Chapter Four

                     Russell’s POV

The present…

It was exactly two-thirty. I anticipated the traffic on the road to Converse, but the longer-than-usual multi-lane traffic I was stuck in exceeded what I expected. Given the traffic, it would take another thirty minutes or a little more to reach the construction site in Converse. I leaned back against my wrap-around leather couch, resting my head against my knuckles, eyes shut. A deep sigh escaped from my lips as my mind replayed the events of the past few weeks. Dr. Lee's diagnosis had been quite a shocker, and it wasn't until the previous week that the reality hit hard.

I stroked an eyebrow and rubbed my hand on my pant leg. The day had been unproductive. Of all the received applications, only thirty women made it for an interview, and not a single one of them passed. As much as I needed a wife urgently, certain criteria must be met.

Sex appeal...

I swallowed hard. It couldn't be that hard to find a very attractive woman in a few days. My phone beeped in my breast pocket, snapping me out of my thought. Mind absent, I slipped it out of my pocket and paused as I stared at a familiar number. My heart skipped a bit as I slid my screen.

"Russell...it's been a while. Miss me?" Her equanimous voice echoed in my ears and a slight chill went down my spine. I tightened my hand into my fists and loosened them immediately.

"You've got quite some nerve." My Adam's apple bobbed and I took in a deep breath before continuing. "What do you want?" She chuckled from the other end of the phone and my jaw clenched.

"I'm glad you can tell it's me, Russell. I'll admit that I'm a little shocked. What happened? Couldn't forget about me?"

Pinching my mouth, I scowled. "What the hell do you want?"

"I don't have to want something before placing a call, do I? But yeah, you got me." Her throaty laughter drummed in my ears. "What do you say about meeting over lunch? Baby is back in Texas!"

"You don't think I would want to meet with you, do you?"

"Come on, Russell. For old-time's sake, let's hang out. Trust me, it would be fun. Besides, we have a lot of catching up to do."

Rubbing at my chin, I cocked my head to a side. "Trust you? We both know where that landed me the last time I tried. Fun? You're the last person I would ever have that with."

"Keeping our differences aside shouldn't be so much of a big deal. Also, I don't know if you've given this some thought but I just might be the answer you've been looking for."

My brows drew together. "What do you mean?"

"Come on. I don't have to be in Texas to know what has been happening, and in case you haven't figured, you're one of the reasons why I considered coming back here. I know that we ended off on the wrong note but – “

"You're quite hilarious, Sophia. Quit dreaming." I scoffed. "You're the last person I'd consider wedding."

"Russell – “

"If you'll excuse me, I have quite a lot of things to do." Without waiting for her reply, I hung up. A sudden lightness enveloped me. Eyelids shut, I let my head fall back to the couch and pressed my palm to my eyes.

Sophia Clark wouldn't ruin my day any further.

I glanced at my wristwatch – fifteen after three. How much longer before we reach our destination?

I peered out of the polished tinted window as we took a turn into Daulton Ridge. Converse hadn't changed so much since the last time I came. The car came to an abrupt halt and my brows quirked on reflex.

"Anything the problem?" I asked Tom, who turned to meet my gaze with an incredulous stare, mouth falling open. "Speak!" I said after five solid seconds of silence.

"T-T-There's- a- b-b-body. I-I th-think sh-she's d-dead."

"You think?"

"I-I don't know, sir. I-Sh-she's not moving."

I cursed under my breath. The automatic window whirred as I opened it, and I peered out of it. A woman curled right ahead, her head on her knees. Her jet-black hair fell on her sides.

She doesn't look dead.

Clicking my door open, I got out of the car, Tom trailed behind me. I crossed my arms across my chest as I drew closer, my gaze fixed on her. I looked over at Tom and motioned for him to tap her. Tom swallowed hard, fidgeting on the spot. He took steady strides toward her and stopped a few inches away from her.

"M-miss? Miss?" His voice quivered.

I closed the distance between us and prodded her with my Oxford shoe. She staggered and fell to the floor.

"S-s-she's breathing!" Tom rushed toward her and held her in his arms, jerking her body.

"She's always been breathing." I gave a dismissive nod, rolling my eyes. Taking a step closer, I took in her features for a moment. Her long jet-black hair sprawled across Tom's hands,  revealing her oval-shaped face and button-upturned nose. Her heart-small lips parted a little and I blinked, leaning forward a little. Abruptly, I straightened and headed back to my limousine.

"W-What should I do about her sir?"

I halted in my tracks at Tom's voice and slowly turned, crossing my arms over my chest. "Do I look like I give a fuck?" My brows arched. "We're way behind schedule. Get back in the car. I don't have all day."

"I-I don't think we should leave her here, sir. Something might happen to her." Tom tried to prop the woman up.

"Then, suit yourself." I dialed Greg's number and he came from the car behind my limo in less than thirty seconds. "The keys. Hand them to Greg." Tom's brows squished together as he looked up at me. Greg bowed slightly and hurried toward Tom, grabbing the limousine's key from him.

"Gander Park," I said, as I walked toward my car and Greg bowed in reply. He hurried to my front and opened the limo's door for me. In less than one minute, we drove off the pavement, leaving Tom behind with the mystery woman.