60 The Investigation

"Boss, we got the footage but the man had on a baseball cap and mask. There's nothing to identify him by." Joe Li told Calvin over the phone.

"This isn't acceptable. Go back and find out who is responsible. You have threes days!" Calvin told him.

"Yes Boss." Li told him.

"What's wrong?" Amy asked.

"My men haven't found out who is responsible yet. But they will if they want their jobs." Calvin said.

"I hope they find out soon. I have to go home eventually." Amy said.

"Why? You can just stay here with me. I don't like being alone." He had unknowingly spoken one of his weaknesses aloud. He knew part of what had driven his infidelity, besides the baser lust, was that he hated being alone. He was alone in his marriage because Julia had been physically and emotionally distanced from him. He knew it didn't excuse his past actions at all but it helped him understand what was driving him in his innermost self.

He had very few friends. When you come from a wealthy old family like his you knew that most people approaching you wanted something be it money or favors or connection. He also had been very driven to succeed in the business world. He was the second son so he didn't inherit a family corporation like his brother, Robert. He had started his business and built it himself but that took a lot of time. Which didn't leave time to make lasting friendships.

With Amy, it was all so different. He almost felt like he was starting over again. She was approachable and easy to be with. She made him feel comfortable and able to drop the facade and be his true self.

She didn't seem to care about his wealth or status; for she never asked him for anything. With his ex-wife or former mistresses, they had spent money extravagantly. Even his one night stand encounters ended with him writing checks. Not Amy. She often turned down his offers in fact.

He didn't deserve this woman. He was fully aware he wasn't worthy after the life he'd lived. But she didn't care. She told him often that he was a good man. It made him believe that perhaps he could be, for her. She was worth it.

"Hmm, well I don't want you to feel like you're alone. But I can't move in with you either. Not yet, anyway." Amy's voice brought him out of his thoughts.

She was sitting beside him on his sofa and he suddenly felt she was too far away. He pulled her into his lap to straddle him. She smiled sweetly as her fingers ran through his hair.

"I need you, Amy." His voice hoarse. "And I can't allow anything happen to you." He continued.

"I'll be fine. I'll stay this weekend to be with you—after all I enjoy being in your arms. And in your bed. But I have to go to work Monday. I'll need to go back to my apartment." She insisted.

"You work for me. If you stay with me, I can take you to work everyday. There's no need to go back there." He didn't want to give up.

"Calvin, it's too soon for us to live together. And what would people say? That I'm your newest mistress?" She was frustrated. She didn't want to be known as his or anyone's mistress.

"You are not my mistress, but you are my woman, and I'm not afraid for people to know that." He tried to assure her.

"Look, I'm not the kind of girl to live with someone just because we're dating. If you decide at some point that I am the woman you wish to marry, then we'll discuss living together." Amy was firm.

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Uncle Arthur announced the arrival of Sara and Bella.

Charlotte hurried to them and welcomed them.

"Come, join us outside. The weather is so nice we thought we'd eat in the outside dinning area. And Gordon is cooking our food on his grill." She ushered them out onto the elegant outside kitchen area. There was a brick oven, grill, fire pit, and patio furniture. Beyond that was a swimming pool.

Bella was excited! "Auntie Charlotte, May I swim?!" She asked.

"Do you know how? If you do, then next time bring your bathing suit!" Charlotte told her.

Sara noticed Charlotte wanted there to be another occasion. She sighed. She really didn't want to be tangled with James's family any longer. She blamed them for his death. If not for them then she'd have a husband fulfilling his dream and Bella would have a father.

As it was, she was a single mom and Bella's classmates sometimes teased her because she didn't have a father. She still missed James so much.

However, Charlotte wasn't part of his family by blood, and she could also tell that Charlotte really liked her and her daughter. She hadn't had time to make friends because Bella took her free time.

Gordon had been kind too, but she hadn't forgotten that James died after an argument with his older brother, Gordon. After five years her heart still felt raw pain. Lately Bella asked if Sara would remarry so she could have a dad. Sara told her no one could replace her dad. She didn't think she'd ever have the courage to love again.

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