Chapter 235: Please Don’t Die! (1)
Georgia’s morning in the office was nothing out of the ordinary—just the usual string of calls and meetings. The biggest headache was still the same clients who had given their notice that they will no longer renew their contracts.
Last week, she carried the weight of that negotiation herself, but now things were different. With Nick offering to merge her company into his, she could afford to step back since they would be supplying workforce to his new ships anyway.
She assigned the renewal task to the sales team, freeing her own time to focus on restructuring plans for the future merger and surprise Nick with it.
Katie was a constant little shadow in her office, alternating between coloring books spread across Georgia’s desk and munching on snacks Wendy had packed.
Every so often, Georgia would pause her work just to admire the child’s focus, the quiet comfort of her presence reminding her what all this effort was really for.
By lunchtime, Nick arrived. "Hello, beautiful ladies," Nick playfully greeted as he walked into her office.
Katie squealed in delight, running to greet him, while Georgia felt that familiar tug in her chest just from seeing him there.
"Let’s eat! I am starving." Without wasting time, Nick ushered both of them out.
Minutes later, the three of them arrived at a quiet restaurant where Oliver was already waiting.
The waiter had just filled their glasses when Oliver leaned forward, lowering his voice even though the restaurant was quiet. "My team is already on Irene and Frank’s case," he began, glancing at Nick, then at Georgia. "As soon as you told me about the documents last night, I had them move. What they found was... concerning."
Georgia’s stomach tightened. She set down her fork even though the food hadn’t arrived yet. "What do you mean?"
Oliver folded his hands on the table. "It looks like they left in a hurry. Their apartment is still full of their belongings—clothes, furniture, even half-prepared meals in the fridge. It doesn’t look like a planned move. More like they panicked."
"They already know that the extradition is on its way, and if they plan to run away from that, then she should have at least taken most of their things with them," Oliver added.
Nick frowned, his jaw tightening, but he didn’t interrupt. Katie, oblivious, was busy arranging crayons on the edge of the table like it was her little kingdom.
Oliver continued, "I also tasked another team to track the ghost account connected to your company’s transactions. If money moved through it, we’ll find out where it went. But for now..." He hesitated before meeting Georgia’s eyes.
"We need to focus on the sister of the female crew from the wedding eve. I went to see her this morning, and brought a female colleague with me to ease the tension. Still, she refused to speak to us."
Georgia exhaled slowly, her chest heavy. The unanswered questions piled up faster than the food being served to their table.
Nick reached beneath the table and gave her hand a discreet squeeze, grounding her as she tried to process everything Oliver was saying.
Just then, the servers arrived with trays of steaming dishes, placing them neatly on the table. The savory aroma filled the air, but the tension that hung between them dulled the appetite.
Katie, however, clapped her hands, delighted at the sight of fried chicken and rice, her favorite.
Nick waited until the servers stepped back before turning to Oliver. "Do you think it would be better if Georgia and I go personally to see the sister? Maybe she’ll agree to face us if it’s not your team asking."
Oliver didn’t answer right away. He tapped a finger against the rim of his glass, considering the suggestion. Finally, he nodded. "That might work. My presence could be intimidating, but the two of you... she might feel safer. Especially Georgia."
Georgia straightened in her seat, determination in her eyes. "Then we should go after lunch. Time is running. We can’t just sit and wait."
Nick glanced at her, the faintest smile tugging at his lips at her resolve, then turned back to Oliver. "After lunch it is."
Oliver nodded once more, though his expression remained guarded, already weighing the risks in his mind.
Nick and Georgia did not waste time and went to the crew’s sister as soon as they finished lunch, bringing along Katie with them.
The drive out of the city stretched into the afternoon by the time Nick’s car pulled up to a modest neighborhood.
When they reached the address Oliver had given, they spotted a young girl playing in the yard—she couldn’t have been older than Katie.
Her laughter carried in the air, innocent and sweet, until the front door opened. A woman stepped out, her face sharp with recognition the moment her eyes landed on the visitors. Without a word, she called out, her voice firm.
"Inside, now!"
The little girl hesitated but obeyed, darting past the woman and into the house. The woman immediately turned, ready to shut the door, but Georgia’s instincts surged faster than her caution.
"Wait—please!" she called, breaking into a run.
But before she could reach the woman, her heel caught on uneven ground. Georgia stumbled, then crashed down hard onto the pavement. Her knees scraped on the concrete ground, bright red blood quickly blooming against her skin.
"Aunt Georgia!" Katie shrieked. She bolted from Nick’s side and ran to her, her small hands trembling as she touched Georgia’s arm. Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over as panic took hold. "Are you okay? Don’t leave me—please don’t die!"
Her cry echoed raw and desperate, and Nick was instantly there, crouching beside them.
He wrapped an arm around Katie, trying to soothe her.
The woman on the doorstep froze, her grip tightening on the doorframe, uncertainty flickering in her eyes as she watched the scene unfold. She narrowed her eyes, hesitating whether she should help Georgia to make the child stop crying, or she should just shoo them away, like what she did with the others.