Chapter 3 A Kiss Built On Lies

At 2:17am, Chris stood in front of his mother's office door inside the High Rise but didn't knock, he just entered.

Elisabeth was sitting behind her desk reading documents religiously.

"You look like your father when you are troubled", she said without looking up.

"Why were the board's voting rights transferred to you before he was declared dead?".

Elisabeth turned a page of the document in her hand calmly. "Is that why you couldn't sleep?".

"Answer me", he said sharply.

She looked at him anxiously.

"You are CEO, you have access to records", she said.

"But I want your answer".

She looked at him carefully.

"You've been spending too much time with her".

"Mother, this isn't about Kate". He said with his voice slightly loud.

"It's always about that woman". She said calmly.

Chris stepped closer to her desk. "Why was it signed early, I ask?".

Elisabeth folded her hands. "Because your father was dying".

"But he hadn't been declared dead".

"You know medical confirmation lags behind what we know and see, right?" She countered.

"That's not what I asked".

"You think I staged his death?" Her voice sharpened slightly.

"I think you were prepared".

Silence engulfed the room.

"I was protecting you". Board members were already circling and if we hadn't secured control, they would have taken everything before the ambulance arrived". She said quietly.

"So, you signed the transfer before his heart stopped?. He asked sharply.

Elisabeth's eyes flickered.

"Well..... How do you know that?" She asked softly.

Chris didn't answer.

"She's digging", Elisabeth said coldly .

"Leave her alone"

"You brought her into this", she said with a loud voice.

"I can handle her", Chris replied.

Elisabeth stood up slowly.

"You cannot handle a woman who survives by reading men's weaknesses ".

His voice dropped. "She's not manipulating me".

Elisabeth walked around him.

"Every woman manipulates", Christian. The question is whether you notice".

"Did my father know?" He asked.

She stopped circling him

"Yes"

When Chris heard that he shook a bit but regained composure.

"He agreed?" He asked.

"Well, he didn't fight it".

"But, why?".

"Because he was tired", Elisabeth said with a smirk.

"Tired of what?".

"Of being betrayed" her look became hardened.

"By you or....?", he asked.

A sharp slap landed across his face suddenly.

"You forget who built this company beside him. You forget who cleaned up his excesses" she said coldly.

Chris held his cheek.

"You are hiding something", he said.

"And you are becoming emotional".

"I'm becoming aware".

Elisabeth stepped back. "Be careful, because awareness destroys families".

Chris didn't respond as he left .

She exhaled slowly then picked her phone.

"Watch her more closely. If she continues digging, I want an upper hand". She instructed the unknown person on the line.

She ended the call. Her fingers trembled slightly.

Kate Milmar didn't ignore patterns and she doesn't get scared easily.

Another message from the unknown person came in at 7:42am.

You're asking the wrong question. Ask why the autopsy was delayed.

She murmured "autopsy delayed?".

She had not seen that detail . She opened her laptop immediately and went to her archived press coverage, medical records and legal fillings.

She saw it.

Three day delay before final autopsy confirmation.

"Hmmmn ... .this is unusual for a high-profile CEO", she whispered.

Her mind started connecting dots together .

"Oh!! I see with the emergency transfer, immediate press conference and now delayed autopsy"

"Elisabeth had stood up strong that day, looking controlled, tearless and prepared". She continued.

Kate leaned back in her chair .

"This is bigger than inheritance", she murmured.

Her phone rang. It was Chris.

She answered on the fourth ring.

"Are you investigating autopsy reports now?" He asked without greeting.

She smiled slightly . "Are you watching me now?".

"I asked a question. "You are digging into my father's death".

"So are you", she countered.

"Who's feeding you with information?" He demanded.

"No one".

"Don't lie to me".

Kate stood and walked up to her window.

"I really don't need to be fed. Your family history is messed up".

His voice darkened. "You think this is a game?".

"No," she said softly. "I think it's survival".

"Survival for who?" he asked.

"For me".

His tone changed after a long pause. But this time lower and you could hear the danger in his voice.

"If you continue, you will put yourself in danger".

"From you?"

He didn't answer.

"Chris..... if your mother secured control before your father died, it means she expected him to die". She said coldly.

"She was protecting the company".

"Or herself you mean?" She said calmly.

His breathing quickened . "You don't know her," he said with a high tone.

"Oh! I know powerful women"

"And you think you're one of them?"

"Yes, I am".

