On Our First Attempt

Chapter Twelve

Back at the penthouse, Kyle was unsure of how to feel. He was supposed to be relieved that he've finally sent her out of his house but after his encounter with Valeria, he was outright worried about the consequences of his actions. "What could have happened to her that night?" This question kept ringing in his head. He thought Ariana might have stayed the night with Eduardo since he saw him outside the palace after Ariana left which gave him a little hope of her being safe though jealous, but after checking with the securities, he became worried about where she might have gone or how she might be fairing.

All the time as he thought about his sister's words, he couldn't go to work and had asked Lucas to take care of things at the office on his behalf as he just lazied around the house.

Just like every other day as he sat in the living room, he received a call from the security post, informing him about an unexpected guest which were awaiting him down stairs. Though not expecting anyone, he asked the securities to show them to his place and few minutes after, two young men arrived at the penthouse. They introduced themselves as some secret agents and Kyle wondered why they would want to see him.

"Why would you be here to see me?" Kyle asked after offering them a place to seat.

They reached out to their briefcase and brought out an evidence bag which contained a completely ruined phone.

"We found this at the scene of a recent hit-and-run which is few kilometers away from this place." One of the secret agents said.

"That still doesn't explain why you are here?" Kyle said, not getting the context.

"Ok, we brought it here because after much investigations, we found out that this phone was bought under your name, so we were hoping you could help us identify the owner since we couldn't find her there." The other person replied.

At this point, Kyle became alert, he snatched the phone from their hand and navigated it for some time and then he realized it belonged to Ariana. He didn't know what to do or how to react to this strange news. He stared at the phone until his eyes became blurry as tears was welling up in them. One of the agents tapped his shoulder to bring him back to present as they've been talking to him without a reply.

"We were wondering if you knew the owner of this phone?" They reminded him of their question but Kyle was not sure of a reply to give.

"What did you say happened to the owner of this phone?" He asked again to be sure of what he thought he heard.

"We believe she had a very big accident nine days back but her body was moved from there and till now, we've still not heard any news from her or anyone that might know her way about." They explained further.

"Are you suggesting she....... she might be dead?" Kyle asked hopelessly.

"Due to the after effects of the accident on the road, we believe so." They affirmed and by the end of their statement, they heard a bang on the ground and when they checked, it was the already ruined phone which came clashing on the ground again after haven slipped from Kyle's hands from the shock of the news.

"Sir, is there any information you can give us regarding the owner?" They asked again.

"Please leave my house before I call the securities." Kyle threatened and immediately they left his house as they feared been fired because one call from him at their office and they would be laid off.

Kyle was not aware of the time he slipped from his couch to the floor as the thought of Ariana been dead hit him hard. He interlocked his fingers as he wrapped them round his head with his elbows pointing forward. He screamed as loudly as his voice could carry and he wept sorrowfully. He stood up from where he was sitting and walked to place where his father's picture was widely hung, then he placed his hands on his face and lamented.

"Dad, I have forsaken you! I finally killed someone because of that woman." He exclaimed.

As if not comfortable with his current position, he brought down the picture from where it was hung, placed it on the floor and sat beside it.

"I thought I was doing the right thing dad, I thought sending her out would prevent me from soiling my hands with her blood but I still ended up doing that." He explained further.

For over an hour Kyle continued to give his sorry ass excuse of an explanation to his father until he slept off at the spot only to wake up few hours later. He stood up and took the picture to his room and then went to take a shower before leaving the house. He drove to his sister's place as fast as he could but the securities wouldn't let him in. He pleaded earnestly before his sister finally allowed him in.

"What are you doing here? As you can see, am already leaving a worry free life." Valeria said angrily.

"Can we talk about that later please?" Kyle said seriously as he sat on the couch closest to him and began to explain his reason for being here.

"I don't know what's going on Val, some men came over to my house few hours ago and.....and........." Kyle was still stuttering when Valeria interrupted him.

"And what? Try to be fast with whatever you have say because am very busy here." She scolded.

"Did you by chance bought a phone for Ariana in my name?" Kyle asked worriedly.

"Is this about her? Have you found out where she is?" Valeria also asked.

"Please just answer me." Kyle lashed at her.

"Yes I did? What does that have to do with her where she might be? And the men you said came to you?" Valeria asked, feigning ignorance.

