A sudden move

Stefano’s POV

“Have the memos stamped by the department in charge and send it to me before the day ends,” I said into the table microphone. “This meeting has ended.”

“Yes, sir,” My employees chorused, and stood up before I did.

Thereafter, I exited the conference room and made my way to my office. Sitting on my swivel chair, I buried my head in my hands as a sigh of despair exited me.

It had been a solid month since I started looking for Lillian, and my efforts had been everything but fruitful.

I couldn't help but wonder if Lillian had taken another form and had disappeared from the face of earth. I had even had Gregory hire private investigators across the globe to find her, but even that, had been futile.

Heaving another despondent sigh, I sat up to peruse and review the barrage of paperwork on my desk.

If I couldn't find my love, I might as well just throw myself completely into work.

Just then, a knock came on the door, momentarily yanking me out of my train of thoughts.

“Come in,” I said, and Gregory entered, a tablet secured in his hold.

“You need to see this, sir,” He said, handing me the tablet, which I took with a grimace. Reading the first article I saw, my eyes widened in surprise.

“The director of the London branch of Fernandez group of companies, Kennedy Gustavo, collapsed this evening after suffering a stroke. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family in this trying time.”

Raising my head from the tablet, I looked at Gregory. “Call his family and tell them we will shoulder the hospital bills.”

“Yes, sir,” He replied. “What is the next line of action now?”

“I will have to go there for a while,” I said, staring into nothingness. “It’s been too long since I last visited.”

“Very well then, sir.”

“Yes. You may leave.” I muttered, handing Gregory his tablet.

As soon as the door slammed shut, I stood up and paced my office, inwardly wondering whether I was making the right decision to leave the headquarters of my company to Gregory for the London branch.

But then again, I could still oversee the affairs of the headquarters online, plus Gregory had been working for me for over a decade now, and was one of the people who I trusted.

Also, I could use going to London to finally pay my maternal grandmother a visit, and confess everything to her, specifically, how I had been married and divorced in the past ten years that we hadn't seen each other.

Now that I thought of it, I had no idea why I had even hidden Lillian from both my grandmother and the public.

My hatred for the poor woman had truly overshadowed my ability to think logically.

Well, it was too late crying over spilt milk. I could only hope my grandmother wouldn't crucify me for being a jerk because she was a very strict disciplinarian.

My dad died when I was five, and my mum used that avenue to party her life away. She would leave me at home with the maids for weeks, sometimes even months, without even calling to check up on me.

It was on my seventh birthday that my grandmother finally went to court and got custody of me. Grandma had raised me up till adulthood and I was immensely grateful for her.

To think I had allowed a deadbeat like my mother back into my life and had even given her leeway to control my life, was absolutely stupid of me.

If only I had listened to Grandma when she advised me to be cordial with her.

If only.

Shaking the miserable thoughts away, I averted my focus back to my work and continued perusing and reviewing paperwork until it was late in the evening.

When I was done, I headed home into the loneliness of my mansion.

That night, I slept, clutching Lillian's wedding ring to my heart.

+

“I trust you to do a great job of looking after the company in my absence,” I told Gregory as the staff carried my luggage into my private jet.

We were currently at the private hangar where I would board my private jet to London.

“Yes, sir. I won't let you down,” He replied, and I slapped his back.

“Good. Also, don't forget to let me know if you find anything about her.” I said, my heart sinking to my stomach as I thought about Lillian for the umpteenth time that day.

“I won't, sir.”

Moments later, I was sitting in the private jet, Lillian's wedding ring, safely tucked into my breast pocket, as I scrolled through emails on my iPad.

Eleven hours later, I landed in London and was warmly received by the deputy director of my company, Allen Hardy.

“I have to stop by somewhere important,” I said, as I settled in the car. “You can drop me off there.”

“Alright, sir.”

Soon enough, we got to my grandmother's place. Guilt tugged at my heartstrings as I stared at the Tudor style mansion.

I had really abandoned my grandmother all because of my foolish ego.

“Young master?” Grandma's butler since forever, Henry Chapel, gasped in bewilderment as I stepped out of Allen's car.

“I will be back when you're done, sir,” Allen said, to which I nodded before he drove off.

“How long has it been?” I chuckled, as the elderly man and I shook hands.

“Ten years,” He replied, his British accent stronger than ever. “I could remember the last time I saw you was the day you permanently moved to America. How have you been, sir?”

“I've been well, thank you and you?”

“Well, old age has been nice to me, so I can't really complain,” He shrugged. “Apart from periodic arthritis, I've been okay.”

“You really don't want to retire, old man.” I teased, and he laughed as we walked into the house.

“This job is my life, I can't possibly imagine leaving it,” He said. “Madam is currently having lunch.”

“Alright, Allen. Thanks.” I clapped his back before navigating through the wide expanse of my grandma's mansion to the dining room.

A smile creased my lips when I saw picture frames of myself, right from infancy till my most recent picture, which I recalled taking at the charity gala I threw a while back.

With how grandma was updated about my life, it was quite strange that she didn't know about my marriage to Lillian.

But then again, I hadn't exactly broadcasted it to the public.

“Am I hallucinating or is that really my Stefano?” Grandma asked no one in particular, as she stood up, with the aid of a walking stick.

My heart broke and I saw my once no-nonsense and smart grandmother, looking frail and fragile. Old age was truly no joke.

“You are not hallucinating, Grandma,” I smiled, before enveloping her body in a warm hug. “Long time no see.”

Pulling away, Grandma's eyes turned misty with tears as she cupped my face.

“I was beginning to think I had wronged you since you didn't want to visit again,’’ She sniffled. “Welcome home, my darling.”

“Thanks, granny. I'm sorry it took me so long.” I replied before embracing her again.

As we hugged, I heard footsteps approaching us from behind, so I looked back to see who it was.

My jaw hit the floor when I saw the woman who had unknowingly left with my heart, and had left me a miserable, empty mess.

My Lillian.

And she didn't look happy in the slightest to see me.