Chapter 54

Asher pov

It was the break of day, and I had rested well, thanks to being the first night I didn't share a bed with Sophia. I rushed out of the house to avoid any drama with her.

As I drove, my phone rang. I checked the screen and saw that it was my personal assistant. "Hello?" I answered, picking up the call with one hand while steering with the other.

"Am on my way to the office, what's the problem?" I asked.

"Sorry, sir, for disturbing you on such short notice," she replied, her voice low and professional.

I waved my hand dismissively. "Never mind, I'm listening."

"You have an important conference meeting with some high-profile business owners," she said, the sound of her typing on her laptop keyboard audible in the background. "I've already booked a flight for you in an hour."

I slammed on the brakes, finding a place to park. "An hour? What? Why didn't you inform me?" I exclaimed.

"I'm sorry, sir," she apologized. "It was a last-minute arrangement, but from my research, these people would be a great company to collaborate with."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "Okay, fine. I'll head to the office."

"There's no need for that, sir," she said. "I'm already waiting for you at the airport."

I raised an eyebrow. "In such a rush?" I asked, starting the car again.

"Yes, sir," she replied. "I knew you would want to make a good impression, so I took the liberty of having your suit pressed and your briefcase packed. Everything is ready for you."

I sighed, feeling a bit frazzled by the sudden rush. "Alright, I'll be right there," I said, putting the car in gear and heading towards the airport.

As I arrived at the airport, I could see my assistant, Rachel, waiting for me by the gate. She was a no-nonsense woman in her mid-30s, with a sharp jawline and piercing green eyes. She was dressed in a crisp business suit, and her hair was pulled back into a tight bun.

"Good morning, sir," she said, handing me a cup of coffee and my briefcase. "I have your boarding pass and your itinerary right here."

I took a sip of the coffee, feeling the caffeine kick in. "Thanks, dear," I said. "I don't know what I would do without you."

She smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "You'll never have to find out, sir," she said, following me through security and onto the plane.

As we boarded the plane, I couldn't help but feel a but of relief wash over me. The drama with Sophia was still fresh in my mind, and I was grateful for the distraction of the meeting.

Rachel handed me a folder containing the meeting notes and some profiles of the business owners I would be meeting with. I scanned through the documents, familiarizing myself with the key points and some of the players involved.

As the plane took off, I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes, trying to clear my mind and focus on the task at hand.

But my mind kept wandering back to Sophia. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that she was hiding something from me.

I opened my eyes to find my assistant watching me, a concerned expression on her face. "Is everything okay, sir?" she asked.

I nodded, forcing a smile onto my face. "Yeah, everything's fine," I said. "Just a little pre-meeting jitters."

She nodded, but I could tell she didn't believe me. She knew me too well.

As the plane continued on its journey, I tried to push Sophia out of my mind and focus on the meeting ahead. But I couldn't shake the feeling that my sister's drama was far from over.

The plane landed smoothly, and my assistant and I made our way to the meeting location. As we walked, she briefed me on the attendees and the agenda.

"Remember, sir, the goal of this meeting is to secure a partnership with these business owners," she said. "They're interested in investing in our company, but they want to discuss the terms and conditions."

I nodded, taking a deep breath. I was ready for this.

We arrived at the meeting room, and I was greeted by a group of suited individuals. They introduced themselves, and we took our seats around the table.

The meeting began, and I launched into my pitch, outlining the benefits of partnering with our company. The attendees listened intently, asking questions and making notes.

As some meeting personals began to come, I felt a sense of confidence growing. This was going well.

But just as we were about to settle, my phone buzzed. I nooded at my assistant and glanced at the screen.

My heart sank.It was a text from Johnson. "Sophia's gone missing again," it read.

I felt a bit of panic. What was going on with my wife again?

I dialed Johnson's number.

"What's happening?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice calm.

"I don't know, asher," Johnson replied. "She was fine this morning, as i cane to visit her but then she just disappeared. I've been searching everywhere, but I can't find her."

I clenched my fist, feeling a wave of worry wash over me. Where was Sophia? And what was she getting herself into this time?

Here is the rewritten text with improved grammar and punctuation:

"Sir, what's wrong?" my assistant asked, looking worried.

"Oh, nothing," I said, hissing and looking away. "It's just family issues."

"O...kay, no problem, boss," she replied, her tone cautious.

I could tell she didn't believe me, but she didn't press the issue. Instead, she handed me another folder containing the meeting notes to memorize.

"Here's the information I requested for you, sir," she said. "The meeting is scheduled to start in 30 minutes. They would all arrive on time."

I took the folder from her and nodded, trying to focus on the task at hand. But my mind kept wandering back to Sophia and the drama that was unfolding at home.

We enter into the hall as my eyes caught into something that surprised me....