(Sebastian’s POV)
.
I finally arrived Amberose city in a hurry.
Thankfully, I learned of the change in her schedule just before I boarded my flight to Bloom city.
Otherwise, I would waste another day and that might make me fail the promise with my son to spend some time with him.
The company of our opponent was right here in Amberose city. So that damn Akira West was really going to meet them.
I had to get in touch with her before that happens.
What mess had I gone into? I did not remember that I had ever chased for a woman like this. I pretty much hope it would all be worth it at the end.
As my city, Emerald City was closer to here, I still had some time to do more preparation, and being very rushed, I didn't book a hotel but an apartment would do.
A rustic looking building with Victorian fine furnishing. A one-bedroom studio apartment even had a pretty decent modern looking kitchen that was to my liking. And the bed was surprisingly comfortable.
Which finally brought my anger down a bit.
I stared at the table, willing myself to open a file that had the details related to our case and some basic information about that lawyer.
This case would affect our stock price, especially when we were preparing an important project. Only success was allowed, not failure.
So, if this Akira West was indeed the best, I would ensure she will be on our side at all costs.
“Akira West, you better not be trying to be my enemy.”No one ever dared to mess with a Strauss family. This enemy of ours had clear intentions to bring me down, personally.
A little meditation technique would help me calm my soul before the coming meeting with that lawyer. I closed my eyes and placed a hand on my heart. One.. two.. three.. breathe in.. and out.
Months of therapy sessions were something I hope to manage my anxiety and anger issues. Of course, I did it all for my son. I wanted to be the best father for him.
The calmness I felt was short-lived. In the middle of the serene silence I felt, I heard a tiny bell sound that had woke me up from my meditation state.
Who would that be? I was not expecting any visitors.
High heels. A woman.
“Oh, hello. You must be Gustav. My flight got delayed. Apologies for making you wait.” A stranger looked at me while pulling her luggage bag, entering my rented apartment like she owned it.
Who was she? Was this Westin’s doing in getting me a new woman in my life?
“Henry booked this place for me. We spoke on the phone yesterday, Gustav. Don’t you remember?” I raised one eyebrow not understanding a word she said to me in a foreign accent.
I was not sure if it was her hypnotic smile or her eyes that were obviously covered with coloured lenses, she got my attention, in a weird way. My mouth opened but no words came out. Who in the hell was Gustav?
“I need you to leave. I got work to do” waving her hand pointing at the door, she turned around while walking gracefully to the kitchen. Wearing a T-shirt with a blue jeans, she looked like a tourist who was clearly mistaken to think this apartment was hers.
Hey, wait! How did she get the keys to this apartment?
“Gustav –” she turned around to face me and pouted her lips.
“I’m not Gustav” I interrupted her sentence and was ready to kick her out.
This woman was pretty and charming looking but I did not have time to waste with some random woman I just met who clearly was too dumb to not notice this apartment was not vacant.
“What?” her smile with deep dimples on her cheeks faded, “Then, who the hell are you, Sir?”
“It does not matter who I am. I want you out. This is my apartment. Get lost” then, it was my turn to point my finger towards the door. Towering my height over hers, we were so close that I could smell her sweet scent.
She was not at all intimidated by my presence. In fact, she looked up to face me like I was at fault for this messed up situation we are in. “Sir, I paid for this rented apartment”
She pulled out her phone from the pocket of her jeans and shoved the screen to my face, “There. My booking details. You are one confused man”
Confused man? My eyes moved to read the booking at one glance. I swore my eyes were crossed reading those small tiny prints.
I took steps back and scoffed. I had no time for this nonsense.
Reaching out to the inside pocket of my blazer, I took out a stack of cash and threw it on the coffee table, “Take the money, get out. That should be enough, more than enough to get you another place. Out!”
I was sure this tourist would take the money and leave. It would be enough to get her a stay at a decent hotel nearby.
Folding her arms on her chest, she looked at me, “This is my place. I paid for it. You should leave, I don’t care a damn about your money”
“Fine” I took out another stack of cash and added it on the dollar notes on the table, “You want more? I’ll double it, if you just take that bag of yours and leave now”
She scoffed and shook her head. Pointing her finger at my face, she said with gritted teeth, “I don’t need your dirty money. I’m a lawyer, I have ways to make your life a miserable hell”
Oh, she had no idea the hellish life I have been through these past couple of days. Now, I have her to add to the list.
I looked at her from head to toe. A lawyer? She must be kidding me.
She looked more like a lost tourist to me. An opportunist too.
