Daddy James

Chapter 5 : Daggers

Throwing insults one after the other, her boyfriend, Daniel, stood right beside Sarah while she gazed at

the icy surface of the dining table quietly. A storm of emotions was building up inside of her as she

struggled to maintain calm. The guy who claimed to love her was right there, insulting her in front of her

most hated of people.

''She didn't even deserve my friendship, I just befriended her because of her position and money.''

Daniel admitted pointing the finger at Sarah. Each and every word coming from him was causing Sarah

to wince. Ever since Daniel had begun, she had been trying to calculate out what she had done to

deserve this mortification.

Everyone standing around the table wanted to say something or the other, but couldn't because of

Sarah's orders. Sarah turned over her fists forcing herself to remain focused and calm. She never

desired to show James that he won the game. Sarah picked each and every insult, knitting it properly

as she swore to avenge her pain.

James crossed his arms looking at Sarah. He actually was moved with her confidence and shock

absorbing abilities. He waited for Daniel to reveal the name and the blame game to lead off.

James knew perfectly well what the impact of Daniel's insult would be on Sarah, but seeing that her

reaction was nothing near to his expectation gave him a reason to be vexed.

Daniel stood with his spine perfectly erect, gazing at Jenna,''You were right about Sarah, Mrs.

Anderson.'' James smirked as Daniel's statement left Jenna surprised. Sarah narrowed her eyes in

suspicion,''She really needs immediate medical assistance and I shouldn't marry her.'' Daniel added in

a monotonous tone keeping his face perfectly plain.

Sarah had her gaze at Jenna while she nodded her head 'no' still striving to take up the accusation.

Sarah moved around to flash a questioning look at James. James looked her square in the eyes and

shrugged his shoulders innocently.

''If you're done, Mr. Daniel, you can leave now!'' Sarah said through clenched teeth. Paying out a deep

sigh, Daniel marched out of the dining room.

''I think it was too much for today.'' James mocked and shrugged his shoulders before walking out. Lucy

rubbed Sarah's shoulders trying to calm her down.

Jenna let out an audible sigh and rested her hands along the surface of the table,''Do think twice before

inviting such guys for dinner next time, sweetie.'' She chided to her daughter.

Sarah just expected the same from her mother. Jenna never had really been a mother to Sarah, and all

prospects of Sarah and John had died long ago,'' Cut the crap Jenna! It was you who married a guy

twelve years younger than you, not me.'' Sarah said, trying to detain the tears she knew were coming,''

And if there's any sort of contribution from you in this then I swear I won't spare you!'' Sarah

threatened, banging her hands on the table.

She edged out of the room, followed by Lucy.

Emily spent a confused look, Jenna was left all alone in the dining room,''Why you did this?'' Emily

questioned Jenna.

After an angry glare from Jenna, Emily lowered her gaze,'' I thought you were smart enough to guess it

was nothing but a trap from James!'' Jenna rolled her fists.

''Now he'll obtain the most shocking surprise of his life tomorrow when Sarah takes charge of Mount

Enterprises.'' Jenna explained while Emily rubbed her shoulders.

Sarah went into her bedroom, rushing towards the mirror. Lucy approached her from behind, Sarah

was busy watching her image in the mirror,''Lucy am I that bad?'' Her voice seemed like it was about to

break at any moment.

''Sarah just flush that bastard out of your mind!'' Lucy requested.

Sarah kept her chin up showing the mirror her left profile, then right and finally she ducked her head

down observing her forehead keenly. She touched her chin, looking at it observantly,''I think there's a

problem with my chin. It's overly long!'' She said, still observing herself standing near the mirror.

Shocked with Sarah's reaction Lucy tried talking to her,''Sarah?''

Sarah leaned on the mirror and her nose touched the cool glass. She stood there motionless, stuck to

the mirror staring into her own eyes. The insults deeply bruised her soul and Lucy knew it would be

hard to mend Sarah's broken heart, very hard.

