His Addiction

Chapter 6

Emily flinched the tone Bash used on her. His eyes held accusation and caution for her. She knew she shouldn't feel guilty, but her cheeks still heated up in embarrassment and terror, and then her eyes enlarged as she realized how effortlessly the man caught her when she was still in disguise, or that was what she thought until her feet touched her false hair. She was supposed to put that on after getting in the car, but her nervousness and worry made her completely forget about checking on her appearance.

"Water." Suppressing her fear, Emily again held her water for him, "You need this more than my name."

Whatever the officers said about Sebastian, she remembered them still. That transaction from his account would separate her from her sister for life, but she knew he was a businessman, and whatever he did to get that deal from her grandpa. Bash wasn't the first person who tried to destroy her, and he certainly wouldn't be the last person her grandfather lured to bring her to her knees to beg him again. Which would never happen, and she had to get guardianship so no one could ever blackmail her with her sister.

Emily thought the man would comply now that she had saved his life just a while ago, and there, she turned out wrong. Again.

"I know you have been stalking me. How long has it been going on like that? To meet your grandfather, you stoop this low, like paying those homeless people there to kill me? What? Did you plan to meet him in the morgue or graveyard, b***h?"

Her back stiffened as Bash used that word. Graveyard. It triggered a memory that she had to shake away from her mind. "It's your. . .mental breakdown talking. It's okay. I can feel you." She said, lowering her gaze, not wanting Bash to see her red-rimmed eyes. Trying hard to keep her emotions at bay, she ranted, "That is normal after what happened to you in that street. People there can be violent because of poverty, unemployment, and addiction that an addict can't get rid of without- "

"You can fool others with your tricks, but I am not one of them." She was interrupted before she explained the situation. She frowned at him while thinking about what made him think about her. His intense stare was intimidating, making her squirm, and her heart twisted in pain when he said something he could keep to himself. "Your grandpa is living by himself all alone. Where you should be the one to take care of the person who was always there for you, you left them when your family business was about to face bankruptcy! What happened to your super-rich boyfriend, by the way? He broke up with you after seeing you through?"

Her voice wavered as she asked, keeping her gaze fixed on the window, "Grandpa told you about him too?"

The man could care less about what Emily might be feeling by listening to those accusing words from him that triggered some painful memory of her past that had her cut her ties with all her relatives and the world who used to admire her for her gift. Swimming. She was only a teenager then. She thought the man she loved would keep his promise in the end that he would never leave her and be the father that her sister needed after marrying Emily, but he just left her. And Cheryl became an orphan again.

"I can't blame him now, you know. A girl who is selfish enough to abandon her family can never be loyal to the man she says she loves." Her head snapped at Bash in confusion. How could someone who barely knows her accuse her of being unfaithful to her family? She loved her parents. She could never do anything to disrespect them or hurt their employees, who were like a family to her father. Opening her mouth, she thought to refute but froze when Bash glowered at her, smirking darkly, "Or maybe he caught you stalking or sleeping with another man, which I am sure a girl like you can do, as nothing can ever satisfy a gold digger like you!"

Emily looked at Bash, speechless. His words hurt her deeply, but she couldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing tears in her eyes. The only thing she did was stand up for herself and protect herself with no one around to do that for her. Anything could happen to her, too, the moment she thought about saving him and opened the door for him to pull him into the car. She would have died getting a shot there. But this man. . .he indirectly just blamed her for running into that danger. But should she be blamed for that? She knew a bit of medical science and was aware of the patient's psychology, and she would still have forgiven him, but. . .he crossed the line.

Her gaze fell on the man in the driver's seat, and she caught him stealing glances from her through the rearview mirror of his car with a troubled look on his face, probably wailing at his luck for giving a lift to a lunatic girl like her who had a reputation. Wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, she thought of sparing him from this awkwardness, "How much do you charge per meter, sir?"

"10BRL, around 2USD. You have to pay extra for you to make me take that lane."

As the driver replied, Emily heard Bash snorting, "Planning to run away already?"

Ignoring him, Emily asked, "It has been over one and a half hours, right?"

The driver said in a dismissive tone, leaving no room for negotiation, "I will charge you for two hours."

"I will pay you whatever you ask me. Just drive me to the airport right now." Emily didn't react when Bash deliberately pressed the latter word, intending to scare her, "And then directly to the police station as I have a case to file against someone I recently met."

