Chapter Eighty-five Evan Sterling's POV (Present Time)

I haven't even processed how I felt about that then the video skipped to another day in a different room setting. And Mary Antoinette wasn't playing the role of a seductress in this one. Antony held her by the neck to the wall and by the look of it, she didn't seem lucid. He then tore off her clothes threw her on the bed and fucked her from behind. His pleasure-filled grunts were loud — very loud.
"He is a very sick man!" Estera exclaimed.
"And I think he has the habit of subduing her. She didn't look like she consented to that," Foster interjected.
"Man, this is messed up," I said, rubbing my eyes and wishing I could unsee all that but knew I needed to see it to know exactly what I was dealing with. I turned around and directed my gaze at Dan. He looked pale -- the poor man.
"You have met Zack haven't you, Dan?"
"Yes boss, he is the head of the New York office security," Dan replied then swallowed.
"Good. You are going to team up with him to contain Edward Sterling, Antony Dallas and his henchman, Gaius. I'm going to call for a board meeting which may go south and I need us to be prepared."
"You sound like it's a war—" Estera said in obvious fear.
"It would be if they fail to cooperate. But first I need to speak with Mary Antoinette. I think it's high time we all unmask."
"I gave her a mild sedative and painkiller, she was in discomfort," Foster said, still sounding guilty.
"How long would that take to wear off?" I asked.
"Two hours..."
"Is anyone with her?"
"Not right now, I stationed a guard by her door. And Sterling, I need to call the cops. I’m duty bound to let them know one of our patients was raped—”
"I quite understand, Foster, and you will, but I need you to give me a few hours to get him to come to our New York office then you can call the cops. And you need to call off the guards you stationed to watch Mary Antoinette’s room—"
"Okay, I understand why you feel we need to wait to have him contained but why do I need to call off the guards?"
"Dallas might suspect, and the last thing we need is to spook him and make him lawyer up. It will ruin everything, not to mention dangerous not only for me or Estera but you as well and every single nurse who might make that rape charge stick—"
“But what about your video?” Estera asked.
“He might say it was doctored— And his lawyer might come up with reasons why it can not be used in court—”
“Shit! And what if he tries to …. You know … again!" Foster said.
"Just get nurses to check on her every 2 minutes, that would be far better. I'm trying to get this man off of her back permanently, get him out of my company, and let Estera have her justice, Foster, we can't afford to make a mistake. This guy has friends in the mafia. I need this contained. Do you understand me?"
"Alright, I will take care of it. But you have just five hours. I will have them use his seminal fluid to conduct a DNA to affirm he was the rapist. I can use that as the reason for the delay," he said. I nodded. He threw a reassuring glance at Estera before leaving.
I retrieved my phone from my pocket and dialed Zack in my New York office. I gave him my location and asked him to send a driver and one of his men to pick Dan up at the back of the hospital. When I ended the call Dan left, leaving only me with Estera.
My phone rang and I picked it up immediately.
"Yes, mother?"
"Are you alright? Where are you? You didn't come back to the hotel last night … "
"I'm here at the hospital with Mary Antoinette."
"You stayed there! Oh, mine! I … we didn't know … "
When she said that I knew she wasn't alone.
"I didn't stay the entire night. I told you, I needed to meet up with someone. Mary Antoinette is resting now, so I'm hanging around waiting for her to wake up, and then I'm going to leave. Something came up, and I need to have a meeting with all the board of directors."
"What? What happened? Is there a problem?"
"Are you with the Dallas'?" I asked, thinking to kill two birds or rather three with one stone.
"Um ... yes," Antony just came in and Anastasia is with me … "
"Okay, great, put me on speaker."
"You are on speaker," she said. I nodded to myself.
"Good morning, Mrs. Dallas, trust you had a peaceful rest," I said.
"I tried, considering the circumstances. Thank you, Evan," she replied.
"Hello, Antony … " I said and heard a grunt. 'Fucking pervert!' I thought to myself. "Okay, there's this deal a friend of mine just proposed and since you are all here in New York, I figured we can take a look together ... "
"I can't believe your audacity to talk about business at a time like this! My little girl is in that sorry state in the hospital and you are talking about deals?!"
"Calm down, Antony, this deal is not something you would want to miss. The value is far from monetary, I suggest you and your wife join me in the New York office by 2 p.m. I'm having Edward flown in … "
"What?!" My mother exclaimed
"What do you need Edward for? Didn't you cut him off?" Antony asked and I could detect his interest was piqued now. I grinned.
"Oh, I want him to be in the boardroom when I announce the new deal … " I said.
"I really don't want to be in the same room with that loser, Evan!" My mother interjected.
"I'm sorry. This is too important. See you all at 2," I said and cut the line.
"Evan ... " Estera called with concern.
"Don't worry, baby … I know what I am doing," I said and called Brian, letting him know I need him in the New York office.
"What happened?" Brian asked hesitantly.
"Time to unveil, man."
"Yes!" he exclaimed, and added, "Please, tell me Edward Sterling would be there. Please, please, please!'
"Oh, I will do you one better, you are to pick him up on your way here, you guys are coming in with the company jet."
"Come on! You are going to make me suffer a 5-hour ride with him?:
"Yup. See you later, man," I said then paused, holding Estera's gaze, I wanted to let him know I had Estera with me, but changed my mind and ended the call. Then I called Edward Sterling.
Foster came back a while later to let me know Mary Antoinette was awake.
"The camera in her room is still on, right?"
"Yes, why?"
"I need to talk to her and I want it recorded," I said. Foster nodded in understanding.