Carla was about to send Daemon a text when the latter called. "I'd heard, Daemon, " she said, picking up at once. "Thank you!"
"There's no need to thank me." Daemon sounded as aloof as ever. "When this business with the Giblos is resolved, you are to return to Erihal at once."
"Daemon-"
"One more thing, " Daemon interrupted, with zero regards for Carla's protests. "When Derila shows herself, capture her at once. Don't let her get away. Do you understand?"
"What's going on between you and Derila, Daemon?" Carla asked after an initially startled pause.
"None of your business. Get it done!" Daemon echoed Derila at the mention of her name before hanging up.
Carla gazed at her phone dejectedly.
Soon, Harrison called her again. "Ms. Lierger, I am not to come over to you, after all. If you would hand over all of the leads you have, I shall begin my investigation. I'll let you know if I find anything."
"All right, I'll have Freda forward it to you, " Carla answered as she gestured at her bodyguard, who nodded and complied immediately.
"By the way, Harrison, " Carla said, seized by a sudden thought. "Is Daemon hurt?"
"How you did you know that?" Harrison asked at once.
"He really is, isn't he?" Carla exclaimed. "No wonder he was so anxious to locate Derilo! Is it serious?"
"Not exactly, although that's not true. Actually, it's nothing to worry about."
Harrison sounded conflicted as he was not sure what he was allowed to reveal. "The point is, " he concluded after much hesitation, "that Mr. Lierger needs Derilo urgently. Once she shows herself, you must inform me. I shall take her back to Erihal."
"I understand." Carla shifted guiltily. "I was thinking of having her treat Zayn, but I did not expect Daemon to get injured at the same time. That was selfish of me."
"Not at all, " Harrison said quickly. "Mr. Giblo had been in graver danger. It was the right thing to do to have Derilo treat him first. Besides, Mr. Lierger's predicament is not particularly life-threatening. It's just-"
"Just what?" Carla asked at once.
"I can't say, " Harrison replied with a nervous cough.
Carla did not pursue the matter further at his extreme reluctance to discuss the subject. "Thank you in advance for all of your efforts to rescue my son."
"No matter. We're a family."
After hanging up, Carla hastened to meet Brandy to alter their plans after learning of the new developments from Harrison.
After Freda had forwarded the information as was requested, she returned to report to Carla. "Harrison is going to follow another trail of evidence. Also, we have word that Boris has left for Fairlake."
"It looks like my instigation worked. Now that the venom is working its way into his body, he will be so uncomfortable that he's going to need a second opinion."
"That sounds like what he would do." Freda heaved a sigh of relief. "Everything is going according to plan."
The knot in Carla's brows began to loosen. Suddenly, there was a call from Jamal. "What is it, Mr. Domitos? It's rather late."
"I'd just received word that Newton is meeting with the major shareholders to buy their shares at a premium."
"Giblo Group's shares?" repeated Carla, surprised. "They are in the minority, aren't they?"
"Though that's true, " replied Jamal anxiously, "Thirty of them adds up to a total of ten percent between them. Along with the twenty percent in Boris' hands, they already have enough to topple you."
"No wonder he didn't leave last night. He wanted me to get the shares without a hitch. Newton is a wily old fox. I will try to persuade our shareholders not to sell to him, but it doesn't look too optimistic."
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