Chapter 2
Gasp.
Stella jerked upright, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. Her hands clenched the sheets, damp with sweat, her hair matted to her skin.
She picked the jug of water on the table beside her, her fingers trembling as she poured herself a cup and gulped it down, trying to wash down the heaviness in her chest, but it didn’t help.
Stella Stanley—no Moore, she was now Stella Moore— was startled awake by a nightmare. The name "Stanley" had died with her parents, that afternoon, twelve years ago. Since then, she hadn’t been able to get a full night’s sleep without memories of that night invading her dreams.
The gunshots. Blood. Her parents' lifeless bodies– still warm but unmoving. The voices of their killers. That day, her life changed, she had to leave her home and country behind, so that Mr. Carson wouldn’t find out she survived.
She looked up at the clock on the wall opposite her bed, it was 2 am, and she had only slept for three hours, 30 minutes longer than usual. She deliberated on if she should use her sleep meds to fall back asleep, but decided not to.
It has been two months since she came back to America, and tomorrow she will be joining King’s Corporation as a member of the president’s secretaries' office. The company responsible for destroying her family.
She was one step closer to revenge.
Her aunt, Andrea, wasn’t really in support of her coming back. She wanted Stella to settle down permanently in Germany with her–leaving the past buried, but Stella couldn’t let go of the past. Andrea hadn’t spoken to her since their last conversation.
“Stella,” Andrea said as she walked into the room. Stella was on the floor packing her box, her passport was lying beside her. The frightened child of that night had grown into a young determined woman. “What you want to do is too dangerous, aren’t you happy here in Germany.” She said joining Stella on the floor. “Your family is here–me, Mark, the twins.”
Stella looked at Andrea, taking her hands in hers. “Aunty Andrea, I can’t just let them get away with this. I want justice for Mom and Dad, they have to pay for their crimes.” Stella said she didn’t want Andrea to worry about her.
“Stella, you are a beautiful, smart woman. You have a master's degree and speak multiple languages. You could work anywhere and do anything you want.”
“Aunty Andrea—”
“Stella, listen to me.” Andrea interrupted. “They have power. They have money. and don’t follow the law. They have guns, Stella. You could die and I’ll lose you too. I won’t be able to forgive myself if anything happened to you, I won’t be able to face my brother, you’re his only child.” She pleaded, tears streaming down her face.
Stella was exasperated, why couldn’t her aunty see where she was coming from? She understood Andrea’s fear. Andrea had become her only family–other than Mark and the twins–they only had each other.
“Aunty Andrea, I’ve changed my name. No one would associate me with the Stanley name. Trust me, I know what I am doing, plus I can always come back if anything goes wrong, right?”
Andrea stared at her not saying anything, looking into her eyes, as if she could somehow change her mind. “Yes, you would always have a place here–a home. But you also don’t have to leave at all.
“I have to Aunt, I need to.”
“Please stay” She whispered.
Stella turned her face away, closing her box. “I can’t, I’m sorry”
Andrea said nothing, she stood up and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
The day Stella left, Andrea refused to say goodbye. She shut herself up in her room. Not coming out even though Stella waited outside her door.
Mark drove her off to the airport in silence.
When they reached the departure gates, he pulled her into a tight hug. “Call me if you need anything,” he murmured, his voice rough.
Stella’s eyes stung. She blinked hard to fight her tears. “Take care of her for me–and the twins—and yourself.” She choked out.
Mark sighed, stroking her head as he stepped away from her. ”Don’t take any risks, please”
Stella nodded, laughing bitterly in her mind. She was already taking a risk. Everything about this is a risk.
As she watched him walk away, she was almost tempted to go back with him– and she almost turned back.
But she didn’t.
She had followed up with news of King’s corporation and watched as it became richer and more powerful as it swallowed up her father’s company—all his hard work— after her parents’ murder.
Why should they be able to live in peace when her own family was destroyed? It wasn’t fair.
She had to do this.
Stella picked up her phone and opened iMessages, she clicked on her chat interface with Andrea. Her last couple of messages were still unanswered–read but unanswered.
“Aunty Andrea, I’ll be starting at King’s tomorrow. I’m fine here. How are Uncle Mark and the twins? I hope you are doing well.”
Her hand hovered over the send button. “Please try to understand me.” She added before hitting send.
The city lights blinked in the distance, casting long shadows across the room.
A phone going off shattered the silence in the room.
A man stood in front of the large wall window, a hand in his pocket and another around a wine glass
“Hello,” A low mellow voice answered.
“Young master,” The person on the other end said, “the chairman asked when you would be coming back.”
A pause.
“I’ll be on the first flight back tomorrow”
“I would make the necessary arrangements, goodnight.” The call ended
The man walked away from the window, picking up a file from the table.
“Liam, old chap!” A voice called from the doorway.
A tall, broad-shouldered man entered with her grin, his blonde hair cövered one of his eyes. “Why’d you disappear? More drinks just arrived. You’re missing the best part of the party. And Amy just arrived”
Liam turned to face the man, gulping the rest of his wine. “Oh John. You guys have fun– I have important matters to attend to.”
“Oh don’t be a spoil-spot” John teased, coming around to put an arm around Liam’s shoulder. ”The night is young and so are we.”
“I have a flight to catch,” Liam said, brushing off the arm. He walked to the couch to pick up his jacket as he headed for the door. “Say hi, to Amy for me”
“Hey! Liam! Where are you going?” John called, running after Liam.
“Back to America,” Liam answered over his shoulder.