"Uhmmm...........they brought..............uhmmm........Aria.....na's phone." Kyle stuttered.

"What?" Valeria exclaimed. "H-how did they get their hands on it? Did they tell you about Ariana's whereabouts?" She asked curiously.

"I think......sh-she got into an accident and some......one took her from the scene." Kyle stuttered as he explained to his sister. The reaction that Valeria was overwhelmingly sorrowful.

"This is all your fault K, I warned you and now you've finally succeeded in killing a person, you've forsaken dad K. And the way you killed her you can't even be arrested for it." Valeria scolded harshly, leaving Kyle speechless and sad. After thinking for sometimes, he knelt down before his sister and talked as calmly as possible.

"Maybe she could be alive afterall they said someone took her. Maybe the person knew she was still alive and took her away for immediate treatment." He suggested.

"It's not like I don't want that to be the case, but this is just your suggestion, you have to act to it. Look K, if you don't find her alive, let's not see each other again, and I mean it this time. If you keep coming here, I will ask my husband to relocate us." Valeria threatened.

Kyle continued to plead with her but it all fell on deaf ears and soon enough, Valeria left for her room, living Kyle all alone. He had no other choice than to go back to his house as it was already late.

All through the night he couldn't sleep as he had flashbacks of the good times he'd had with Ariana and the thought that he might have caused her death scared him. He laid on the bed with his father's picture by his side as if asking him to come help him now that Valeria has forsaken him.

Early the next morning, he had a multiple video call with Lucas, Jason and Miguel and explained to them about what might've happened to Ariana and about his sister's threat. After explaining, he asked them to help him find her but everyone of them came up with an excuse to not help him as per Valeria's threat.

"I would have really loved to help but I have to fly to Argentina for a business trip and I won't be around for awhile." Miguel lied.

"Same here K. I..... have to go to Spain for an upcoming premiere event, and it's gonna be taking sometime." Jason also lied.

Kyle was sad to here their excuses as he thought they meant every word of it. "It's okay guys. Guess it would be just me and Lucas as usual, right?" He asked Lucas.

Lucas sure knew he wasn't going to help him out in other not to incur Valeria's wrath, but how he is going to go about is what he doesn't know since he works for Kyle. His father had wanted him to learn the ropes of business from Kyle since he never associated himself with work as a child which was why he works for him. He kept scratching his head and face not sure of what excuse to come up with. Jason and Miguel understood this and they thought of a way to help him out.

"When are you going to see the doctor Lucas?" Jason scolded out of nowhere.

"Why does he need to see a doctor?" Kyle asked worriedly, not understanding what was happening.

"Uhmmmm..........I......uhmmm......" Lucas who was caught unaware continued to stutter until Miguel interrupted him, helping him out of his misery.

"He collapsed yesterday and when we rushed him to the hospital, the doctor said he need to be admitted for a few days because of the stress he's been undergoing. K, you should understand that working with you is quite stressful and give him a few days or week off." Miguel lied effortlessly.

"Why didn't anyone tell me about this? Now you're making me look like the bad guy here." Kyle said angrily.

"Am sorry about that K." Lucas apologized.

"No need to apologise. You can stay off work for as long as you like, guess I would be on my own. I will check on you when I'm free." Kyle said pitifully.

"You don't need to, I will make sure to come back as soo as I can." Lucas said.

"Bye for now." Kyle said and ended the call.

He relaxed on his bed as he taught about how lonely he felt. For the first time in his life, he finally admitted to his loneliness and how helpless he could be on his own. Even though he had a lonely heart and detested company, he's never truly admitted to it except for today.

"How the hell am I gonna find her, and alive at that?" He wondered. He wandered around the house not knowing what to do first.

Lucas on the other hand called the guys separately after they ended the call with Kyle and they discussed about how they feel for Kyle.

"I've never seen him that sad since his father's death." Lucas said.

"Yeah, we were supposed to be there for him in time of need, but here we are running away for our own good." Miguel added.

"It's not like we are doing the wrong thing here guys. I fully support Val's decisions, it's for the better future. What could we have done if he had killed that woman five years ago or killed Ariana just few days back? Let's just hope it works and watch his back if need be." Jason suggested.

"You're right Jas. But it's gonna be tough on him being all alone." Miguel said.

