Chapter 9 Devon And Katherine Play Along

"Honestly, I really don't care if it was only me. But, those images will tarnish Sunrise Resorts image, it will question my parents upbringing, and it will put a question on my future marriage with Devon." continuing Katherine says "So, I will cooperate with you, but we will sign a contract. Once you get the insurance you will hand over the images. Then you will not bother Devon and me."

"Of course," says Jessica "I'm a woman of my words. Then when can we get the contracts ready?"

Replying, Katherine says "We are going out of town for the weekend." Katherine says in a blank tone "When we come back."

Jessica says "Ok, then till then, bye."

As Katherine disconnects the call, seeing Devon is watching with a questioning look, she says "It was Jessica. She wants me to pose as her sister as her sister, who's lost, as her insurance is maturing next year. She actually called to tell you but since I took the call, she told me directly. And she said we will live together..."

"That's great!" Devon says in a happy tone.

Confused Katherine says "What's 'happy' (she emphasizes the word happy) in that?"

"Silly girl, we get to be together and we can make sure she doesn't do anything wrong." Devon says excited

"Well, come to think of it, yes and we can be together as well." Katherine says "She can't..."

"Katherine, she will never come in-between us." Devon says in a convincing tone "And, it's not only about Jessica, no one will come in-between us, ever,"

As they were talking Clive calls Katherine. Seeing her phone she says "Clive? (taking the call) What's the matter?"

Clive says "Katherine, sorry for the intrusion, but you will have to come back. The officer is calling you regarding your kidnapping."

"My what?" Katherine says confused "Kidnapping? Why is that being mentioned now?"

Clive says "I don't know. The officer said he'll tell you, so please come back."

Disconnecting the call, Katherine says "Devon, you heard."

Taking a sigh, Devon says "Don't worry, everything will be fine."

Sulking Katherine says "But, our picnic, I so badly wanted to spend time with you, open, no hiding."

Smiling Devon says as he turns the car around back to the city "Don't worry, let these clouds fly away, we'll be officially together soon. Then there will be no more hiding from anyone. No James and no Jessica will bother us."

As they come back, Clive comes over and says "Thank God you guys came back. Ah, Devon are you coming or..."

Replying, Devon says "Clive, now there's no going back."

Agreeing, Clive nods his head and says "Ok, let's go. They are waiting in Katherine's room."

As they enter the officers get up and one of them says "Hello, Miss Katherine, I'm Officer Wilmer, I need to ask about your kidnapping that took place when you were six years old. And, we suggest only case related..."

Katherine comes forward and says "Officer Devon is my fiance and the one who took the bullet for me. So, you can carry on."

As Devon is about to take sit on the sofa, Katherine says "Devon, you are the president, take the seat."

Devon sits on the president seat while Katherine, takes a chair and sits beside him.

The officer says "Miss Katherine we have beliefs your kidnapper is behind your parents car accident..."

"What!!" Katherine says in an excited tone "That means Uncle Tim..."

"Miss Katherine, we can't rule out Mr. Tim Clement's involvement. After All the car does belong to him and he has accepted the car as his." The officer continues "But, yes both Mr. Clement and his driver have a strong alibi and the car was stolen prior to the accident, but the driver driving the car during the accident ran away so, he could and could not have a connection with Mr. Clement. Mr. Devon, regarding the accident, I hope you understand we have reasons to speculate your father might be involved. But from what we have gathered, Mr. Robert and Mr. Tim were childhood friends, so Mr. Clement should not be the one, but..."

Taking a sigh Devon says "What do you have that says my dad could be involved?"

"Well, Mr Devon, there was a small diary in the car that has your fathers numbers, including his private number. The writing does not match with your father's driver so, we presume it's the person who ran away after the accident. (Devon was going to say something). Mr Devon, your father gets lots of calls so, it's not easy to verify each call so soon, but we are on it. So far, from the call logs checked, none is suspicious. Still, our investigation is on. The reason we came today is we speculate your kidnapper and your parents car accident have a link. At that time Mr Tim Clement gave the kidnappers $700,000 by selling his ancestral home. The kidnapper left Miss Katherine in a warehouse, where she was later retrieved from and taken to the hospital immediately. Mr Devon, you were already in the hospital at that time."

"So, are you saying actually?" Katherine asks confused

"Miss, from our investigation we have found, your father was facing blackmails. Mr. Tim was sending Mr Robert the money the blackmailer used to ask. The fact that bothers, Mr. Tim said he never asked why Mr Robert asked for the money cause it doesn't matter who earns in them, it belongs to both. But, it is odd, knowing your friend is the owner of a flourishing resort, he still asks for money, will that not bother you?"

"Officer, as to what I know," Devon responds to the officers query "Dad uses to talk about uncle expanding his business, that's the reason he needed funds for, but now you are saying the money was being given to a blackmailer, and yes on coming here, there is no expansion so, I believe the reason was something he wanted to hide from dad. And, I don't know if anyone realized but the kidnapper came for me, not her (Devon points to Katherine)."

Katherine says shocked "What??"

