CHAPTER 44

Alexa's POV

I haven't felt as happy as I feel in days.

And I have Xander and the people around me to thank for that. It still feels very surreal to me how much things have changed around me in only a few months. Sometimes, when I think of my life now, I can't help feeling grateful.

I'm married. I'm Mrs. Gold. I'm married to one of the sought after billionaires in the country and Sometimes, it all still feels like a dream.

Or maybe it is a dream. If it's a dream, heaven knows that I never want to wake up from it. I grin as I check my phone to see if a text has come in from Xander. After he told me that he is on his way, I sent him some whooping stickers that screams my excitement.

I don't know why I'm this excited but a movie night is what I have planned. The movie room has been organized by me, fully comfortable and dark themed with the movie ready to play. I've made popcorn and other treats I know both of us enjoy.

I even made us matching T-shirts to wear for the movie. That's how excited I feel. It's amazing how something like a movie can have me skippy and giddy like a child. But it is.

The maids are way too excited with me to say anything against it. They've gotten pretty comfortable chatting with me all day but they also know when I'm not in a mood to talk.

I moan as I bit into one of the cupcakes I spent my afternoon baking. It's as delicious as is it looks and I have no doubts that Xander would enjoy it. I glance at my phone again to check the time. It's been more than thirty minutes since he informed me that he's left the office.

He should be almost here.

I finish my cupcake quickly and saunter out of the kitchen. Lina waves at me as I pass by her on my way to the bedroom. When I get into the room, I strip out of my clothes quickly to take a shower. Since I've been in the kitchen all afternoon, I've gotten quite sweaty.

I dash under the shower after wearing a shower cap. The water rains down on me and I scrub my body quickly, grabbing my shower gel where I always keep it. After scrubbing my body to my heart content, I step out of the shower and turn it off. I grab my towel and wrap it around my body. If Xander isn't home yet, then he should be almost home.

I quickly wipe my body clean and make use of my cosmetics. When I finish, I brush through my hair as I'm not in the mood to style it. I only apply lip gloss to my lips before I slip on a pair of jeans shorts over the customized T-shirt I had made for me and Xander.

I look good and I know it. So, I don't linger to stare at myself in the mirror. Instead, I grab my phone and walk out of the room checking for any message from Xander. After confirming that Xander still isn't home from the staff, I go outside to wait for him, wondering what is holding him up.

I don't know how long I sat there waiting but it must have been about twenty minutes already when I finally whipped my phone out of my pocket to send him a text. The text goes unread after a few minutes and I frown. Xander almost always responds to my text seconds after texting him.

What's the delay?

I wait for a few minutes and when he doesn't respond, I text him again.

When that goes unanswered, I begin to worry, pacing back and forth the place. Xander is never late. And he should have been here more than thirty minutes ago but he isn't. And he isn't answering my call either.

My heart squeezes with worry as a daunting thought pops up in my head.

What if…

Oh God, no!

Xander can't be hurt. He is fine. I'm just overthinking things as he will be home soon. He is fine, he is fine, he is fine.

I chant in my head as I pace around the room. He has to be fine. There's no other way. Of course, Xander is fine but my nerves are seizing every rational part of me and I'm trying not to freak out.

I dial his cell and watch it ring. After a minute, it sends me to voice-mail and my heart sinks. But I don't give up because Xander has to be fine. So, I call again. And again. And again. And again.

All of which sent me to voice-mail.

I am full on panicking, unable to stand still or sit around. I don't care for the cold that is starting to envelop me, chilling my bones and making the hairs on my body stand. I don't care for how the maids are starting to look at me. I don't care for any of that as I keep on trying to reach him.

When it becomes clear that I'm unable to reach Xander, I place a call to Sofia as I thought of Dave. Eva could have hurt him. He will know about this. He has to know something.

“Hey, girl!” Sofia says when she answers the call.

With my heart racing, I start to speak. “Sof, Xander isn't home yet. He texted me when he was about to leave the office but he isn't home yet. That was over two hours ago.” I rush out, not stopping for a break.

“I want to talk to Dave,” I tell her before she can say anything.

