Chapter 4 I Need Answers

Lola Tanner

As I began working for Lucius and silently earning his trust, I only grew more and more curious as to what may have happened five years ago, and when I couldn't take it any longer, I reached out to the next closest person that could have the answers I needed.

Derek

He remembered me...I could tell on that day of the interview. It was written all over his face even though I hadn't seen him around since then.

Derek was Lucius' old time best friend. Personally, I didn't like him because of his negative influence toward Lucius in the past, but I was desperate for answers.

I sneaked into Lucius' office one day and got his number from his phone.

I dialed Derek's number as soon as I had the chance. The call rang twice before he picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hello, who is this?" His voice came smooth.

"It's me, Lola."

A pause.

"Well, looks like she can reach out after all," Derek's voice slid through the phone, sounding as smooth as ever, almost like he was patiently waiting for me. "I didn't expect to get a call so soon from you, Lola."

The next thought that filled my senses were; Did he know about the kidney transplant?

About everything else? He sounded like he knew.

I sighed before responding back. "I need your help, Derek. I need to know what happened."

A beat of silence.

Then a low chuckle.

"Straight to point, huh? No 'how've you been, Derek?' No 'I missed you, Derek'? None of those to an old pal."

I clenched my jaw.

He continued, "Since I'm not getting one, I should hang up-"

"No, please." I quickly cut in.

"How are you doing, Derek?"

"I'm pretty great, how about you?" He asked sarcastically but I remained silent.

"I really need your help, Derek. You know I wouldn't have called if it weren't important."

"Alright then. What do you want, Lola?"

"I need answers."

"To what exactly?" Derek wasted no time in asking back. I didn't respond and he knew what I was on about.

"Alright then," Derek added smoothly. "I might be able to help you."

"You can, really?"

"Yeah, meet me at the Royal Crest Hotel later tonight," he continued. "I'll tell you what I know."

"Why a hotel?" I asked, feeling off about meeting him at a hotel.

Derek let out a low chuckle before responding. "Because you're the one seeking answers, not me. Unless you aren't interested..."

"Fine," I muttered quickly. "I'll be there," and hung up.

I didn't like the idea of this meeting but if it meant I would finally get an answer to what ruined my life, then I was going to take it.

********

Later that day, I arrived at the Royal Crest Hotel.

Derek spotted me and waved from afar, his outfit a simple all black, along with a charming smile on his face.

"Lola, you made it." He voiced out as he walked closer to me.

"You thought I wouldn't?" I arched my brow.

"Wouldn't blame you." He grinned, slipping an arm around my waist as if we were close, making me tense up.

Derek had always been the touchy type which was why I didn't really like him when Lucius and I were together. Yet, for the sake of the truth, I decided to just overlook it.

"Come on, let's get a drink at the bar."

I followed him through the dimly lit lounge, the rich scent of leather and expensive liquor filling the air. He led me to a booth in the corner, away from prying eyes.

He signaled to the bartender without asking what I wanted.

A drink was placed in front of me minutes later-a dark amber liquid swirling in a crystal glass.

I frowned. "I didn't order this."

Derek chuckled, lifting his own glass. "Trust me. This is the best in the house."

I hesitated. Deciding not to think too much about it, I took a small sip. The burn slid down my throat smoothly, but something about the way he was watching me made my skin prickle.

"So," I said, setting the glass down. "You said you had answers?"

Derek leaned back, swirling the liquid in his own glass. "Yeah, Lola. I might have the answers."

Derek's eyes met mine and for a moment, there was a flicker of hesitation on it. "Derek I need this..."

"I know you do. After what happened, I can only imagine how much it kills you inside to know why Lucius seem to have forgotten about you." He gulped down the rest of his drink and signaled for the waiter again.

I didn't like how vague he was being, how he was subtly dodging my questions. "You said you'd tell me what you know, Derek. What do you know?"

I pressed him more, determined to get a hint or clue but Derek just shot me a glance before asking.

"You've barely touched your drink? Do you want to top it?"

"Derek!!" I yelled, slamming my hand on the table loud enough to get his attention.

"What?" He asked, unfazed.

"At least let's have a drink while we talk, can't we do that?"

"Fine." I leaned back.

Maybe what he was about to reveal was big and I needed to settle down before taking it in.

I picked up my glass, about to down the remaining content in it, and that was when I felt it... the sharp pain that made my stomach twist.

I paused, looking down at my drink.

At first I didn't see anything wrong, not wanting to start suspecting, until my vision started blurring.

Then it clicked.

The delayed answers. The insistence that I drink more.

The way he seemed so damn patient.

I wasn't stupid. I knew the stories. I had seen enough women walk into situations like this and never walk out the same.

Calmly, I pushed my glass away.

Derek's smile faltered. "Something wrong?"

I stood up. "I need some air."

He grabbed my wrist. "Lola, wait-"

I yanked my hand free. My legs suddenly felt off, slightly heavy, but not enough to stop me. I hadn't drank much-just a sip. Maybe two. But that was enough for his evil plot.

How could I have been so stupid?

His expression hardened as he realized I knew, but he kept his eyes on me.

Watching.

"I...I need to use the restroom," I muttered and stood up.

I headed to the restroom. I could feel his eyes on my back, so I tried to keep my pace steady.

The back door was only a few meters from the restroom.

Out of the corner of my eye, I quickly gauged the distance.

The moment I pretended to step into the restroom, I turned sharply and made a swift move toward the back door.

The second my foot hit the pavement outside, I broke into a sprint, my feet hammering into the ground with each step.

The world blurred around me almost immediately, my head light, my vision slightly off. But the fresh air helped.

I just needed to get away!

I barely made it across the street before the roar of an engine split through the night.

Bright headlights flooded my vision, blinding me.

A sharp honk came, followed by the screeching of tires.

I narrowly avoided the rushing car.

Then I bumped into someone.

In all my dizzy desperation and state of panic, I couldn't believe the next thing I did!