Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 79: Assassins?

Chapter 79: Assassins?

In the toy shop Talia followed Rebecca and seeing the various stuffed toys around, the inner child in her awakened. The second floor was all filled with stuffed toy in that section and the other section seemed to be newborn baby toys.

Even if this was a week day, the place was moderately filled with people, mostly women and some little kids who were shopping.

But seeing Rebecca picking up one of every stuffed animal with her eyes dead like a zombie with no soul, she felt bad and helped her sort out the ones she picked.

Surely she wouldn’t need to buy that many toys for the children. If she did, they’d need another car just for the toys.

Talia really couldn’t imagine the turbulence inside Rebecca’s mind. She could have a slight inkling of how she might feel but there is a little voice in her mind saying that maybe there should be more to Joe and Rachel’s relationship and it can’t be just romantic.

She really believed Joe is not cheating. He’d be a fool if he found some other woman to be attractive than Rebecca. And he won’t dare to lose everything he has just for an old flame. Divorces cost a lot. He is not that much of an idiot to lose everything. And that to for a woman who left him the moment he became an addict.

But she knew she cannot just say that to Rebecca now especially when she is so emotional. So she decided to talk to Joe about it first before deciding for sure.

Talia checked her phone once more to see if she could talk to Arthur but it seemed like there was still no network in her phone and she became a bit skeptical.

Talia looked around and it seemed like others were having network coverage. As she walked around, she could feel someone watching over her and she instinctively looked at the opposite building and with the bright noon sun right on her face, she couldn’t see much.

That was the Apollo International Building where most of the offices of big companies were located at. She didn’t know why she felt that weird feeling just then.

---

In the eighteenth floor of the Apollo International Buildings, one tall figure closed the curtains with his lips pursed.

"Mr. Graham, your oil business is already in the verge of collapsing. You wouldn’t want your ship to sink, do you?"

Arthur’s face exuded malice as he looked at the man with a big moustache sitting on the gothic styled leather chair.

There was a big bear standing beside him on its hind legs in a roaring posture and it was apparent the taxidermy done was really good that made the bear life-like.

Arthur hid his admiration for the bear and nodded at Jordan and he placed a document in front of the old man.

The old man had a slight smirk in his face as he picked the document and was surprised to see the satellite image of two of his container ships surrounded by military grade ships with no flags.

There were time stamps even and it seemed like the pictures were taken only some minutes ago.

Mercenaries? And why are they trying to sink his ships?

"What does this mean?"

Graham asked as his face paled and even his moustache was shaking as he tried to control his emotions.

"You don’t know why we are here personally, Mr. Graham?" Jordan asked and he stood in front of the table politely and Arthur was immersed in the other animals that undergone taxidermy process that were in the office.

He liked it. They were cute like stuffed animals but they were so real!

"No! Why would I? Has Jerome resorted to blindly bully others to stay on the top now? I thought he was better!..."

Graham raised his voice at Jordan while Arthur cooly took his phone.

"Sink ’em"

He said with no change of expression in his eyes dark as the deep ocean.

"No! Wait... What is this about? I really don’t know!"

Graham stood up from his chair and he really was not sure what was happening.

"Mr. Graham, you asked for help and our chairman refused. That doesn’t mean you could hire assassins to hurt our Princess Talia. And we, being magnonomous, gave you a chance to apologise and make your men step back, but you didn’t. We’re sorry, you pushed us to this. We’ll leave now."

Jordan said and looked at Arthur who was petting a deer head and rolled his eyes.

Really now?

"No I didn’t! I really didn’t! Who has the nerves to touch Princess Polaris? I don’t even know where she is. Please... Don’t sink my ships, they are one of my last hopes! Please...."

Graham fell on the floor, his knees trembling.

"Here are the details we got," Jordan threw a document on the table.

"You have half an hour till your ships sink entirely. Decide wisely and back off," Arthur said and walked out of the room followed by Jordan.

Graham knew begging won’t save him now. Everyone wants to take Princess Polaris out but no one dares to, knowing of the ramifications. He is already knee deep in debts and barely floating above bankruptcy. How would he dare to attack one of the untouchables now?

He saw the payment made from one of his accounts as reported in the document and gritted his teeth.

"OLIVIA!!!"

His loud voice travelled through the door and to the two men waiting for the elevator.

"Boss, what about the other one?" he asked and Arthur just nodded.

---

Talia didn’t like standing by the window and decided to stay away from the windows but she was more shocked to see the road below filled with people. It seemed to be a march for some cause.

Talia could not believe what she’s seeing. As far as she knew, it is next to impossible to get permission for a march in these few streets where the Levitt Centre is located.

Talia could feel something odd and so she decided to bug off from here. She felt really nervous to be here anymore.

She tried to find Rebecca and sighed seeing her staring blankly at the newborn section. Talia remembered Rebecca talking about having a baby and she could understand what she might be thinking now.

"Rebecca..."

Talia placed her hand on Rebecca’s shoulder and tried to get her out of the shop, but she was met with her empty stare that soon turned depressed.

"I’m pregnant, Tallie..."

She said placing her hand over her belly and Talia was stunned. It was just days before she said she wasn’t and now she is? How does that work?

"I took another test yesterday and... it was positive..." Rebecca leaned on Talia’s shoulders and Talia rubbed her back.

"I was so happy and decided to shout it out to Joe but then... I... This wretched me wanted to give him a surprise and took a picture of my pregnancy test using his phone and set it as his background... Ha! I thought I was surprising him... But... That’s when.. "

Rebecca didn’t continue and wiped her face using the wipes she had in her purse.

Talia really couldn’t concentrate on her words as she could feel that creepy feeling behind her and looked there to see another tall building. She thought maybe she was unnecessarily paranoid but she still didn’t want to risk being here.

"Rebecca...." Talia dragged behind a pillar to hide from all windows.

"We need to get out of here now." Talia shook Rebecca’s shoulders.

"There is going to be a riot here soon!" Talia added and Rebecca slowly recovered from her crying and looked at her confused.

"What?" Rebecca gathered her thoughts and looked at Talia like she was a mad woman and gave her a push.

"Seriously?"

At the same time, Talia felt a whoosh by her ear, like something passing at a terribly high speed beside her and saw a hole being made in a big Teddy bear beside her.

She turned to the other side to see a little gap through which she could see an open window of the other building.

There really is a sniper? If Rebecca didn’t push me now, I’d be dead?