He had been searching for her for so long but it was like she disappeared into thin air. Her family too was gone, their house abandoned and rented to others.
The neighbours knew not their whereabouts, they only knew Rena left first.
Lester had found it strange — the whole family sudden disappearance in one year, even more odder that the neighbours who had houses close and eyes at their backs knew nothing of their new location.
But he hadn't pried much.
He didn't think much of it. He only focused on finding Rena but he got no results, until two weeks ago when he had caught sight of her at the airport.
But now he wanted to know everything. He wanted to know Rena whole. He wanted to know what brought about that pain, if it was related to all those peculiar events and if it was, how much of it was related to him, how possible it was also.
He caressed his forehead. He felt an headache there.
Wallace watched him quietly, briefly and then spoke lowly.
"Sir... Are you alright?"
"Drive." Lester didn't want to deal with his concerns right now.
Wallace hesitated a little but nodded.
Though the concern on his face was still apparent.
Lester bad been working himself to the bone since the past week, well everyone around suffered with him but the fact he was exhausted was plain.
Plus he hadn't had any bite today, just some tea and alcohol which was a bad combination anyway before flying back through his private plane.
And when he landed, he didn't even allow himself rest, he immediately went to Rena's apartment, found out where she was and headed there, even kicking that heavy overweight to the pool.
Wallace wasn't supposed to be worried. Lester was seemingly alright but he couldn't help it.
He however always obeyed his instructions, so he knew not to persist.
"Hsve you dealt with him?" Lester mouthed.
Wallace knew who he was talking of. He answered.
"Yes Sir. He said Herman sent him to watch over Miss Rena."
"To protect or monitor?" The answer was obvious but he yet asked.
Wallace uttered. "To monitor."
Lester nearly again clenched his fists.
He couldn't understand what Rena saw in such a man. He doesn't trust, doesn't protect, doesn't even interfere when she is hurt, just watch from the sidelines indifferently.
Just cares only when she gets involved with a man other than him.
He was totally unfit and unworthy of her.
But yet after it all, after seeking loyalty, he would yet chase after his real fiance — a true hypocrite.
Lester really wanted to destroy him awfully and he would but only after making them break up.
He changed the topic.
Any mention of Herman only arose the feeling of eliminating him, it only makes him quite livid.
"Check out what happened tonight. What conspired Rena to be there."
For all he knew Rena seemed to be a very careful person. She would not walk into danger knowingly, there had to be a reason she was at that estate, especially as a deliveryman.
"Yes boss." A pause and he spoke again. "Those people Sir, how would they end?"
At those words, Lester's eyes dimmed.
For a second, the image of how they all treated Rena resurfaced in his mind. How they watched with a smile as Joe almost banged her head against the table.
The fear, the shock and ire he felt upon witnessing that scene...
Although Rena had said it was her fight, he trusted her but he couldn't stay away.
He had to punish them with his own hands.
With a hardened face, he muttered nonchalantly.
"Attack their personal lives, their jobs and their businesses. Don't spare their families either. Ruin them all together. Let them cry and bleed and watch helplessly as they fall."
Silence.
Wallace couldn't help but feel a chill.
He knew his boss was cruel but he had never touched the target's families, especially when they are uninvolved. This was a first and he once again realized just how much his boss does care for Miss Rena.
Putting up a mental note, he vowed to always treat Rena with reverence whenever he sees her.
~~
𝑪𝑳𝑨𝑵𝑲
As soon as the door closed, Rena finally let out the long heavy breath she didn't know she was holding.
Watching Lester's pained face, seeing that bitter laugh, she felt suffocated and guilty.
Yes, guilt. A little but for some unknown reason was present.
She wasn't supposed to feel so, she wasn't supposed to feel bad but she did and she hated herself for it.
Herman was in a relationship with her, it was quite right for Lester not to pursue her.
Hell, even if she wasn't at it with Herman, she would yet still never let Lester into her life.
Eight years ago, he left, leaving her to misery. What right did he have to come back, wanting her again?
Even if she didn't suffer all that — didn't get pregnant, wasn't forced packing, didn't lose her child and her womb, the fact he deserted her, with no announcement was enough for her to avoid him, to chase him away.
But why? Why does she react this way? Why does she feel strange when he puts on that ached expression? Why does her heart seem to pound as if opposing her?
She bit her lips a little strongly.
No. This was enough reason to not meet with him again. She didn't want to resume feeling this way, she didn't want to not even understand herself.
She pushed all thoughts of him away and promptly went to have a shower.
There she remembered.
Today was Friday, meaning the weekend was tomorrow.
Tomorrow would indeed be the day she and Herman would leave to her family but she had not yet informed Willis.
The thought of Willis made her see red.
She gritted her teeth. She didn't care, so what was the point? After all she had considered herself resigned. There was no way after all his tricks would she go back to working under his management.
She was done.
That night after showering, she talked for a while with Herman. Though she didn't feel focused as her mind kept wandering to Lester but she managed to keep her voice collected before heading off to sleep.
In her sleep, she had a dream.
It was strangely the same scene as before.
Lester had followed her from behind, wanting to follow her into her apartment but this time she didn't argue, didn't retort.
She opened the door with a smile and allowed him in.