CHAPTER 32

Xander's POV

I spoke too soon earlier.

Well, my day started out right before it took a dramatic turn for the bad and the good again only for it to take another downhill turn that I am not a fan of.

After Dave and Sofia left with Alexa, I remain to finish my day's work. I am determined to finish my pending work and go on our honeymoon with Akexa the following week. As I think about it, I realize that I have little to no idea on where she would like to go.

I'm sure there are places on her list—that's if she has one—that she would love to go to. She would definitely be excited to go on our honeymoon there. It would be an experience of a lifetime.

But despite myself, I start to tick off the places I would want us to visit if she doesn't have a place in mind. Pretty sure she must be thinking that we won't be going on our honeymoon anymore. As if I would pass on a time to relax and free my mind off work.

The phone rings on my table, startling and drawing me away from my work. I stare at it for a second before answering the call knowing that it's Carly that is on the line. As soon as I'm clear on where we want to go, I will have Carly start to make reservations and plans for us. Knowing that won't be a problem is a relief. Money can buy those sort of things.

“Yes, Carly?” I ask when I answer the call. I can hear her breathing hard on the line and I can immediately tell that someone is giving her a hard time.

“Carly,” I call again, ready to shoot out of my seat to go see who.

“Mr. Gold, your mother is here.” She tells me in a pained voice, like she is being hurt.

My body freezes for a few seconds as I glare at the telephone. My mother shouldn't be here. She has been in Singapore and then Geneva in the last few weeks. When did she return back to NY without my knowledge? My informants are starting to slack on their job.

I breathe hard on the line, anger and unease burrowing up my veins. “I'm coming, Carly.”

When I hang up, I shoot out of my seat without bothering to shut my laptop. I leave everything behind and walked out of my office. I take the left turn and head over to Carly’s office. Just as I suspected on the line, she is hurt.

There are tears in her eyes when I approach her and neck looks bruised like someone had wrapped their hands around it, almost choking her to death. My heart stops and I go to her. She raises a hand up in the air to tell me that she is fine but I know better.

I turn my head to the woman seated on the couch flanked by two other men I recognize as hey bodyguards. The men who do my stepmother’s dirty work for her. The one with a scar on his left cheek sneers at me while the other one simply stares at me as if already bored with my presence. Anger boils in the pit of my stomach and I see red as I storm toward her.

“Really, mother?” I scream, furious.  “This is how you make your presence known? By hurting my assistant?”

A smirk stretches on her lips as she looks up at me. Those familiar eyes I have seen almost all my life doesn't startle me. They look as deceitful as she appears to be to everyone. Knowing that only makes me more mad.

“I didn't do a thing,” she says in a deceptively sweet voice that can fool anyone but me. “I've been sitting here all along.” She adds.

“Really?” I shoot her a glare as though her response matter.  I believe her though. She didn't do a thing but her bodyguards did. And they know it since the fuckers are now grinning at me.

“Yes, son.” She nods, smiling. “Now, are you going to invite me to your office or would you like me to break the ice here?” She demands. I don't miss the threat underlying her words.

I don't want her in my office or anywhere around me as a matter of fact. If I can have it my way, I will make sure that she disappears from my life. But Eva Gold has the connection to make my life miserable as she sees fit. She knows I have a weakness now and she wouldn't hesitate to use her against me anytime anyday.

I can't allow that.

“My office,” I nod at her, my anger simmering. Without waiting for her, I turn and head to my office. Not before shooting her bodyguards a glare, daring them to touch Carly again, and bear the wicked brunt of my wrath.

I barely have time to take my sit when Eva comes into my office, donning a very pretty dress and a smile that grates on my nerves. She takes a seat without me asking her to do so.

“What do you want?” I demand as soon as she is settled.

She laughs at the anger in my voice. “Now, now, son. That's no way to treat or talk to your mother.”

“Step mother.” I ammend.

“Some would argue that since I raised you.” She shrugs a shoulder casually. “Anyway, I heard you got married.”

“You heard right.” I stare at her head on. This time, she can't dispute the fact that it's true and we both know that. And that was why I had her banned from my building and my house. Drastic decisions like that spurs her into acting without measures or thoughts.

I have to admit that I didn't think that I would be seeing her so soon though. As far as I know, she is nit supposed to be back yet.