"Forgive me, senor, but this is after my working hours. That route isn't mine, and I won't get any passengers for our captains."

The driver talked to his mind, and from her peripheral vision, she noticed how that arrogance slipped from Bash's face, and his gaze hardened instead. As he pulled over after taking the main road, Emily stepped out of the car. Clearing the fare, she didn't turn back but felt Bash's eyes bore holes in her back when she took the bus. She felt awful that she couldn't give the driver much but a card from a clothing shop where she bought clothes for Cheryl. The driver's eyes lit up, seeing that card and a pass for a free surfing lesson with a free lunch at the beach where Emily used to swim every day, but she still hoped Bash would pay him what he deserved.

The police would catch up soon, so she kept her mind off that superstar who was no one to her or would ever be. He could die for all she cared. She could never forget this day or forgive this man for humiliating her with something he had no idea of, and still, she hoped he didn't have to see this day when his woman would misunderstand him and leave him when he needed her the most in his life. She didn't want to remember how horrible she felt that time and how she almost drowned herself in alcohol, but her love for her sister kept her focused, and she came all the way here alone to this foreign country where she had to watch her back constantly.

She didn't get the sign, but she had the documents with her, and her lawyer had already received the parcel of what her grandfather had no idea of or could ever imagine how the sweet, naive, and humble Milena got internal information that might bring him down to his knees one day. But she wouldn't do that. Not before she finds her father, and he takes over the company like before again.

Those workers and employees used to worship their bosses. Emily had witnessed in her own eyes how nice they were to her mother, who was hated by all. Even Emily once misunderstood the woman she chose for her father. She wished she could get a chance to tell Erina how much she hated herself for being rude to her. She failed her father too, but she would protect Cheryl and their company while staying behind the curtain. From a distance. That was the only thing she could do now. It had already taken a toll on her, but it was better than weeping over the loss of that man she loved and would love with the hope that he would find her himself one day, even though she knew she couldn't forgive him for not trusting her enough. Even if she did, she would make him pay the price for abandoning that three-year-old toddler, who actually took him as her father as she thought Emily was her mother.

Sitting by the window, Emily silently cried for Cheryl. It still hurt the same when Jason pushed Cheryl away, who crawled to him and wrapped her tiny arms around his legs to make him stay. He was her father. How could he leave her like that? Emily could only stand there and watch her sister and her boyfriend. To be with them, to stay close to them, she went to lengths to put her swimming career on hold, but. . .life happens. And then, the authorities took Cheryl from her before she could prove her innocence to Jason.

Life threw challenges at different periods, but she always found herself choosing her sister over everything and everyone.

She never regretted her decision or ever felt tired of fighting for Cheryl. People like Bash come and go after throwing insults in her face, but just like today, she ignores them and leaves them behind. Besides, she had a pressing matter on her hand.

And that made her take her phone out of her jacket, and she gave a missed call to her lawyer's number. That was how shameless & sneaky Emily was. But she paid her lawyer and agents on time. One day, her psychologist would be lucky and get his due in cash, not a box of cake she took to his clinic after baking and then buying that with her money at the club where she worked part-time.

While she waited for Mrs. Winchester to call back, Emily got off the bus getting a text from her lady officer who ordered her to go to her quarter, and Emily could only comply, not having much choice left in her hand.

The guards let Emily pass the gate, and she headed directly to the guest house of that police quarter. She wasn't new there, so everybody could recognize her, even if she was in the form of Elias or Emily or just a mixed version of what she looked like then.

Getting the call from her lawyer, she quickened her pace and locked the door of the lady officer's spare bedroom to answer the call. But before she could get the chance to greet her, Mrs. Winchester beat her to it. "Was he rude to you?"

"Um. . .no!" Narrowing her eyes, she asked, "The officers informed you already?"

Now, she was doomed.

"Your flight is confirmed. You are leaving in three days. The movers will help you with your stuff tomorrow. You have to make sure you have everything sorted out with your apartment owner and club manager, and you aren't allowed to meet anyone other than us. I hope you will listen to the officers, Emily. I am warning you." Emily closed her eyes tight to hear her. "For you, I have already made an exception. If you keep throwing yourself in danger, I will drop your little sister's case like everybody else. You just crossed the line, broke the pack we have, and there will be consequences if you don't do as the officers say."