''Sarah? What are you doing Sarah?'' Sarah's actions creeped Lucy out and the eerie feeling made

Lucy shiver. Sarah started to rub the mirror with her sweaty palms,''I hate this face. I want a new face!''

Sarah broke into a sob.

Reversing back to Lucy, Sarah paced towards her and held her hand tightly. Lucy was too scared to

speak,''Lucy, please get me a new face, please!'' She rested her face in Lucy's arms and sat on her

knees crying harder.

Unable to see her friend in pain Lucy rubbed her head with her hand,''Sarah, darling... It's not worth it.''

Lucy convinced Sarah, caressing her friends hair,''He never deserved your attention.'' She added.

''I won't cry.'' Sarah wiped off her tears,''I won't cry!'' She yelled out, scaring Lucy some more with her

split behaviour. Sarah jumped to her feet,''I will make those rascals cry!'' She held Lucy from

shoulders,''I will punish them. Do you understand?'' She shook Lucy by her shoulders, glaring her

straight in the eye.

Trembling, Lucy twisted her lips to speak,''Sarah just calm down. Drink some water, darling.'' She

pleaded, but Sarah was too hurt to listen. Sarah stood for a while thinking what to do next as Lucy

stood beside her,''Sarah, I can't figure out why Daniel changed his mind so quickly.'' Lucy said.

''I know why. Because that bastard, James, gave him the money to say all of this!'' Sarah paced

towards the decorating table. She was a hundred percent sure it was James. She waved her fist

striving to think what James' vendetta was against her but her thoughts returned blank.

Unable to reach to any conclusions, Lucy asked,''How are you so sure it's James?''

Sarah leaned on the dressing table grabbing a blue vase,'' I know that bastard and his games!'' She

yelled. Lucy observed the vase turning into hundreds of tiny pieces on the white tiled floor when Sarah

threw it down in anger.

Sarah moved around towards the entrance of her room and paced towards it,''Where are you going?''

Lucy asked causing her to pause. She turned to face Lucy, who was standing right beside the bed,'' I

am going to confront Mr. James Anderson right away!'' She said from between clenched teeth and she

rushed outside.

Sarah bumped into the butler in the corridor and grasped the opportunity to ask about the James'

whereabouts,''Where is James, Joseph?'' She asked.

The butler rolled his eyes as if he was trying to recall,''He must be in the gym upstairs.'' He grinned

widely, moving around her. Sarah rushed upstairs throwing a 'thank you' at him.

James relished the cool water of the swimming pool, relaxing his body. He used to swim whenever he

needed to bring himself some peace of mind. A wide grin played on his lips as he slapped the surface

of the blue water splashing it over his abs.

His revenge against his enemies just began and this long battle against Sarah and Jenna was giving

him peace which he had been lacking for years.

He plunged into the cool water lost in deep thoughts. He was counting down the minutes till Sarah's

evident approach. She would want to confront him for the insults thrown in her face by her boyfriend.

The indoor swimming pool and gym were James' escape from the crazy family and he just loved

working out and spending time in the gym when not at work.

Now they'll know what pain means and what actually it feels like living with a bruised soul. Such people

don't deserve to be forgiven, all they deserve is to be punished harshly and killed.

His arms worked harder and faster in the water as the vistas of his butchered past ran through his

mind, making his heart ache.

They'll have to carry all the pain Eliza went through and I will make sure they don't survive. I will laugh

as they die and this will make Eliza happy. The sole thing which can give me satisfaction is their doom

and it's not far away, not far away!

''James!'' A loud scream coming from Sarah forced him to come out from his deep sea of thoughts.

Brushing away his revenge plans, James took a pause from swimming and stood there staring at

Sarah.

Water dripping though his perfectly built abs and strong arms was a big distraction in Sarah's way as

she stood on the brim of the pool. He was right in the middle of the pool and Sarah stared him, crossing

her arms over her chest.

She moistened her dry lips by running her tongue on them quickly. She felt thirsty, the thirst would only

go away after she licked the droplets of that salty water from his body.

