OPHELIA: Chapter 4

Blurb

Elizabeth Lockwick wants one thing… to ensure Ophelia remains dead.

For years she’s weaved a life seen through rose-coloured glasses in idyllic Vermont with her husband Sebastian Lockwick, an alluring man with a broken moral compass, whose intent lies in protecting his wife. However, apart from her unorthodox understanding of Sebastian’s dark and gritty hidden nature, she finds herself slipping away from her sanity in maintaining this picturesque life.

After receiving a gruesome gift from an unknown sender threatening to expose her, she finds herself haunted and possibly hunted by her buried past.

In order to make things right for herself and ensure that her secret is hidden, she reluctantly travels back to her sleepy small hometown in Wisconsin. A town where young girls seem to be mysteriously disappearing. There, she reunites with the dysfunctional Pierre-Louis’, a French-American family who sheltered her in their manor in her time of need.

With time slipping away, she struggles with her guilt and a dangerous affair and realizes that perhaps Ophelia wasn’t dead after all these years.

Elizabeth suddenly finds herself caught in a game of cat and mouse, unsure of which she really is this time and who she can trust.

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Chapter 4

12:04pm.

The phone kept vibrating while Sebastian watched as it died to silence. Eight missed calls within the last two hours and he knew exactly who it was from. He kept his cool. Tried not to let anything phase him, but God, he wanted to pretend that the man on the other end of that call disappeared a long time ago. He wanted to pretend that whatever happened in the past stayed in the past, but he knew it was too damn late for that. It didn’t matter what he wanted now, it was what he needed to do. And the first thing he needed was to get out of this bloody office and get lunch. Café Magnolia was not that far away. He contemplated whether to take the car or walk when suddenly Gregory knocked on the door. “Sir, I scheduled the meeting for 2:30pm today as you requested.”

“Excellent. I’ll be back shortly. Have your lunch as well, tell Millie to take over while you’re off.”

“No problem, sir. Are you going to that new café across the street? I heard their penne alla vodka is to die for!” Gregory continued as Sebastian gathered his items to leave. “Oh! I almost forgot; I still have to review the footnotes for the instruction on the new equipment being installed.”

“That was important. We needed that for the meeting this afternoon.”

“I’m sorry sir, I’ll get it to you as soon as you get back from lunch.”

Sebastian frowned. If it was one thing he hated was not having his shit in order. “No, print it now and bring it to me at the café. I’ll be there.”

“Not a problem, Sir.”

The atmosphere felt very vintage. Classy vintage. It reminded him of his wife. She has a taste for things like these. The aroma of wine and biscuits swirled like delicious kisses throughout the air. The caramel-haired waitress tiptoed her way towards the table Sebastian sat at which was on the outside patio of the café.

“Good day, Sir. I’m Elise and I’ll be your waitress today,” she smiled and placed the menu before him. Gregory who had finished the task had finally caught up and sat at the table as well. “The penne alla vodka for me, skip the wine, I’ll have a large coke. Oh, and some of those honey biscuits. No need for a menu for me.” He shrugged and looked at his boss who sat across the table nonchalantly, “Can’t drink while I work. Good ethics.”

The waitress simply nodded and left after Sebastian indicated to give him two minutes to decide. “Were you trying to impress her?” Sebastian asked, curious, yet his eyes plastered on the menu, somewhat unbothered.

“Did it work?”

“Yes actually,” he let out a soft chuckle, “You failed successfully.”

Gregory booted his laptop which he brought along and gave the copy of the file to Sebastian, “I just don’t get it. I thought it went well.”

“Swimmingly.”

“You just implied I drowned.”

“Indeed.” Sebastian sighed while closing the menu. “From the minute you began.”

“How do you do it? Women love you. I mean, it’s obvious. What’s the secret, boss?”

“There is none. However, I began to realize that women seem to love an asshole. It’s sad really. Some have no respect for themselves.”

Gregory’s attention was aimed at something behind Sebastian, “Sir, there’s a woman there, she keeps looking our way.”

“Congratulations.”

“No- no- I mean-”

“I know.” Sebastian corrected while using one of the utensils to reflect who the individual was. “Excuse me.”

The woman sat two tables behind while holding a large magazine up to block her face. “Vivian.”

“Why, hello brother,” she smiled wickedly, showing off her sharp pearly whites. “Oh, take a seat. You look famished, poor thing.”

He sat, discontented at her presence, “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, must you question my every move? You’re a fking judgemental pr*ck if you ask me that.”

“I’m not asking you.”

“Good. So you know. It’s always nice when you know your place, Sebby.”

“My place?” Sebastian sat. A bitter distaste burned within his soul. His teeth clenched in sync with his fists. “My mother was no whore.”

“But your father was, wasn’t he?”

“Don’t fk with me, Viv. Thread your words lightly.”

“Or what?” She challenged. “I’m as equal as you are, now. Accept it. I’m no longer the maid’s daughter. I’m your sister.”

“Step. It’s meaningless.”

“Mother treated you as her own.”

“I never asked her to.” Sebastian frowned. “And why are you here? To talk about our sinking family dynamics?”

“God no.” Vivian laughed. “Partly yes, but no. Not about the past, more so the present. Isaac wants a paternity test with Terilla. If he does that, you know shit’s going to hit the fan when he finds out that she isn’t his biological daughter. Terilla is equally your sister as she is mine, so get someone to rig the test. Unless you want to have a bratty teenager on your hands. Isaac isn’t so generous to give your father’s daughter any rights.”

“Fine, but I’m not meeting Mariette. I see no point in your mother’s empty words.”

Vivian sipped her latte calmly as her eyes stapled to his, “Mother’s words are never empty, Sebby. If you knew her as I do, you’d know by now what a manipulative bitch she is.”

“Why do you stay with her? You could have met someone, gotten married, lived far away from her.”

His sister’s eyes softened in surprise at his question. It was the first time Sebastian had ever spoken to her with genuine curiosity and what seemed to be concern. She however reminded herself that this was Sebastian, and that wasn’t possible. Nonetheless, she answered, “There are answers to certain questions that I’m yet to find. It’d be a pity if I leave now.”

Sebastian scoffed in a laugh, “She’ll cut you out of her will, you mean.”

“Indeed, that too.” Vivian smiled. 

Sebastian’s phone suddenly began vibrating on the table. Vivian arched an eyebrow at the blocked number he refused to answer, knowing exactly who it must have been. “Does your wife know about-”

“Enough,” Sebastian spat in a sudden frustration, disconnecting her sentence, “I’ll rig the test.”

“Lovely,” Vivian stated as she stood. “Send my regards to Elizabeth.”

A look of vile content blushed upon her face and Sebastian hated nothing more.

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