Chapter 4

Girls did not look at their brothers and feel their skin prickle and heat or their mouths go dry.

He wasn't even the sort of man she liked. In fact he was everything she disliked. Arrogant. Superior. Unfeeling. A self appointed demi god in a power suit ruling his kingdom from the top of his gilded tower.

And Cara knew all about men with god complexes didn't she? She had dated a surgeon whose ego was the size of the sydney opera house and then even worse because she should have known better she had moved in with him and decided that she was in love.

Jamming the bricks on her runway thoughts she focused on the cold handsome face of the man in front of her and made a snap decision,” I don't think you are ready for this letter Mr de la Velga.”

And in that moment she knew she wasn't ready to relinquish it because what if he didn't treat it with the respect that it deserved? What if he threw it away even without reading it?

Stiffening her resolve she talked to the envelope into her journal and then tour out of blank page from the back and pulled a pen from her tote bag and scribbled down her mobile number. “I will be staying at hostel journey across the town for a few more days and then I’m travelling to Mallorca and then Madrid.” She put the piece of paper on his desk. “If you want to reach me here's my number.” she bundled her things back into her tote and slung the strap over her shoulder. “Thank you for seeing me Mr de la Vega.” And then she turned to go.

“Miss Welsh?”

His deep commanding boys brought her to a standstill and her heart left with hope. Had he had an epiphany? Realised perhaps that he had behaved abominably?

Breath held she turned back her heart landed with a heavy thought of disappointment. Expect he was standing army extended holding out the photo she had left on his desk the one of himself has a baby. “You forgot this.”

Releasing her breath she shook her head. “It's yours keep it or throw it away. Up to you.”

She continued on to the door for a few agonising seconds her nerveless fingers fumbled with the handle while her need trickle from the unsettling sensation of his is drilling into her back.

But he didn’t call her name again. Didn't attempt to stop her.

As she walked past his assistant’s desk and the stunning Anna half rose out of her chair Cara held up her palm. “I can see myself out thanks.”

Her chest was so tight it wasn't until she stepped on to the street 44 stories below that she felt able to draw a full oxygen laden breath into her lungs again.

But as she set off across the city no amount of deep breathing could lift the weight from her heart.

Damn him.

What was she supposed to do now with her step mom’s letter?

“I have located the paperwork,” said Roberto Fuentaz long time solicitor and the trusted friend to the de la Vega family for over 40 years he paused a ripple of quiet and disquiet ran between and beneath the surface of Xavier's iron clad self control.

Xavier rose from behind his seat his mobile press tightly to his ear. Three short strides brought him to the thick glass wall one of the 2 floor to ceiling paints that afforded his office in the wellbuilt tower a panoramic view of the sprawling sunbaked metropolis below.

He stared blindly out at the city scape his body bristling with impatience under the impeccably tailored lies beneath his charcoal grey suit. “And?”

“Your birth mother's name was Matilda Sanchez.”

The first cold prickles of shock needled over his scalp even though the solicitor only confirmed what he already knew in his gut was true he raised his left arm and left his farm against the window needing to study himself he didn't suffer from Vertigo or a fear of heights but suddenly the shear drop on the other side of the glass wall to the city street over 40 stories below induced a wave of dizziness.

“Xavier?”

“I heard you Roberto,” he backed away from the window and returned to his desk. “Was she related to anyone in my parents’ employee?”

Another heavy pause. “With the greatest respect Xavier I would really feel more comfortable if you had this conversation with Elena and Victor. They have always said…”

“No.” He cut Roberto off he knew what his parents had said always.

We love you. Nothing will ever change that.

And in 33 years nothing ever had. Not even the unexpected arrival of his younger brother Ramon, the miracle baby the doctors had told his mother that she would never have.

His parents had also told him that he one decided to trace his biological family they would support him in that quest. He had never chosen that path but he knew that if he had then they would have stayed true to their word.

Because Victor and Elena de la Vega were good people. Good parents.

Xavier had worked hard over the years to make them proud. Worked harder still to prove to those members of the extended family who had never accepted him as one of their own that he was worthy of the de la Vega name.

As a boy seeing how the wheeled barbs and slide tons upset his Mama had made him even more determined to prove that he was just as good as if not better than any of them.

