Chapter 91
Alaia
I sighed, floating on a cloud of love. I smiled, resting a pencil against my lips as I observed the beautiful blue sky accompanying us that day. We had returned from the most incredible honeymoon trip the night before. It had been wonderful, though I felt a small pang in my chest knowing we had to delay our love and happiness for so long.
“Damn! You left so early today that we missed out on the gossip,” Tino said as he entered, holding Noah’s hand. Ash was playing with Alana and a small stuffed animal. The night before, Nick had stayed over with us, and our children had clung to us as soon as they saw us, so we lay down beside them.
Tino sat on the couch in my office and let my baby run to hug me while patting the spot next to him for me to sit. Ash went to get some snacks for them.
“How’s Mommy’s little prince?” I asked tenderly. Noah smiled and hugged me, melting my heart.
“My sweet princess,” I said, receiving my little girl. I sat each of them on one of my knees and held them close, inhaling their scent.
“Teddy bear, auntie,” she said to Ash, who handed her the stuffed toy with a smile.
“My little flower was destroyed during those days,” I inhaled and smiled.
Tino choked on a potato chip as he started laughing.
“Oh my God, my goodness! But what? That poor flower must have had a terrible time,” he shook his head, laughing. “I’d love to have one, but only if the hunk is the one destroying it,” he joked, and we continued laughing.
“He took me to a private island he bought for me,” I commented and sighed again, still getting used to the idea that there was an island with my name on it. I looked at my little ones.
“But, but, but what are you telling us?” Tino stood up, and Ash’s mouth was wide open. “I think I’m going to faint,” he touched his chest, making me laugh. “What a beautiful love that man has for you. I’m calling Tony, I want one too!” He walked away from us.
“Girl, you deserve no less. You’ve got the whole happy meal,” Ash looked at me affectionately, and I thanked her when she came to hug me.
Tino returned from his call with Tony, and we continued talking about my incredible days on the island with the only man I had ever loved and would love for the rest of my life.
Ash and Tino had gone to the playroom with the children while I finished up.
I reviewed the progress of our work, which was going as planned. I received a report on the projects Ethan and Alex Black were working on; the facilities were already completed. I bit my lip, thinking about how I had planned to get Nick and the Garnetts out of the picture months ago, something that no longer interested me.
The phone in my office rang, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Alaia, Mr. Quinn is here,” Ignacio mentioned.
“Send him in,” I replied, and the door opened after several seconds.
“Good afternoon, Miss Russell,” the man entered, wearing casual clothes.
“Good afternoon, please, have a seat,” I gestured to the chair in front of me.
“We’ve gathered all the information,” he explained as he sat down. “We have all the dirty laundry on Killian Garnett and his company.” I looked up, knowing it had taken him months to investigate as I had ordered when I arrived in the city and the contract issue began. At that time, he had given me an idea of the not–so–clean movements and contracts in foreign countries.
“You had told me that you would expose him when we managed to have irrefutable proof of those contracts and movements. Here they are,” he extended the folder, and I looked at it.
“Is this the only copy?” I questioned, bringing the papers closer to me and looking up, waiting for his answer.
“Yes, we only made one copy as you ordered,” he said, and I nodded.
“I want you to forget about this investigation,” I said, reaching for my checkbook. “This must not come to light, under any circumstances,” I stated, signing a check for his fees and a little extra.
The man looked at me with bewilderment reflected on his face.
“Is that clear?” I questioned, handing him the check. He looked at me and nodded, receiving the paper.
“It will be done as you order, Miss Russell,” he said, standing up and extending his hand for me to shake in a silent pact. I knew he was a man who could be trusted; he had been working for my grandfather for years and had proven to be completely reliable.
As soon as he left, I took the folder and decided to take it to Nick. I knew this would sink Killian, but it could also sink Nick. He needed to know about it and make a decision on his own. I would explain the reasons and what I had planned to do with that information. I hoped it wouldn’t cause any conflict between us. I bit my lip at the idea that this might cause us some trouble. I went to get the children, Ash, and Tino.
“What’s that you’re guarding so closely?” Ash asked, pointing at the folder I was holding against my arm.
“Don’t even ask, darling. It looks like it might explode if she lets it go,” Tino commented. He said goodbye to me and the children, leaving us with kisses and hugs.