Xavier's Nightmares

Little Xavier got on his knees and folded his arms beside the bed, ready to pray. Beside him was a mature woman gently stroking his black hair. The woman's smile softened as she watched her son pray before going to sleep. She was the beautiful and gentle Gabriella Osbart.

The little boy was praying so solemnly when suddenly there was someone standing behind Xavier with a gun pointed at his mother.

BANG!

Gabriella immediately lay covered in blood beside Xavier. The boy felt that at this moment the weapon had shifted to the back of his head.

Older Xavier opened his eyes wide. He sat up and rubbed his face. He was still in the office. He took a deep breath and folded his arms and rested them on his forehead.

The dreams always came every time he slept. For several years he had always been haunted by memories of his beautiful time with his late mother. All of his fond memories of playing with his mother would turn into pools of blood in those dreams.

Xavier stood up from his chair and walked over to the rows of wine bottle shelves that were neatly arranged next to his desk. He reached for one of the bottles and a glass which he tucked between his fingers. He opened the wine bottle and poured the contents into the glass then put the bottle back on the desk.

His footsteps slowly returned to the desk. Xavier was enjoying the red wine while he was busy with his own thoughts.

KNOCK KNOCK

Suddenly there were some knocks on the door. After Xavier ushered in, the door to his office opened. Simon Palecki, his confidant came in with a magazine.

"Gossip magazines love you! They keep posting your pictures and include a question mark on the page. 'Who is the lucky woman' haha..." Simon put the magazine on Xavier's desk and laughed teasingly. "It's really nice to be a handsome and famous man."

"You know that as a young master from a wealthy family you will definitely be in the spotlight often. Don't let them get too close and catch you doing things that could damage the family's reputation," warned Simon. "You have to be more careful when in operations. So many cameras and eyes everywhere."

Xavier glanced at the magazine on the table. He didn't understand why the media was so obsessed with rich and single young men like him for gossip. He was not an actor or a musician.

It's true that his family was wealthy and owned many businesses. They also supported many entertainment companies and celebrities, but he himself was never interested in becoming famous.

His photo on the open page of the magazine looked very handsome. It looked like a paparazzi caught him out of a hotel after a business lunch with one of the Osbart family's business partners.

Xavier wore his usual black clothes and his face looked dangerously cold. There was a title in the article that was written in big letters.

XAVIER SALVATOR OSBART, WHO IS DATING SUPERMODEL ANNA RAWLINS, DENIES THEIR RELATIONSHIP!

Xavier just rolled his eyes reading the headline and shook the wine glass in his hand nonchalantly. He only went out with Anna once but they weren't dating at all. It seemed that the media was very eager to make up news.

Simon cleared his throat. "By the way, your brother made a surprising decision. He said he is getting married soon. He even has already brought his bride to the mansion."

Only then did Xavier stop the swaying of the glass between his fingers. He furrowed his brows in surprise. Elleard… want to get married?

With whom? Why so suddenly?

"Relax! I've investigated her many times, and the results are still the same. The girl is safe, just an ordinary woman Elleard might be interested in."

Simon gave a folder containing all the data about Elena that he had managed to collect. Xavier reached for it, turning to the first page. On the first page, he could see a photo of Elena. Xavier immediately reacted when he saw the face closely.

"Where are you going?" Simon asked seeing Xavier hastily get up from his seat and grabbed the car keys. "We have a meeting tonight! X!"

Even though Simon shouted for him many times, Xavier ignored him. The man walked with wide strides further and further away from the office, past the secretary's desk who immediately stood up and looked down when she saw him pass.

It wasn't long before Simon also came out scratching his head, which didn't itch.

"Looks like we have to cancel tonight's meeting," he complained.

"This is the second time I've rescheduled, boss," said Liliana, the secretary. "If possible, don't cancel again... They won't be happy. The minister really took his time to come and see us for tonight."

"Didn't you see he just left!?" said Simon in an annoyed tone. "If you can get him back here and come to the meeting tonight, you are free not to reschedule."

Liliana fell silent at Simon's words. She turned to the direction Xavier had left and sighed. "Okay.. I'll reschedule."

Simon ran after Xavier. When he arrived downstairs, Simon saw Xavier's car passing quickly out of the lobby. Simon was still gasping for air. He couldn't run and catch up anymore.

"Fuck!" he cursed when he saw the car was getting farther away.

***

KNOCK KNOCK

Elena jolted awake from her sleep when she heard a knock on the door.

"Oh my… I overslept?" She immediately looked for her cell phone to see the time. It's almost 4 pm. Her shift in the shop was about to start. She must not be late. "I have to work."

KNOCK!

There was another knock on the door. Elena blinked and quickly got out of bed to open the door. Greta had just opened the door and entered the madam's bedroom before Elena opened it.

"Oh, hi, Greta. I have to go now."

"Uh, madam where are you going?" asked the maid in surprise when she heard Elena's words.

"I have to go to work," Elena muttered. She went to the bathroom to wash her face. "I'm already late."

"Uhm, I don't think so, madam," Greta said politely.

Elena halted her steps and then turned to Greta. She looked at the maid with a frown.

"Ahh… sorry, I just helped myself and enter your room, madam. I knocked before but there was no answer and the door happened to be unlocked."

"What do you mean 'you don't think so'?" Elena sat back down on the bed. She soon realized that her bed was now a mess with the gifts from Elleard strewn across her blanket.

"Master Elleard wants you to have dinner with him, at six o'clock. Samantha has assigned me to help you get ready."

"Dinner, huh…?" muttered Elena.

"That's right, madam."

"I can get ready by myself, thanks. You can leave now." Elena smiled stiffly, hoping that her personal maid would leave her soon.

"I'm sorry, madam. But I will help you."

Elena pursed her lips. "Okay, then I'll take a bath first. You can go out now!"

"I will help Madam to take a bath."

Cough!

Elena looked at her maid in disbelief. "No need, I mean… I can take a bath myself. Please get out!"