"Stop hiding like a kid afraid of darkness and accept who you are," I said. I heard him talking to Samira on the phone and it sounded bad. If she went against him, then his entire business and the reason he was here would come out, eventually.

"I'm not afraid of darkness." Him and his manly ego. I shook my head and waved my hand, dismissing his statement.

"Your manly ego just got hurt because I called you, kid?" I chuckled and pointed at him. "Where was this ego when people keep plotting and hurting you behind your back?" I asked, and he turned his head away from me. I knew he had no answer for this.

"Look, I don't know what's between you and that Samira. What is your relationship with other girls? I don't care. Don't fight the real you, that's what I want to say." I said as gently as I could, to make him understand what he was doing.

"You do not know about my life." He said the same thing as a tape recorder.

"Oh, I know you well to see that Samira has all the keys for your secrets and if that's out, then you wouldn't even have a face to show that to your mother," I said.

"I've got a clue and I am going to find her." He said. His face had a shadow in the moonlit night, but I could recognize chiseled cheekbones that were so stiff as if he was grinding something.

"What? Chicago?" I chuckled.

"How do you.?" He started, but I raised my hand, stopping him from speaking.

"You just have to know that she isn't there anymore," I announced. He looked shocked and he must be too. The news was too big to digest for him.

"What do you mean?" He asked, taking a step towards me. I looked him in the eye and said, "She keeps changing her whereabouts every three months, along with a new identity."

"But, why?!" He asked no one in particular and ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated.

"If her son doesn't know the reason, then it must be something huge.'' I thought to myself loudly and heard him grunting in the corner.

"We tried tracking her, but for the time being, she will stay hidden so we can do nothing," I said, shrugging my shoulders nonchaotically at him.

"If it's taking me so long to find your mother, then you should be less worried, as no one could ever find anything," I said as a matter of fact.

"Why didn't you tell me this before?" He asked accusingly.

"Ah ah ah! I responded, shaking my head at him.

"You shouldn't have misjudged me before and for your kind information I was recouping from getting stabbed by the culprits who would stay with me," I said through gritted teeth letting him know I went through so much because of him and he had the guts to accuse me.

He sighed and threw his hands in the air, frustrated, and drew fingers through his hair. I contemplated how to deal with him and spoke, "Stop getting blackmailed by some lowly and finish these matters before meeting your mom." I said, clicking my tongue as he stood, flabbergasted.

"You've got to be kidding me."

"Nah, I'm not. I have eight more months to complete my promise, but I'm sure it will be before the anticipated time. Be serious about the clauses of the contract and stop hurting me and my people." I said, making him angry.

"I have never harmed your family." His nerves.

"Bringing criminals to my house, giving me fucking twenty-one stitches and a whole load of tension is also regarded as harming someone," I said getting down from the border, and with every step, I took towards him, his manly scent irritated me and I grew angry.

"You better wrap your crybaby attitude and be of some help for once.'' My rational thoughts weren't working as I could hear some vibrations and my heart beat faster.

"You are playing with fire." He said. My way of addressing him has insulted him, but I didn't care.

"Oh, I've been doing this for years," I said as if it was no big deal.

"What do you want?"

"I want you to accept your past and not worry about your mother. Bring Alfredo back and deal with your problems like you used to back then." I said, surprising myself. The level of excitement I felt was new to me.

"I will put you and your family at risk." He said, getting dejected.

"That you've already done the day you entered our life. Now we have to stop it from worsening things." I replied, as I finally found a solution to the never-ending problems.

"We?" He asked, raising his eyebrows. I raised my eyebrows as well and responded, "Aren't we a couple? Don't we have a family to take care of?" I asked, pointing at the house.

"What has gotten into you?" He asked.

"You are giving me a headache," I said taking a step back when I realized I might have reacted way more than I should have.

"What's in your mind?" He asked again and I took a long breath to stop myself from punching his face.

"Your family is more secure when you are Alfredo and not Zearo. You can protect your family better when you meet your enemies the way you used to back then." I said, throwing my hands in the air, frustrated.

"What made you think that?" I swear he was the dumbest person I have met so far.

"I've been through hell but saved my family through all the hurdles. If I could save them, then you could too. You are taking a step back whenever someone threatens you about your past. I honestly wonder how many unholy things you've done in the past." I said and took a step closer to him.

"You are a loser," I announced, poking his chest and he grabbed my wrist.

"Don't let them see your weakness. That's only possible if you don't run away from your past, but work on it." I said. Contemplating this matter, again and again, I saw things getting out of my hands and his enemies started colluding with mine. Pushing him away as his grip around my hand loosened, I walked away from him.

Just when I got back angrily from the living room and resumed my meeting, I came to know that the Johnsons were after my company and had visited Luchellies to join hands.

