“Hector...you promised that you would try. You said that you would try and be here more often.”
“I am trying, princess. But I can’t escape this. I have to tell you something and you must listen to me carefully...”
Cassia stopped trying to take inventory of the shelves in her store and focused more on her phone conversation. Hector’s hurried rate of speech and his serious tone gave her the impression that this was really important.
“You know you can tell me anything, Hector.”
“There are some things I have done that I know you won’t be able to forgive, Cassia. But know this, no matter what happens...I love you. I truly do. You are the only thing in my life worth fighting for,” he said.
“Now you’re scaring me,” she replied. There was a wobble in her voice and Hector sighed when he heard it.
“I’ve done things...”
“What things?”
“I can’t tell you about them, Cassia. Knowing more would just place you in greater danger. I’m trying to protect you as best as I can. I am hiding now. I involved myself in something big and now that I don’t want to continue anymore, they won’t allow me to leave. They are forcing me to their will. These are the only things I can tell you.”
As dread filled her, Cassia replied, “What did you do Hector? What is this error you are talking about? Is this about money? You know you only have to ask.”
“No... Cass,” Hector sighed with frustration. “This is bigger than you or me. Just know that I am doing everything I can to fix this. Soon, I’ll go home and we can spend all the time we want together. For now, please understand,” he pleaded.
“As if I have any choice.”
“Cass, there’s one more thing I have to tell you. You have to leave your apartment. Take a vacation for about a week or two. Go to some beach and stay there.”
“What? I just can’t take off like that! My work depends on me and I have a lot of commitments for the next few weeks!”
“This is for your own safety. Please, Cassia, just follow me this once without question. Do this for me. Those who are after me might know of my connection to you and they may hurt you to get to me. Please just pack up and leave. Make as many phone calls as you want and take your laptop so that your work won’t suffer! All I ask is that you leave the city and spend some time in a faraway place.”
“Hector--”
“Cassia, please,” Hector begged.
Something in his tone said he was desperate. For now, Cassia decided to believe him.
“Fine. But you will have to meet me wherever I choose to go. We’ll hide together,” she bargained.
There was a long pause on the other line wherein she only heard Hector’s rough breathing then he said, “I’ll try, Cassia. I’ll try and finish everything right away so that I can be with you as soon as I can. Please understand...”
“Hector, whatever it is that you’ve done, you know I’ll always be here, right? You can tell me and I won’t judge you.”
“I know. But I’m not ready to tell you now. Give me some more time,” he sighed. “I don’t deserve you, princess. You will forever be my greatest treasure.”
Cassia’s eyes misted with tears and she found it difficult to swallow through the sobs that welled in her throat.
“I love you, Hector.”
“Not as much as I love you, princess.”
Silence descended over them. She would hold Hector to his promise that he would fix everything and that they’d soon be together.
“Cassia, I have to go. I’ll call you as soon as I can. But I’ll be using another number so that they will not be able to track me,” Hector told her.
“I understand. Bye, Hector. Keep yourself safe and return to me as soon as you can,” she urged.
“I will. And I will be counting down the hours until we are together again.”
Cassia stared at her phone for a couple more minutes as she replayed her conversation with Hector over and over again. She tried searching for clues as to what predicament he was in but everything was so vague.
She sighed and went to the computer to straighten things out. It was a good thing that it was still early and there were no customers yet. She could still do whatever work she could and at the same time make plans for her impromptu vacation.
She sat and began answering her numerous emails. Afterwards, she sketched some changes to her designs and made a note to start searching for the perfect fabric to create them with. Then, she took out her planner and pondered which meetings she would have to cancel or postpone for another time. When she was sure that her schedule was cleared, she searched for vacation packages to the places that she wanted to go to.
After careful consideration, she decided to settle on going to Hawaii.
Then she made a list of everything she would need on that vacation.
Nikos stretched his legs out in front of him.
Then he stretched his hands in the air, arched his back, popped his neck and yawned widely. He had been awake all night as he finalized some papers about the Higeshima Deal he was working on.
Higeshima Corporation is a shipping company in Japan. Due to bad management, the once prestigious company became bankrupt. But Nikos saw its potential so he wanted to buy the company and take over. If all goes well, the Higeshima Corporation will now be under the Andrade-Demakis Corporation and this will expand the company’s reach in Asia. Soon, they will also conquer the Asian market and this was Nikos’ goal for the next five years.
But before that happens, there was still so much work to be done.
Nikos stretched his arms again and leaned back. Now, the sun was nearly in the middle of the sky and he’s just finished.
He was at the penthouse suite of his hotel but instead of relaxing, he finished a mountain of work. He decided he’d take some brunch, drink his sleeping pills and go straight to bed while wishing for a dreamless sleep.
Suddenly, his phone rang. It was not a registered number so he hesitated in picking it up.
“Nikos Demakis, speaking,” he drawled in a bored tone as he stifled yet another yawn.
“Nikos! It’s me Alex. Thank God you answered!”
“Alex? Why? What’s wrong?”
He heard the note of distress in his usually calm and unshakeable friend.
“Just got intel that says they already know of her. Hector called her earlier this morning and they traced the call. The person I’ve assigned to guard her just reported there are several suspicious men outside her shop. I’m on my way,” Alex explained hurriedly.
Nikos heard the screeching of tires in the background and he knew that this was a dire situation indeed. His heart started beating faster as adrenaline flooded his system. He tucked the phone between his shoulder and ear and ran towards the table where he hastily retrieved his keys and wallet.
He ran towards the elevator as he continued speaking to Alex.
“Where is she?”
“Cassiopeia.Fifth Avenue,” Alex replied and the line went dead.
Nikos pocketed his phone and cursed the elevator for going so slowly. His mind emptied of any other thoughts except for the desperation to get to Cassia. He didn’t even have time to think why he was acting and feeling this way about his wife who was practically a stranger.
The moment the doors opened, he bolted across the lobby and towards his car. He painted the road black as he burned tires in his haste.
However, one look at the traffic and he knew he wasn’t going to make it as fast as he wanted to. He banged his palms on the steering wheel and cursed the city to hell for its heavy traffic. At the same time, he sent a prayer for Cassia’s safety to whoever might be listening.
Then, he pulled out his phone and decided to warn her.
Cassia’s phone rang again for what must have been the twentieth time already. She glanced at the screen and saw that it was Nikos. For the last fifteen minutes, she pressed the Ignore button repeatedly. She even considered switching it off for the frantic ringing was driving her crazy.
“What?!” she hissed.
“Thank the gods you finally picked up! Listen to me. Go to the back of your store and stay there. You’re not safe. Do not open the doors for anyone!” Nikos barked.
“What? That’s absurd! I cannot close my shop! It just opened and there are customers already! If this is a prank or a drunken call, then let me tell you, Nikos, it isn’t funny.”
Cassia hung up but before she could place her phone down, it rang again.
“Leave me alone!” she shouted.
“Cassia. Please. Listen to me. You are in danger. Just go to the back of your shop and wait for me there. I’ll explain everything later.”
She laughed and moved away from her register. She went closer to the glass that contained the mannequins dressed with her most beautiful designs.
“Are aliens coming to get me, Nikos?” she asked sarcastically as she looked at the skies. “I’m staring outside and the heavens look clear to me. No sign of flying saucers or something,” she teased.
Cassia didn’t disregard Nikos’ warning fully, however. She also scanned her surroundings while taking cover by the pillar near the glass. Nothing was out of the ordinary. She shook her head and berated herself for taking Nikos’ word seriously at all.
“Cassia, this isn’t a joke!” Nikos shouted. He considered throwing his phone because of his frustration but what good would that do?