She gulped hard in fear. "Sorry, ma'am. I won't do that again."

"Better if you keep this in your mind."

"But my dad?"

"One thing at a time, Emily." Mrs. Winchester softly cut her off. "I promise I will help you to find your father, but not now. The hearing is on the day you will land here. To take your sister home, you have to be here."

Emily could only agree and wished she could call Robbe, her grandpa's butler, to know he wasn't caught leaving the mansion for her, but it was strictly prohibited, and no one messed with her lawyer going against her. If it wasn't for Robbe coming out to stop her from sneaking into that mansion for the confrontation she intended to have with her grandfather, she would have lost her freedom today, or even worse, like sending her behind the bar, framing her for the star's murder. She wouldn't be surprised if the officers told her it wasn't just a regular mugging but a preplanned murder attempt.

Emmanuel Iglesias was someone Emily would never allow Cheryl to meet again.

If that day ever comes, she will find herself in the state she saw Bash in today.

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Emily didn't look back like the other day. Bash expected she would and kept his eyes glued to the bus until he lost sight of the bus. What did she think of herself? That he couldn't make it wherever he wished to without her help? Who asked for her in the first place, anyway? It wouldn't have happened to him if she hadn't chased after him with her heavy steps in the dark until she was out of breath and failed to catch him. Bash snorted coldly at her in his mind and turned his gaze from the road to the taxi to his side.

That freaking driver kicked him out after Emily left, but he still had the nerve to smoke there, standing by his car. Bash noticed him checking the card or pass like something in his hand, and he could remember that was what Emily gave the driver with the money.

Bash wondered why that man didn't throw those useless things away or call her back to take them back. But the glow in his eyes was undeniable. Spiked up the curiosity in Bash's mind, and he wished to know what kind of treasure the driver had got in his hand, which had him choose them over the piles of cash in his way for his bravery. Either way, Bash would give him what he deserved, even when the driver pissed him off with his denial to give him a lift to the airport to see off his Eline.

Without beating around the bush, Bash asked the driver, "What did she give you?"

The man looked startled by his sudden question. "Perdon?"

"Those cards. . .she gave you." Eyeing the man's hand, Bash asked, "Why are you still holding those useless pieces of paper?" Not wanting to sound desperate, he thought to praise the driver, adding some insult, in the end, a nature that he could never get rid of in his lifetime unless a miracle happened, but Bash was least bothered by that as the people around him admired him the way he was. "You deserved more than that, you know. After what you did for me, risking your life, you would have got anything you asked for, but you seem like one of those employees in my office who wouldn't work even half an hour extra after their working hours."

"You say that because I didn't take you to the airport?" The driver chuckled, puffing the smoke out of his mouth. He put the cards back in his wallet carefully, as he didn't want to ruin them or lose them by somehow shuffling the coins to return the change, "I am not that brave, senor. I am among those drivers who put their families first. If this young lady hadn't begged me to follow you after seeing you take the wrong route, you would have found me speeding off that street, pretending I didn't see you as the others did."

Bash's expression dropped again on hearing him. Swallowing thickly, he asked, "She asked you to follow me there?"

Before he could get the answer, the police van arrived, and he saw a lady officer marching toward the driver, looking tense. "You are the one who gave her a lift, aren't you? Where is she? In your taxi?"

The driver straightened up, stepping on his cigarette quickly, "No, ma'am. She took a bus a while ago."

Listening to him, the officer took out her phone and typed something, "You did a great job. Tell me the fare. I am giving it to you."

"She paid me and gave me these passes as rewards." Bash frowned when the driver took out his wallet and showed her the cards. "A picnic spot in a place like Jureia beach. They won't charge me for boating and surfing! Even the beverages and snacks are free."

"Oh-wow! You got the pass! And. . .is that a shopping voucher card I see in your hand? 45% off on all children's clothes!" The lady groaned in frustration and hissed, "That brat! I give her free rides every time from work, but she never takes pity on me."

Another officer came out of his jeep and looked at his subordinate, "It's okay, Paula. Just text her to come to our quarter, and you will get the deal." The lady officer winked at him and motioned the driver to drive back home, not before telling him to send his wife to that clothing store because no one would want to miss that season sale where he would get a discount on them using that card.

