Crossing The Line With You (COMPLETED)

Chapter Seven

Sam was up early. She will meet Gilbert for breakfast and iron out few more details of the project before meeting the whole team. She already knew most of the members but this will be the first time she will meet them personally. Sam by experience has been a good judge of character when she meets people and she hopes that the talent will play a big part in building her team. She wants this project to not only be good for a few years, her goal is for it to be able to stand on its own and continue to prosper even without her.

'Sam, how did it go with the anniversary of the center in the island last Saturday?' Gilbert asked. Gilbert was referring to what was Sam got busy with Alberto and Rodrigo that day when she and Meghan was at the island. She felt an ached on her chest thinking of Meghan.

'It was emotional but fun. I want it to be simple and casual so everyone will enjoy. We had some games and lots of foods, the kids love it!' Sam smiled. 'I have signed all the documents that day to finalized the transfer, it is an entity on its own now but Faro will remain to be the major stockholder. I don't want it to be influenced by greed since we are opening it up for outside investors. Same as what we agreed in this project, it will still be a non-profit organization but it should have a way to sustain itself without relying fully on donations and volunteerism.'

'I agree. I did like your proposal from the start that's why we are here. I love what you did in the island and it inspired me to build more like it.' Gilbert smiled.

'Am I hearing you correctly?' Sam asked.

'Hahaha, yes Sam. I have instructed our team to conduct feasibility study on different countries to identify which place or places will be suited for our next location.'  Gilbert replied grinning.

'Oh, Gilbert I love that. Many will benefit on this. You're a good man Gilbert.' Samantha put her hand on top of Gilbert's. They both smiled. Since young, Gilbert Wang, though well-off and came from a very rich family has always been down to earth and kind hearted.

The project with Gilbert is on full swing and the first phase will be completed in a month's time. The team is now preparing for the inauguration. 

As always Sam wants it to be simple and casual for the working team to enjoy and not be bothered with corporate formality. Gilbert agreed but insist that they should have another publicized event, this is to gather potential investor for the remaining phases of the project and future chapters. Sam will supervise the traditional opening as per how she wanted it, this will happen a week before the publicized event which Gilbert spearheaded.

Sam has been in and out of the country for the past 6 months. In these period, only half the time Tommy came with her, she still has no clear details of what happened to Meghan. Tommy have been following leads but Sam cannot believe the latest report from Tommy.  

*******************

Gilbert is back on stage thanking Sam for her speech, all the audience are on their feet still applauding Sam.  This is a yearly charity event where Gilbert this year is one of the board members.  He thought that this is the best venue to introduce the project.

'Thank You Sam.' Gilbert still emotional. 'Thank you Ms. Samantha Elliot for sharing your life with us, little that we know that there is a painful past behind all the success. We admire your resilience and how you bounce back. And I thank your Angel for letting us cross path that day and that led me, and all of us here to have the chance to be part of this wonderful endeavor.' Another applause from the room. 

Sam was so overwhelmed that she also cannot contain her tears.  She has second thoughts of whether she will let people know the truth about her past. But after seeing the video their team puts together to introduce the project she was convinced that it is time. It is time for her to also let go of the past and only look forward. And be with Meghan.

After the event, people are congratulating Sam and Gilbert for their project and expressing interest on the next one. 'Great work Sam!' Gilbert hugging her. 'But we need to have a serious talk after the event', he whispered. She is not sure what Gilbert meant but she knows it is important. She also needs to call Tommy later for an update on Meghan.  

Sam is now sitting with Gilbert and his wife at the pool area.  They are now in comfortable clothes out of their black and white attire from the party earlier.  After sharing few glasses of wine, It is late and Vanessa decided to retire for the night.

'Good night to both of you, don't stay up late I promised the kids they will see you both for breakfast tomorrow.' She chuckled. Sam knows the drill, whenever she visits, the kids will always look for her and ask her to play with them which she enjoys a lot.

'Good night, Vanessa. See you in the morning.' Said Sam. Gilbert kissed his wife goodnight. After Vanessa left, Gilbert signaled one of his guys.

Sam was shocked to find Tommy walking with him.

'Sam, you know this guy?' Gilbert said. 

'Yes, I know him. He follows me around.' She already expected that Gilbert will find out about him one day, if she has Tommy, Gilbert will have tons of Tommy wherever he goes.

'One of my guys, noticed him quite a few times so we needed to check. Sorry Sam, I was just looking out for you.' Gilbert apologetically said.

'It is fine Gilbert, I know you mean good.' Sam replied.

'I got the intel that he is searching for Meghan but he won't talk much no matter how I threatened him.' Gilbert laughed. 'Sorry, I was just kidding but I like your guy, not easily intimidated.' Then back to his serious face.   Gilbert asked John to show Tommy his room where he can spend the night and they will all talked again tomorrow.

'You are looking for Meghan, Meghan your PA?' Gilbert asked.

'Yes, six months ago she just vanished and I don't know what happen to her.' Gilbert can see a different sadness in Sam's eyes. 

'Sam, I don't want to intrude but as your friend you know you can tell me anything, right?' Gilbert asked,  Sam just nod. 

'Meghan is not just your assistant is it?' Sam nods again.