He didn't respond. But said something that shocked her.

"Come to the Private Lounge tonight".

"That sounds like a command".

"Well, it is".

"And if I refuse".

"You won't," he smiled.

"You're very confident," she said softly.

"No, he corrected her quietly ."I'm very aware"

He hung up.

That night, Kate entered the High Rise through the private elevator.

Chris was waiting inside the Private Lounge alone.

He looked like an ordinary man waiting for his bride to come and meet him.

"You came," he said with a smile.

"I'm curious".

He poured two glasses of wine.

"You like danger", he observed.

"I only like the truth".

He handed her a glass.

"You think my mother killed him", he said bluntly.

"I just think she moved too fast".

"You don't hold back in rooms full of men, but you do that around her". Chris said.

"She hates me", Kate said calmly.

"She doesn't trust you".

"She doesn't trust anyone who she can't control".Kate said sharply.

Chris stepped closer.

"You think I'm being controlled?"

"I think you are trying not to be".

His hand brushed her face lightly.

"You're playing with something you don't understand".

"Then explain it".

His voice dropped.

"My father was not weak.

Kate said calmly. "I didn't say he was".

"He was betrayed", Chris continued.

"By who?".

His eyes went dark.

"Someone inside the company".

Kate looked at him carefully.

"Was it your mother?".

He placed his glass down and suddenly pulled her closer.

He kissed her slowly, with intent and not with dominance or possession.

He tightened his hands around her waist.

"Stop digging," he murmured against her lips.

"Then tell me the truth", she whispered.

"You don't want the truth".

"I always want the truth".

He pulled away slightly, looking at her face.

"If I lose my mother....."he began, then stopped.

She saw something clearly now.

His greatest fear is losing his mother's love and becoming weak for a woman.

"You're not afraid of me," Kate said softly. "You're afraid of choosing me".

He didn't deny it.

Suddenly, the elevator chimed.

Both of them froze.

The Private Lounge doors slid open slowly . Chris's security system didn't alert any guest.

It was Elisabeth Cena. She stepped out elegantly, calm but deadly.

Her eyes moved from her son's hand on Kate's waist to Kate's face with disgust.

"So, this is how my son conducts investigations," Elisabeth said smoothly.

Chris released Kate immediately.

"Mother......"

"I warned you", Elisabeth interrupted.

Kate didn't move.

"Elisabeth," she said calmly. "I was hoping we would finally meet".

Elisabeth gave her a side smile.

"You're trespassing".

"I was invited".

Elisabeth turned to her son

"You brought her into this house".

Chris was shocked . "It's my house".

"It's my husband's building", Elisabeth correctly said sharply.

The tension became tough.

Kate looked at Elisabeth carefully.

"You moved very quickly after his death", Kate said softly.

Chris opened his eyes widely.

Elisabeth looked at her sharply.

"You're bold", Elisabeth said.

"I'm just obversant".

Elisabeth stepped closer and stood face to face with Kate, looking straight into her eyes.

"Women like you survive by attaching themselves to powerful men".

"While women like you survive by becoming them". Kate responded sharply.

Silence erupted between them.

Chris stepped forward. "Enough, both of you".

Elisabeth kept staring at Kate.

"You think you're clever ", Elisabeth said quietly. "But you are digging into something that will bury you".

"Then stop hiding it", Kate replied harshly.

Elisabeth's composure cracked for the first time.

"You don't know what happened in that hospital room", she said.

Kate's pulse increased.

"Then tell me".

Elisabeth looked at her son.

"Ask him who was there when his father's heart stopped?".

Chris went completely still.

Kate slowly turned towards him.

"Chris?"

He didn't say anything.

Elisabeth turned back toward the elevator.

"You want the truth?", she said softly. "Ask him why he signed the final consent form".

The elevator doors closed.

Kate's voice was shaking.

"What consent form?"

Chris looked away from her.

"It was a medical authorization", he said quietly.

"For what?"

He moved back a bit.

"To stop resuscitation".

Kate was shocked.

"You were there?", she whispered.

"Yes"

"And you signed it?"

"Yes, I did".

There was silence . Her heart pounded violently.

"Did you want that or your mother?", she asked.

Chris finally looked at her.

His eyes were very dark.

"He didn't have a choice".

Kate stepped back slowly.

"What does that even mean?".

He didn't answer.

Kate stepped back completely while murmuring.

"Did Chris help Elisabeth to do it?".