"The Voss family," I replied, checking my Rolex, bidding the time I’d end this conversation.
"Voss? From RealHouse Corp? They are our close partners," he said, puzzled. "What gave them the nerve to come into my home and pull the trigger?"
"..."
"I heard Noel Voss suffered a freak accident. Do you have anything to do with it?"
"Noel Voss is a cultivated swine who knows only to add wives to his collection. His son Noah Voss recently took charge of his corporation. He must be the one who ordered the hit."
My father halted his steps, facing me with hands resting on his cane. "You haven’t answered my question, Ares."
The silence stretched between us as we held gaze in an undefeated lock. His eyes were always something I abhorred looking at, but it’s hard to when they mirrored mine like a twin.
"He disrespected my wife."
"So you took his tongue?"
"I would have taken more than that, but I had stocks in mind."
He scoffed at my words. "How considerate, given the fact that their influence on the structures is something we cannot afford to lose. Mutilating him was a rash decision." He struck his cane on the floor.
I wince at the sound, a sudden reminder of his strikes.
"I hope you’ve got a plan to rectify this silly mistake."
"Working on it."
He released a sharp exhale, looking to the side. "No one leaves until we find the rat who dared to side with the Voss."
My jaw clenched. I had no intention of staying. This was a drastic change, and I’m not pleased with it, but I knew this was the only way. Leaving hastily will only create more problems.
"Consider it a family weekend," he added, resuming his walk, but paused midway.
"This wife of yours... save yourself the trouble and don’t put a baby in her."
My cold eyes were on him until he disappeared into the next hall with his men following behind.
Soft footsteps approached me.
"Got rid of the body, boss," Nico said. "Forgive me, but I overheard that. Does this mean your stepmother will take charge?"
"Not in this lifetime."
~☆~
I came closer to the door where Reed and two others stood guard. Reed quickly came to me.
"How is she?" I asked, getting ready for what I was about to walk into.
"Not good. She almost didn’t want to follow me, but I convinced her it was a safety measure."
I loosened my bow tie and walked into the room. Catherine and Victoria were seated close with their hands locked.
"Would you mind excusing us, Ms. Dalton? I’d like to speak with my wife alone."
Victoria was about to stand, but Catherine held her hand tightly, stopping her.
She didn’t meet my eyes, so I shifted them to Victoria, who got uneasy under them.
"Cat..." she murmured to her.
Catherine released her, giving a smile and nodding her head.
"Are you sure?" she asked, her worried eyes searching hers.
"Yeah."
"Okay," Victoria rose to her feet and walked past me, giving me a warning look I didn’t miss.
Was that meant to make me uncomfortable?
The moment the doors slammed shut, I turned my gaze to Catherine, who was up on her feet, arms folded, still yet to meet my eyes.
I admired the hickey on her neck and cleavage, suddenly glad that she ran out on me to show it off.
I took my hands out of my pockets and walked, but she backed away slowly, thinking I was coming to her, but I was simply going for a seat, relaxing on the Chesterfield armchair.
Catherine just stood there, looking at everything but me. The silence was so heavy that the wood in the fireplace crackled and popped loudly, as if it had a speaker close by.
"Come sit on my lap."
She veered her eyes to me in speed.
"What?" she asked as if I had told a joke.
"Don’t make me repeat myself," I said softly, holding her gaze so she wouldn’t look away.
Catherine could easily tell me off, but she doesn’t, coming toward me hesitantly.
My heart raced when she pressed her beautiful ass on my thigh.
Such a good girl. I’m tempted to drive my cock inside her and fuck her until we forget everything about the ordeal, but that wasn’t what was needed right now.
I stroked her back up and down in slow motions, and she was stiff as a stick, not reacting to my touch at all.
"We should talk, baby."
Catherine released a shaky breath, saying nothing to me, pinning her attention on the fireplace as if it were a much better view.
"Catherine."
"Talk about how you killed a man in cold blood?"
"It was self-defense."
"Self-defense..."
"Yes, what else could it have been?"
She gulped. "W-Why didn’t you tell me there was a gun in my garter?"
"I didn’t wanna spook you, and it was for protective measures."
"Protective measures. Self-defense. You’re speaking of this so lightly like..." she paused.
"Like what?"
"I-It’s normal."
I sighed, caressing her thigh, my palm pressing into her soft skin. I could feel the goosebumps rising.
"I’m the CEO of King Corp. Sometimes things like this are normal. Not everyone is happy about our progress or bad business deals. Some chose to pass their message in a harmful way."
Her body seemed to relax a bit, and she wasn’t too stiff anymore. Slowly, she flickered her eyes to me.
"You should’ve told me about the garter."
"Won’t make that mistake again."
"Good. This was a good talk." She tried to rise off my lap, but my grip on her waist didn’t let her.
"Not so long ago, my cock was buried within you. Now you won’t even look at me."
She rasped, cheeks flushing red. "N-Now is not the time to be talking about cock!"
I couldn’t help it as a smile stretched my lips. "Then let’s talk pussy."
My hand drove closer to her center.
"Red!" she yelled, jumping off me, and a breathy chuckle vibrated from me.
She glared at me, and I could feel she wanted to curse at me but chose not to, probably exhausted after everything.
"We should get going now."
"We can’t," I said as my mood shifted.
"W-What? Why?"
I pushed to my feet. "It’s not safe yet. We’ll remain here for the weekend until I make sure."