Xavier's POV

"Sir, breakfast is ready." The new maid Wanda said.

She stood at the door frightened, her head tilted down.

"Throw it away, I don't have time to eat." I said getting up from my office chair.

She opened her mouth to speak but she quickly closed it again speechless.

For the past week, I've been quite busy at work. We opening a new hotel that needs my attention.

I have finally managed to work without thinking about Cassie. If she is capable of lying to me the way she did, then she's not worth thinking of.

"Would you like some coffee on your way out?" she asked.

"No," I replied

She nodded her head then walked out, her cheeks red.
I don't know why she always seems so nervous around me.

I looked for a folder in my book shelves, after finding it I packed it away in my brief case ready to leave.

I heard a soft knock on the door followed by Paula walking in.

"What do you want?" I said coldly.

I had ask her to wait for my reply before walking in but she kept barging in. Just because she was my mother's age didn't mean I wouldn't fire her.

"Someone is here to see you sir, he's waiting the living room." She said.

I shooed her away with my hand telling her to get out.

Couldn't people just stay at their own homes, why did they have to bother me?

I continued to pack some folders into my briefcase taking my time.

Once certified I had everything in order, I walked to the living room ready to meet the guest.

Walking into the living room, I saw Benjamin sitting on the couch looking down at his hands. He looked distant and lost in his thoughts.

I cleared my throat bringing him out of his thoughts, he immediately stood up from the couch turning in my direction.

"How are you sir?" Benjamin asked.

If he came here to ask me how I was, he was clearly mistaken.

"What do you want?" I asked.

I placed my brief case on the floor and folded my arms.

After he quit his job I thought I'd never have to see him again.

He shook his head lightly as if his brain was having a malfunction or had finally processed what I had said.

"I'm looking for Cassie," he finally spoke.

"What for?" I asked.

Looking at my wrist watch, a few minutes had already gone by.

"The last time I left, we didn't exactly end on a good note. I over reacted, I came here to apologise." He said. I could hear the sincerity in his tone.

"I don't know where she is, I couldn't care any lees. You can get out now," I said bitterly.

Benjamin stood still for a moment staring at me shocked.

"How dare you?" Benjamin suddenly say taking me by surprise.

"Excuse me," I said, it's bad enough that I have to endure his presence but for him to speak to me like that is another thing.

"How dare you talk like that about her after everything she's been through," he said raising his voice.

With my peripheral vision, I could see Paula and Wanda picking through.

For a moment I felt guilty but it was quickly replaced by anger.

As I thought of her betrayal, I clenched my jaw, suddenly having the urge to punch something.

"Get out of my house," I said trying to keep calm, mentally taking deep breaths.

I've always had a temper, it's a problem I have but I can't help it when people are being stupid.

He stood up from the couch and said, "You are even more pathetic than I thought."

That's when I lost the last bit of patience I had left.

I balled my hands into fists, just when I was about to punch him I heard a loud yell immediately grabbing my attention.

"Xavier!" the voice yelled, belonging to Lynne.

As I turned Lynne and Ethan were walking in.

'Her again!' I mentally yelled.

There hasn't been a day after Cassie's disappearance that she hasn't came here. I was beginning to think she was homeless.

"Your wife is missing and this is what--- "she yelled just before I interrupted her.

"Ex-wife," I corrected nonchalant. "You can all get out of my house now." I said

Lynne dropped her bag on the couch, making herrself comfortable.

"Please Xavier, you are the only one who has the resources to find my sister." She pleaded calmly.

I suddenly had the urge for a glass of whiskey knowing this was going to be a long conversation. Lynne was hard-headed and difficult to talk to unlike her sister.

"Cassie is missing?" Benjamin asked.

All the while he was listening to our conversation trying to figure out what was happening.

"Lynne I've already told you she doesn't want to be found." I said trying to assure her.

I couldn't think of any other reason why Cassie would suddenly disappear.

'You would need to have a brain in order to think,' I voice mentally scolded me.

"Please Xavier, I have a feeling that something is wrong." she said.

I don't know if it's the fact that she is hardheaded or if it's just the hormones, either one I don't feel like dealing with this.

"She's the only family I have left," Lynne said, her voice lowered then started sobbing, her hands covering her face.

Ethan stood beside her and started rubbing her back.

"You shouldn't stress so much, it's not good for the baby." Ethan whispered to Lynne.

"Please Xavier, do it for your children." she continued to sob.

