Book 2: Chapter 37

To my delight, I pulled my robe and rushed to the bathroom. I turned the water heater on and did a quick shower. I just couldn't bear to have Eric's handprints on my body. Proceeding to the sink afterward, I brushed my teeth a lot of times, desperate to wash off the trails of his kisses inside my oral cavity. Still not contented with just a toothpaste, I gargled several times with a mouthwash.

"Red, why are you taking so long?" Eric knocked on the door, but after a while of not answering, he slid the glass door and went inside. I also hurried to sit on the toilet bowl.

"No! Don't get inside. I'm suddenly having a stomach upset," I answered wincing in pain, pressing my stomach in a guarding-like act.

He furrowed his brows while looking at me sitting on the toilet bowl.

"Go out, you wouldn't like the smell."

Eric hurriedly turned around and went out. While I could check the character of stools in a patient's diapers as a physician, Eric could not bear to see someone using a toilet. If I should give awards to people I know, I think I should be giving Eric the Best in Cleanliness Award. Everything around him should be neat and clean, and he would always flare up every time he's seeing a mess, may it be a speck or a heap.

"Be sure to wash well," he hollered after locking the door, and I almost burst out laughing at how insensible he was. If there were another effective sharp and non-explosive weapon to kill him, that would be dirt.

"Okay. Just wait for me on the bed," I replied, calculating the amount of time the medication would take effect.

I peeped at him every now and then to see what he was doing. He seemed to be occupied with phone calls. Ever since he went out and until around 45 minutes after, he was still on it. I wondered who he was talking to.

When I saw him yawning, I stood up and waited a little more while at the side of the door. He had already slipped under the covers and was fast asleep by the time I went out. I adjusted the thermostat of the heater because another thing that could induce Eric to sleep was an extremely cold temperature.

I looked around. There were no signs of hidden cameras. If ever it had, the man wouldn't have placed that camera in a tripod stand to record our sex scene. If I were right in my suspicion, Eric should not place a camera inside that bedroom if he planned to do lots of sex with me. He was very self-conscious of his image and appearance. And I even did not believe that someone was needing that video. Whatever was happening must be part of a great conspiracy. After having thought about the several coincidences, I began to believe that Eric was one of those who were behind this abduction.

When Eric started to snore as he always did when fast asleep, I slipped inside the covers beside him and reached for his phone on top of the bedside table. As if the chance cooperated with me, he was lying on his side so I got the right timing to do what I had in mind.

Because Eric knew that I would never dare to interfere in all his affairs before, he gave me his password one time when he asked me to call someone through his phone. My heartbeats pounded loudly that it almost choked me while I entered the password, praying silently that it was still one he used before. To my relief, it worked!

I then sent a message to Sean, asking him to save me. I knew it was so silly of me after everything I did, but all those people at the company, including the Grey's household steward, convinced me that Sean had a good heart. The love of wealth and fame may have changed him as to how it does to the majority, but I still believe that somehow, a part of the pureness of his heart remained. When I learned that he had transferred the company's ownership to me, I came to believe that he was not after our wealth. However, my faith was marred because of his many lies and of the fact that he hid everything from me.

I then began to worry that Sean may not be able to receive the message since his hometown in Kalasag was in a remote part of the country. So, I also sent a message to Dr. Mimi, asking her to tell Sean that I had an important message. Dr. Mimi was not only a friend but also like a mother to me. After successfully sending it to them, I deleted the message and made sure I did not leave any trace. But then, as I put the phone down, the light flashed, implying a coming message.

I glanced at Eric. I could tell that he was still in deep sleep. The medication I gave him would be working for eight hours, so I was confident I could still spy on his phone freely.

"Mr. Martela, I need an answer to my proposal. If you are able to convince Dr. Grey to sell fifty percent of her share to me, I would be willing to accept the position offered to me by the Board of Directors. Among the members of the board, I am the most capable to be appointed as the new CEO of Thomas and Albert Group of Companies because I know the ins-and-outs of the company."

The total percentage of the share Sean transferred to me was 70 percent since my grandfather was the controlling shareholder who started this business as a family legacy. All those minority shareholders just comprised 30 percent of the total share.

The light blinked again and another message notification followed. Curious about the identity of the sender, I also read the second message.

If you are concerned with Dr. Grey, do whatever it takes to convince her. Once Mr. Sean Grey confirms that he's leaving the post, I am sure all our clients would also not hesitate to leave. Competition is stiff nowadays and TAG would only maintain its status if Mr. Grey would remain in the company."

Even before I finished reading, the light flashed again. However, my eyes flew wide at the third message.

"However, Mr. Martela, if you fail to convince Dr. Grey, her life would be at stake. I am warning you. Ian of Riddance Corporation."

Ian of Riddance Corporation. Who is he? Could he be my abductor and Eric was just a pawn?

When Philip, Hazel, and I had dinner in one of the hotel's restaurants, I received a surprise bouquet from this person through a courier. Philip told me that Riddance Corporation was one of TAG's competitors, so I started to suspect that maybe he's waiting for this opportunity. Perhaps he foresaw that TAG would weaken now that Sean had left.

But the questions were, "How does this person know about the status of the company? Why does he know Eric? And why does he seem to know all our activities?