Alexander’s POVWhen Catherine and I collapsed exhausted onto the bed, the sun was already shining in the sky. We made love for a long time - I kissed her, touched her, loved her, every inch of her body. We gave ourselves completely and shamelessly to the love that consumes us, because now I'm certain that the same love that makes my heart race and takes my breath away, she feels it too.I fell asleep with my beloved Catherine in my arms, exhausted from the pleasure we'd given ourselves and the happiness of being together. But I was euphoric - she was in my arms again, so sleep didn't hold me captive for long.However, when I woke up, reality hit me hard. My happiness didn't last long. I woke up alone in bed, jumping up to look around the room, clinging to the idea that maybe she was in the bathroom or the kitchen, but I found a note on my nightstand.I picked up the note with trembling hands - she was gone."Alexander,You awaken my body in a way that no one else ever could. Last nigh
After leaving Alexander's apartment, I quickly got into a taxi and headed home. We had an incredible night, and being in his arms again was wonderful. But I was deeply hurt and unsure if I could ever forgive him. I left a goodbye note - I had decided to give myself to him one last time, to bid farewell to my love. Now it was truly over.I cried throughout the entire taxi ride, and the driver offered help several times, watching me worriedly through the rearview mirror. While in the taxi, I called Melissa and asked her to gather the girls. I needed support, and even though I'd known the others for such a short time, we got along well. It would be good to talk a bit and clear my mind.When I got home, Peter had already had lunch and was watching cartoons on TV with Lygia. I took a shower and sat with my son for a while. Lygia noticed I was upset and said I should go out and get some air. We had already arranged everything with her for the whole weekend since Mel said we'd come home drunk
The girls looked at me in disbelief when I told them I had left a note and gone before Alexander woke up."And now, after leaving that note, I'm sure he'll forget me and move on. And I'm suffering even more than before," I concluded, truly feeling my heart ache even more from the goodbye I'd given."Damn! Look, Cat, I know what happened between you two was heavy, but girl, you don't easily find a man who turns your world upside down like that," Samantha commented."Anyone can see what you have is special! The way he looks at you, honey, it's obvious he loves you!" Virginia chimed in."You really don't plan to forgive him?" Tess asked."I don't know if I can," I said honestly."Damn it, Cat! I hate to admit Fred was right," Melissa added."What do you mean?" the girls asked in unison.Melissa told the girls about the dinner with Alexander and Patrick, and how Fred had tried to convince her that Alexander might be the love of my life and the only one who could make me happy. She had alre
The girls really cheered me up. After chatting and laughing for a while, we decided to have some fun at the gaming lounge upstairs. It was almost like a casino, huge with various card game tables, roulette, gaming machines - it had everything. Melissa went to the cashier, got the chips, and divided them among us."Let's have some fun, ladies!" she said excitedly."Oh, we're definitely going to have fun!" Tess drew our attention to a poker table at the back of the room, surrounded by women. "Oh, Rick is going to pay for this!" she said, seeing a woman leaning on Rick's shoulder way too intimately."That idiot Fred, I knew it! You traitor, you'll pay for this!" Melissa's eyes were gleaming. "The whip is going to crack tonight!""And that floozy hanging on my sweetie's shoulder? Oh, he's going to pay dearly for this." Virginia narrowed her eyes."And look at that bleached blonde rubbing herself all over Henry! And that idiot's laughing at her. Oh, I'm going to wipe that smile right off hi
During the game, Levy was gentle and attentive to me the whole time, even with Alexander practically growling at him. He softly touched my hands, explained the game in my ear, and I gave him plenty of attention. Alexander was getting increasingly grumpy."So ladies, where do you want to have dinner today?" Angel asked, quickly glancing at his cards before fixing his eyes on Melissa."How about a private room at Le Soufflé?" Leonard suggested enthusiastically. "Have you been there, Tess? The food is delicious.""I've heard of it, but never been. It's hard to get a reservation there," Tess replied, showing interest, which made Rick very angry."It's not hard for Leonard, his uncle owns the place," Michael commented. "If everyone agrees, I think it's a great choice. The restaurant is very pleasant and the food is delicious. It's worthy of these beautiful women!" he said, winking at Samantha. Henry was sweating nervously."Well, then it's settled. But you'll have to drive us home afterward
The weekend had been intense, and I started the week already tired. But I had decided to try to forgive Alexander. The girls had plans; according to them, he needed to suffer a bit more before I took him back, so he would learn his lesson and not hurt me again.I arrived at the office and went to my desk. The place was already bustling with activity. I liked this job - it was easy-going, fun, with a great team, though it wasn't in my field. I had worked so hard in college, and now it seemed my degree would just collect dust. That made me feel a bit melancholic. But I had a son to raise, so I couldn't waste time feeling sorry for myself.While turning on my computer, I saw a coffee mug land on my desk. I looked up to see Virginia's huge smile directed at me."Cat, aren't you ashamed of being so pretty?" I smiled at her comment. "The guys in the department are drooling over you. My brother is also smitten with you, and if I didn't know you were in love with Alexander, I'd totally support
