Oscar sat in his office, his eyes fixed on the photo of his twenty-five-year-old daughter, Alessia. A knot of guilt tightening in his chest. Her abduction was all his fault, a consequence of his reckless gambling at Matteo's club. Matteo's lawyer had botched his case, leaving Oscar with no choice but to entrust his last hope to Dwayne Jackson, the best lawyer in his office.
Oscar swivelled in his chair, his gaze fixed on the cityscape beyond the window. With a heavy heart, he prayed for his daughter's safety, knowing that her fate hung in the balance. If Dwayne failed to win this case, he feared he would never lay eyes on Alessia again.
Regret tugged at him as he reflected on involving Dwayne in this dangerous game. But desperate times called for desperate measures, and he knew he needed the very best to secure Alessia's freedom.
With a heavy sigh, Oscar turned back to his desk and leaned back into his chair. His phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. As he placed Alessia's picture back on his desk and reached for his cellphone. He exhaled slowly.
Matteo Leone.
He prepared himself for the torrent of insults and threats that usually came with Matteo's calls.
"Oscar, where's your lawyer? I haven't seen him in four days. You're pushing my hand." Matteo's voice crackled through the phone line, dripping with impatience and a thinly veiled threat.
The memory of Dwayne's assurance that he had everything under control echoed in Oscar's mind, but now he wasn't so sure. He struggled to respond because he knew he needed to tread carefully, each word a delicate balance, between appeasing Matteo and protecting Alessia.
He steadied his voice, masking the nervousness that threatened to betray him. "Mr. Leone, if Dwayne hasn't been in contact with you, it means he's gathering information for your case," Oscar assured him firmly. "I'm sure when he's gathered everything, he'll give you a call. There's nothing to be worried about."
Oscar hoped his words sounded convincing enough. He couldn't bear the thought of Matteo taking out his frustration on Alessia.
"Ensure Dwayne is in my office tomorrow at 8:00 a.m., or you'll never see Alessia again." Matteo's ultimatum filled Oscar with dread as the call ended abruptly.
He slumped back into his chair, his head heavy in his hands. Just then, a firm knock on the door jolted him back to the present. With a deep breath, he straightened up, hastily arranging the papers on his desk to mask his turmoil.
"Come in," Oscar called out.
His secretary, Mrs. Levine, entered the office. "Sir, there's a young lady outside," Mrs. Levine began, her tone carrying a hint of concern. "She said her name is Kiara Tanner. She's been here for the past four hours looking for Mr. Jackson. However, he has yet to arrive in the office."
Oscar furrowed his brow at the mention of Dwayne's name. "What does she want?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"She refuses to say, sir," Mrs. Levine replied, her expression indicating uncertainty.
"Send her to me," Oscar instructed.
"Okay, sir," Mrs. Levine nodded before exiting the room to fetch Ms. Tanner.
Moments later, a young lady stepped into the office. Oscar couldn't help but notice the resemblance between her and Dwayne. She looked around sixteen or seventeen.
She wore a black hoodie, black jeans and sneakers. A knapsack slung over her shoulder.
"Please, have a seat," Oscar gestured to one of the chairs on the other side of his desk.
The girl sat, her gaze locked into his. She maintained the same determined expression, one that Oscar had seen all too well on Dwayne's face.
"I'm Mr. Bertarelli, the President of this law firm," Oscar introduced himself. "I heard that you're looking for Dwayne Jackson."
"That's right," she confirmed. "Do you know what time he'll be in? It's important I speak with him."
Oscar couldn't help but be impressed by her confidence, especially considering her age.
"He's currently working on an important case," Oscar replied. "Maybe if you tell me why you're looking for him, I can get a message to him."
"It's a very private matter," she insisted. "I prefer to speak with him myself."
Oscar leaned forward, his expression serious. "If you're unable to tell me why you're here, I'm going to have security escort you from this building," he stated firmly. "And I'll instruct them not to let you in ever again. If you knew where he lived, you wouldn't be here. So again, Ms. Tanner, what is your business with Mr. Jackson?"
The girl's expression remained impassive as she spoke up. "Dwayne is my father," she revealed. "I got his information from my aunt who recently passed away. He's my sole surviving relative. So you can understand that speaking with him is of utmost importance," she affirmed. "Do you know when he'll be in?"
This presented exactly what Oscar needed: a potential pawn. He harboured a hope that he could use Dwayne's daughter as leverage, potentially exchanging her for Alessia. With her in the equation, Dwayne would have even more motivation to secure a favourable outcome in Matteo's case.
"As I mentioned, he's currently engrossed in a very important case. However, let me reach out to him," Oscar nodded as he reached for his phone and pretended to dial Dwayne's number.
"Dwayne, there's a Kiara Tanner here in my office," Oscar stated firmly and paused as though he was listening to a reply.
"She claims to be your daughter," he stated his eyes fixed on Kiara.
Oscar smiled and nodded. "Where are you? I can bring her to you."
Oscar offered a reassuring smile to Kiara, who returned it warmly.
"Great. I'll bring her over right away, and she can explain everything when she arrives," Oscar lied before ending the call.
"Well, young lady, it seems luck is on your side. Dwayne has requested that I bring you to him," Oscar conveyed with a broad smile on his face.
"Thank you, Mr. Bertarelli," Kiara began respectfully, "but I would feel more at ease if my father could come to me instead. Even though you're my father's boss you are a stranger to me. I would prefer to stay here until he arrives, if it's not too much trouble."
Despite the frustration and inner turmoil brewing within him, Oscar maintained a composed exterior, determined not to let his emotions show.
With a forced smile and steady voice, he responded, "Ms. Tanner, I understand your concern, but your father seemed quite anxious to see you. He may be worried about your safety, especially with the case he's currently working on. It would mean a lot to him if you went with me. I promise to ensure you're comfortable and safe the entire time."
Kiara leaned forward, "Mr. Bertarelli, can you please provide me with my father's contact information? I'd like to get in touch with him directly."
Oscar hesitated, his mind racing as he weighed his options. But ultimately, he decided to maintain control of the situation. "I'm sorry, Kiara," he responded smoothly, "but I'm afraid I can't do that. Your father's schedule is quite busy, and it's best if I coordinate the meeting arrangements."
Disappointment flickered across Kiara's face, but she remained composed. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Bertarelli," she said politely, rising from her chair. "I'll find another way to reach him."
With that, Kiara exited Oscar's office.
Thinking quickly, Oscar dialled the security desk downstairs and described Ms. Tanner to the guard who answered. "Don't let her leave," he warned urgently, "she stole my wallet. Keep her and put her in the security office."