All his attempts to get near her played in her mind distracting her some more. She always felt like a sex

starved person whenever she saw his perfectly built body, but what would anyone would do seeing that

killer of a person standing in a pool shirtless with water droplets dripping from his perfect body.

His strong looking neckline and squared chest and abs were something that made James irresistible to

Sarah. She just wanted to jump in the pool and circle her arms around his sexy waist, but she couldn't.

The blue reflection of water on Sarah's face made her look even more pretty. James never

acknowledged her of being a pretty girl but that look of hers in that black dress made her look beautiful

and her beauty really stunned James.

James kept on scanning her with his deep blue eyes as he moved out of the pool pulling the railing.

James fetched the towel hung on the railing and rubbed it against his shoulder and arms.

James paced towards Sarah,''I thought after today's incident you must be crying, locked up in your

room.'' He mocked staring at her rosy lips.

His statement brought all the sour memories back to Sarah and she narrowed her eyes, focusing on his

eyes,''No, Mr. James Anderson, not at all! You're wrong because now it's your turn and I swear you'll

lock yourself in your room to cry tomorrow.'' She uttered, showing him the finger,''I will make you cry

and that's my promise to you!'' She added.

Her confidence made James raise his brow. What she really was up to? What were her

intentions?,''Sarah what are you talking about?'' He asked, acting innocent.

Sarah paced towards him staring straight in his deep oceanic iris',''How much? Just tell me how much

money did you offer Daniel?'' She questioned in a commanding manner.

''Sarah, I know Daniel hurt you but it doesn't mean you start suspecting house members.'' He tried to

explain.

James knew what he was doing and what would benefit him. He leaned near Sarah and held her

shoulders,''Just give yourself some time.''

Sarah pushed him by his chest and he landed a couple feet away from her,''Just stay away from me!''

She shouted as tears started to form in her eyes,''Don't even try to act innocent in front of me.'' She

added, warning him.

James passed a chuckle,''Okay I give up, I give up.'' He said raising his hands up in surrender,'' You're

the birthday girl, I'll obey you.'' He mocked her again.

''You surprised me on my birthday, I am grateful for that.'' She twisted her lips into a cynical smile,''I will

give you loads of surprises tomorrow though tomorrow isn't your birthday.''

James stood there just looking at Sarah with an emotionless face. Tears brimmed from Sarah's

eyes,''Why did you do this to me?'' She broke into fresh tears.

James approached her with couple of brisk steps,''Oh, Sweetie.'' He whispered to her as he rubbed his

thumbs against her cheeks wiping her tears while she stood their without trying to revolt.

Sarah observed James as he stood so close to her wiping off her tears, soothing her and touching her.

The vast height difference caused her to lift her chin to look him in eyes.

Looking at him she tried to figure out James' actual personality and the only answer she got from her

soul was to throw him out of her life.

Sarah once again pushed him away from herself. This time James looked shocked with her push unlike

the first time. Observing his look Sarah tried to understand if he was really concerned for her.

''Now it's a war between you and me, Daddy James!'' Sarah threatened as she put emphasise on the

word 'Daddy'.

James stared at her, crossing his strong arms over his body,''Then wipe off your tears darling because

you'll lose the battle with this blurred vision of yours.'' He let out firmly,''And I don't like battling with

weak opponents.''

Sarah marched out of the gym clearing her tears. She was sure Daniel sold himself to James and now

she was all set to take revenge on both the men.

Sarah tried to understand why Daniel sold himself to James when he would've gotten everything by

marrying her. She deciphered it briskly and understood there was more than money in the deal

between both the men.

Lucy paced anxiously outside Sarah's bedroom, waiting for Sarah. She rushed towards her as soon as

she spotted a figure in the corridor.

''Where were you? What happened?'' Lucy questioned.

Sarah paused looking at Lucy,''The war has begun Lucy.'' She said noticing Lucy's gaping mouth. Lucy

took few moments letting the words sink in her,''War?''

''Yes the war between me and James has begun. Now let's see who wins.'' Sarah explained, throwing

Lucy a confident look.

''What do you mean by who wins? You're the winner baby!'' Lucy flipped her hair over the shoulder.