Years later he still faced the same insidious prejudices but now he had the pleasure of rubbing his detractors noses in his unrivalled successful stop despite the solicitors discomfort Xavier would not involve his parents at this point he would shield them. Protect them. At least until he understood what or rather who he was dealing with.

He sat down at the handcrafted old disk that had been handed down from father to son along the role of chief executive through 4 generations of the de la Vega men over a span of more than 60 years. 

Every single word of this conversation remains strictly between you and me he said. “Are we clear?”

The older man said resign but respectful. “Just a moment.”

Xavier heard the sounds of paper being shuffled before roberto spoke again.

“I remember now. Miss Sanchez was the niece of your parents housekeeper at the time. The adoption was private. The paperwork was drawn up through this office.”

Xavier was silent for a moment and his mind processing. Assimilating. Finally he said,” Gracias Roberto. I appreciate your help and discretion,” he emphasised and then ended the call and immediately placed another.

The security specialist of the Vega corporation kept on retainer answered on first ring. “I just emailed the dossier through to you,” the man said without any preamble.

“Any red flags?”

“None, a couple of parking offences but nothing more serious. She is single and a qualified trauma nurse currently unemployed. Presence on social media is sporadic and low key. Mother lives in North America. Father is dead and yes he was married to Matilda Walsh nee Sanchez now also deceased,” he paused. “Without knowing what your specific concerns are, I would say that she is pretty harmless.”

Xavier twisted his lips. Any man believed that women were harmless was a fool. He knew from experience that they weren't. It was why he had taken exceptional care in choosing his lovers over the last decade and why he was being equally judicious in choosing a wife.

“And the surveillance?” He asked.

“We have still got eyes on her. She was at a dance club till 1:00 AM. she hasn't left hostel yet this morning.”

Xavier narrow desires. Cara Welsh was an unemployed party girl? “Keep me apprised of her movements.” He tapped his keyboard to bring his computer screen to life. “I will let you know if I need anything further.”

He put his phone down located the mail in inbox and open the attachment the first section of the document covered the basic stats name and marital status occupation including a full photo full colour head and shoulder shot that had probably come from one of her social media accounts. She was smiling into the camera lens giving him the illusion that she was smiling straight at him and just looking at the image gave him the exact same visceral gut punch that he had experienced last night when she had walked into his office.

Life before she had turned his life completely opposite to his head and then stalked out.

Over the years he had met hundreds of beautiful women had slept with a select few but never had been so immediately or powerfully arrested by a woman’s looks before.

Her colouring was striking and ahead turning combination of t and hair extraordinary vehicle eyes which welfare estimating blend of green and gold. Her features were strong and symmetrical with bold cheekbones straight nose and a white generous mouth.

Not pretty by conventional standards perhaps but stunning nevertheless.

Abruptly he sat back irritated at his unusual lack of focus. Cara Welsh’s looks however remarkable where irrelevant he was a problem to be handled and that was also he needed to contain until he has told what thread if any she goes. Just as his feelings about his birth mother would have to be shelved and examined at a later stage. He didn't have time for distractions. Global corporation to run. Or multi million dollar acquisition to negotiate. A major deal that at least one member of the board relish seeing him failed to close.

He opened the door dryer where he had showed the photo and the piece of paper she had left on his desk last night full he picked up his phone to punch in the number she had written down but then suddenly changed his mind and slipped the people and his phone into his jacket pocket and stood.

In the antique outside is of physics caused by Anna’s desk and checked his watch. It was 10:20 AM. “I'm heading out,” he told her.

Her heavily made her eyes blinked as if he had said something unintelligible file she glanced at her computer screen ,”But you have a 10:30 meeting with the marketing director..”

“Reschedule it. And arrange for Juan and Felipe to meet me with the car downstairs straight away.”

Anna gaped at him nonplussed. “And your video call with Peter Reynolds at noon?”

“I will be back in time for that,” he said because he had to be. His intended acquisition of Reynolds industries to priority over everything else.

Buttoning his jacket, he turned to go.

Anna shot up from her chair head expression weekly panicked. “But where are you going?”

“To deal with a problem,” he replied as he strode towards the lift leaving his wide eyed mouth gaping secretary staring at him.