Hidden Passion
Chapter 39

Lillian decided there was no point in trying to fight for her life when she would die in a few minutes. One would think she truly would not be able to die that easily as she had bragged.

But wait a minute! Why was she breathing perfectly well and normal when she was being strangled? Strangled? There was not even a hint of pressure against her neck. What was going on? What was she doing, then? She looked at her, but her eyes were fixed on the door to the room.

"Linda!" Linda heard her name for the third time, and she knew who that voice belonged to. She had no choice but to do what she was doing. "Let's go to the hospital. Nath's awake and he needs to see you first so we could introduce you to him," she heard.

"That's Nester," Lillian whispered. So, she was doing this because she heard her voice. It would have been truly bad for her if Nester would walk in and saw them holding hands. "Shut up and struggle!" Linda commanded and she obeyed, having no choice at that moment.

The door opened and Nester walked in. "I saw Lilly's car downstairs. Is she...?" she was saying but halted as she took in the scene before her. "Wow! This just made my day. Seeing you struggle like a rat in a trap gives me butterflies," she said and clapped her hands.

Lillian narrowed her throat as she said, "Don't you dare call me Lilly." She had no right to, and she had to remind her of that even if she was not in a state to do so.

Nester laughed as she signaled to Linda to release her grip which she did without the slightest hesitation. Her laugh became louder as she watched Lillian's hands go to her neck and started breathing hard with her mouth. "That was just the preamble of the main event. Next time, I will sit back and watch you die. Let's go, Linda."

Lillian watched as they walked out of the room and how Linda glanced back and muttered something to her, but she could not pinpoint the exact thing she said, so she decided to let that slide and bent to carry the bag of clothes. She lifted it and threw the paper that was on top of the clothes on the floor and walked outside.

"You have missed calls, Lillian," Dorcas told her as she entered the car and started the ignition without gearing the car to move.

"Really? From who?" Lillian asked as she retrieved her phone from the mini box that was beside the driver's seat. She checked her call log and figured that her personal assistant had left her five calls and Nathaniel's mother, two calls.

"I did not check. And I saw Nester walk in and out with a woman a while ago. Are you okay?" Dorcas asked with concern.

Lillian smiled and met her eyes. "I am okay. We'll talk about that later. Nath's mother and my assistant were the callers. I should call the woman back. It might be important." She started calling back.

"And you don't think that your assistant might "

"Hello. I am very sorry for the delay. I am on my way there. I shop some clothes for you so you can change out of those. What's that? Oh, my God! That's amazing. Has he talked to you yet? Wow! I'll be there in a few minutes," she called and hung up while grinning from ear to ear.

Dorcas smiled. "Given your smile, Nathaniel is awake, right?"

Lillian nodded and started driving. "I will have to call Jones later. This is more important," she said, and her phone started ringing. She frowned. "Talk of the devil."

Dorcas laughed. "I think it is important. I'll pick it and put it in hands-free mode for you."

"Okay, babe. Please, do that," she said and sat up behind the steering wheel. "Yes, Jones?"

"I have been trying to reach you, Lilly. You need to-"

Lillian frowned. Another stubborn person who called her that all the time, but she would never be tired of correcting him. "Don't call me Lil-" she was saying and saw her friend smile at that while shaking her head, but she was cut in before she could finish what she was saying.

Jones' voice was uncomfortable as he raised his voice. "You need to get down here now. It's very important and we might lose a lot of investments if you don't."

In shock, the car swerved in the wrong direction on the road, but she was quick to control it and find somewhere to park so she could talk. She turned off the ignition and collected her phone from Dorcas. "What are you talking about, Jones? What could have happened that will make us lose our- I am on my way, forget it. Give me five minutes."

"Five minutes is too long. Come down here in three minutes," Jones said in a hurry.

"Okay. Okay. Three minutes," she said and hung up. But how could she get there in three minutes? It would take her at least twenty minutes from where she was. Nevertheless, she turned to her friend. "I think there's a problem at work. I have to go. You can drive, right? Please, go to the hospital and give them these clothes. I have some food and clothes for Nath and his Mum. I have to go. I don't know how long I will take, so just tell them I received a very important call, nothing more."

Dorcas nodded as she watched her friend alighted without her phone. She took it as she got to the driver's seat and handed it to her. "You left this, babe."

"Oh, thank you. Drive safely, okay? It's Noh's hospital."

Dorcas nodded. "Be safe, too. Or should we go to the office first, then-"

"No. He is awake already. Don't worry, I will find my way from here," she assured her and watched her friend drive off.

She boarded a taxi and made her way to her company, telling the driver to hurry up every now and then. Thankfully, she was able to get there in ten minutes. She paid the driver and ran inside to her assistant's office. "Jones, what's going on -"she was saying as she opened the door, only to be welcomed with silence. She dialed his number and he told her to hurry down to her office.

She opened the door to her office and was greeted with screams and laughter. Wtf! Most of her staff were there with balloons and cakes and there was a big 'Happy birthday to you' sticker on the wall. "Oh, my God! Wow!" She exclaimed as she looked around and noticed the total transformation of her office. It was mostly covered in balloons and other merry designs.

There was a huge cake on the center table and what? Her parents were there? "Mum? Dad!" she screamed and ran to hug them. "Oh, you should not have bothered yourself with this. Thank you so much," she said and pecked and pecked her parents.

"That's my girl. We want that smile, not the frown you've been wearing all morning," her mother said, and she laughed.

"Grow old and toothless, my favorite," her father said and received a hug.

Hours later, they were still wining and dining. It was difficult for her to leave them there and go her way. She was at least grateful that she had Dorcas to take those clothes to the hospital. Talking of Dorcas, she hadn't called her, neither had she received any call from her. She decided to excuse herself and move to where her desk was, and as if Dorcas was hearing her thoughts, she started calling her.

She smiled as she picked up the call. "Hi, Dorcas. I am very sorry I haven't called you. I—"

"I have your precious friend with me here," a husky male voice said to her.

Her eyes widened. "Who the heck are you? Why are you with her phone?"

"Are you dumb? Don't you know how it happens in movies and stories? This could only mean one thing. Your friend has been kidnapped, so—"

"What!" she screamed, and everyone turned to look at her.

"Come to the address I'll text you or I'll have the head of your friend for dinner. You're the one I need," the kidnapper said.

Lillian sighed and gathered all the pieces of her last confidence. "Fine."