CHAPTER 38

I was woken up by birds chirping, which was so loud. When I opened my eyes, I got to know where the hell I ended up spending my night because of that bastard. I started walking again, and thank God, I got a ride. After reaching my flat, I forwarded a message to David, stating that I was not able to make it to the restaurant. I freshened up, had some food, and slept off.

When I woke up, my head was pounding like anything. Damn, I never went beyond my limit, and I am fucking paying for it. I took the tablet that was in the cabinet. It was already late; I needed to reach the company as there was an important board meeting, and I couldn't miss it. As I placed my leg on the floor, I felt a sharp pain in my foot. When I saw it, it was a glass piece. I removed the same and started surveying my room; everything was scattered. What the hell happened?

The previous night's incident started hitting my memory.

My rage took me out of control after Tristian's revelation.

I started searching for Gray, but he was nowhere to be found. We were far from the city, where could he be? I inquired with one of my bodyguards. He informed me that he had left. When they don't have any idea. Immediately I started checking CCTV, and around 1 a.m. he left the house.

I closed my eyes for a few minutes; I couldn't believe that I had gone to such a level. What the heck was my problem? It was his fucking life. He can fucking do whatever he wants. Why the hell am I fucking taking everything personally? What bloody right did I get over him? Why the hell am I not letting things go as they were left?

My cell started ringing; it was Thomas, reminding me of the board meeting. I took a quick shower and made my way to the company. My mind was in a state of chaos. Hopefully, I don't suck at this meeting. After reaching, I made my way directly to the meeting room, and everyone, including Thomas, was waiting for me. As I entered, they started the meeting, and nothing was going to my mind. It was my turn to input my views, and I was totally blank; nothing was coming to mind except images of Gray.

Why I like Thomas was for this reason. Nothing was conveyed; he took matters into his own hands and continued to input his views, portraying them as mine. After two hours, the meeting ended. I need to get the hell out of here. My head was still thumping. I left the meeting room, and Thomas was following me.

After entering my cabin, I was facing the window. Thomas was beside me, and my breath was heavy. I inhale and exhale my breath for a few minutes. My hands were in their respective pockets. I could watch half of the city through the window, but I was watching nothing. My focus was on the city view, but I felt everything was blank.

"I need to know everything about Gray, especially what happened after I left this city." Still, I was facing the window, and Thomas was doing the same. "Do you think it is such a good idea? You know about your dad and his conditions." "I am not giving a dam to my dad or his condition, not anymore. I followed his orders, and I think I can't follow them anymore. I want to know everything about Gray. Will you gather the information, or should I use my own means?" "You should think calmly. Now you are disturbed." "You know me from my teenage years. I won't come up with anything just randomly. I don't care if you inform my dad, but I need to know everything about Gray. Can you help me with that? Thomas, you are like my father figure, and I don't want to hide anything from you, so I am asking you directly rather than going behind your back." "Joshua, I told you on the first day itself to leave things as they are. You are going to make everything worse. Why do you want to know what happened to him or his family?"

"I don't give a dam about his family; let them die in hell, but I can't ignore Gray, not anymore. I can't leave things as they were, not anymore. I don't want to know about what if, not anymore. I don't want to know about the outcome after gathering the information. I don't want to worry about my dad or his condition, not anymore. I don't want to draw any conclusions based on my friends or any other fucking bastards' words, not anymore. I don't want to show my wrath on Gray, not anymore. I can't help what happened in the past, but I want to put an end to every fucking thing that is happening. I can't take any fucking thing about Gray lightly, not anymore." 

Tears were threatening to flow. I should have done this on the first day itself, or I should have completely ignored his existence. Why the hell didn't I think of digging about Gray, especially what he had gone through in those five years? Why the hell did I go with the flow based on those fucking bastards' words?

"Thomas, can you help me dig up everything?" "I am asking you one more time. Are you sure?" "Trust me, I was never so sure of anything." "You may not like the outcome," "I know that. I know." "OK, I will dig out everything. Give me one day; maximum, it will take two days. I am not going to inform your father, but trust me, he will come to know eventually. He knows his way." "Trust me, I am done with my dad's precautions." "OK, be prepared. For everything," "Thank you. I want the information as it is; don't forge or hide anything. If it's related to my dad's or yours too, I want the information as it is." "Ok, I will pass it on as it is." "Shall I take my leave? If I am not wrong, you need alone time." "Yes, thank you for everything." "Always, take care."

I know what I am doing is fucking stupidity. I am not going to like anything, but I can't let go of anything about Gray.

After a few days, Thomas gave me a file consisting of Gray's life from the past five years. I started going through the same. It took 30 minutes. By taking a deep breath I closed the file, and by removing the glasses, I was resting my head. I didn't expect any of this—not even a fucking thing. Apart from leading a low-level life, I didn't even dream of what he had gone through. From the time I returned, I only kept adding fuel to the already burning rage. I should have investigated thoroughly. I ignored every sign that I was getting from every fucking bastard.

I started feeling suffocated, so I loosened my necktie.

Thomas was sitting in front of me. No words were spoken, waiting for me to speak, and I was not getting where the hell I should start from. My reckless behavior was like a huge slap in the face. How, from where, should I start now?