"I have to go guys. Let's meet later at the clubhouse since am now jobless." Lucas suggested and they all agreed before ending the call.

LOIZA, PUERTO RICO.

Just like every other weekend, Logan took Dylan to Hector's place at Loiza since they couldn't see each other during the weekdays.

Dylan and his father planned how spectacular his birthday which was coming in three days time was going to be while Logan just watched them as he glanced through his phone.

"You haven't stated what you'd want this year as your birthday gift, Dylan." Hector said.

"I already said I want mom." Dylan replied carelessly as he was engrossed with his video game.

"We can't be sure she'd be coming so you need to make a back up request." Logan added.

"Why would I need a back up request when am going to be mourning if she fails to come?" Dylan wondered.

Logan and Hector were speechless. They didn't know how to respond to him or make him feel better as they were also angered by Ariana's behavior as well. After sometimes, Logan asked Dylan to go play his video game in his room as they had something to discuss.

Immediately Dylan left, Hector brought out a file and explained to Logan.

"I finally found out where he lives. They moved to Las Vegas the next that after that incident and also had a change of name which was why it was hard getting to him on time, but do we really need to do this? I mean we're good this way, it's only gonna cause more harm when anyone finds out. And I love Dylan and Ariana, I just......I just hope she comes back and by chance have a change of mind about me." Hector said.

"I can't let you leave the rest of your life like this. What if my sister doesn't comes back or what if even if she comes and she still doesn't wanna start a family with you? Plus this would be clearly unfair on Dylan's part. He has the right to know his real father even though that asshole doesn't deserve it." Logan replied.

"What about Ana? How do you think she'd feel when she finds out that all this years we lied to her?" Hector asked worriedly.

"That's why we shouldn't have started this back then. You even had to fight with your family just to claim that pregnancy. I shouldn't have left her by herself that day, it's all my fault and I will take responsibility for it when the time comes." Logan replied sadly. He requested for a drink and Hector stood up to get it.

Logan's phone rang immediately after Hector left as if it was waiting for him to leave and he wondered who could have been the owner of the strange number calling him. After answering the call he waited for almost a minute before tthe caller finally spoke up.

"You're still the same Logo. Don't talk first to a stranger huh?" The caller said.

"I.....is this.....wh.....o I think it is?" Logan stuttered as he asked.

"Yeah man. It's your ugly duckling." The caller replied.

"Ana!" Logan exclaimed and just then Hector returned with a bottle of whiskey and two glasses.

"Is that Ana?" Hector asked curiously but Logan quickly signalled him to shut up as he continued talking on the phone.

"I thought you'd never wanna speak with me, what's up today?" Logan asked.

"I missed you. I missed you that's what's up." Ariana replied.

"Really? Do you expect me to believe that? You're just missing me now in four years?" Logan asked.

"You understand me the most so am sure you know how I truly feel." She said sorrowfully, making Logan go speechless for a moment. "I gotta go. Talk to you later. That's my number so save it and send my regards to Hector and Dylan." She added and ended the call afterwards.

Logan remained silent for a while but Hector's continuous pester made him noisy once again.

"Yes. It's Ana!" Logan exclaimed as he now have his feelings mixed up. He's happy he heard his sister's voice in a long while but then, he's still mad at her for abandoning him.

"Why do you think she called you after all this while?" Hector asked.

"Because she wanna come home. She wants me to come find her." Logan replied confidently as if he was sure that was why she called.

"That's a relief. Dylan is going to be so elated." Hector said hopefully.

"You care about him alot." Logan complimented.

"Yeah, he made me feel like a father, and mostly from a young age, a kinda feeling you'll never understand." Hector mocked.

"I think I do." Logan defended.

They were still joking around when Dylan came back to them with a hardened expression.

"I wanna go home." He said to Logan.

"Home? You're home remember." Hector interrupted.

"To Granny's. I wanna go to granny's home." Dylan affirmed.

"Oh, really? I hope you don't tell me you wanna come back here once we get there because you were supposed to send the weekend here." Logan warned.

"I won't don't worry, just take me home." Dylan said firmly, making it obvious he wasn't ready to stay here and no one could stop him, not even his father. Logan bade Hector farewell and took off to San Juan in his clean white Lexus.