'I have feelings for her for some time now but never acted on it.  The day she disappears was the first time I knew she has feelings for me too. I wanted to tell her how much she means to me but I hesitated as I am not sure if I am ready.'  Sam tears started flowing, she is keeping all this emotion for so long.

'Here, here Sam.' Gilbert put his hand on Sam's. 'I will help you find her Sam, I promise.'

'Can you tell Tommy that he will be working with John now and share whatever information he has now on Meghan? We can cover more angles if I get my guys help find her.'

'Thank you Gilbert!'  Sam hugs Gilbert.

'You must think of an epic proposal to her when we find her, you should beat mine.' Gilbert tease Sam. Sam gave him a slight push.

'I will definitely will.' She whispers.

****************************************************************

'What are you saying Tommy? That Meghan was in the same country where I am for 6 months?' Tommy nod. Sam is now back running Faro Realty and Holdings, she does not need to travel that frequent. She will receive monthly updates and quarterly a representative of her Gilbert will conduct a review to assess their progress.

'What the hell is that Tommy? How is it that it never came out earlier and you are always tracking her somewhere else?' Sam was angry.

'I am very sorry Ms. Elliot for my lapses. I failed to consider the possibility much earlier. You will find everything in that envelope. I was following the tracks of Meghan Bradwhick and it was later only that I realized it was a different Meghan Bradwhick. The one I was following is her sister.

The picture I sent you on the day she disappears is of her sister, she arrives that same day that Meghan took the flight out. There was no record of Meghan's exit as she uses a different name. Meghan has been in hiding for the past months and all I can say is we need to get her first before her sister finds her. I have informed Mr. Wang about this to get his help, the rest of the guys is on the move to know what is Meghan's exact location. The country has thousand of islands in her name, she can be in one those.

'Are you saying, there's a real threat in Meghan's life?'

'Yes, Ms. Elliot. For what we gather, she has no actual plans of leaving Faro, but her phone records shows that she got two calls the day before she disappears, one is from her trustee and another from a private number.'

'A day before she disappears, is the day we were at my apartment.' Sam thought.

'I need to find Meghan Tommy whatever it takes. Book us the earliest flight you can find Tommy.'

'I already did Ms. Elliot, I figured you would want to come. We are taking the first flight out. I will see you at the lobby at 4:00am?' asked Tommy.

'Yes, Tommy. Good night.' Tommy steps out of Sam's office.

After Tommy left, she scan the rest of the documents and the pictures Tommy has gathered. She looked the pictures of Meghan's sister, it's uncanny how they look exactly the same. But her eyes, definitely not Meghan. Meghan has this blue warm smiling eyes when she looks at you, and how she lost them when she laughs. 

She read through the rest of the report. 

Meghan has a half-sister from her father side but the mother was unknown. Her sister grew up in a foster home and had a difficult life. When her father found out about her, he took her in and live together with Meghan and her mom. Their father was a known businessman but lost everything when he got addicted to gambling and drugs. He had a session of dinking and drugs in there house one time and while passed out from too much drinking, one of his buddies molested Meghan, she was only 12.

'My God!' Sam covers her mouth in shocked.

When Meghan's mom found out she packed and took Meghan leaving her father and sister behind.

Her mom's friends took them in until her mother found a job. A year after they heard that her father committed suicide. He found out what happened to Meghan and blamed himself. She never knew what happened to her sister but she's 18 that time.

Four years ago, Meghan's mom died.  Her sister visited her,  she thought it is console her and be united with her but instead demanded access to a trust fund their father left her.  Meghan told her sister she has no knowledge of any trust fund.  Her sister insisted about it and want a share from it.  

Meghan was on her final year of university that time, as per her Mom's last request and the money she managed to leave her, Meghan continued with her education and was an exchange student.

'She was one of our intern three years ago. That's why she looks familiar when she went for the interview.' Sam recalled.

When Meghan turned 21, she got a call from a lawyer and asked her to visit their office to discuss the trust fund left by her father. The fund was set up under her name the day she was born. With inflation, interest and dividends it is now worth 5 million Euro.   Meghan will have full access to it from that day.  

'She technically does not need to work especially as a personal assistant.' Sam was confused. She kept on reading.

There is monthly transfer out of funds amounting to 5,000 EUR to Natasha Bradwhick and it increases by 20% every year. Last year there was a lump sum transfer of 500,000 EUR and another 250,000 just three months ago to the same account. The only withdrawal from the trust fund that went to Megan was to pay for some fee for her to get a permanent residency which was three years ago and to change her name this year. From Meghan Bradwhick, she changed it to Charlotte Meghan Whitman, following her mothers maiden name.

Sam continued reading.

Her sister had plastic surgery to look exactly as Meghan and tried to copy her with the intention of getting full access to the fund. Her sister thought that she has all the information she needed to withdraw all the money from the fund but got caught when she uses Meghan Bradwhick instead of Charlotte Meghan Whitman. The incident was immediately reported to the police but her sister managed to escape.

After the incident, she called Meghan to demand more money but this time she declined knowing what she did. 

'So this is all about money.' Sam thought 'Her sister got greedy and wanted everything just for herself. I need to find Meghan soon.'

She looked at the watch on the wall, it was already 2:00AM. She will meet Tommy at 4:00AM, she needed to pack.

Without sleep, Sam was at the lobby at 4:00AM and went to the airport with Tommy.