“You jerk! Typical rich man who thinks you can buy anything with money. You disgust me” her tone turned hostile. “Leave, or I’ll call the police. Then, I’ll take charge on suing you for trespassing on this place that clearly is booked under my name. I’ll bring you down. I have work to do, Mister whoever you are. I don’t have time for this. Get out!”
Sue me? A shabby looking lost tourist like her needed to be taught a lesson for disrespecting me, “Do you even know who I am?”
She smirked and wet her lips. She squinted her eyes looking at me. Perhaps, finally she recognised me and finally realised I was a man not to be messed with.
Sebastian Strauss, a name that many would have heard in the news lately for being a successful billionaire and influential with the right business connections. I was sure she would be trembling in fear knowing she had made a fool of herself in front of me.
I gave her a half smile. Waiting for her to apologise.
“Oh yes, I know you. And your type. You are a man, arrogant with thoughts that you are better or more important than others. Successful man, who feels proud of your achievement that you think you deserves to have. Egocentric, definitely, thinking that you are the centre of the universe and only think about yourself before others. Patronizing to those who you think are beneath you, especially woman” she moved forward and said in a whisper, “Behind that camouflage, you are alone and sad. A coward who thinks he could own anything with money. You are wrong, Sir. Money can’t buy everything”
I gasped. Did she just insult me?
“Yes, I know you, Sir. Your kind are many out there” she took steps back, “I’m calling Gustav, then I’m calling the police.”
Did this woman just insult me?
“Watch your tongue. If you know who I am, you would know I can make your life a miserable one”
“Bite me” she mocked me again and started talking to a man called Gustav commanding him to come over. I too took my phone and called Gianna, the landlord that gave me the keys to this rented apartment.
I heard her talking to Gustav in a language that were spoken by the people living in Bloom City. When my line got connected, I shouted at Gianna and asked her to come up and settle this shit soonest possible, I did not have time for this mess. I had an appointment to go to.
She then placed her phone on the kitchen table, so did I.
“Alright, Mr Arrogant. I don’t have time to waste. Gustav will come up and settle this matter. Pack your things and leave. If you touch my bag, I’ll haunt you down make you regret for ever knowing me. I expect you gone when I get back”
“Who do you think you are?” I yelled at her and had enough of her attitude and disrespect about me.
That woman took her phone and handbag before walked out from the apartment without looking back. I followed her from behind but then bumped into Gianna who stood at the door, “Mr Strauss, we will clear this mess. Don’t worry”
As Gianna was explaining to me about the double-booking situation, I could hear that woman talking to a man that would probably be Gustav.
I heard him called her Miss West.
(Sebastian’s POV).Miss West. Hmm.. I wondered if that woman was somehow related to Akira West.The surname West was quite common. But I doubt they are related.The information I read about Akira West in the folder Nigel had provided me was about someone who had outstanding achievement. A beauty with brains, Nigel said. Akira West’s academic background was impressive.Unlike that woman who trespassed my rented apartment. Annoying tourists.I did not want to waste any more of my precious time with that woman who had invaded my space at the apartment. Who did she think she was who dared to insult me!I will deal with her later. Such women would need to learn a lesson to respect me.I finally then arrived at the entrance of a modern looking multiple-story building in the heart of Amberose City. The driver had dropped me at the front of the lobby surrounded by glass floor to ceiling walls.“Sebastian Strauss. I have an appointment at Bloom Legal” I could see the receptionist's eyes widen
(Akira’s POV).Standing before the yellow door of Rosie Javier’s home, I felt my heart pounding. Somehow, I had a strong feeling that this door would definitely lead me to my son.After all these years, my dream was finally going to come true.Clenching my fist, I knocked on the door. This was a little cottage house with a beautiful blooming small flower garden surrounding its front passage. As I inhaled the calming scent of those fresh flowers, I closed my eyes while I waited for the door to open.“Yes? Can I help you?”I blinked my eyes open slowly and saw a woman probably in her late fifties of age, looking at me from head to toe and wrinkling her nose.That did not look good. I hoped this was not another joke played on me by fate.“Who are you?” she asked and folded her arms over her chest. “Are you a lost tourist? Walk up the hill that way and you’ll find someone to help you in direction. I’m busy.”What? Did I really look like a tourist?“Rosie Javier, I’m Aki-“ I cleared my th
