Strings

Chapter 26 - Part I

"Call what?"

She laughs again, "You know what, Hayden"

"I cant help it, the stars look beautiful tonight."

"what even, and you'd know this how? you haven't even been looking." she asks, her voice light and free from the stress that was ever so evident not too long ago.

"I was, and then I was told that it was .....strange."

That stumps her. She searches my face for something, I dont know what it is that she was looking for. And then she giggles softly, the most beautiful sound I've ever heard.

"Is Hayden Xavier Knight really being corny right now?" She asks, her voice bubbling with laughter.

I dont even bother trying to hide the smile on my face. Let her see. Let her see that amidst all this crazy twisted mess, I am happy. Let her see that her presence alone makes me happy. That she makes me happy.

"I dont know, you tell me Avery Marshall Knight."

"You"
"You astound me, Hayden." she says shaking her head softly, as she smiles refusing to make eye-contact.

I dont have an answer to that. All I know is that its midnight and that she is beautiful, that she is smiling at me, laughing and talking and that she is utterly, completely, inconceivably, beautiful.

"Avery."
My voice sounds ragged, raspy almost breathless.

Her eyes immediately lose the spark they held previously and become subdued in concern.

"What is it? Is everything okay?"

I can't bring myself to answer her, as she searches my face for precisely that. Answers.
She scoots closer, shoving the files and piles
of papers she was working on behind her and looks at me both with hesitation and nervousness.

"Hayden; you can talk to me. I know we are knee deep in shit, shit that isn't even ours but if there's anything more, anything at all; we'll work it out Hayden; we'll figure it out okay; just tell me, please?"

I clear my throat.

"Remember the people who attacked you the other day? In the park?"

Her breath hitches at the mention of her attack and I can see the fear clouding her eyes, that she is trying so hard not to show on her face; yet she doesn't say anything. Just nods her head softly urging me to continue.
I clench my fists; the urge of breaking into something or punching someone's face in overpowering me at the moment.

"They call themselves The Fawkes; a dangerous mob that operates from London.
You already know that the basis of their attack was because they think you're the one who snuck away with their money."

She nods understandingly, not saying anything otherwise.

"Well I had my most skilled and trusted Private Investigator look into it and the mess is a lot more than we thought it was.
Apparently, Olivia was in London for a gala and had already once 'borrowed' money from The Fawkes which she repaid after much strain from their part. When she found herself in need for more money, she took the 'loan' under your name since she knew that they would never lend her money again and ran away.
Coincidentally, at the time your father and I happened to be in London at the same time.
Since The Fawkes couldn't get hold of Olivia or well essentially you for that matter they decided they'll deal with your father regarding the money."

"Mr. Marshall couldn't hold his end of the conversation very long but The Fawkes cut him a deal. Either he returns the entire sum of 450,000 Pounds in cash within the next 48 hours or.."