Chapter 4 - Her Absence

MAX'S POV

         We found her. Her name was Amaya Wescott, she was born in New York City. CEO of Galiviosa, the largest company that owns different hotels, real estate companies and constructions, department stores and had been the biggest sponsor to all the celebrities and luxurious products. She's also the youngest and wealthiest entrepreneur in the city. She was praised by most businessmen and some envied her. She has also been taken to model for the products she sponsors which makes her the face of the company. And based on my first impression of her, she is indeed very attractive and they are reasonable enough to admire her. She’s the kind of woman that men can never say no to. But she’s smart and abundant and for me, she’s a threat. Her beauty doesn’t matter to me. 

“Max?” When Vesna brought me back to reality staring at Amaya Wescott’s face on my computer I slowly started to frown. I just couldn't believe my eyes. How come I had never found out about this sooner?

“We are going to New York City and meet her in person,” I said then closed the tab filled with Amaya’s information that I hadn’t finished reading. I don’t need to know a lot about her because the question that’s been in my head the whole time has now been answered and that leads me into confronting her.

“Don't you think you are being too hasty about this?” Vesna asked, looking at me clasping my hands on the table close to my face trying to rethink my possible actions.

         What is it to be worried about? It's just I want her name to be silenced. Her profile has been all over social media and people can't help but idolize her. I don't like it when they tend to like someone else besides me. That's my spotlight and no one could steal that from me. No one would dare.

         I reassured Vesna to ease her mind. It's not like I am gonna make the headlines again just like before. I’ve been too exposed to people holding cameras lately because of the conflict I always start. Though other than that something is pulling me to continue this.

“Max, You promised me. That you will stop this nonsense already!” But Vesna’s voice raised and felt agitated. Sometimes I couldn’t understand her. I get confused about what she means because usually she just stops mid-conversation. I get pissed when she acts like this yet she tends to continue scolding me and refers to all the chaos I had done. Though is it necessary for her to say that?

“You know what? Sometimes I am not sure of how you see me. But what is obvious is that you don’t treat me like a boss anymore. You are my executive assistant Vesna and talking like this is like you are a friend or a family yet not even a girlfriend! You are just my employee and nothing else!! So don’t get too emotional about the things I do because you are not a part of me!” I snapped, Not sure how I ended up saying those painful words to her. Since when did I start being so mean to her?

         I gained a slap from her for all the words I said but I can’t let her slap me like that. I am furious as well. And she also doesn’t have the right to do that. Then suddenly while looking at her with my irritated face, I kissed her aggressively. I reached for her tongue to get entangled with mine. She’s shorter than me so I had to lift her face to get closer to mine. It was already late, and everyone was gone. It’s just me and her in my office now. Our kiss took a little longer and while kissing I felt something wet on my cheek. I break off, seeing her crying. I didn’t know what to say to her yet she continued weeping as I held her head and let her lean on my chest.

“Why am I still in love with you even though it's been too many times that you’ve hurt me? This has always been a one-sided love and you just cared about yourself! Your money! Your fame! Your reputation! Until when will you learn to love Max?! Imagine this, Max Howards the richest man in the whole world doesn’t know any love and doesn’t get loved. Doesn’t that sound pathetic to you?! No people, No affection, just pure luxury, lust, and pride.” She said in between her sobs. 

“Shut up, Vesna,” That's how I respond in times I don't know the right answer to say. I let go of her and moved a few steps away. My back was facing her while I placed both of my hands on my waist facing the floor while I shook my head in disbelief that she was able to take the words out of my mouth.

“Why would I? You are a selfish prick-” Before she could even continue what she was saying I moved abruptly towards her and kissed her again as she was trying to restrain herself. But I am stronger so I pushed her towards the shelf and held her hands up.

“Hmm!” She tried to speak though she couldn’t because I was keeping her mouth shut with mine. When I was satisfied, I released her from my mouth. She was breathing heavily. Then I started kissing her neck which made her relax her hands from refraining. I bit the collar of her coat to search for her soft shoulder. I let her hands go and took off her coat. She’s now submitting herself to me. I grabbed her legs and carried her to put on my table. I continued kissing her when she slowly took off my tuxedo. I chuckled. 

“You’re loving this, Aren’t you?” I asked snickering at her aroused face. If she knows my weakness then I also know hers and that's me.

“I love you.” She replied then kissed me. 

         The night ended with us having sex inside my office. After everything we did I, brought her home to her apartment to make sure she was safe. When she got out of the car, she looked at me with disgust. Was she not satisfied with what we did earlier?

“What now? Do you still want me to go inside your apartment?” I was pissed off by the way she looked.

“Just fuck off.” She replied turning her back to me and continuing to walk towards the entrance of her apartment. I watched her move further away from the car and I wondered how women were able to alter their behavior that fast. It's just annoying.

“Fine!- Come on Liam.” As I instructed my driver to start driving.

         Liam Moore, my driver was confused about the way we talked to each other and made him ask. Being someone who has known me for many years already, I can’t hesitate to answer him. I don’t know why or how he does that but even though he doesn’t force me to reply. I would still give an honest response.