Alexander’s POVPatrick and I ran into Fred as we entered the Lynx World building. We had all had lunch together today, along with Henry and Rick. The girls had been shocked by the flower arrangements we'd sent.At first, I thought it was too over-the-top and didn't want to send them, but Patrick and Henry convinced me with the idea that it was so excessive that the girls would call us to complain, giving us an opportunity to pick them up from work and spend time with them. Rick and Fred liked the idea too, so we went ahead with this extravagant gesture.When Patrick and I reached the girls' floor and approached their desks, I realized just how massive the arrangements really were. They had stacked several books in the corner of their desks to create a sort of pedestal for the arrangements, just so they could see their computer screens.Looking at that scene, it was as if they were working under trees. It was truly enormous. I glanced at Patrick, and we had to stifle our laughter."How
Alexander’s POVHalf an hour later, I was at Patrick's house, furious with myself for letting this company fraud situation go so far that it had affected my relationship with the woman I love, and equally angry about having to leave Catherine for a meeting."Sorry for messing up your plans, Alexander, but we couldn't wait. We need to decide quickly how to act," Alan said while greeting me."It's okay, Alan, I just want this all to end, kick these traitors out of my company, and get my Catherine back," I said wearily. "But what's so urgent?""Well, you already know Leda, right?" Alan asked."Yes, she was placed as a coffee lady along with Mrs. Margaret on the executive floor," I said. "Oh no, don't tell me Mrs. Margaret is involved in this mess?""No, Alexander, fortunately, the other employees with access to the executive floor are highly trustworthy, we've tested them all," Alan reassured me. "But as it happens, Leda and Mrs. Margaret get along very well, and as we suspected, Mrs. Mar
Alexander’s POVI entered the meeting room and there were too many people there. At the back of the room, several employees were sitting in chairs that had been lined up in rows. I recognized each one of them, including the directors of accounting, sales, operations, and administration. I already knew they were all participating in Johnson's fraud scheme.On the opposite side, in a chair by the table, was the employee we had thought of using to catch the others red-handed. But with the kidnapping of Peter and Catherine, we skipped steps in the audit. He had made a mistake and started flaunting a luxurious lifestyle that clashed with the position he held in the company. He was ambitious, careless, and talked too much. We caught him because of that and knew he was the weak link in the group.In addition to the employees, Alan and Larson were also in the room, along with three employees from Alan's team. The chief inspector was investigating my parents' death, with the head of the anti-fr
After receiving many hugs and hearing multiple times that everyone was happy and relieved that Peter and I were found safe, Alexander led me to Patrick's office.I placed Peter, who was sleeping soundly, on one of the beds still there and covered him, but first noticed a mark on his right ankle, which I didn't understand."Alexander, what's this mark on Peter?" I wondered if Alexander would have more information, since he had been following everything closely.Alexander looked at our sleeping son and gently ran his fingers over the mark, as if he could make it disappear with his touch, and sighed. He grabbed a blanket, covered our son, kissed his forehead, and pulled me to the sofa, making me sit on his lap."My angel, the conditions in which Peter was found were terrible. According to what Detective Moreno told me on the phone, there are no other marks on his little body and no injuries, which suggests he wasn't physically abused. But he was chained to the leg of a table." A tear roll
Alexander’s POVI was pacing back and forth in the room when one of the police officers called me, saying the detective searching for Catherine wanted to speak with me. My heart raced in my chest. I swallowed hard and picked up the phone."Good evening, detective." I greeted, waiting for the news."Just a moment, sir. Here, make yourself comfortable." The detective spoke to someone and then left the video frame. At that moment, Catherine's image appeared."My angel! Are you okay?" I asked, in tears. "Everyone, she's been found!" Everyone in the room shouted and applauded."I'm fine, Alexander, I'm sorry, but... my son, have they found my son?" She was crying and scared."My angel, Peter was found in Bellwood. He's doing well and flying here. Nando's parents are coming with him." I could see her expression soften as she heard what I was saying, noticing relief wash over her beautiful face."What a relief! Alexander, what wonderful news." She began to cry and couldn't stop."My angel, ca