I should have not returned. I was partly responsible for every fucking thing that happened in his life. Most of his contributions were from his parents thanks to them. And like brother, sister was also mute in every fucking thing.

"Thanks for this. Thanks for providing it as it is. I need some answers." "I was waiting for this day. Go on." 

"He was well-qualified." "Your dad was responsible; he controlled everything and made sure that he wouldn't get any job. Your dad didn't expect he would end up working in a small restaurant, or else your dad would use his means over there too. I guess. And don't blame him, Joshua." 

"Right. How the hell did his parents end up getting $5 million? Everywhere news was spread right about their bankruptcy." "You know they were billionaires, so getting $5 million by pulling some tactic was not that hard." 

"Where are his parents' now?" "Rumors are running that they are hiding on an island." "I want to know exactly, where?" "Got it; I will dig out that."

"What about his sister?" "For the sake of kids, her in-laws and husband kept her, or else she would have been thrown out a long time ago. She could have helped him, but she didn't." "Of course, she didn't."

"What about his fucking friends?" "Once the incident circulated everywhere, no one bothered to ask his whereabouts or how he was doing. Gray's number was blocklisted by a few of your friends; a few didn't bother to answer his call, and so on.

"Is my dad still keeping tabs on everything about Gray's family?" "Maybe recently he has not inquired about anything." "If he does inquire, you are not providing any information and please inform him not to be involved in this matter anymore. For any information, tell him to contact me." "Ok, I will."

"Anything else you want to know Joshua?" For now, this much information is enough." "So, what now?" "Right, what now?" "This is the reason I told you to leave the past as it is." "You knew before digging everything." "Yes." "What about my dad? Does he?" "Not the whole story. But he cautioned me against sharing anything with you." "This is the reason. You kept dodging the topic. "Congratulations! You were successful until today." "Josh, a few things that happened were unexpected. Don't blame anyone." "A few things. Common. I am not blaming anyone when I am fucking responsible for every goddam thing." "Don't blame yourself too. Everyone was right at their end. The only thing is that it affected Grayson more, only because he was the son of a criminal. "Do you think he deserves this shitty life, whoring?" "No, he doesn't, nor what happened to your family. The reason why I told you to move on and not to dig anything, is because of this. Everyone was right at their end." "But what about Gray, because of his dad he had to go through so much." "You wanted justice for your family, and you were successful in getting that. Grayson's dad pushed him to the worst scenario, neither you nor your family were responsible for anything." "Everything fucking overwhelming. Impossible to ignore after knowing everything." 

We were silent, and I was watching the sealing, my mind was completely blank. This urge to fucking ignore everything and to go back was at its peak. He was not responsible for his dad's act and my family was completely destroyed because of his dad's act. Why him? Why my family? Who is right? Who is wrong?

"So, Josh?" "I don't know. Trust me, my mind is completely blank after knowing every fucking thing." "You can go back by appointing someone over here." "Hell no. I am done running, not fucking anymore. Not after knowing every fucking thing." "Are you thinking of getting involved in his life? Think about the consequences; nothing is going to work out your way this time." "Well, I don't want to win; this is not a bloody game. I can't leave him this way. He doesn't deserve this fucking life or any of this. After I returned, I only made things worse for him. Just great." This Grayson is completely different from the past one. "Trust me, I am aware of and worried about the same. Thomas, nothing is going to work on me now. So, please stop trying to change my mind." "OK, I give up. That's it. I guess I will get going," "Thank you so much for everything." "Anytime." 

I started thinking about the foremost thing that needs to be done. After weighing the pros and cons I finally concluded something, and I started dialing a number. "What the hell do you want? I just went to bed. I am not a bloody zombie; I need bloody sleep." One of my close friends from the state is a great hacker. For me, all in all, he can do any shitty thing and is hot-headed. "I need you to arrange bodyguards; I need them to keep an eye on someone 24x7." "Not for you. You have enough bodyguards. For whom?" "Don't interrupt, and it's none of your business. He is a kind of bloody hooker. You are making sure that he is not doing that anymore, with anyone." "Hey, it's none of your business. It's his life. Are you a bloody stalker?" "As I said, don't interrupt, and it's none of your business. He has created a profile on these shitty websites, and see to it, he is fucking not getting any response. I want you to install a tracking device on his phone." "You have turned into a bloody stalker, and it's a criminal act." "I want to know wherever the hell he is going, and I need to get every fucking text of his." "Dam, you are turning into a fucking psychopath. Are you getting that bastard?" "My concluding part is that whoever you are appointing should be his shadow. If anyone tries to flirt or try any shitty things, that should be stopped at that instant by using any means left to you. And try to hack his phone at the earliest." "Who the hell is this guy? Damn, I am curious. Are you fucking obsessed with him?" "I don't know what the hell is happening, and I don't want to know any fucking reason. I am going to transfer the money, and from today itself, everything should come into action. At least the bodyguards' part." "God rip his peace from today. A fucking psychopath is on a bloody mission." "Take this seriously, and I meant every word." "It will be done; don't worry." "Thanks and keep me updated." "Yeah, whatever."