(Akira’s POV).Being stalked was not something new that I encountered in my profession.There were those who wanted to scare me away to drop legal cases that I was in charge with. Some gave me death threats.I knew my risks and I was never afraid of them.But after knowing about how close I was to meeting my son, for the first time, I sensed fear. I couldn't fail here.While still wearing my sunglasses, I took a glance at my stalker. A tall man with muscular physique. His deep eyes were staring at me. Intensely. Not at all bothered to hide his intention to catch me.Who gave him such guts? Was the security in Amberose city already so bad now?I glanced at him again as I passed the corner. And this time he even showed me a bloodthirsty smile with the dagger in his jacket.Damn it! Was he really going to take my life?Then who sent him here? My evil aunt and cousin? The Strauss family? Had they already found out my identity and planned to take Samuel away from me again?I felt my heart
(Akira’s POV).When I saw his face again as I entered the apartment, my heart stopped for a few seconds.For a very short moment, I even thought that he had recognized me. Yet soon I realized that it was only Akira West he recognized.I had mixed feelings. Hate was most of it.I could not forget what he had done to me eight years ago, yet our one-night stand only meant nothing to him. That night had ruined my life. How I wished I could claw his eyeballs out from its socket!It took me a while to calm my anger. All for the only reason that I was grateful that he seemed to have protected my son very well.And I would take over that responsibility soon.“Congratulation for finding out my name.” I removed my sunglasses and handed his phone. “Your phone, here. Can I have my phone back?”If possible, I preferred to keep his phone a bit longer to hear Sammy's voice again. But I knew I had to exchange the phones back as soon as possible when there was a lot of important information. I hoped
(Akira’s POV).I could feel my blood flowing backwards and the veins in my hand were about to burst as I clenched my hand into a tight fist.Why, hell why!After ruining my life, was my nasty aunt and cousin going to ruin my son again?I had thought that my son was at least out of their clutches, so I was a bit relieved before. But now I finally realized that the devil had been at his side all along.God, I absolutely cannot stand this. I can't let this go on!I was more afraid of Samuel living with those two demons than I was of the threat of the Red King.No one in the world could understand better than I did how cruel and heartless these two can be. As my old past appeared to the surface, those old scars in my body seemed to itch again.The physical scars can be removed, but the scars on your heart will haunt you for the rest of your life.I had to stop this!“Sebastian, I’m staying with Sammy for a few days. He needs another blood transfusion. He needs more than usual. You need t
(Sebastian’s POV).I arrived back home at Emerald City. I could not wait to see my son again. I missed his little voice and laughter.Several calls were made to my phone requesting my presence at the office. I had ignored them all.I had made a promise to my son that I would take him to his best friend’s birthday party. One promise that I had tried to keep after many other promises were broken.“Daddy!” I heard his voice shouting to call me. He ran towards me with a smile that could light up my heart.“Hey, buddy” I bent down and embraced his little thin body while placing a kiss on his head, “You waited for me?”“I know you’ll come. Did you get it?” he asked excitedly, waiting for me to show the present I had bought for him from Amberose City. A new violin.“That would depend on whether you have been listening to the doctor. Did you take your medicine and obey the doctor for the transfusion?” I squatted down to his level and pinched his nose lightly.His smile turned into a sad face
(Akira’s POV).I never thought a random dinner party could lead me to meet Sebastian so soon.To be honest, I was not that ready to face him with any kind of mentality.Every time we met, that memory of that night 8 years ago came back to me again. But I was the only person who remembers it. It was not fair. So I just ignored him and walked towards a table.“Don’t look. Henry, what are you doing? Stop it.” I whispered to Henry who was seated in front of me.He took a glance at Sebastian and moved to look at me, trying hard not to smile. “Akira, when you say don’t look, the more I want to look. Is that his fiancée, Suzanne?”I shook my head and slapped Henry’s hand gently, “Stop laughing. It is not funny. And no, that’s not Suzanne. I don’t know who that is. Seems like he is cheating with Suzanne.""Not that I care. In fact, I personally think he deserves better than that evil cousin of mine. Anyone is better than her.”I drank my water with my eyes staring at Henry who was trying har
(Akira’s POV).Monday came.It was two days since I last saw Sebastian, and two days since I last saw my son. I missed my boy so much already. Not a day gone by that I did not dream of holding my son in my arms. At least now, I could see his face in my dreams rather than an imaginary face.In forgetting that sad phase of my life, I had drowned myself with work at my temporary apartment to study the case that I was leading. Molly, my private investigator was a big help in getting information, not just for the company but also information on Suzanne and my evil aunt.It seemed that my Cage family business was not doing well. My uncle had gambled most of his money away and he had used the Company’s money for personal purposes.I found out one news that had broke my heart. My dear grandfather went into a coma and it had been years since he had not woken up. They had kept it a secret from the public about his condition.That gave my uncle the authority on managing the Company. I doubt it