49 Gentleman?

"Mrs Lucca never took the flight to the US." I blinked looking at him. Where she was?

"I knew that bastard was hiding something," I wanted to kill that driver but Peter had to ruin it.

"No, he…left Mrs Lucca at the airport. But…she never took any flight to the US…we have checked all the flights and she didn't board any."

"Then go check…she must have come back to talk to me," I was about to get my legs on the floor when he interrupted.

"No, she isn't back…" I looked at him pissed. Had he lost his mind? Where she would go? She was my property or she dared to…

Looking at my shock Peter started reluctantly. "I have checked all the buses, trains and planes. I am sure she is still in our city. Our men are looking for her in the hotels and also I have asked to run the search in the hospitals too…" He kept on saying things but all I could recall was her face.

It's important for me. And,… it's already here. I recalled her panic from when she said these words to me.

"There is no need to look into the hospitals." I cut his speech and looked at his face. "…She is trying to flee. She…is trying to hide from me." I laughed shaking my head in disbelief.

I noticed two other men standing at some distance behind Peter. "You two get out of here!" I shouted making them leave.

I stared at the doors from where those two men left. "What do you think? Can she get away?" He stayed silent for a few seconds making me look at him. I laughed knowing it was impossible. Even he knows that. "Why are you not answering me?" I asked.

"Mr. Lucca, I don't think she doesn't love you. I think… it's more about her…chemicals." I looked at him pissed.

"What the fuck it is about? A drunken decision? Was she using drugs?"

"No,…she is pregnant. And, any woman would be more protective of it. It's in their… makeup." I gave him my worst stare and he did take a step back but continued, "You didn't even stay to hear her out. Maybe she is just scared."

"She…made a mistake. And, this is what matters the most. Do you get it, Peter? I am the one paying you." I said and he nodded his head, "Yes, Mr Lucca."

"And, about those stupid chemicals…I don't care. If she had followed my orders she wasn't going to make such a poor decision." I seethed knowing right now the only thing that mattered was her betrayal.

"Or…" I got up and walked to face a huge portrait of a woman emerging out of smoke. "…She wants to birth this kid to secure her position." Peter didn't say anything while I recalled how I told Julie that she only needs to keep her body to stay in my arms. But apparently, she was using her own brain all this time.

"I will find you, Julie. And, you will regret ever lying to me."

Peter left and I left to take the shower. And, no matter how much I tried to control my breathing the mere reality that she played me was enough to boil my blood.

I walked to the dining area where my breakfast was ready the same way I like. I looked at Winston who had been serving my father for the last fifteen years. "How do you know what I like to have in the breakfast?" I asked as I started to dig in.

"Mr Lucca told us how to keep things to your taste if you ever come to live here," I smirked wondering why dad doesn't have anything better to do.

"How's he doing? Do you think he will be gone this time?" I looked at him when he didn't reply but then he reluctantly started.

"We…we are praying for his return." I smiled knowing they only care about their jobs here. Dad really had a lot of staff hired for one man.

"I will not stay here for long. But I want you to prepare my room. Also,…" I found Peter coming in and trailed off. Well, I didn't like how he didn't start talking already. I want him to tell me where they found her exactly.

But he took his time to walk to me before starting. "She wasn't found in any hotel or hospital. I…"

"What the fuck you are doing then? Find her? Hire…hire some specialist. Do you hear me? At this stage, you can clearly see that you can't find her."

"I…I am contacting some persons to see when we can receive the footage from the airport. It will give us some idea."

I winced but then smiled knowing that she won't be at rest too at this moment. She must be scared and panic thinking at any moment she will be caught. Well, she should scare herself to death then.

"Fine…go and look for the cameras…" I turned to look at my food. She was not in any hospital or hotel. Where is she then?

I took one of my dad's car and his driver to drive to the hospital. I already had an idea where his room would be. Walking in I found a nurse injecting a liquid in his infusion. I stared at him before passing a questioning look to the nurse.

"How's he doing?" She smiled looking at me before replying, "I will send the doctor to you." She left and I walked to the window. It was the same room where I met her for the very first time. I got my cellphone out and dialled for Peter.

"Hire an agency secretly. Let them look for her. Do you get me? I…will not return to Italy until you have found her and she is shivering at the thought that I am coming." I recalled how I had a very important agenda to discuss with my managers yesterday. I cut the call and now knew how my uncle and grandfather were so on point regarding women. They are nothing but treacherous.