Luchellies never liked a strong woman, and they'd help Johnsons take over my company. I had a do-or-die situation and had to find someone more powerful than them all. I could make my hands dirty, but killing people wouldn't solve things and I had to think about this matter like they do. For that, I needed someone in the same field. If Zearo wouldn't do that, then I had to find the person I loathed since I took over the business.

Turning towards the night sky, as the stars twinkled, they reminded me of the dream I had one day where grandma showed up. That was the only day I felt as if I was in my safe heaven until I opened my eyes and found Dima celebrating my fake marriage. My eyes prickled and my vision slowly got blurry. Wiping the tears that were about to roll down my cheeks, I took a deep breath. Clenching my fist, I gritted my teeth, unable to convince this dumb idiot.

"Tell those boys to never show up in front of me when I'm home," I said, glaring at Zearo and giving him no chance to argue. Seeing as he stood on the other side unmoving, I found it beneficial to give him some space and get my work done.

"You are not going anywhere tonight. You've caused enough trouble already." I repeated and walked away from him, shutting the balcony door.

Through the hallway, I saw Aria and Anthony having a serious discussion. Their faces had creases as if something bothered them. I slowed down my steps and tried hearing them out.

"-was going to!" I heard Anthony whisper, yelling at Aria.

"You have something else in mind." She started as a matter of fact. Her voice had an accusing tone, making me suspicious.

"What is in his mind?" I asked as I held a file that I put in while I saw Zearo walking towards the balcony.

"Huh" they both jumped away from each other as if I blew a bomb. I raised my eyebrows at them, questioning their behavior. Aria hesitatingly started putting her hair covering her face behind her ears and Anthony stood beside me as if nothing happened.

"Will someone tell me what's the matter?" I questioned.

"That Jonathan Anderson is joining hands with the Luchellis is correct and they have something big planned. It is terrible news for us." Anthony said, and I noticed Aria blowing air as if she expected him to say that.

"I know that," I said, dismissing him and focusing on Aria. and asked, "Is someone or something bothering you? Did Anthony hurt you?" I asked as Aria would always maintain her calmness even when I lose my cool.

"It's nothing. I'm worried that threats have been continuously giving us a headache after he came into our life." She said, addressing Zearo. I strolled toward the chair and sat comfortably flipping through the pages and asked her, "When Dima was kidnapped, we knew nothing about him. How did that happen? Because of him?" Looking at how she was silent, I smiled, knowing well that she understood I didn't enjoy blaming someone unnecessarily.

"What do you think we should do about Andersons?" Anthony asked, dragging a chair near my table.

"For now, let's keep buying more shares of that company. Natalie informed some shareholders that they agreed to our offer." I said, putting down the pen and looking at Anthony who stared at me with full attention.

"You've got two things to do," I said, raising two fingers.

"And those are?" He questioned, and I nodded at him.

"Call black swans and tell them I need them guarding my house twenty-four-seven," I said.

"Do we need black swans?" Aria asked, surprised. She looked worried and she must be as if I needed black swans only when I was in a do-or-die situation.

"We are going to deal with the mafias. We need my trump cards to protect the family." I said as a matter of fact.

"Bringing black swans will be highly dangerous. We assigned them to different sectors after you discharged them." Anthony said signing.

"I know. I need that team, and it's been two years already. It's high time they come back to me." I said, pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Ma'am, each one of them is from a different country and has been granted military service in that country. Bringing them on such short notice is difficult." Aria said.

"Since when do we find excuses instead of performing the task?" I questioned her. My tone grew sharper as I heard their excuses.

"Having you both work on it means it's highly confidential. If you have forgotten, then I must remind you they have signed a valid contract for selling themselves to me in return for taking care of their family. If they don't come back to me, then stop sending allowances to those families." I ordered, having enough of them both.

Slowly turning the pages, I felt a pin-drop silence, as if I was the only one in the room. Raising my head, I saw them both looking dejected. How could I work with soft-hearted people for so long? I wondered.

"Stop with that annoying expression and do as I say," I spoke again to break the silence. They both grunted, and I facepalmed internally.

"You better get back to me with a proper response from them," I said, and Anthony nodded.

"Aria, tomorrow hold a meeting with the members of SAMS," I said and got up from my seat, and so did they.

"You guys can go home and take some rest," I said when I saw it was nine o'clock at the night. My stomach growled and I cursed.

"Looks like someone is hungry." Anthony mocked, and I glared at him.

"Let's have dinner and then you guys may leave." I invited them to dinner. They nodded, but my legs halted, anticipating whether I would see those criminals again.

"Great, I have to remind myself that I've sheltered criminals," I murmured and walked towards the hallway.

**†***†***†***†****†****†***†**

I was wondering how is my book getting the attention and where do the readers find my book.

So whoever is reading this chapter right now, can you please answer my question?

"Where did you find my book on Wattpad for the first time?"

Let me know your answers so I could find where exactly is my book visible.

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