone. Those were the people who I am suspecting that might be involved with the tragedy. They all have motives—enough to pose harm to me and Maxwell. However, I don’t have any idea if Maxwell would also have a list of possible suspects of her own. She’s really not that open book to me. Maxwell mostly keeps to herself, so if there’s anyone who has a beef with her; I wouldn’t really be aware. She doesn’t fancy talking about those kinds of things because she’s always focused on her work. Maxwell would rather spend time doing something productive than gossiping about people who don't deserve even an ounce of her attention.

But I could still work with the five people I had in mind.

Now that I have a list to work on, all I needed was to find out if all of them have an airtight alibi.