“You guys seem odd. Did you guys argue back at the office?” Liam never ceases any questions in his head, especially if it's for me.

“I don’t know,” I replied realizing everything that I did to her earlier. Why did I even do that? And since when have I thought to do so? I have never seen Vesna before as a sexually attractive woman. 

“She loves you,” Liam added.

“I know. But I can’t return the favor.” I replied realizing that sex does happen even though you are not attracted to the person. It can happen with any kind of emotion overpowering our minds.

         When morning came, the Vesna that usually greets me in the morning with a wonderful smile just gave me a clipboard with a paper that I needed to sign with a stern look. Then gave me the schedule that I needed for the day. And found out that she had scheduled a flight for me to go to New York in the afternoon. I looked at her surprised that she had it scheduled immediately when most of the time she scheduled it three days later. 

“Liam is letting everyone prepare your things already and gets it all to the plane first before you get there. If you will be able to finish all your scheduled meetings today, then you can fly to New York earlier than expected. By the way, This is gonna be the agenda of the meeting that’s gonna happen at ten so be ready in thirty minutes. I’ll get back to you after getting everyone settled. Excuse me.” She said it all like she was a robot working for me. Did she even sleep last night?

She was about to leave when I grabbed her hand and stopped her from leaving. 

“Just me?” I asked while pointing to myself. 

“What  do you mean?” She answered with another question.

“Going to New York?” I replied with a frowning face.

“Yes?” She raised her brows. Like she was saying, what else do you want me to say?

         I mean is she even coming with me?

“Aren't you gonna come with me to New York?" I asked knowing that she always comes with me anywhere I go. She's my assistant so she has to come.

"Why do I need to? I am most needed here like you are. And if you have to leave then who's gonna watch over Howards? No one. Besides, that's YOUR problem, not mine because it doesn't involve the company. When it does, then that's where I need to step in. Get it?" There's that mouth of hers again. Like what the hell? Is she kidding me?

"So you're working professionally now huh?" What game is this does she want me to play?

"I have always been. That's why you hired me in the first place right? Because I've got this strong personality that can't be misled by any mischievous events."

         This is bullshit. Fine then, I'll go to New York all by myself. I let go of her hand and she continued to leave. Women are so difficult to understand. So I finished every single appointment I had while I kept noticing Vesna's distance towards me and I was distracted by it. She was unbelievable.

         I followed the schedule that she had for me and arrived in New York on my private jet. I checked into a hotel called Martinique and it's odd because when we got inside the VIP room it was like dejavú. I feel like being in here somehow. I couldn't think of any idea how. I've been to New York but I have never checked into this hotel. With me standing in the middle of the room Liam arrived together with the hotel staff bringing my things inside the room, when they left I told Liam how odd it was being in there. He replied to me being able to know the reason from Vesna better than myself. 

"Well, She did say that this is where Amaya was last seen. There was News that time that spread out all over New York City that was somehow cleared out within the day because of how their family controlled this place. Also, she placed it in Amaya's information folder but you only read the first page." He answered and then left the room to pick up more things.  

         As soon as I finished checking the place I immediately opened my laptop and placed it on the table. But before I could even continue what I was supposed to do. I realized that I should not be doing the things that will make me contact Vesna. She's probably happy that I am not there anymore. I may have given her more reasons to be stressed out than just work itself. Besides, she knows how to handle the company and she was confident enough to be useful being there than being with me on my competitive issues. She had enough of dealing with it. So instead, I took a bath to cool out. It was my first time getting brought to the hospital just because I was overthinking. I can't risk being in there again. People will see me as weak and I can't let that happen. 

         When I finished bathing, I saw a female staff member in my room with a tray of food and was arranging it all on a table. I checked her out and she was fine. Let's just say that she's got a nice butt, and fitted clothes that make her back facing me look so good, especially since her body is in a little bit of a curved position. I walked closer to her and caressed her ass. She was startled and that made her stand up straight. 

"You know, that a man just checked into this room and you know, that the bathroom is from that direction. And I know that you know very well that I am almost done bathing." I walked till I reached the other end of the table looking at her with a grinning face. 

"That's what you think, But sorry to burst your bubble because I am here to let you know that Miss Vesna scheduled you for a meeting in the Galiviosa tomorrow and that you might get disappointed when you get there. I may want to have a taste of your perfect body though I am not a fan of businessmen. You'd like to be pleasured more than to please someone. Goodbye." After saying all this, she formally placed her hands on her back and left my room. 

         Vesna sent someone else to inform me?! Is she serious? Is that how much she hated me after that night?! 

"Oh, and by the way, I am not a hotel staff. I am an undercover bodyguard of yours. So you might see me from time to time." She half-opened the door for her head to only be seen just to tell me this.

"Yeah right. Now, screw off. I don't wanna see your face in my room. And call Liam on your way out!" 