"Yes, Mr Devon, from the initial investigation done by the officer in charge at the time, he also did mention this fact, but for some reason it was later on ruled out and it became a kidnapping case rather than a murder case." the officer continues saying "but from our recent investigation, we have found the person actually came for Mr Devon and not you. And, we also found out that he met you both recently as well."

Devon says "Yes, he wants to buy a land that belongs to Uncle Robert, but so far it's been declined but now his niece is bringing some business proposal, though I doubt it she knows any of this."

The officer raises a brow and says "Niece? Don't recall Denny having a niece, but now that you say, we'll look into her as well."

Getting up the officer says "In that case, I would like both of you to cooperate with us so we can catch the culprit soon."

As Devon and Katherine get up, Devon shakes hands with the officer.

As the officer leaves, Katherine says "Devon, is it ok, we didn't tell about Jessica's picture issue."

"Katherine, this is something we can't tell as we don't have any proof." Devon says in a calming tone "And, don't worry I intend to clear this matter as soon as possible, I don't have intentions of playing husband with her for a year..."

Katherine hits Devon on the shoulder lightly

"Hey, what's that for?" Devon says pretending to feel hurt "And here I am trying to make things lighter."

"Lighter? By reminding about the marriage contract?" Katherine says in a sulking tone "I'm your official fiance, and she will have you as her husband (Devon was about to say something), even if it's on paper. Nothing can make me feel fine. I'm highly angry and disappointed and...and sad, and troubled, and...."

Devon cuts her sentence midway and says "Anything for my life! Katherine, you just came back from the hospital, let's not raise our blood pressure, huh."

Looking at Devon from the side of her eyes, Katherine says "Nice try, but I'm still mad..."

Just then Devon's phone rings so he takes the call "Hello."

Jessica says "Hello, Devon, we should meet up and talk about the contract..."

"Jessica, first, it's only on paper, so don't get so excited." Devon says in a stern tone "And, there will be some terms set out. If you breach them, the contract dissolves immediately."My, my, you are already talking about separating. Devu..."

"It's Devon, and nothing else. Don't dare trying to be close. You need Katherine to pose as your sister for the insurance, and me, your parents are forcing you to get married, so you want them to back off, after they leave, the contract is over. And, me and Katherine are only going along cause of the pictures. So, don't push yourself. Me and Katherine will come for the contract tomorrow, till then don't call."

"Devon, is she troubling?" in a little curious tone Katherine says "Devon, you didn't question me about the pictures? Do you..."

A little shocked by Katherin's sudden question Devon says "Question you? About what, (a little certain of what Katherine thinks he could be thinking) whether the pictures are real or not? (With a reassuring look) Katherine, I don't believe everything I see. We love from our heart. Our every single emotion comes from the heart. But, at times there is a thing in us, that can't be transferred, deleted, translated, transplanted, edited, be given or get taken, our brain, we should use it when we need to. And, from my brain, I can clearly tell those pictures are photoshopped. Once I get the contract finalized, and we start living under one roof, I'll quickly find a way to get my hands on those pictures. Once they are in my hands, the contract will be dissolved. And, I won't have you posing as her fake sister either for the policy."

"Devon, do you think she will bring the pictures along with her?" Katherine asks enthusiastically

"Even if she doesn't, I will find out where she has kept them." Devon says in an affirmative tone "And, once I do, it's the last of Jessica."

Smiling Katherine hugs Devon's arm and says "Devon though I was afraid, you might take me wrong with James, but now I have to say thanks for believing me."

"Katherine, what's a relation if there's no trust?" Devon says in a questioning tone "Isn't love to trust, care, worry, be confidantes, best friends? Katherine, if you don't have trust, the rest of the feelings don't matter. And, even though we have been apart for so many years, I believe we are still the same as we were when we were kids. We shared everything, so I believe there will be no secrets."

Suddenly Devon feels a drop of water fall on his hand. On lifting her head he sees she is crying "Katherine, what's the matter? You do trust me, don't you?"

Devon gets anxious at the possibility Katherine might not believe he will get the pictures.

"Devon, it's not a matter of our trust, it's your trust." Katherine says sobbing "I....since...you...I was so worried, I didn't know how to ask you when you told me about the pictures. If you believed they were fake or not. And, now..."

Stopping her sentence midway Devon says "Katherine, I told you, trust is utmost important. When Jessica told me to sign the marriage contract I didn't hesitate cause I knew you would understand and I also trust myself, I know I'll get the images soon."

"Why us? Why can't we have a normal love life? Why can't we just get married and forget all of this?" Katherine says with a heavy heart "You know, when I used to go to school after the incident, everyone would call me the resort kidnapping case girl. At those times I used to wish had the resorts not been there, no kidnapper would be interested in me. No one kidnaps a working person's child cause they know they won't get anything. And, now, if I didn't think about mom-dad and the resorts, I still could have let gone and be with you."

"Katherine, Sunrise Resorts is your father's dream, it's his pride." Devon says convincing Katherine "And, cause of some senseless people, or trouble makers like James and Jessica, we shouldn't be ungrateful of what we have. Now, not every girl can say she is the daughter of Robert Smith and the CEO of Sunrise Resorts, can she?"

Smiling Katherine says "Thanks for making me the only girl who can say Devon Osborn Clement is her life." Katherine says with a brightful smile