CHAPTER 26 She had enough useful information
*Liam*
"Hey, Virtue!" Noah called out to the tall and stunning blonde who Chip was practically dragging out of my office. My eyes ran up and down her svelte figure, settling on her cute tush. I quickly noticed she didn't have a panty line.
"What about tonight? Are we still going out to dinner?" Noah asked, a hopeful tone in his voice. I raised my eyebrows. Noah had already made plans to take her out to dinner?
She stopped and turned around, her hair flipping through the air, landing neatly below her shoulders. A cute smile played on those luscious pink lips of hers making my heart skip a beat. There was no denying she was the most beautiful woman I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
"Of course," she said, her captivating voice echoing throughout the room. "I'll meet you at my place around six-thirty since our reservations are at seven. " Her voice sounded like a lullaby, ethereal and hypnotizing. If she were to ask me for anything right now, I'd give her what she wanted, no questions asked. But it was strange though, her voice seemed familiar to me... like I've heard it before. I probably had heard a voice like hers on television.
"Alright, then. Harold's at seven. See you, Noah." Virtue waved goodbye and with a flick of her beautiful silky blonde hair, she was gone... to my utter disappointment.
"Noah, I'd like to speak with you," I said, pointing to my main office. "If you would so kindly enter my office."
Noah nodded his head and walked inside. I gave one look at Abigail before I followed Noah inside and she nodded without speaking. She was another thorn in my side, but she was useful and she kept quiet... just like a good lap dog. Anyway, she knew the punishment if she ever stepped out of line.
I closed the doors and walked behind my desk. Noah was already seated in front, tapping his foot.
"So, what do you know about this Virtue?" I asked.
"Her full name is Virtue Sullivan and she just moved into the old Taylor house."
"The old Taylor House?! I thought..." My voice trailed away. Fuck! "What else do you know about her?"
"She told Abigail she used to live in Nevada and worked there as an accountant," Noah answered. "She plans to open a boutique at the empty commercial space beside the grocery store and she just hired me to do the necessary construction."
"Married?" I asked.
"No. When Bo asked her, she said she wasn't married. Hasn't found the right one," Noah answered. "Liam, I actually like her. I feel comfortable around her."
"She's single, Noah. For any man, she is fair game," I replied.
"Fair enough, Liam. You can always say you like her too," Noah said. I stared at Noah and sighed. I always had to get my hands dirty. I wondered how my father was able to do it while he was mayor.
"Now, since you will be her contractor, why don't you set up CCTV cameras in her store? If I had only known she was this young and beautiful, I would have suggested you put up cameras around her home," I said. "That reminds me, I need to have a chat with Lisa and Nicole. I hate it when someone hides things from me."
"Liam, I can't do that," Noah argued. "If she finds out I installed cameras in her store without her knowledge, she will sue me and I'm done in this town."
"Fine. I'll have someone else do it then, so you can feign innocence if she finds out," I said.
"Who?" He asked casually. I rolled my eyes.
"All you have to do is tell Virtue she needs to hire Nicole. Nicole will handle everything," I answered.
"Alright then. Send Cris my regards," Noah said, smirking.
Everyone had thought an old woman would be moving into the Old Taylor House... even Noah.
Virtue Sullivan changes everything.
_____________________
*Abigail*
I slipped off my heels and slowly inched my way towards the double doors of Liam's office. I had to find out what Liam was up to. After I saw that familiar glint in his eyes, I knew Liam had found his new target.
As a little girl, I always wished I was like Joy Taylor. She was pretty, kind and smart too. Nicole and Liam were always envious of the good words our teachers had to say about her. I was envious too, but since she always treated me with kindness, I never thought of ever harming her until we all jumped to high school.
Nicole was an early bloomer. She became the girl of every boy's fantasy. Thus, Liam kept her on a tight leash knowing with her by his side, he could control everyone.
Liam, Cris, Dan and Jack were early bloomers too, just like Noah. Noah was by far more charming and dashing than Liam, so by our sophomore year, Noah was part of our group. He knew Noah was soft and to Liam, that was useful.
Lisa and I were like Joy, late bloomers. Lisa tried her hardest to be included in the group, doing anything Nicole and Liam wanted, but it was never enough. I, on the other hand, was privileged enough to be included since Cris and I were cousins and my family had money. If it weren't for those technicalities, I would have been like Joy... alone.
While we were in high school, we were the popular students and bullied our way to getting what we wanted. It was all fun and games until it became a horrific and terrifying tragedy that I couldn't believe my friends nor my cousin had the stomach of doing.
I was the one who found Joy Taylor gasping for air while tied to a bench press. I was the one who cut her free. I was the one who told Noah to take her home.
I confronted them, thinking they would be scared of the consequences. Yet what I discovered was more terrifying.
Mayor Theodore Cohen threatened he would set my family's farm on fire if I ever breathed a word of the 'unfortunate incident' to anyone. Then, he calmly asked for the name of the young man who helped Joy Taylor. After I told him what he wanted to know, he called someone telling them to clean the mess up for him.
I pushed myself to forget, thinking Joy Taylor was the first and last of all my troubles until Liam met Joan Summers here in his office two winters ago. She was the high school student body president and she had come to talk to Liam about helping fund the spring formal.
I saw how he touched her, making the poor girl squirm in her chair. I watched as he would lean over and touch her thigh. I stood by helplessly as he ran his hand down her back to rest on top of her firm buttocks.
He asked me for her schedule. I initially objected, but one threatening look was enough to make me reconsider. I got him her schedule and as mayor, he got passes for himself and the boys to the spring formal.
Joan Summers went missing that night. I wanted to help Old Man Eugene and his family find her, but I didn't know where to begin. I asked Lisa for help, knowing she would know something, but she brushed me off.
"I value my life, Abigail. I don't want to die just yet," Lisa said, drunk. "If you value your life, you would forget this ever happened."
After a couple weeks, Joan's body was found floating in the lake. I cried myself to sleep that night, knowing I should have done more, but with two hands tied behind my back, I was useless.
This time, I'm not going to let anything happen to Virtue Sullivan.
"... set up CCTV cameras in her store," I heard Liam tell Noah. I slowly tiptoed back to my desk.
I had enough useful information.
"Is my son here, Abigail?"
I jumped in my chair, startled.
I raised my eyes to find the cold dark eyes of Theodore Cohen looking down at me...
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