Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion
Was she that unhappy to see him? Surprised to hear that Paul was the one who called the police, she said, “Thank you.”
No matter what, Paul still saved her.
My Jurisdiction
Paul didn’t respond to her thanks.He was still hung up on the fact that Stephanie knew Leonard Sullivan.
“Do you know that new Police Commissioner?”
“Yeah.He was my classmate.”
Classmate? Paul frowned, feeling threatened all of a sudden.He’d seen how bright Stephanie’s smile was when she spoke to Leonard and how close that man was to her when he escorted her out.It felt like his advances were being rejected.
“I’ll drive you back.Let’s go.”
Paul sighed, pushing down all those worrying thoughts of his.
Stephanie shook her head.
“I’m gonna wait for Danika and Eustace to come out.”
“alright.I’ll stay with you.”
Paul pursed his lips but didn’t stop her.He could spend more time with her that way.
“Stay away from Danika from now on, please.You’ll only get involved in more dangerous situations like this with her current status.”
If it weren’t for Danika, Stephanie wouldn’t have been abducted.
Stephanie shot him a look “What if it was you and Eustace? Would you stop being friends with him if you were in my position?”
Paul wanted to point out how different he was compared to Stephanie but ended up swallowing his words.
“Fine, fine, do whatever you want.”
She was just as stubborn as he remembered! While the two waited outside, Leonard checked Danika’s interrogation, letting her out after making sure nothing was amiss.He was just about to interrogate Eustace personally when his superior called him into his office.
Leonard was then subjected to a series of yelling and table slamming by the Police Commissioner for his actions while he silently waited for the man to finish.
“Release them all at once!” the Commissioner instructed once he was done screaming.
“They broke the law by carrying and using arms, sir.In broad daylight, too.We can’t just let them go! What would people think? ” Leonard questioned.
Even the online media masses had turned their attention to the commotion earlier, arguing that the police force should do something about it.
“Just tell the public it was one of our training sessions.”
The Police Commissioner had long thought of an excuse to placate the media, not intending to open a case.
“These people are beyond the reach of law because of the choices we make.Are you sure this is what you want in the city?”
Leonard questioned.He’d dreamt of being a police officer since he was young, of serving justice and punishing those doing wrong.
But now that he was in the force, he realized that truly doing so was a far more arduous task than ever imagined.His superior shot him a glare.
“What do you think? You know how powerful these people are.You don’t expect us to have them sentenced to death, do you?”
Leonard gritted his teeth but said nothing, still upset about it.
“I’m warning you, Leonard.Don’t do anything foolish just because you think it’s what justice demands.This is Bardoff City, and it is under my jurisdiction.So let them all go now!” his superior demanded.
Leonard could only comply because his superior’s word was law here in the city.
The alternative to obeying the man’s order was equivalent to turning his badge and gun in.
With a sigh, he left the office.
Arms crossed over his chest, Leonard gnawed on his cheek, the bundle of tension in his chest never once declining.
His Fault
When Eustace, Evan, and Danika walked out of the station, they met Zeke just as he was leaving, though the old man’s expression was clearly more upset than anyone else’s.
“Oh? Are you sure you wanna leave your grandson back in there? Not worried his tongue will slip?” Eustace scoffed.
Leonard was pretty brave.He was adamant about someone taking responsibility for what happened.
Hence, upon his insistence, Luke could only be the scapegoat.
“Watch yourself, Eustace!” Zeke barked out furiously.
“What do you mean, sir?”‘ Eustace gasped in faux shock, eyes still colored with disdain.
“I’m only concerned about you and your family.” Zeke sneered, then left with his men.
Eustace, Danika, and Evan then spotted Paul and Stephanie waiting outside.
Stephanie hurriedly went up to Danika, scanning her body for injuries.
“Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”
“No, I’m okay.”
Danika shook her head, glad to see Stephanie safe and sound.
Thank goodness, or everything that happened today would’ve gone to waste.
“It was my fault for being so careless,” Stephanie sighed, still guilty.
“Heck no.I should be the one apologizing.You would never have been subjected to this if we weren’t friends,” Danika said, holding her friend’s hand.
Eustace, meanwhile, had enough of them taking responsibility for all this.
“Stop it, you two.This is all my fault.”
“Yeah.His fault.”
Evan agreed.
There wouldn’t have been shit hitting the fan if it weren’t for Eustace.
Danika turned her gaze to him, wanting her questions from before answered.
Spotting Danika’s pointed look at himself, Evan quickly looked away.
“I better go now.I still have stuff to take care of.Get some rest soon, Danika.Be careful.”
Who knows if something like that won’t happen again? It didn’t seem like Zeke Quincey was ready to let his grudge go, at any rate.
Danika didn’t stop him.She’d get her answers soon enough anyway.
Neither did Eustace step in to answer her questions.Best to have Evan handle his own mess.
“None of you had dinner yet, right? Let’s go then,” Paul suggested, not wanting to separate from Stephanie so soon.
Sure enough, several stomachs began growling in protest.
The four then went to some nearby restaurant by car, with Paul and Eustace in front and the women in the back.
“How’d you know Sullivan would come, Danika?” Paul asked curiously.
Danika smiled secretively.
“I just know what he’s like, is all.”
“Do you always pay attention to the folks in the police force?” Eustace asked.
Danika wouldn’t have known about Leonard otherwise.
“A little bit.” Danika nodded.
“He’s Stephanie’s ex-classmate.How coincidental, huh?” Paul piped up, his tone just the slightest bit jealous.
Danika was surprised to hear that.
“Really?”
“Yeah.Freshman year.”
Stephanie nodded.
“I wouldn’t have recognized him if he hadn’t told me.He’s changed a lot since school.”
“Looks like fate’s on your side.” Danika beamed.If she’d known it before, she would have worked with him to send Zeke into lockup for a couple days at least.
Are You Doing This on Purpose?
The word “fate” rubbed Paul the wrong way. He scoffed, “Fate? What kind of fate is that? It was just a coincidence!”
