Chapter 369
(Author’s POV)
“Mrs. Yates senior is coming with him?” Myra was shellshocked hearing the news. She now understood why Yelena had such a reaction.
With a hoarse whisper, Yelena hummed, “They will be arriving at six. I need to go and receive them from the airport p>
Myra didn’t know what to say to comfort her friend. Although she wasn’t aware of the actual reason, she knew bits and pieces. Yelena and Diana Yates don’t have a good relationship. More like the former was afraid of the latter, to the point of running away from home when she had just turned fifteen. Though no one other than Myra and Nora knew about this stunt of hers.
Stroking her back soothingly, Myra cradled Yelena in her arms and finally spoke, “You don’t have to face her alone. I will come with you. Yel, relax, umm~ p>
Getting even a little bit of assurance, Yelena’s worry didn’t completely dissipate, but it lessened substantially. All of a sudden, the phone in her hand chimed in, displaying a text from an unknown number.
She tapped to find that it was a message from her grandfather’s assistant. It said:
“Young Miss. This is Secretary Oliver Grey.
Here is the contact number you asked for: XXXXXXX777.
After making the call, please delete this message as well as the contact for privacy reasons p>
Myra, who was just beside her, obviously read it as well. She inquired, with an expression filled with puzzlement, “Whose number is it p>
Yelena was quick on her feet. She spoke, her voice sounding better than earlier, “Ohhh~ it’s the~ it’s the number of one of my grandpa’s people who resides in Esteria. They know Fabian as well. I~… I will make a quick call to them. They might help us in finding Fabian’s whereabouts p>
Though Myra was skeptical with all the fumbling and stammering, she eventually bought it but remained rooted to the spot. Before Yelena could utter anything, a vehicle that was just right behind theirs started honking, “Hey, you~ Are you the driver of this car? Why have you parked it on such a busy road? Get it off.” They yelled in the girls’ direction.
“You, try calling them, I will park the car in another spot,” Myra offered. She bowed, apologized for the delay and misparking, and then scurried away to guide the car.
Yelena released a breath of ease. She didn’t waste any time and made the call right away. After two blank responses, someone picked up on the third one, they sounded aloof and unmistakably cold, “Hello p>
“Hello~ am I speaking with Secretary Chris Shadow?” Yelena said, her voice hopeful, hesitant.
From the other end, Chris spoke, his voice devoid of any emotion, hearing the formal accent, “I am not taking any interviews. And I would appreciate it if you don’t contact on my personal number. Well then~ He was about to end it, but Yelena screamed from the other side, “WAIT SIR CHRIS, I am not a reporter p>
Chris, who was in motion, halted his action. He resumed the call but kept silent. Meanwhile, Yelena continued, “I am~ ahh~ Prof. Fabian~ Fabian Stephens’s friend, Yelena Yates. Last night, he was admitted to the Hope Hospital, and I was with him. But he suddenly left when I was away. Secretary Shadow, do you~ happen to have any idea where he might be?” She sounded doubtful, worried.
The line stayed still with no sign of Chris answering. Even the sound of his breathing wasn’t audible. The tension was palpable, Yelena could feel her palms sweating. After a good five seconds, she called out to him, “Mr.~… Secretary Shadow, are you there? Can you~ p>
“Prof. Stephens is fine and at a safe place. Ms. Yates, you don’t need to worry about him.” With that, he ended the call one sidedly. Not giving her the chance to ask questions anymore.
Yelena was flabbergasted, she remained fixed in her place, ’So~ my guess was right all along. Fabian went to Mr. Larson p>
After parking the car in an adequate space, Myra returned. Seeing her friend in a daze, she questioned, “Did you talk to the person? What did they say~ Hmm? Yel~ Hello… Yelena?” She snapped her fingers in front of her.
“Ehh? Ohh~ ahh~ I Yelena’s words stumbled, “He~… he said~ Fabian~ he is with him and fine p>
“Did you get to talk to Fabian?” Myra was dubious. Yelena was acting strangely, she could tell.
“Umm~… before I could, the call disconnected. It might be a signal problem. But I definitely heard his voice,” Yelena muttered, swallowing hard.
“Are you sure about it? You are not hiding anything from me, right?” Myra pressed.
Yelena burst out laughing, “Hahhaha~ Why would you say that, Ra-ra? Why will I lie on this one? You are thinking too much p>
Myra observed her body language. Unlike before, Yelena seemed like her usual self. ’Maybe I am getting paranoid. Why would she even lie to me?’ her internal thoughts raced.
“Alright, now that we know Fabian is all good. Shall we go back now?” Yelena said and started walking.
“Ohk,” Myra followed from two steps behind. She kept watching Yelena’s back intently, ’I am thinking too much these days. Getting suspicious of everything.’ “I really need to destress and resume my meditation p>
“Huhh? Did you say something?” Yelena turned and questioned.
Myra didn’t realize she had said the last part out loud. Her eyes fluttered, and as she stated, “Nothing~ I was just saying. The sun is too bright today p>
“But there is a rain alert for the evening. This unpredictable weather~ jeez~ it sucks. By the way~ Should I buy a cream croissant and butterscotch muffins when we go to the airport tomorrow?” Yelena sounded lively and cheerful, nothing like the person five minutes ago.
Myra didn’t dwell much on it. She didn’t want to push Yelena and would wait for her to tell her everything.
They both settled inside the vehicle. Myra shifted her gaze to the back seat to check, but her eyes furrowed, “Yel~ did you see the lunch box p>
To Be Continued……..