Finally, back at the penthouse, I went inside and bolted myself into my bedroom, my heart threatening to escape from its habitation as I booted up my laptop.

The flash drive which slipped into my hand at the event was small, totally unmarked, and didn't give away anything.

With a deep breath, I finally decided to plug it in and find out what it was all about.

The screen came to life seconds after slipping it in. Suddenly, a single video file appeared on the screen.

I clicked on it nervously.

A grainy image appeared, but this time, it was in a very dark room. I struggled to see what took up the major space in the room and all I could see were chains. A figure slumped tiredly on the floor, clearly very weak from the hostage.

Then, I looked closer, keeping my face keenly on the screen, and I saw a face.

My breath hitched, everything became stand still. 

No, that can't be.

This shouldn't be happening.

But it was already a reality.

That face was my father's.

He was very much alive, but chained.

The video ended before I could figure out what was happening.  No explanation was given as to why he was in chains. No location was released. Just the display of undeniable proof to my face.

Terror and hope came battling violently for dominance in my chest.

Killian had in a way been right all along. Someone very dangerous was digging very deep into my past.

And now, all they just succeeded in doing was drag me into a game. And judging from the circumstances surrounding it, I wasn’t sure I could win.

The question still remains: is my father truly alive as claimed? And if so with evidence, who was responsible for keeping him captive? 

I stormed like an angry bird into Killian’s office, my blood still running cold and boiling at the same time. I am yet to recover from it all of a sudden and from what I watched on that flash drive. My father was very alive, but not free, cruelly shackled like a prisoner.

Killian was seated comfortably behind one of his massive mahogany desks, and from the look on his face, he was completely unbothered, and in his hand was his morning espresso as he sipped it like the world was normal and wasn’t crumbling and working against me.

Standing before him, I slammed the flashdrive containing the horrible information down in front of him. "It would be interesting if you could open up and tell me everything you know."

Killian showed less concern as he barely glanced at it. "Greetings to you too, dear fiancée."

"Cut the pretense, Killian." I leaned closer that our lips were almost touching, my hands flat against the desk he was working on. "My father, who was dead, is very much alive. That drive in front of you proves it. "You knew everything that happened, didn’t you?"

His gaze shifted, but his expression remained unreadable. "I won't deny the fact that I know a lot of things, Celeste. "But this particular one?" He pushed the flashdrive in the same way I had it to him, back to me. "I promise, I had no hand in whatever may be going on."

"Liar, you're a terrible liar." My voice came out sharper than intended, slicing like a knife through the space left between us. "You have always had eyes everywhere. There’s no way this one missed your gaze."

He breathed out slowly, forced to place his cup down. "If I had ever known, I wouldn't have waited a second without using the information against you? There's no way I would have allowed it to linger at this very moment."

I hated to accept that he had a valid point.

I clenched my fists so that I almost injured my palms with my fingers. "If I find out you’re lying to me, deceiving me all through, Killian, I swear."

"You’ll do what exactly?" He stood sharply, displaying his tall frame in an annoying way over mine. "You would run? Work toward exposing me? You don’t expect to work that through yourself without help. You obviously don't have that luxury anymore, Celeste. Accept that we’re in this together."

I swallowed back my pride to calm down, frustration crawling shamelessly towards me. I needed to activate my thinking. I needed a smart plan more than ever before. If Killian, as he said, truly does not have a hand in holding my father hostage, then, I won't sit back, but find out who's behind everything. 

And yes, I may not have the luxury at my disposal again, but I knew exactly who to call.

"Lena, I will be needing your help."

There was a long silence.

I gripped tightly to my phone like my life depended on it. I paced restlessly in my bedroom, expecting a positive response as usual anytime, anyday." Lena?"

A sigh came out loud from the other side of the line. "Celeste, I won't lecture you, but you seem not to have the slightest idea of what you’ve done."

My stomach churned in war. "What do you mean by that statement?"

"You have just entered an everlasting deal with the devil incarnate." Her voice is almost a whisper, but heavy with pain. You think the cruel Killian will willingly give you the permission to walk away from this? You’re everything he ever wanted, trapped in his world now, but unfortunately, you seem to be too relaxed and not even seeing the trap."

I sank dejectedly onto my bed. "Lena, I beg you to help me, please. I seriously need your help."

"I can’t help you."

The finality as she spoke was unexpected. Never in my imagination had I visualized her saying no to me.

"Lena, are you there?"

"I’m very sorry." And then, without another word, the line went dead.

Why was she scared of helping me? Is there more to this that I'm yet to see?