Sarah noticed a brown envelope in Lucy's hands which was used by the post people,''What's in your

hand?'' Sarah inquired pointing at the envelope.

''Oh it's for you. The butler just dropped it with me.'' Lucy handed the envelope to Sarah. She hastily

tore the edge of the envelope and hunted a white paper from within it.

Sarah unfolded the paper and read it while Lucy keenly observed a wicked smile playing on Sarah's

face,''What's this?'' Lucy inquired.

Sarah flashed a wide grin at Lucy and said,''Daggers and swords, babe." Lucy gave her a confused

look,"Yes Lucy it's our armour for the war. Save your arse from the arrows if you can, Mister!'' She

raised an eyebrow slapping the paper on the palm of her hand.

James dialed a number from his iPhone and waited for the call to be answered.

He tapped his fingers on side table waiting anxiously for the call to connect,''Hello... is the parcel

ready?'' He asked the person on the other line.

After a few seconds of silence he finally spoke,''Good! Now I want that parcel here in the mansion as

soon as possible. Did you get that?'' He disconnected the call smirking at the thoughts playing in his

mind.

I will win this game playing your strategies and you'll fail to understand my game. Game is the same

but players have changed. This time nothing will stop me from winning against my enemies!

Morning always brings a beautiful new day and a new beginning but today's morning will mark 'the

end'. The end of the Andersons, The end of the James' rule and the end of my guiltiness.

James Anderson will be kicked out of the Mount Enterprises and that'll be the most gratifying moment

of my life.Their sufferings will begin from today and there would be no one to save them from me!

Sarah slipped her toggle bracelet on her wrist while her plans for the day ran in her mind again and

again. She was stirred for her first day as the owner of the Mount Enterprises and an adult.

Raking her fingers through her hair, she made herself a once over,She truly looked like a classy young

woman in a knee length peach dress with a bow sash. One final time she made her spiral locks bounce

perfectly on her shoulders and approached a peacefully sleeping Lucy.

''Lucy?...Wake up you lazy ass!'' Sarah yelled at her as she contended with her stilettos,''Lucy wake

up!'' She again commanded her best friend to wake up.

Lucy pulled the quilt covering her face and drifted over to the other side of the bed. Sarah sat on brim

of the bed and pulled Lucy from her wrist making her sit,''Lucy I am running late for the office.''

Lucy yawned listening to her wholly uninterested,''Today is my first day at the office and I have a

meeting with the attorney and then a board meeting to attend.'' She explained while Lucy strived to

gain her conciousness.

An excited Sarah rose from the bed and scanned her clutch if it possessed the needed things or not.

She could see her iphone,mascara,mirror,lip gloss and a printed copy of her father's will. She grabbed

the iPhone and decided to keep it in her hand.

Lucy rubbed her eyes noticing Sarah all ready for the day,''Are you really going to dismiss James from

the post?'' Lucy asked yawning once again.

Brushing away hair strands from her face Sarah turned to look at Lucy,'' Yes of course!''

She'd waited for the day since last five years and now finally the day arrived when she'd all the rights to

make decisions and punish the people who made her suffer.

Sarah leaned in front of Lucy making sure she was all awake,''Lucy do you remember what you have to

do?'' She asked waving a hand.

'' Yeah Sarah! I remember it.''Lucy answered lazily.

''And what exactly you remember?''

Lucy threw the quilt away and sat facing the wall,''I have to dig out Alice Brown's death case!'' She let

out looking Sarah straight in the eye.

''Good.'' Sarah paused playing with her fingers,''Just trace where Mr and Mrs. Brown are residing

nowdays? I just hope they aren't out of Austin.'' Sarah implored.

Sitting there Lucy tried to compute out if Sarah was really going to get something against Daniel by

meeting the Browns,''Sarah did the letter really mention Daniel had contributed in Alice's death?'' Lucy

questioned.

Sarah turned over her eyes as she tried to recall the letter she received from an anonymous person

last night,'' Yeah it mentioned! Have you forgotten the rumours of Daniel dating Alice in the school?''