I glanced through the window slit and realize it was already dark outside. "My God, how is my son doing?"I spent the entire day praying to God to protect my child. Alexander must hate me now. I simply left without saying anything. But I was desperate for my son. And I didn’t know what to do.After Dennis came in and left that sandwich, I thought they've gone out because everything became very quiet. But then I heard a noise, a door opening. And there were voices. I thought they've returned. Lord, protect me."Your dinner," Daniel opened the door, handed me a package, and closed it again.I pressed my ear against the door, I needed to know what they were planning."Dani, I'm finding it strange that I can't reach Cel," I heard Dennis comment."You should ditch that phone," Daniel reproached him."Relax, they can't find this number. We destroyed Catherine's phone, they'll never find it," Dennis seemed relaxed. "How long are we keeping her?""Johnson didn't specify. He said to take care o
Alexander’s POVI was a bundle of nerves waiting for any news. The police officers at the office had discovered the cell tower location and mapped out a search perimeter. Teams were already on their way."Melissa..." Fred's mother called on the phone."Hi, Mrs. Teresa.""The police arrived with two dogs. They're going in.""Thank God they're here!" I whispered."Teresa, get out of there now.""No way, I'm safe where I am, I'll wait," Fred's mother insisted."Mom, how can you see anything at this time of night?" Fred asked."While I was waiting by the salon door, I had Maria bring me your binoculars. I like them, you better buy another pair because I'm keeping these - they have night vision." Fred's mother was quite a character."Mom, for God's sake, you're not James Bond," Fred put his hand over his face."I'm better than him. Melissa said so." Fred's mother managed to get everyone in the room laughing, even with all the tension."Mrs. Teresa, you're simply the best. Thank you so much,
Caroline’s POVOh my God, what kind of backwater is this! I went to the salon I found in town today, it turned out okay-ish, but they're all such hicks. I needed to get out of this podunk town soon."Celeste, make that snotty brat shut up. You can hear him crying all the way at the entrance," I said while walking into this dump my father had scrounged up for us. "So, what do you think?" I showed off my new look."Yeah, it looks just like Liz's," Celeste agreed. "But you shouldn't have gone!""Ughhhh. That's exactly what I wanted. If my hottie hooked up with that skank in New York, he'll go crazy when he sees me." I was dying to run into Alexander. "Besides, nobody knows me here.""This kid never stops crying. When I first met him, he was much quieter," Celeste said."Oh, just give him some medicine. I've got Xanax in my purse, want some?" I offered."Are you crazy? We can't kill the brat before Alexander does everything we want. Better let him cry, he'll tire himself out eventually.""
Alexander’s POVWe entered my office and it was chaotic, with people talking and working on computers while Melissa organized all the incoming information. Fred, who I discovered was also a notable hacker, had joined Marcus."Alexander, we managed to access Cat's phone," Marcus informed me. "And we got footage from other buildings on the street and now have the license plate of the car that took her.""Finally, some good news." Some of the tension I was feeling dissipated."Not that good - the plate is fake, but at least we have a car and we've issued an alert for models of the same color," one of the police officers warned me."And what about the phone?" I asked, leaning between Fred and Marcus's chairs.Fred grabbed his phone and opened a message, quickly looking at it before tossing it on the desk with a huff. Rick was standing next to me and glanced at the screen."Fred, why did you receive a photo of Celeste?" Rick asked with a puzzled look."Photo of who?" Fred didn't understand
Alan looked worried, as if the news was bad. He introduced the man accompanying him before sitting down."This is Detective Novaes from Internal Affairs. He's in charge of investigating your parents' accident," Alan introduced."Mr. Miller, I regret to inform you that the helicopter accident that claimed your parents' lives was deliberately caused. We found that the disconnection of the tail rotor pedals in the pilot's cabin caused the accident. The connections were intentionally cut. The helicopter had undergone maintenance at the manufacturer and had been cleared for flight just two days before. It was sabotage. I know this is a difficult time, but whoever is orchestrating this kidnapping might also be connected to the helicopter sabotage.""My parents were murdered? My parents were coldly and cruelly murdered?" I could no longer contain my tears and despair."Detective Novaes, we want everyone involved to rot in jail. Whatever you need, we can help," Patrick took over the conversati
Alexander’s POVWhen I left the terrace, I was much more composed. I spent about forty minutes up there thinking and praying to God to watch over my son. When I entered my office, I asked if there was any news, and they said no. Then I decided to spend some time with Catherine and see how she was doing. I went into Patrick's office but didn't see her."Where's Catherine?" I asked loudly."What do you mean? She said she was going to stay with you for a while," Melissa said, frowning."She's not with me, she's not in my office, and she's not at reception. Where is she?" I growled."Calm down, Alexander, she might have gone to the break room," Tess said, and immediately everyone went looking for Cat."Sam, have you seen Cat?" I asked when I returned to reception."Sorry, Alexander, but I haven't. The reception's been crazy," Samantha replied worriedly. "What's wrong?""I can't find her." After I spoke, I saw Tess coming back toward me."The emergency exit door is unlocked.""No, no, no. I