"Not my children," I corrected her again, "Neither is it my problem."

"For all we know that psycho Antonio could be holding her hostage." She said looking up, her eyes red.

Benjamin was still standing there processing everything we were saying.

"If it was Antonio, he would have turned up a long time ago with dollar signs in his eyes, claiming money he never worked for." I said

I looked at my watch again, there was no way I was making it on time to my next meeting. I was just going to cancel it.

"What's the deal about this guy any way? What's this guy's name?" Ethan said scratching his head care free.

"Antonio Hernandez," I said.

"You shouldn't have thrusted that idiot." Lynne argued.

"The same way I shouldn't have allowed you in here," I said "When are you going to accept that your sister ran off with some idiot?"

Ethan was now pacing up and down running his hands through his hair frantically. I don't know what got into him that suddenly made him nervous.

"He is probably out of the country by now. He knows the police are after him." I said

Ethan now seemed anxious, he threw himself onto the couch and covered his face with his palms.

Lynne noticed this too, we were both looking at him our eyes widened then looked at each other with eyebrows raised.

"What's wrong?" Lynne asked.

He didn't answer, he just kept staring at the ceiling.

"Did you say Antonio Hernandez," Ethan asked, he looked like he was trying to reassure himself.

"Yes, is anything wrong?" Lynne asked.

She looked at him as if he had lost his mind wondering if he was suffering from short-term memory.

"He isn't out of the country, I met him a few days ago." Ethan said all of a sudden.

"You met up with a criminal?" Lynne said slapping the back of his head.

"I bumped into him at a bar," he said defending himself.

"You were at a bar!" Lynne yelled.

"It was just this one-time, nothing happened." Ethan whined.

I could tell I was just about to witness another of their couples fights.

"How is that supposed to make me feel better? You went behind my back! I'm pregnant and you going to bars." Lynne continued.

"I was just in a really bad space," Ethan said defending himself.

"That doesn't give you the right...!" Lynne yelled.

"Stop yelling!" I yelled. "If you want to argue, do it elsewhere," I interrupted.

Lynne turned away from Ethan.

"What were you saying about Antonio?" I asked.

"I bumped into him in a bar. We had some drinks, he mentioned something about a pregnant women he was holding hostage. He said he wasn't going to keep her for a long time. I was drunk, I can't remember all the details." He said.

"Do you think he has her?" Benjamin asked.

"What are you still doing here?" I said.

For a moment I thought he was gone.

"I can't remember everything," Ethan said. "But it's possible."

What could he gain by keeping her hostage. This doesn't make any sense.

"I doubt he has her, I don't think he's smart enough to pull this whole thing off." I said

"There is finally hope and you are just going to give up like this?" Lynn said.

I sighed.

"I'll see what I can do, you can leave now." I said.

"I have his phone number, the one he uses for his dirty business." Ethan said getting up.

Lynne glared at him for a moment, mentally planning his assassination.

"Please Xavier, help me find her. She's all I have left." Lynne pleaded.

"You always have me," Ethan said giving her half a smile

"She's all I have left," Lynne repeated.

Ethan handed me Antonio's phone number written on a piece of paper.

I took my phone and dialled the number then pressed the call botton.

I press my phone against my ear as the phone rang.

Lynne was holding her hands together as if she was praying.

He finally answered.

"Xavier," he said.

I knew it was his sad sadistic voice the moment I heard it.
It was almost as if I could hear the smirk in his tone.

"Antonio," I said in a threatening tone.

"I must say, it took you long enough." He said.

"I'm going to get straight to the point. I know you have Cassie," I said.

"She left you for someone else, remember." he said sardonically.

"I don't have time for your mind games. I'm warning you, if anything happens to her I'll make sure you spend the rest of your days behind bars." I threatened.

"You still the same old short-tempered Xavier, haven't you learnt anything." He said. "Be careful of the way you speak to the guy who has the life of your wife and children in his hands."

"Put it on loudspeaker," Lynne muttered.

So I did.

"Listen to me carefully, here is what you are going to do if you want to get her back." Antonio said.

"Why should I believe you, how do I know you not bluffing." I said.

He let out a sardonic laugh before whispering to someone.

"Cassie, it's your husband. Talk to him," he said

"Please help me!" Cassie cried into the phone.

My heart broke as I heard her voice.

Lynne was now having a breakdown laying on the floor, Ethan trying to calm her down.

"I'll only let her go in one condition," Antonio said.