Entangled Affairs of the Heart

Chapter Three

Lucian’s POV

BEEP.

My phone notification ran and I stirred. “Mae, check who texted me,” I groaned in my sleep. I don’t hear any response from her. “Mae,” I growled as I turned to look at her.

I scanned the car, she was not here. “Where did she go?” I thought as I quickly pulled up my pants and wore my shirt, before stepping out of the car.

“Hey… Had she left without telling me?” I shook my head, as I dialed her number. It kept going straight into voicemail.

I sighed and entered my car. Maybe I will go and meet her at home. I started the car and then it clicked. I don’t even know her home.

I slammed my palm on my forehead as I groaned. “Damn, three years and I didn’t even try to know her home?”

It was almost dawn, so I drove home straight.

*** *** ***

I reached the office, wearing a smile for the very first time. I mean why would I not be happy? I was going to see Mae, but this time felt different, this time she was not my sneaky office desk warmer, but she was my fiance.

I can’t wait to announce this during lunch break today. I nodded at the employees that were able to shake off the shock of seeing me smile, and greeted me.

This elevator ride seemed to be the longest I’ve had in the twenty Nine years of my life. I felt a bit anxious to see Mae. But, why did she leave last night, without informing me?

I smirked. “I guess she was too shy to face me after becoming my fiance, well… May you not hide from Lucian Sterling.”

I knew she would be in my office, since she wasn’t downstairs. Grinning, I entered my office only to find it empty.

“Is she hiding from me?” I thought out loud as I dropped on my seat. I noticed a brown envelope in front of me. I raised a brow as I opened it. A resignation notice?

“Who has the guts to resign, I pay them so well,” I grunted as I glanced through. Then I froze, the letter fell out of my hand as I stared at it in absolute shock.

Mae? Resigning? What the f**k is this?

I grabbed my phone and dialed her number. It rang and went to voicemail. “Hey baby… I just saw a letter, I… I don’t understand,” I chuckled. “Are you pranking me? Baby, please call me when you see this, Mae, please. I love you.”

I dropped my phone, my heart was racing as I stared at the letter. The door burst open. I raised my head to see Ryker jump in.

I snapped. “Can’t you knock?”

“I’m so sorry, bro… but an emergency meeting has been called,’ he said, placing his palms together.

I sighed. “I will be there.”

Shortly after he left, I went downstairs to see if Mae had come, she hadn’t so I went straight to the conference room, alone.

“Lucian… where is your PA?” Frank, the bald chairman of the board members asked when I entered alone.

I sat down, holding my expression blank. “She’ll join us. Who called this meeting?”

“We did… There has been a theft.”

I snapped my gaze to Billy who stood up and went to the projector. It was showing a huge decline in the funds. “We got short of ten billion just this morning.”

“What!!” I asked as I jolted to my feet. How could that be, everything was just fine yesterday.

“Lucian… that’s not all,” Ryker started and I raised a brow at him, “We’ve traced the receiving source…’ he paused.

I nodded. “That’s good, Ryker… see to the end of this and get those thieves prosecuted, alright.”

He nodded and licked his lips. “You don’t understand Lucian… it’s not just a thief. This looks like a well thought out plan that took years to achieve.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Because, it was Miss Mae Wildermore, your PA.”

Mae? Her name echoed in my ear as I felt my knees buckled and I fell back on my seat. “Mae?”

Ryker pushed a document to me, with shaky hands and blurry vision, I scanned it. I felt a pang rise in my chest as I saw the proof right in front of me.

“No… this is unacceptable,” I gulped. “Can I have her files… I want her home address.”

“There’s no record of that boss,” Danielle replied after checking her Laptop. “There’s no personal details about her here.”

I was stunned as I glared at Danielle. “Who the f**k hired her without getting those things.”

Danielle looked down as she shrugged.

“You did… Lucian,” Ryker replied and it dawned on me, I had been so carried away with my feelings, I gave her the job almost immediately, without a proper interview.

But, this can’t be true. Mae would not steal, she would not betray me, I’m sure. She is my fiancee.

“I will get to the root of this,” I stormed out.

As I got closer to my office, I noticed the door was slightly open. Mae? It must be her, Oh my God, I have to clear her name and introduce her to everyone as my fiancee.

I rushed in and saw a strange man sitting there, my stomach dropped the moment I realized it wasn’t Mae. “Who are you?”

He looked like an Arab, as he smiled at me as he got up. “Nice to meet you, Mr Lucian Sterling.” he had his hand out for a handshake, but I didn’t even look at it.

I frowned, watching him as I waited for him to answer my question. He sat down clearing his throat awkwardly.

“I am a jeweler and I have something that might interest you.”

I felt an eruption in my chest, my nostrils flared and I closed my eyes as I tried to calm the burning rage in me. I am here not knowing where the f**k my fiancee is and here this unfortunate man is trying to sell some jewelry to me.

“Here.”

I opened my eyes to see him holding a ring. s**t, Mae’s ring. My rage dropped instantly, replaced by a pang in my chest.

“A lady sold it to us this morning… but it has the Sterling family crest, so I decided it might be important…”

I blacked him out as I picked the ring from him. This is it… her engagement ring? Did she sell it off? Why?

“Do you know where I can find her?”

“No…”

I grabbed my phone to call Mae again. I noticed a new message from her, I tapped on it with my shaking thumb and I read it outloud.

“It was good while it lasted, thank you for buying me financial freedom, I am gone, don’t look for me.” I checked the time, it had arrived this morning while I was in the car.

I went numb as my phone dropped. “Mae?” A tear dropped from my eyes.

The door burst open and I raised my head to see Ryker rush inside. “Brother, have you seen this?”

He dropped a video in front of me. A video of me kissing Mae. “This video just entered the phone of everyone in the office from an anonymous source.”

I dropped on my seat. “Mae… why?”