Chasing The Billionaire's Heart

Chapter4

Alexander

"Mother, I am a full grown man for heaven's sake, you cannot expect me to just get married to anyone you choose for me," I said.

Mother and Victoria came to pay me a visit at work, but I am starting to imagine if their original intention was to visit me or fix me a marriage.

"Alex, my dear boy, I am your mother, and I know what is best for you," Mother said, with a calm voice that made me feel uneasy, she does that anytime she wants me to do her bidding. Not this time.

"I love Gabby, and nobody can change the way I feel about her." I stood by my decision.

Victoria was awkwardly silent, playing with the wooden effigy of a tiger on my table. She was up to something, I was very sure of it.

"Alex," Mother whined, then turned her attention toward Victoria beside her, "why are you not saying anything?" She was surprised at my little sister's elfish silence.

Victoria dropped the effigy on the table and tutted. "You seem to have forgotten that you promised Cheryl's father you were going to marry his daughter if he helped you clean your dirty deeds."

I knew Victoria was not silent without a reason. Such a slithering serpent, she has always opposed my relationship with Gabby.

My heart slammed against my ribs at Victoria's words. My whole face went numb immediately.

"I will find a way to fix that, it is none of your worries," I replied with a scowl.

"Fix it, interesting." Victoria's voice had an element of vile that made me shiver. "Let's see how you fix it, then, but I will not watch you give up everything you have worked for, just for that girl. Never."

I had always known my past would come back to haunt him, but he never imagined it would be this soon. It was barely two years since the terrible incident, it felt like just yesterday.

I was In the middle of a board meeting when I received a call from a strange number.

I muted his call and resumed the meeting.

A message popped up on my phone: I am out and I am back, I will make you pay for forgetting me in the penitentiary.

In an instant, I knew who it was. It was my former bodyguard, now enemy, Lucas who went to jail for something I did.

He was more than just my bodyguard, he used to be the closest person to me, however, things took a turn down south, and we were now at a point of no return.

I lost focus and rushed out of the meeting.

I made a few phone calls and realized someone had appealed to shorten his sentence to just a year and a half. He, no I, was supposed to serve a jail time of seven years.

My phone rang again, while I tried to think of a way out of this mess. It was Lucas, I steeled myself for the worst and picked it.

There was silence for a moment from him, and then his coarse bassy voice resonated in my ears.

"Dear Mr. Harrington, or should I say,y Sir?" He chuckled, then continued, "How time flies, Alexander."

"I...am sorry, Lucas," I said, with a break in my voice.

"Don't tell me sorry, you did what you could do. You proved the power of your wealth, and now it is time for me to show you how lethal a broken bottle can be."

"I can make this right, I will--"

"Indeed. You will make it right. You have just nine hours to meet me at the same place where it all went down. Come along with your resignation documents as the CEO of Rubies, and come alone or you might be the headline of tomorrow's news."

He hung up the call before I could respond. I lost my will to reason.

I was stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea: I either go to jail and lose everything I have worked for in the blink of an eye or step down as the CEO of the company I built with my sweat and hand it over to someone I don't know. Either way, I am still losing.

After much pondering, I decided to face my demons like a man, something I should have done two years ago.

I had reached a point where I no longer had to lie, but there were things in my past that were better off hidden, things that even Gabby had no idea about.

I dialed her number, but she was not picking up, so I dropped a message for her on w******p, telling her how much I loved her and would be miserable if something were to happen to her.

It could be the last message I send to her. I won't allow Lucas to have his way.

As I made my way to the meeting spot, my mind was racing with all the possibilities of what Lucas would do. Knowing perfectly what was on the line for me, I summoned courage to face him, without obliging any of his demands.

I would negotiate with him.

I finally arrived at the dimly lit warehouse where Lucas had asked me to meet him. Memories of my nightmare struck me deeply, with the cold air seeping through my ears.

As I approached, Lucas stepped out, flanked by some heavy-bodied ruffians. His goons I presumed.

