He walked out and searched for Ailee everywhere but she was nowhere to be seen.
He was looking through every room when he found her in the balcony of the room where she slept for the first time in his house.
He slowly went and hugged her from behind.
"I'm sorry" he sighed as he put his chin on her head.
"Why are you sorry?" She asked, genuinely confused.
"For what you may go through because of this and because of me. From this point on I will not be able to stay with you much and you will see my people following you outside your house at all times, are you going to be okay with all of that?"
"I will be okay Xavier, you don't have to stress yourself for me. I'm a smart girl" she proudly patted her shoulder making him smile.
"Hmm, you sure are my brave girl" he said.
"But Zai, you-"
"I know you are worried about me, Coco. But you don't have to. What you saw today was a moment of weakness for me and I have moved on from that."
"You are allowed to be weak in front of me, Zai. You can cry, you can get angry, you can get sad, I will never judge you for being a human" she turned around in his embrace and smiled.
" I know" he said and looked at her lips before leaning down, capturing them in his.
It was so serene for them to be with their partner under the moonlight, sharing such intimate moments.
Thoughts of her consumed his mind till everything that remained, was her.
He pulled back just an inch and whispered, looking in her eyes.
"Go on a date with me"
Her eyes widened at his absurd demand considering the recent events.
" But I don't think it's the right time for us to be going out on dates," she said with a concerned face.
He shook his head and said,
"No, I planned it sometime ago and I'm not about to ditch it for something like this"
" Zai, it's not just something-"
"Shh" he put his finger on her lips effectively shutting her up.
It does sound ridiculous but he thought about it for a long time in the shower.
He was determined to take her out and express his feelings before it gets too late. If something were to happen to him in these few days, he would regret not telling her how much he loved her.
She nodded, now unable to wipe the silly smile off her face.
She was bouncing on her toes and happiness was radiating off her entire body.
Maybe this way he could also be distracted and get relaxed for some time, she thought.
"I want to have a peaceful day with you before busying myself in this shit"
" That would be great," she nodded.
" You are not mad that I don't ask you on dates often? We have been in a relationship for some months now." he asked quietly.
"Nope, I know you were busy and everyday with you feels like a date anyway" she said.
He sighed. What else could he expect from a benevolent person like her?
She sneezed and sneezed again which made him frown and take her inside.
"You'll catch a cold, Coco." They lay in each other's arms while Ailee drew hearts on his back.
"You didn't tell me where we are going?" She asked with a pout.
" That's for me to know and for you to find out" he said with a smirk.
" That is what you said last time" she whined and he hummed in response.
She played with his hair, slowly lulling him to sleep. The chilly wind was rustling outside, setting the temperature just right for the couple to cuddle in a cozy comforter.
"Okay then what should I wear?" she asked fifteen minutes later.
"Why are you still thinking about it?" He asked, looking down at her.
" Tell me" she asked again, lifting her head up to meet his half closed eyes.
Maybe she really did love the previous date he arranged for her and is carrying high hopes from him this time as well.
"Wear anything you feel comfortable in" He said and closed his eyes but he already had a dress in his mind that he will be sending her later.
"Okay" she nodded and closed her eyes and put her head on the same place on his chest where her chin was a few seconds ago.
"You planned it when?" She asked again after some time.
He pulled her up a little from under her arms and pressed her head in his neck and entangled her entire body with his huge one, restricting her movements.
"Sleep or I will wake you up at six tomorrow" he murmured.
She gasped and pretended to sleep to be able to fall asleep faster.
___
Xavier opened his eyes and searched around for his phone that was on the bedside drawer with his one hand while his other hand held the waist of Ailee.
It was four minutes past five.
He sighed and hugged her closer, attempting to fall asleep again. He only had two hours of sleep and today was going to be busy so he needed all the rest he could get.
Minutes passed by but sleep never came. If anything he was more awake than ever.
Image of his mother from yesterday, smiling at him was permanent in his head.
He will let the information of his outing with Ailee reach her somehow because he wants her to know that she didn't impact him as greatly as she aimed for.