''I do remember but I thought that were only the rumours.''

''So did I but now I am damn sure Daniel was dating Alice Brown.....Everything'll get clear once we

meet the Browns.'' Sarah said anxiously.

Remembering about her father's last gift Sarah rushed towards the cupboard. She hunted the gold

plated fountain pen from it and looked at it while controlling the tempest of emotions erupting inside her.

Seeing Sarah's teary eyes Lucy jumped out of the bed,''Your Dad gifted this to you right?'' She

questioned amazed,''Awww don't be sad.'' Lucy tried consoling Sarah.

''You know Lucy he was the only one to love me unconditionally? I really miss him...miss him.'' Sarah

detained her tears back in her eyes not allowing them to ruin her mascara.

Embracing Sarah in a tight hug Lucy let out a deep sigh,''What actually happened to him?'' She

questioned reminding Sarah about the night which she dreaded to remember ever again in her life.

Sarah's dad,Christian Mount, always loved her and cared for her but after his death Sarah couldn't feel

the same connection with anyone else not even with her mother,Jenna.

Jenna was always busy with her friends and business when her father was alive and same was the

situation after Christian's death.

''Celebration of Jenna and Dad's seventeenth wedding anniversary was going on and I remember dad

being really upset that evening.'' Sarah paused taking a deep sigh as Lucy was listening to her with

concentration,''We all were enjoying downstairs when a gun shot echoed in the hall....And everything

came to an end!'' The painful memories caused Sarah cringe in pain as she ran into sobs.

Lucy couldn't do anything but console her,''But why he committed suicide?''

Sarah shrugged her shoulders not knowing the answer to Lucy's question herself,''I don't really know.''

She paused to recollect her past,''If there was anything then that were the normal husband and wife

arguments between him and Jenna but that were too minor to force such a strong man like him to

suicide.'' She complained looking at Lucy innocently.

Jenna's carefree attitude towards her family gave Sarah a reason to dislike her and after her father's

death Sarah never saw Jenna as her mother. Sarah acknowledged that Jenna just married Christian

Mount for his wealth and power and she never loved him for real.

Today Jenna is empty handed and she has nothing left with her. She made my dad suffer and now it's

her turn to suffer. Seeing Jenna powerless without any position and status in society will satisfy me and

my dad's soul.

''Çalm down Sarah, Just concentrate on today's schedule.'' Lucy suggested pulling Sarah out of her

deep thoughts.

''You are right.'' Sarah narrowed her eyes gazing at Lucy excitedly,''Today is the day I have awaited for

last five years and Today is the day my enemies will get what they deserve.''

''Now that's like my Sarah." Lucy cricled her arms around Sarah's shoulders pulling her into a half hug.

"Now leave you're running late!'' Lucy ordered Sarah literally pushing her out of the room.

Waving Lucy a good bye Sarah left the room as she seized the car keys. Sarah had never been to the

office after once her dad took her with him when she was twelve.

It was pretty much shocking for her when her dad's attorney informed her about first two floors of the

office building were under James' advertising company.

Sarah cringed in pain as she entered the office full of pictures of male and female models. It boiled her

blood as James totally changed her dad's office and Jenna being her mother gave him the right to do

so.

Well aware of the fact that Sarah Mount was the new owner of Mount Enterprises each and every

member stopped in their ways as soon as they spotted their new boss.

Sarah stood right at the mid point of the hall near the aquarium as a middle aged bald man with a

perfect round belly came running towards her.

''Good Morning ma'am'' He greeted while Sarah nodded at him trying hard to hide the nervousness

erupting inside her.

''Ma'am the attorney and Mr. Chaulcey Gardner are waiting for you at Mrs. Jenna's cabin.'' He guided

while they approached the elevator.

A girl joined them near the elevator with couple of quick steps. Sarah passed her a once over as she

stood there in her high heels with hair nicely tied in a high ponytail,''Good Mornin' Ms. Sarah Mount, I

am your secretary,Amber.'' She introduced herself.

