Chapter 64

James POV

The next afternoon, James contacted his secretary Brittany regarding Tank's case. The attitude with which the commissioner notified struck a chord in him. Something isn't right. He can feel it in his gut. One piece of evidence. All he needs is one piece of evidence indicating what the commissioner sprouted are all lies!

"Brittany, hire a PI in London", James commanded.

"What must I ask them to search for Mr. McKenzie?", Brittany asked, taking down the notes as she's used to his tone.

"Tank's accident. Though the commissioner said it's a blind spot, I couldn't help but doubt it. I want the PI to do a thorough check near the accident area. Also, the guy or girl who hit him, I want to know their full details. I will put that fucker behind the bars myself. Ask him to gather evidence against him. And make him check that it really is an accident", James launched into his demands.

"Very well sir. I will do that. As it must be done without the police's knowledge, I'm afraid the PI may ask for some time", Brittany informed him, knowing the dealings of PI from prior experience.

"He can have 3 months. Not a single day more. I want that person arrested before Tank opens his eyes", James said with suppressed emotion.

"I will let the PI know of your requirements. Anything else sir?" Brittany posed hovering the pen above the paper

"Fax the copy of papers that are in the locker", James said as he thought of the Will. If checking the authenticity of the Will is delayed, then these documents will help.

"The one your father signed sir?", Brittany asked surprised

"Yes", James said preoccupied.

Just as he cut the call of Brittany, the name of Agatha displayed on his screen.

"How are you, Agatha?" James asked slightly concerned as he was the one who always called her.

"James McKenzie, I thought I raised you better!", Agatha launched, anger brewing inside her.

"What wrong have I done Agatha?" James asked feeling confused

"You boy, stop acting innocent. How could you James? I thought you would have known better than to play with the heart of that innocent", Agatha related as she reprimanded him.

"Ah...I presume you are speaking about Bella", James implied as light dawned on him.

"Yes! I expected better from you", Agatha said disappointment ringing in her voice.

"It's complicated Agatha", James uttered instead.

"If it's complicated it's because you are making it. Why should you involve that poor soul in this mess! If Jacqueline finds out about her she will destroy her. I don't think Bella is ready enough to handle your life James", Agatha said disquiet about Bella's welfare.

"No one will do anything to her. I won't let anything happen to her", James argued

"What about her James? Have you thought about what she will go through when she learns about your secret? What happens when her blind trust in you shatters?" Agatha prompts as James is unwilling to see reason.

"I..."James' voice faded as he stood silently unable to justify his desire to speak with Bella.

"You didn't, did you?", Agatha probed

"I will cross that bridge when the time comes Agatha", James prevaricates

"It's not like you to not think about the future. You are trying to stall the inevitable, James. You are behaving like a child by closing your eyes and hoping everything will be alright", Agatha said, saddened that she has to give such advice to him. She knows what he has gone through, she saw it with her own eyes, yet she couldn't help. She wished she could give different advice but it was not meant to be. If only everything was different.

"Bella is important Agatha. I wouldn't want to see her hurt. Not even from me", James declared.

"But you are hurting her. Not telling about your marriage will hurt her more", Agatha stressed as she clutched the phone harder.

"I don't want to talk about this anymore. How do you find out anyway?"

"This isn't over, boy. I raised you better than this. Rectify this mistake as soon as possible. That girl loves you. I can see it clearly in her eyes", Agatha apprised him as she revealed what she felt when she saw in Bella's eyes

"She loves me?" James asked elation running through his body. He knew his Bella. She loves in abundance. It’s her nature. Triumph surged through him as he puffed his chest. He felt like he had received the world’s most precious gift. A gift that is his alone.

"You are missing the point, James. Cut ties with her before she gets hurt", Agatha said shaking her head.
"Never! You can ask anything from me, Agatha. I never stopped you. But this...this is impossible for me", James slammed his fist on the table as he said it.

"You don't know what you are doing James. You are dragging her with you. She is just a baby. The outer world is crueler. No one knows better than you. It will tear her into pieces. Better send her away while she has time", Agatha pressed, worried that he might not listen to her.

"She may look innocent Agatha. But my Bella is strong. Stronger than me", James said proudly.

"I hope so, boy. She must be if she has to face the world standing beside you", Agatha replied resigned that he is not going to budge on this

"You never told me how you came to know. She visited you, didn't she?" James asked hopefully
"Yes. She was worried about you", Agatha reluctantly admitted.

"Did she bring something?" James asked as he thought to himself that she must have a reason to visit her.

"How do you know?" Agatha asked, dropping her jaw. This man has eyes everywhere.

"Because I know her", James said as a matter-of-fact.

"She brought cookies for me", Agatha said with glee. After all, they tasted nice.

"And" James prompted her to reveal more.

"They are good. She made them herself" Agatha teased him with the cookies that she cleaned off.

"You are not telling me everything Agatha", James probed, tucking that little information about Bella in his mind.

"Fine! She brought a painting she made", Agatha huffed as she revealed it.

"What was it?" James asked intrigued

"A couple… dancing. She said that's how you first met", Agatha parted with that information unwillingly. What was she set on doing and what is she doing? Instead of steering him clear of that poor girl, she is divulging about her.

"She is something else, isn't she?" James said softly feeling warm all over

"Yes. Yes, she is. You couldn't have done better if you searched by yourself. She is one rare beauty", Agatha said, softening thinking about the kind nature of Bella.

"Keep the painting safe for me, Agatha. Not a scratch on it", James changed the topic, his voice hardening once again.

"Of course, Mr. McKenzie", Agatha replied, slipping into the role of the housekeeper easily.

David stood ready like before with a new set of documents in hand. He is not liking being chief if this is how it's going to be. Tank better get well soon, David thought to himself.

"Let's go to the lawyer's office", James said once he scanned the documents.

"What is the meaning of this!" James slammed the legal documents on the desk of the lawyer.

As Luke is busy with the other work he asked to do, James hired this lawyer as per Luke's suggestion.
The lawyer read the documents that James haphazardly threw.

"They are contesting for a legal DNA test", the lawyer said after checking the papers.

"I realized that. But what will they achieve from this?" James paced the floor angrily.

"Unless you are not your father's son then I don't think this makes sense", the lawyer said waving the papers he held. James halted mid-stride hearing to that.

"Come again", James turned and asked the lawyer his nostrils fuming.

"Umm...they must have some sure evidence to back up for such a claim", the lawyer stuttered as he fumbled before his powerful force.

"Are you saying I'm not that bastard's son?" James shouted the last part, his frustration mounting.

"Umm, Mr. McKenzie, I'm just implying. We...we don't know for sure until you take the test", the lawyer said subdued.