86 Chapter 86
On an impulse, he switched on his computer and created a fake email address. He quickly typed a letter from an offshore company inviting him to explore business opportunities with them. He sent the email to his office account so that his secretary would see it.
Then, he prepared a list of things he would need in case he never came back.
Over the next twenty-four hours, Vivek transferred 50% of his money to foreign banks where he already held accounts. What would he do with his properties: the cars, the 10,000-square-foot villa, estates around the country, his private jet, his factories and offices? Thinking of his possessions was too distracting.
One thing at a time, Vivek!
First, he needed to focus on getting out of the country. That was more important than anything else. Leaving behind so much was difficult, but it was good that no one knew he was leaving. Since the lab exploded, creditors had nagged him constantly to either give them the formula or return their money. Several people had threatened to sue. Vivek figured if he were out of the country, he would be less of a target. Plus, it would be hard for them to collect money if they couldn't find him.
He poured over the Internet, searching for a country where people hardly understood English. After a day, he finally found it: a small isolated island near Indonesia. It was perfect.
Three days after the shooting, he left the country, vowing never to return.
As soon as he arrived, he started looking for a place to stay. He wanted something remote, where there were few people, but he could easily access the Internet.
He found a perfect hideout. It was a cottage, surrounded by dense, bushy growth. It was a neat place and was well maintained. The kind of place Vivek was accustomed to. The owner of the cottage was a millionaire living on the main island of Sumatra.
The first few days were busy as he tried to settle in. He bought furniture, a phone, and a computer to fill the house. He kept in touch with his office all the time. When his secretary mentioned Mala's funeral ceremony, he asked her to send flowers to her funeral. Although he keenly waited for any news about the murder investigation, he tried hard to never show his interest.
The days that followed were incredibly boring. When he wasn't connected to the office, he was alone with nothing to keep him company but his memories of Mala. He had to get out of the cottage.
He started walking around town, meeting the local people, but communicating was difficult. Mostly, they spoke in monosyllabic grunts or mediocre attempts at charades. Vivek bought a book to learn Indonesian, thinking it would help him fill the time, but it never helped.
Once he gave up on communicating with the locals, he explored the jungle around him, instead. He hired a guide who told fascinating stories about the area in broken English. Even though his English was not good, Vivek counted his guide as a blessing. Finally, he had someone to talk to in his boring hideout!
One day, Vivek told the guide, "I'd like to take a boat and explore the waters around here."
The guide assured him it would be no problem and that he would have a boat ready in the morning. He hardly ever came across customers as wealthy as Vivek, so he didn't delay in making the arrangements.
Their adventure started early the next morning. The guide was a skilled navigator and ensured they stayed near the island and away from the vast ocean ahead.