''She's new but I've been working since your father's time as his personal assisstant.'' The man

reminded.

Sarah entered the elevator and pushed the round shaped button stating number 3 in red,'' I know Mr.

Jeffery you've been working for Mount Enterprises since last ten years.'' Sarah acknowledged firmly.

Silence invaded the elevator for few more moments till it chimed at the third floor. All the eyeballs

captured Sarah as soon as she exited the elevator,''Jeffery I need all the charts and files about each

and everything which has happened in Mount Enterprises since Mr. Christian Mount's death.'' Sarah

ordered trying to keep her emotions away while naming her dad.

Jeffery bowed signalling her commands would be obeyed,''Yes ma'am.''

''When the board meeting starts?'' She questioned consulting the homescreen of her phone for time.

Jeffery hunted a paper from his blazer's pocket and looking at it carefully he said,''In half an hour

ma'am.''

''That's good.'' She said while approaching the entrance of Jenna's cabin.

Sarah signalled Jeffery and Amber to leave while she entered the cabin without knocking,''Good

morning everyone.'' She greetly briskly adding a small doze of sarcasm in it.

Oberving the cabin keenly she saw her father's attorney, Michael Clarke, and the executor of the

will,Chaulcey Gardner, sitting on the leather sofa discussing something while Jenna sat behind the

desk busy with her laptop ignoring them royally.

Michael and Chaulcey rose from the sofa to greet Sarah and Sarah greeted them warmly offering them

a handshake,''So how are you doing Mr. Clarke?''

''Oh I am an old man as you know young lady hence why I am just resting these days.'' He chukled.

Sarah smiled at him widely and offered them to sit on the seats kept against Jenna's desk. Obeying her

commands, Michael and Chaulcey filled the offered seats.

''Jenna will you please leave us alone for some time?'' Sarah crossed her arms against her chest.

Jenna looked up at Sarah with an agaped mouth while Sarah stood there unmoved by her

behaviour,''We need to discuss something important Mrs. Jenna Anderson.'' Sarah let out in a much

softer tone this time signalling Jenna to leave.

Flashing a forced smile at the guests Jenna left the room feeling insulted while Sarah let out a deep

sigh sinking in Jenna's seat.

The large brown packet made a screeching sound as the attorney pushed it towards Sarah on the

glassy surface of the table.

''What's this Mr. Michael Clarke?'' Sarah questioned totally unaware of the tiny microphone stuck

underneath her desk which allowed someone to listen to their highly private communication.

James knew that the meeting between Sarah and the attorney would contain many things of his

interest hence why he prepared for it two days before by hiding a microphone in Jenna's cabin.

James sat in his cabin listening carefully to the talks happening in Jenna's cabin as the tiny earpiece in

his ear repeated whatever was being said inside the cabin.

''Keep it up Sarah! You're going great I know you can do it.'' James said under his breath while flipping

the pages of file in his hand randomly.

Michael leaned forward looking at Sarah straight in her eyes,''These are your father's belongings..'' the

attorney trailed off as Sarah opened the seal of the packet hurriedly.

Sarah pulled out her father's brown leather wallet from the packet and looked at carefully. The wallet

reminded her of the days when she used to butter her dad for extra pocket money and when they

played the quiz where her father pretended of not knowing the answers and paid her extra Dollars as a

penalty.

Next her hand pulled out a Rolex wrist watch. She tried figuring out why her father wanted these things

to be handed to her only? Why not Jenna?

Why dad? Why? You left me with all these unanswered questions and I can't even find answer to one

question.

Next came the cell phone and suicide note. Sarah's tears flowed uncontrollably over her cheeks while

she observed the suicide note.

Dad didn't mention anything about the family in his suicide note? He didn't mention my name? He didn't

remember me while shooting himself? He didn't think once what will happen of me after him?

The attorney took out an envelope from his plain white shirt's front pocket and handed it over to a teary

eyed Sarah with his shaky fingers,''What's this?'' She asked.

''That's Mr. Mount's post mortem report.'' The attorney explained while Sarah quickly fished out a white

printed paper from the envelope.