“To that…measly girl.” She scrunches her face in disgust and I have to wrap my hands around my chair to avoid pouncing her. “You couldn't have done better than that?”

I sigh and lean into my seat. “In case you didn't know, Eva, your opinions don't exactly matter to me.” I tell her.

Her eyes flash with anger as if my words hurt her. It's all a lie. “All for what, Xander? You are choosing to ruin that poor girl's life for your own selfish gains. Really?” She tsks. “I thought I raised you better than that.”

“You didn't raise me at all,” I retort.

“And I didn't even get an invite to the wedding. Are you really that desperate, Xander?” She chuckles.

“I don't know what you are talking about, MOTHER.” I play her game against her which makes her angry, again. “Now, if that is all, I would like to go back to my work.” I smile.

“Xander Gold, here is what I'm going to say to you. You are going to regret restricting me from seeing you.”

“Clearly, its not working if you are still seated in front of me. I will have to make sure that it works this time around.” I drop the pretense and snap.

She huffs and rises from her seat. “You can try, son.” She smiles and starts toward the door only to stop again. “By the way, does she know?” She asks.

“Know what?” I frown.

“That you can never love her. The poor girl is hanging on to the fantasy of a fairytale.” She declares and my smile freezes on my face as I go tense.

She is wrong though but that is what she doesn't know. Eva doesn't know shit about Alexa. She has only deluded herself that she knows.

“See you around, son.” She smiles at the tense look on my face before disappearing out of my office as quickly as she came.

I wait a few minutes for them to truly leave before summoning Carly to my office. She is no longer crying but there are sadness in her eyes. I hate the red marks lining her neck. My mother has gone far this time. Carly shuts the door and stalks toward me.

“My mother has been here before.” I say. It is not a question but Carly nods and disappointment sinks its claws into my heart. “When?” I ask her.

“A few days ago. She came alone and demanded to see you. You were in a meeting so I didn't tell you.”

“And when I came out?” I raise a brow at her.

“You haven't fully relaxed since you restricted her from coming here. I didn't want to ruin the little peace you had.” She explains, refusing to meet my gaze.

“Well, clearly, that didn't work. She knew that you would try to stop her again today which was why she came with her guards. And one of them put their hands on you.” I snap. Those fuckers certainly have no restraint whatsoever.

She exhales. “I'm sorry.”

“Who?” I demand.

“Huh?” She looks up at me.

“Who was he? What is his name?” I ask again.

“Carlton Hughes. The one with the scar on his face.” She tells me.

“Good. I'm going to have his hands cut off.” I nod before she can ask me what I want to do. Carly gasps but I ignore her. “Go to the hospital. If you need to take the rest of the week off, do so. Take yourself out and charge everything to my tab.” I tell her as I begin to send his information to someone to take care of.

Eva will be losing one of her most precious security in a few hours and it won't be my fault. None of it will be my fault.

“Oh, no. I can't.” She passes me a look of disbelief as if I have just said that I would be firing her. Not like she would agree to leave.  “You are stuck with me as your assistant. They can't scare me off. Although, there is something your money can help with.”

I roll my eyes. “Do whatever you want, Carly.”

“Yes, boss!” She salutes before I dismiss her.

As soon as she is gone, I dismiss her and call Dave. His security company will come in handy big time now. I should have made use of them before. When I'm done, I call my informants and fire them. They are useless anyway.

If it had been Alexa my mom's men had touched today, I would have done a lot more than firing. They are lucky they are having it easy. Very lucky that I'm not cool with it. But that will have to do for the moment.

I try to work after Carly leaves the office but I'm unable to. My mom's unspoken words and threat hangs over my head like a bomb. She hasn't struck yet, but I know that when she does, I will have to watch my back.

And Alexa's back too. If anything happens to her on my account, I will never forgive myself.

Eva Gold might be cunning but I would learn to be one step ahead of her. And that will only work if I ask for help. She has been untouchable for so long because I let her. I'm going to take it slow and ruin her life from the ground ups just as she did with Mt dad’s. Just like she is about to do with me.

Hurting me or my loved ones will be the last thing she will do in her soon to be miserable life. I will make sure of it. But for now, she can enjoy her little win while it lasts.