"I hope you came prepared to make a deal, Alexander," Lucas sneered, his eyes locking with mine. He looked disheveled and shabby and leaner. His bulging muscles remained and I am sure of his extraordinary fighting skills.

"We can find a way to reach a consensus, Lucas," I said, trying to keep my voice calm.

"Do you take me for a fool? I don't see any document with you. Don't tell me you have come here to negotiate." He stared at me for a second and my silence ired him. He brought out a gun from his back trouser and pointed at me.

I froze on the spot. My knees nearly broke to the ground.

"I am sorry, Lucas. I am."

I tried to plead with him, but I only enraged him the most.

"You say sorry? Where were you when I was locked up in that godforsaken hole? You promised you were gonna get me out but you left me to rot," his eyes started to become teary, "I should kill you right now and go to jail for something I did. And one thing you failed to realize is that for twenty-two months and two weeks, I was at the penitentiary, I sharpened my blade of vengeance, waiting for the right moment

"I swore to take everything that gives you joy and I'm gonna get it tonight."

"What do you want?" I questioned, bracing my face to push behind my fear.

He sniffed and thundered a peal of maniacal laughter. "I want your business empire, and I want Gabby," Lucas said, a wicked gleam in his eyes.

Gabby? How does he know Gabby?

My heart raced at the mention of Gabby's name. I would protect her with my life. "That's not going to happen, Lucas. I'm not going to give you anything," I said my voice firm.

He handed over his gun to one of his goons and signaled to another and I saw them bring out Gabby.

Lucas laughed, brandishing a knife. "You don't have a choice, Alexander," he said, lunging forward.

I moved quickly, deflecting Lucas's attack with practiced ease. He charged at me again and we engaged in a brawl. I knocked him down to the ground and twisted his knife out of his hand.

But before I could thrust his knife down his throat, one of Lucas's goons grabbed Gabby, holding a knife to her throat.

"Drop the knife or I'll slit her throat!" the goon threatened, his eyes wild with rage.

I froze, my heart pounding against my ribcage. I couldn't let anything happen to Gabby. I had to think fast.

"Let her go, Lucas. You can take me instead," I said, slowly lowering my knife.

His goons huddled around me immediately, holding me tight.

Lucas smirked and released Gabby, who took a step back, fear evident in her eyes. I could feel a surge of protectiveness wash over me, fueling my determination to keep her safe.

Lucas approached me, a smug grin on his face. "Such a noble sacrifice, Alexander," he taunted. "But it's too late. The world deserves to know who you truly are. The world truly deserves to know the monster behind your image."

My mind raced. I had to find a way out of this, a way to protect Gabby and keep my secrets hidden. With a swift movement, I shoved the goons that held me away and lunged at Lucas, catching him off guard. Our bodies collided, and Lucas's grip on his gun loosened.

Seizing the opportunity, I swiftly disarmed Lucas and used his weapon against him. With a calculated strike, I rendered him immobile. His goons were momentarily stunned, giving me a chance to turn my attention to Gabby.

However, they crowded me and beat me to a pulp. They forced me to my knees this time around, and Lucas threw successive rounds of power punches at my face. He c****d his gun, stretching it to my head. I closed my eyes, ready to take my secrets to my grave, it was far better than the shame I was going to face. Gabby kept crying and screaming my name, but they held her down as well.

"Prepare to say goodbye, Alexander Harrington."

I heard a gunshot and for a split second I thought I was dead, I opened my eyes to see Lucas drop dead before me. A bullet had hit him out of nowhere from the windows. His goons disappeared in chase of whosoever shot Lucas.

I hurried to meet Gabby.

"Are you alright?" I asked, my voice laced with concern as I reached for her hand.

Gabby nodded, her gaze locked with mine. "I'm fine, Alex," she whimpered and then hugged me.

Together, we made our way out of the warehouse and hurried towards my sleek black car parked nearby, adrenaline still coursing through my veins. The city lights blurred as I sped off, leaving behind the remnants of a dangerous encounter.