Bash was beyond pissed, but he looked calm and talked with the officers when they came to check on him and talk about the incident. He told them that those attackers told him someone paid them to kill him, and when the lady officer asked if he suspected someone, Bash said no. The male officer still pressed the matter, "Are you sure it has nothing to do with Elias who rescued you?"

Opening his mouth, Bash wanted to say yes, but he knew it wasn't her. It couldn't be her. Not at least someone who handles matters using a free pass or voucher card. She was too poor to be a kidnapper. And couldn't be that brave to face those hooligans.

And then, the officer intentionally raised his voice slightly, taking the name Elias. The lady officer even looked worried and sounded friendly when she talked about Emily, which were the hints that Bash didn't fail to take. But why the police? Had she been working for the police or the other way around? Frowning at them, Bash asked, "What's the matter? How could she be related to you?"

The officers went stiff, and they shared a look. The male officer changed the subject, saying, "We are taking you to the station for further interrogation, Mr. Fernandez. I am asking you if you are okay now. We can take you to the hospital if you- "

"No, I am fine. It's- " His face grimaced as he stepped forward to the jeep. Still, he managed to get in the car. "I have to go to the airport as soon as possible. My girlfriend must be worried sick now. Can I use your phone for a moment, if you don't mind?"

"They were some hired goons, not the homeless people or druggies who live in the street. You would have died if it wasn't for Elias." Paula paused for a moment before taking out a phone from her jacket. "Besides, you only got a few calls from Julian. I answered the call and told him to inform your family about the attack." Bash froze, looking at his phone in her hand. "Sorry, but I have to check your device and your cloud memory to be sure that you didn't take Elias's picture or any recordings with you." The officer didn't look guilty in the slightest, and he didn't think he had a say in it when the deed was done already. At least he got his phone back.

Bash dialed Madeline's number many times that night and even asked Julian to call her after meeting him in the clinic, where the officers took him first for the checkup and the plaster on his right leg. The police officers left after their interrogation, and Bash could see constables standing outside his ward with his bodyguards, which wasn't necessary when he had Julian glued beside him, who happened to know some people on the dark web to cancel all the transactions and pull out the money he sent to a stranger's account on behalf of Emmanuel Iglesias. Dialing Madeline's number in the morning, Bash asked, "Are you done there, Julian?"

Julian kept his eyes on his laptop screen and asked, "Are you sure you want to do this, Bash? Your father won't be happy with your decision. And the senior James, well, it's safe to say he will never allow you to open your factory here in any Southern states."

Bash's expression hardened. After what Emmanuel said and hinted, Bash wouldn't want to stay in this city for even a week, let alone want to do anything with that contract he signed with Emily's grandpa on the last day. His father messed it up all, and the great Lorenzo Miller had to sort things out because Bash wouldn't return to Sao Paulo in his lifetime. At least not with any intention of opening his factory here. Tossing his phone to the bedside table, he asked, "Any news about that boy? I mean, the girl?"

"She is on her day shift, probably. Why? Do you want me to bring her here for you?"

Julian straightened his back and looked as though he was ready to take the order, which made Bash frown harder at him. "What?"

"You can apologize to her for your misbehavior last night." Bash pressed his lips in a thin line, and his eyes turned icy. Before he could lash out at him, Julian used his friendly tone to him, "It's just a suggestion. Let me finish it first, okay? You are making an effort to help her out of the situation Emmanuel made you put her in, taking advantage of the misunderstanding you have. The police even told you Emily doesn't even know you and that she couldn't be the one who sent those pictures of you with other women to Ms. Madeline. Don't you think she deserves an apology from you? Then Madeline liked Elias's work, and that's why you sent me to Elias's place for Madeline for the surprise engagement you want to throw in LA. If I bring Emily here, you two could talk it out with nobody's presence in this cabin. Emily deserves that apology from you, Bash. You judged the girl you didn't know anything about."

"You talk way too much!" Bash glared at Julian, even though deep down he agreed with everything his friend said. He also believed he went over the board last night and felt guilty for his behavior, and then he made Julian sit in front of his laptop and do his work immediately. Maybe he was a spoiled brat, but his mother raised him after the separation. The last thing he wanted was to hurt that woman who meant so much to him, but of course, after Madeline. Exhaling sharply, he said, "Fine, bring her here right now."