I was about to leave when I found the doctor coming in. "Hello, I am seeing your father. And, I am sorry to tell you but he won't be able to use his left side completely. I am still waiting for him to gain the conscious…"

"I have an important meeting in Italy. If he can regain the conscious it's fine. I need to go. But if you think he can't make it. Tell me so I don't have to make another trip to attend his funeral." I don't know why that doctor got puzzled. I had tried my best to sound natural.

"I can't say much. Some of the reports seem promising." I hate persons like him. It's his work and he can't be certain.

"You know what? Get an idea soon." I left shaking my head and planned to make a call to Peter. I wanted to leave for Italy. Seems like I have to make a trip here when my father passes away. My cell phone rang and it showed Mr Webber's number, the CEO of our oil refinery company. "Hello," I knew many were informed that I was in the US and of course they would like to know how to decide the matters here.

"Mr Lucca, I know it is not the right time to reach you. But I wanted to be sure of your plans for the future. I was hoping to see you if…"

"You can come to see me in the evening," I said cutting him off and got into the lift. With my father gone three huge conglomerate brands were to be decided about. And, that company was one of them. Of course, I had in my mind to transfer the work from here to Italy in case my father disappears from the scene.

I look for the number of a very famous detective. I once handed him the case of looking for the person who once revealed our quotations. I got out of the lift looking at my phone and didn't saw the person coming upfront. But the moment she said sorry I froze.

It was her.

"Oh sorry gentleman, I wasn't looking." She smiled looking at me and got into the lift. There was no surprise on her face. She didn't look twice and got into the lift as if she doesn't know who I was. I looked at my back and found her busy talking cheerfully. With her stood a teenage girl who was talking to her about something in her school. The lift got closed and I looked at my cell phone.

She doesn't matter to me. I know that. And, I always knew she was more indifferent than me. I dialled for the same detective and ordered, "I have a project for you. It's about finding someone."

"Just give me the name." The person asked and I huffed before replying, "Contact Peter. He will forward you the details."

I wonder who that teenage girl was. Was she her daughter? Or granddaughter? Who cares? I am sure I was far better than having any connection with that woman.

The driver started the car and stopped at a signal. I found a man crossing the road. He had almost a two-year-old girl in his arms. But what I couldn't understand was why she didn't recognize me. It was obvious she wasn't here to see my father. Even this thought was very wild. She hates him to the guts. I looked around realizing it was an expensive neighbourhood. It tells me that Parkers were not doing badly too.

Wasn't it my dream? To see this woman suffering the next time she sees me. I wanted her to regret forever showing me her gate. How come I forgot about it? I assumed that being the richest in Europe she would know me. In fact…fuck it. I opened my cellphone and wrote Heather Parker on Fb. Finding her profile wasn't hard. She was at third. What I found was a cover with her family.

Her husband was still around. And, I am sure this red hair guy was her eldest son. I got on to his profile. It wasn't hard to see that we two got the same jaw. He was forty-five and an accountant in a company in Colorado. I got back to Heather's profile to find how she was living in the US for the past fifteen years. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. I expected to see her regretting how she lost the chance of connecting with me. If she had let me in her house that day she could have gotten a chance to have a connection with the most powerful man in the world right now.

I dialled Peter and waited for the ring. "Hey, did you get any idea about Julie?"

"No, Mr Lucca…but,..."

"Peter…where do you think people know me more?" I cut him off but was running low on patience when he didn't reply.

"I am sorry I didn't get what exactly you are asking,"

"I am asking where else people know me. Like, in Italy I would make news only getting my feet on the sidewalk?"

"Well, we have projects going on in U.A.E. People knows us there. So, Asia, Latin America and Europe…"

"What about the US?" I asked,

"Well, there was a time when your father was a well-known figure here. We don't have many stocks here now. You once told me that you wanted to move the rest of the business to Italy so…"

"I want you to meet me in the evening and come with all the plans we have for our future investments."

"I will be there," He replied,

"And, about Julie? I want you to know her exact location when you come to see me in the evening. You get me?"

"Of course, Mr Lucca."

I hope they find Julie in no time. I…this time I will kill her. At least, then this world and I would surely know where my wife is. I know I shouldn't be thinking about what will happen if I couldn't locate her any sooner. Because there was no way my investigator won't be able to locate her. But if I couldn't find her it will cause me a lot of issues. I had shown her around a lot. And,…and, what if she got someone who is helping her. And, even the thought that she took some other man's help was enough to crawl my skin. I wonder if this is the case then what that person was taking in return.