With a frustrated sigh he sat up, careful to not wake her up as well. He was just kidding when he said he'd wake her up at six.
He decided to spend some time in the gym before starting on his work.
Music was playing in the background and he was on his ninetieth push up. Sweat dripped down his bare upper body from all the intense workout.
It was now six thirty and the perfect time to have a cool bath.
After showering, he called Jack and let him know that he won't be coming to the office but will attend to all the work through his phone.
By eight thirty he went through the cases she filed against him and how ridiculous they actually were.
Embezzlement, drugs, murders, illegal businesses and what not.
He was certain she would not succeed with these petty accusations and she must be doing it just to increase his stress.
He gets a call from Luka, informing him about the arrival of every member for their meeting.
He walked to the room where Ailee was sleeping and kissed her head.
"I'll be back soon" he whispered as she stirred in her sleep. She hummed and turned the other way.
Taking a gun from the drawer of his closet he left the house after making sure that every corner of his house had a person guarding his treasure sleeping peacefully inside.
___
The base of his soldiers, Den, was more crowded than usual.
Apart from the ones who were always there, a number of people were called for this special mission.
Xavier entered the room with only the leaders of selected teams, Enzo, Luka and surprisingly, Igor who was unwilling to come but had to for his own benefit.
Everyone had an iPad in front of them which had pictures and videos from the incident a day ago and numerous others from earlier. They were already briefed about what they were there for and were just waiting to discuss it with their leader himself.
Xavier stood behind his chair and gestured to everyone else to sit.
"I hope everyone here now knows who the person I was searching for is." He began.
"Yes, sir." They responded in unison.
"Hmm, she is Brianna Carter Rose, currently going by B. R." He said and sat down.
"I'm expecting to meet her exactly three days later at my house in Russia." He announced and earned looks of surprise from the people present there. Even Luka was surprised by this newly found information.
He mouthed 'What' to Xavier but he just ignored.
"Only team two is to stay here with Ailee and her family just in case they lose their mind and try to harm them and rest will follow me to Russia"
He went through the plan he made in the morning and during his car ride here after receiving the text from his beloved mother that she was expecting to meet him there in their old house where it all began.
What agitated him the most was her audacity to sign her name with a red heart and kiss at the end.
He walked out of the meeting room an hour later after going through the blueprint of his house- its entrances and exits, where they can get a good angle, where they have to be stationed et cetera.
Igor now believed that Xavier was on the same page as him and was walking right behind him, eager to pour out the words he heard from his mother last night and Xavier was also no less curious about it.
" I'm not a douchebag," he said as soon as they entered his office.
Xavier just raised his eyebrow, not wanting to display his curiosity.
"I hate to say it but I'm sorry" he mumbled while scratching the back of his head.
" I didn't hear you, what did you say?" He said, putting his hands in the pocket.
"I know you heard me, Romano" Igor gritted and Xavier smirked.
"Why are you sorry?" He asked while sitting down in his chair.
"You didn't kill my mama" he sighed and sat down in front of him.
"Hmm and what gave away? '' he asked, mockingly.
"As you know I went to meet your mother yesterday, she told me everything. It was her way to provoke me to act right there but I did not. I could not" He said, looking at his hands.
Xavier had this thought last night, so he was not surprised to know that she was indeed the one behind it and probably behind the death of his uncle too. At this point, he doesn't think anything can surprise him more than the fact that his mother is alive while also trying to unalive him.
"But now, I'm ready. I know I don't make the best decisions every time-"
"All the time" he interjected and Igor scowled.
"So let me just join you in this whole mission thing of yours"
"I don't think you can be of much use to me," he said, causing Igor's head to jerk in his direction.
"But you are more accustomed to Russia than I am. So you better give me your best" He said and stood up to leave.
Igor nodded and left with him.
They both parted their ways outside and Xavier sat down in his car. He made a few more calls to his people in Russia and asked them to make some arrangements for his visit there.
He then called the owner of the showroom he visited a few days ago after a meeting.
"Send it to the address I'm sending you," he said and ended the call.
Ailee would look absolutely beautiful in it.
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