It has been two days since Annabelle left Colossus, and every day, Cassian woke up with her on his mind. Even now, while he sat in front of his computer, his thoughts still drifted to her. Never has he been as distracted as he was these past few days.
A knock on the door was a welcomed distraction from his wandering thoughts as he sat up and cleared his mind, his gaze back on the screen in front of him.
"Come in," he permitted.
The door was then opened, and Isaac walked in with a file in his hand. A deep scowl adorned his face as he drew closer to Cassian.
"Still in a foul mood, I see," Cassian remarked, his gaze barely lifted from the screen. "It's much too early to walk around wearing a frown, Isaac. That might just become your resting face one day."
"I'll keep that in mind, Sir," he replied. His formal tone had Cassian pausing but only for a moment as he resumed his work like it never happened. "I have all that you requested. The investigation is complete. Here are the results."
Cassian finally stopped, raised his head, and looked directly at him. His gaze then found the large brown envelope that Isaac still held. "Give it here," he said, his hand stretched forward.
A moment of silence passed by with Isaac just staring at Cassian's outstretched hand, his gaze still as stern as before. Cassian's brows pulled ever so slightly together at the hesitation in Isaac's eyes, but he said nothing.
"The internal affairs within the family are a mess," Isaac finally spoke as if he finally made his decision and handed the envelope to him. "Especially for Miss Marudas… perhaps it's best to say she is just "Annabelle" now."
Cassian gave no reaction as he opened the seal, wanting to see what truth was hidden inside it. His eyes scanned every line attentively, taking note of every word that was written down. Isaac watched him closely, but his face gave nothing away.
Once he was done, he placed the report on the desk, his thoughts running deep. "This is all true?" he asked as though he needed further affirmation. Isaac only nodded curtly. "This must have been what pushed her here." He muttered.
"What are you going to do now? That's all that's happened down to the last detail as stated by my informant," Isaac asked.
"For now, nothing," replied Cassian. He folded the report as neatly as it was handed to him. "You've done a good job, Isaac. Well done."
Isaac's frown deepened. Was that really all? He thought to himself.
"You seem to be expecting something of me," Cassian stated, elegantly intertwining his fingers. "This isn't my problem, I won't act. I don't act unless given a reason to."
"Very well," Isaac gave a curt bow. "I will take my leave if that is all."
Cassian gave a nod, and he turned around to leave. A few feet to the door, he stopped and turned around and said,
"Cas, I don't know what you are planning to do, but be careful. If this blows up…" Isaac trailed off when Cassian raised a brow. He sighed and nodded to himself. "All right."
As soon as the door closed behind Isaac, Cassian's expression hardened. His gaze that had looked unbothered until the moment Isaac left turned sharp, anger simmering in, like a gentle stream. He couldn't even explain why he was getting angry. It was someone else's problem, not his.
****
Far from Colossus, Annabelle stared with a glass of wine in hand, her cheeks rosy and eyes unfocused. Drinking so early in the morning was not her style, but for the past few days, it was her only escape.
Right after her conversation with Judas Marudas, she had left the Marudas estate and lodged in a hotel, and alcohol became a partner and friend in her misery. This was something she loathed and called those who indulged in it spineless. Now she understands why people drink. Maybe not for the same reasons because all she has been trying to get rid of were the little whispers of vengeance in her head.
As tempting Judas' offer was, she had left without giving him a proper response. She couldn't at that moment. Becoming Lilian's aunt and Isaac's sister l. Samantha's sister-in-law was tempting, but that was all. Everything she had ever worked for would have still gone to someone else, not her.
"F*ck," she cursed, holding her head as it throbbed, still feeling a hangover.
Drinking seems to help, but only when drunk. Once sobered up, like everyone else, the problem still persists and reveals itself.
"This is a waste of time," she uttered with a long song. No matter how she looked at it or thought about it, all she truly wanted was to take down the marudas for using her and abandoning her once they deemed her no longer useful. And as for Lilian…
She clenched her fist as the face of the woman who would come to take credit for all of her hard work appeared in her head. Remembering her setup that set everything aflame, the solution became even clearer.
Annabelle didn't know what she ever did to the woman was set on humiliating her and getting rid of her. But she won't get caught up in the woman's schemes again.
"Lilian Marudas, " she uttered her name. "Fine. I'll play with you. I pray you don't break too soon," she set down the glass and stood up. It was time she stopped deceiving herself with alcohol and faced her reality.
Several minutes later, she was formally dressed, her makeup done, and ready to wreak some havoc. As she left the hotel and into her car, she soon found herself heading back to the all so familiar tower of Colossus.
Why did she come back here?
The answer was simple, thus was the only place that could help her without suffering from a backlash even Marudas Inc. retaliated. They were also the ones with the most to gain from the fall of Marudas Inc.