Love's Rebirth

Chapter 4

Xavier's POV

The night sky looked forbidding, the darkness absolute, broken only by the stars and moon. I could feel the tension slowly drain out of me. Today had been trying to say the least. I felt a presence behind me, forcing me to turn and confront it. My mom lingered in the doorway, seeming almost afraid to enter my domain. "Xavier, may I have a word?" she asked hesitantly. I beckoned her inside, wondering what had my mother so spooked. "What's the matter, mother?" I asked, hoping my question would encourage her to voice her concerns. She fiddled with the hem of her dress as she slowly settled in the chair across from mine. My mother rarely entered my study, but when she did, she wasn't shy about telling me what she needed. Whatever was on her mind was weighing on her, and I felt the worry intensify. She eventually looked up, making steady eye contact. "Your brother, Leon, is doing something terrible. I found out yesterday, and I've been trying to wrap my head around it. I don't even know what to think or say. I feel a profound sense of disappointment." I looked at her, confused by her statement. I tried to think back to see if I could remember any strange behavior from Leon, but I came up empty. "Mom, you're worrying me. Whatever it is Leon has done, we'll fix it." I tried to reassure her. She took a deep, steadying breath before saying, "He's cheating on his fiancee. I saw him yesterday kissing another woman at the restaurant I go to every Monday with the ladies for our women's league lunch. Leon and his mistress seemed oblivious to my presence, but I could see clearly that the girl he was with wasn't Delia. She's such a nice girl. How could Leon do this to her?". Her voice broke on the last word, and her eyes became glassy with unshed tears. I suppressed a groan at this unexpected and rather unsettling revelation.

"What did the mistress look like?" I asked her calmly. My voice did not belay my inner turmoil. Deep down, I was seething. Years ago, i was forced to step aside so Leon could pursue Delia. I could remember the moment so vividly, him begging on his knees for me to give up Delia and allow him to court her. I thought he cared for her, loved her as i did, and still do. Now, he was cheating on her and doing so very carelessly. What I couldn't figure out was why. Delia was perfect in every way. That was why I always harbored strong feelings for her. I had felt uncomfortable asking her out due to our age difference, but I planned to overlook it, given the chance, to explore the attraction. Leon stole my time with her, and now he was destroying the relationship he fought so hard for. It just didn't make any sense. My mother wiped her eyes before answering my question. "She was blonde, skinny, and had a very high-pitched voice. She looked familiar, but I'm struggling to pinpoint who she is. She also had a tattoo of a rose on her left upper shoulder. Her dress was strapless, so it was hard to miss." she said in one breath. I clenched my fists and ground my teeth before taking a deep, calming breath. I closed my eyes, trying to will my patience into existence, but it was already snuffed out by Leon's irresponsibility. I walked around the desk to my mother and took her hands in mine. "Mom, I promise I'll get to the bottom of this. Our alliance with the Coopers will continue, even if I have to marry Delia myself. Let me deal with Leon. You try not to worry about this. I'll handle it." I said, looking her in the eyes so she could see how serious I was. She gave a slight nod with a small smile before getting up and leaving the room.

Once my mother was gone, I paced the study like a caged predator, trying to come up with a plan to confront my brother without violence. He was about to ruin not only his relationship but a multi-million dollar partnership with Cooper Holdings as well. I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on. I loosened my tie and rolled up the sleeves of my shirt. I continued pacing, letting my mind go through every possible scenario and outcome, isolating the one that would yield the best result. I grabbed my phone from the desk and made my way to my bedroom. I needed to make a phone call, and my room was soundproof. I entered my bedroom and closed the door behind me, locking it, before unlocking my phone and making the call. The line rang twice before it got answered. "Boss, what's up?" a deep gruff voice asked. "I need you to get one of your guys to tail my brother for the next 2 weeks. I have reason to believe he is doing something sketchy, I need you to find out what it is. I also want you to look into his finances, his communications, who he meets, what he eats, everything. I want a report in 14 days." My head of security replied with a deep hum before I hung up. I planned to confront Leon once I had all the information at my disposal. I couldn't help but smile a little because now I had a chance with Delia. I got undressed and went into the bathroom. I entered the shower and turned it to cold. I was already imagining being with Delia, and I needed to cool off. The shower was quick and methodical. I dried off and got ready for bed. I very rarely slept in pajamas, and tonight would be no different. I entered my bed naked, enjoying the feel of the cool sheets against my overheated skin. Delia was an obsession I'd harbored for years, and the idea of being with her was making me antsy.

I tried to sleep, but it evaded me. My mind was moving a thousand miles a minute, thinking of every moment I had and would have with Delia. Thinking about Delia calmed and soothed me, lulling me to sleep. I slowly drifted off, dreaming of the moment I first met her. I felt the memory pulling me in, and I let it. I allowed my mind to drift to that moment in time when young Delia stole my heart. My heart pounded as the memory took hold, dragging me deeper into the recesses of my subconscious. Sleep took hold, and the dream took shape, becoming more vivid and more real. My last thought before succumbing to the dream was about how funny fate could be.