I swear if I got her with a man I will burn her body slowly. I regret all the times when I actually believed she was worth my name. I could have avoided this bond if I wanted. Women are a hassle. If somebody told me that I would leave one of my meeting with my managers to see the woman who did nothing good but trap me in her lies I would haven't accepted. At this point I know she isn't good for me. I can't let anyone move my decisions.

I poured a drink for myself. As if the matter with Julie was nothing now I have another worry. I wonder why she doesn't know me. She knows my name. She could have look for me on the internet with one click and yet she didn't recognize me.

I waited for Peter in the evening but the person who came to see me was no one other than Mr Webber. I totally forgot about him coming to see me.

"Hello, Mr Lucca." I looked at him disinterested but then motioned him to take the seat in my study. "What it's about?" I asked though I knew he worries about nothing but my intention of moving the business from here to Italy. And, that was inevitable.

"I only wanted you to share your future plans regarding the company I am managing." I inhaled sharply and signalled one of the servers.

"I am fine. I don't drink at this time of the day." He said and I nodded my head before starting.

"How much time it will take if I want to move the headquarters of the company to Italy." His face changed colours but he nodded his head in respect before starting. "It will take about five months." My eyes got narrowed as I inhaled sharply. That was a lot of hassle.

"And, what about you? Would you like to move?" I asked and he didn't take time to reply.

"Of course, if I will be given the chance I would like to continue working for you."

"Great," But before I could take the sip off my drink he started, "But many employees will not be able to make the move. And, it is worrying almost everyone at the company."

"We can't care about it? Can we?" I asked and I could tell he wasn't comfortable. He didn't have a choice but to agree with me. And, I love moments like these. I work my ass off to stay at the position where the rest of the people don't stand a chance but agree with me.

One of the staff came to tell me that Peter is here to see me and I looked at Mr Webber expectantly but the moment he got up I added, "I will come to the office tomorrow. And, you are to tell me in how many parts and levels the move will take place." He seemed tense visibly but only replied, "Of course, I will be waiting for you."

"Where was she?" I asked the moment Peter came in.

"I am not bearing good news." And, his words were enough to make my mood sour.

"…she went into the staff area and made the exit from there. There are no camera's at that place for the last two months."

I winced at the thought. Something told me as if I won't be able to get her. But then a thought shook me. "Do you have the list of all the people who attended our gala that day?" I asked making him nod his head as he typed something on his pad.

"Here," He passed me his pad.

As the name list passes, some names boiled my blood. I started striking and marked at least thirty. "I want you to buy someone in their household. We can't take any risks, Peter. If any of them have her or helping her I don't know what I will do."

"But there are still some ways…" He was about to say something when I shouted.

"Is this thing a joke to you? I need to be sure that these men don't have her. Do you get me?" In the end, Julie was just a woman. Anyone can manipulate her with wealth and a little bit of care.

"Mr Lucca this is the investment plan for the next five years. And, also the investigator wanted the details of everything Mrs Lucca took in her suitcase." And, this is when I wonder too what she had taken with her. I am sure she had taken a lot of jewellery and will easily be caught if she tries to sell it. But if she doesn't sell, it means there is surely someone very influential helping her out.

"You let him do whatever he wants to do. I want Julie as soon as possible. Or what I am going to tell this whole world? And,…not to forget she is pregnant. Peter? The last thing I want is to let her deliver this baby. She…will never be the mother of my kids? Do you get me?" He nodded his head before stating,

"Mr Lucca…what if she tried to report it to the police? Just as a caution I have asked some people to stay around all the stations in our city. So,…" And, before he could finish I laugh shaking my head.

"She knows she can't match my power and resources. I am sure someone is helping her and keep an eye on that driver." And, this made me wonder what gave her strength? And, the more I think about it the more I firmly believed that she had already trap one of the influencers in my circles. What else can be expected from a low being like her?

I can't recall when was the last time when things were this much out of my control. Yea, the day I married her maybe. Peter left and I stared at the file. I did have huge plans coming up in seven more months. And, staying in the US didn't make any sense.

I laughed recalling the moment she looked into my eyes. "Gentleman?" I laughed harder.