         Here I am being pissed again at how my freaking assistant is avoiding me! We had a good relationship! She crossed the line first when she started falling in love with me! I'm just being fair! On the other hand, I know she enjoyed that moment. She's just annoyed that those things may have happened again next time yet I will still have no feelings toward her. My mind needs more than just a nice bath now. Yet I still needed to survive till evening or I might end up going back to settle things with Vesna. 

         Morning finally came in New York and this is the day that I will finally meet my competitor. Liam drove me to the Galiviosa's building and I took deep breaths to prepare myself. 

"I am Mr. Max Howards from LA California. I am expecting a meeting with Miss Amaya Wescott today?" I approached the front desk where I looked down at a divinely revealing woman with her clothes less buttoned. I gulped looking at her trying to hold down the temptation. 

"Mr. Howards? Yes, you have an appointment today. I'll bring you to her office." She stood up and there I saw her beautiful legs. She's wearing this short pencil skirt on her heels which reveals most of her legs. I mean how do they even allow this attire in an office? Is this their way of attracting businessmen and making them sign off contracts? 

         Why am I starting to get so easily seduced? I am a composed man and an extraordinary businessman so I should not get distracted.

         When we reached the top, it immediately went directly to the CEO's office and the staff didn't come in with me already. No one was in there yet so I got the chance to look around the office. It was huge and filled with baby pink and white paint. There were indoor plants too. It has sofas in it with a huge TV in front and another huge shelf filled with books. Below are the Business books related and for the top, I'm pretty sure they were novels because it has pictures on them at the side. I wanted to check it out but the shelf is up to the tenth row so I'll need a ladder to get it. Also, I can't risk getting caught touching someone else's stuff. Later on, someone arrived. But it was not the same girl I saw in the picture.

"Hi, Mr. Howards I am Malia Holmes, Miss Amaya Wescott's Executive Assistant." She gave me her hands for a handshake and I gave her mine with a confused look. I can't believe Vesna wrongly scheduled me.

"Please take a seat before you state your concerns. By the way, I'm sorry about being late since I was in a meeting earlier." She continued as she sat down in the CEO's seat. Wait… Is she even allowed to do that? 

"I was supposed to be in a meeting with Miss Wescott," I replied waiting for the CEO. 

"Well, apparently when your assistant booked a meeting with Miss Amaya she was already on a flight somewhere for a different meeting and she might take a while in there. It has already been three days since she left so she can't accompany you today. Though everything that you will discuss with me will surely get passed unto her immediately." She replied with so much confidence and superiority but with disbelief, I stood up and was about to leave when I suddenly thought of something. So I looked back at her with a confused face as I walked back to my seat. 

"I just badly wanna apply for the company though. Can I work here?" I asked convincingly expecting her not to know anything about me.

"I know who you are Mr. Howards so either you wait for Miss Amaya to come back or I will get the police to get you down. We are not a part of the game that you always play so if you don't want any more trouble like making the headlines again in California? Then leave New York City." She said fiercely which made her sound like Vesna. 

         I left the room and went back down to the front desk leaving the spare key to my room in front of the staff that entertained me earlier expecting her to come. I waited there till it was already noon. I was about to fall asleep on the bed when I heard someone come in.

"Liam, please call Vesna and tell her that I am coming back."

"Too bad you're not coming back there as soon as you want because I've got news for you." I heard a female voice that made me sit on my bed to take a look at her. It was that front desk attendant with just her bra and underwear on.

"You never should have bothered keeping those on," I smirked. Here I thought that I wouldn't be able to have a wonderful night here in New York. A beautiful blonde girl is slowly walking towards me. So I unbuttoned my shirt as she stopped my hand.

"Let me continue that for you." She whispered. Instead, I touched her beautiful soft white skin and slid off the strap of her bra. Then I reached her back, unhooking the lock, making me see the two munchkins, and grabbed her to be under me. 

"What news do you have for me that makes you think that doing this will be worth it?" I asked in a serious yet tempted voice.

"Should I tell you right now? Or after?" She was teasing me so I took off the last piece of her clothes and inserted my fingers in her vagina. 

"Ugh!" She moaned, feeling how harsh I could get with this moment.

"Tell me throughout your moaning." Her eyes widened then I moved towards her below starting to emerge with my tongue. 

         She indeed tried her best to explain everything that happened until she started pulling off my tongue which made me stop and listen to her more attentively.

"Miss Amaya and her mom never had a good relationship. She's always against Miss Amaya's decisions yet she just wants to enjoy her life at the same time. So Miss Amaya-" 

"Why do you keep calling her Miss Amaya even though she's not around or you're not even in the workplace?" I cut her for a second. 

"Because we've got this total respect for her. She's never a rude employer. Anyway, That was it. Right now, she's in Vancouver, Canada. However, I am not sure because she might have gone somewhere else before going to the actual place. Now, saying all this doesn't make me a traitor because I am not telling you anything about our sales or our management. I just told you about her whereabouts and you don't seem like a killer anyway." She defended herself before I could react and she seemed talkative. 

         After everything, she said I then shut her mouth with mine and continued our sexual business. At least now, I know where to find her. My work here is done.