“I'm taking it to him right now,” she says, sounding worried. A moment later, Dave is on the line.

“Alexa, Sofia just told me what is going on. I was at his office. I left him alone so he could round up with his day's affairs.” He tells me.

“He texted me when he was about to leave the office. And now, he isn't home. He should be home by now. He is never this late.” I ramble.

“I know,” Dave responds coolly. “I'm sure he is fine. You should try to stay calm. I'm going to look into it now.”

I nod even though I'm unconvinced. Sofia takes the phone from him. “Lexy, try to be calm, okay?”

I hesitate, my heartbeat dropping. “What if its…Eva?” I whisper. “What if she is behind this? What if she's hurt Xander?” I ramble, feeling fear and worry take over at once.

“Okay, okay, that can't be true. And if it is, Dave will find out. He is already looking into it. I'm pretty sure Xander is fine. I don't want you worrying. Or do you want me to come over?”

I shake my head to hide the dread threatening to consume me whole. “No, no. It's probably nothing and he will be home soon.”

“Right!” She deadpans before going ahead to ask me to calm down again.

When the call ends, I take a deep breath and try to think. I'm going to wait out here for thirty minutes more. No, an hour. If Xander doesn't show up by then, it won't matter what Dave and Sofia say. I will go find him.

I stop pacing and sit at the top of the stairs, looking around the estate. Every sound has me perking up in my seat. Every movement has me looking and wanting to find out. Movements behind me have me sitting up and looking behind me.

Because it's dark and the outside lights are dim, I don't quickly recognize that it's Doris walking up to me until I do. I try to smile at her as she comes to stand beside me, looking down at me.

“Take a seat, Doris,” I tell her, patting the space beside me.

I try not to have favorites in the house but Doris, Lina, and Tina are my favorite staff in the house. They are just so fun to be around and they do their work diligently without complaints.

I look at her when she doesn't say anything. She isn't meeting my gaze but I know her well enough now to know that she has something to say to me. So, I don't beat around the bush.

“What is it, Doris?” I ask her, leaning back on my arms.

“I have something to tell you, Mrs. Gold.” She says in a quiet tone. I frown. I've asked her to stop calling me Mrs. Gold and lately, she seems to be adhering. Why the sudden change?

“Go on,” I urge her.

She breathes shakily as she plays with her fingers nervously, avoiding my gaze. “A while ago, Mrs. Eva Gold contacted me.” She breaks the ice.

I sit up immediately. “How long is  a while ago?” I ask her.

“A month ago,” she responds. “She gave me a drug and asked me to mix it up in your coffee or whatever you take. She offered me some money to do it too. Promising to pay off my father's loans.”

I don't move as I listen to her, everything sounding foreign to my ears.

“I've been trying to pay off my father's life-time loans for a while now and she knows it. She also knows that my father took that loan to pay for my medical surgery as a child. As much as that would be a big deal, I couldn't do it.” She shakes her head and turns to look at me. “I couldn't hurt you, Alexa. Especially not when I found out that the womb is meant to destroy your womb.”

I gasp, inching away from her, unable to believe my ears.

“I know you have been attempting to get pregnant and it's been making me wonder if she has found another way to do her bidding. I haven't told her that I'm not doing what she asked of me. She assumes that I've been keeping to my end of the bargain.” She reveals.

I can't speak and Doris knows it. She rises up to leave, but stops to look at me. “I'm so sorry, Mrs. Gold. I will turn in my resignation letter tomorrow.” She adds.

I open my mouth to say something, anything to her but my phone pings in my laps and I look down at it. Doris hurries away after that but I don't call her back or hurry after her. There will be plenty of time to get back to her after I deal with my current situation.

After I can comprehend all she's just dumped on me.

An unknown number has texted me which immemorial reminds me of how dire my situation is. I try not to panic as I click on the chat. A video has been sent to me along with ‘Enjoy’. Whatever that means.

However, when I tap the play tab on the video and I see what the video is about, I'm left numb, speechless.  Because on my screen is Xander with Danielle having sex while Danielle's moans fill the room.

Suddenly, I'm not worried anymore.

I'm numb.