LUCA
It was two weeks before the wedding. It was strange that my father had not visited even though the deadline he gave me was fast approaching. He probably knew there was a lady in the house with me. He has ears everywhere.
Today I had Samantha's shopping for the wedding on my to do list. Considering the events of last night, I knew it was going to be a tussle getting her to come out with me.
She stomped her little feet in anger as she walked to her room. Did she want it to be me cause I was struggling to understand her reaction last night.
I held the necklace she threw to the floor in my hands dangling observing it. Xavier enjoyed being at loggerheads with me.
He was sly, over ambitious and always wanted what I had.
Weird enough we were good as kids. All our parlor fights and occasional games but then all that ended when mum left. I am one to always keep to myself so my resentment is expressed quite differently.
Xavier on the other hand is quite an expressive piece of shit. He is as resentful and as vengeful and as mischievous as he is cheerful and thrill seeking.
I placed the neck piece on the desk and left the room. I got to the front of Samantha's door and knocked.
There was no response. I knocked 3 more times and there was still no response.
"Samantha?" I called out to her. Still silent "Samantha?"
Did she hang herself? I brought my ear closer listening for any sign of life in the room. I heard nothing
I signaled to Derick standing at the far end of the hallway to get me the spare key to the room. I knocked some more and called out to Samantha while waiting for him to get the key.
"Here boss?" I took the key from him, inserted it into the keyhole and opened the door.
Samantha lay there on the bed, arms and legs spread face up just staring.
"What are you doing?" I asked her.
"What does it look like?" She asked back, not moving her gaze an inch or even turning to look at me.
"Didn't you hear me knock?"
"Can I just have one day of serenity? Not having to see your face and all?" She answered, still staring at the ceiling.
I chuckled. She was the exact opposite of what I was used to. A girl telling me she doesn't want to see me? Alternate world kind of stuff.
"Glad as I would be to equally not see your face, we have to go gown shopping".
"Gown? Didn't you fill up that room with gowns of all types?" She said pointing in the direction of the closet.
"We are going wedding gown shopping". She sat up with a start. Immediately turning to look in my direction.
"I haven't even signed the paper or consented to your request, what are you talking about".
"In your best interest you had better sign it because whether you sign it or not the wedding is happening". She had the same look she had on when we had the first conversation after I captured her.
"Get ready, I'll be back and even if you are still in your PJ's or not we are leaving so chop chop" she looked at me with hate filled eyes and I walked out.
I settled in the dining room to have breakfast. The last time I had home made breakfast was months ago.
I nibbled at the bacon and went through the mails on my phone, responding to the important ones.
I downed the contents of my cup feeling satisfied and asked Carlos to get Samantha while I walked in the direction of the garage.
I had already spoken to my secretary asking her to invite not more than twenty people. Twenty people because I was sure my father would want some friends in attendance because all things being equal left to me? only Sergio, Nanny Nancy and my father.
It's been 5 years since I saw Sergio last. My best friend in the whole world. He had moved to Atlanta right after college for his PhD. I told him he had to be at this wedding fake or not because he wasn't going to get this experience again and this was his only chance to play best man.
To Sergio, I was not a lost cause. He had the most hope in me. Somehow he felt like I had a lot of love to give in my big black heart and if that helped him sleep at night I'd let him ride his wish horse.
Carlos was back and Samantha was right behind him. She looked pale and angry as usual in a white short skirt and its sleeveless pair.
What was it with me and my brain being on opposite sides of the club when it came to Samantha?
My brain would not stop gushing about how much of an epitome of beauty it thought Samantha was. I constantly dismissed each and every thought because to me she was like every other girl just a bit more stubborn.
We drove off to Sheila's. Sheila was my mother's friend. She came here with me as a kid and I would sit and watch intending brides get their dresses, do fittings, choose a gown, and everything while they chatted away the hours.
Sheila took Samantha to a section with a collection of wedding dresses. I sat in the waiting area while they looked around for options.
Samantha got into the changing room with the first pick. She stood in front of me with no expression. It was a flowery ball-like type.
"No". I said.
She went in to try another. "No" and another. "No". Every time I said no she looked at me funny with a certain weird countenance.
My phone rang, I went out of the room to answer it. A new shipment was coming in today.
Our former suppliers got done a month ago after they staged a takeover. "It's an exchange and receive, get in and get out," I said to the receiver on the other end.
"Yes boss, on it, will send you the details of the exchange as soon as it's done".
I dropped the call and moved back inside. Sheila came from the back exit looking perplexed. "What is it, Sheila?"
"They took her"
"They took who?" I asked, a little confused as to what she was on about.
"The woman you came in with". My head instantly did a whole 360 spin.
"What do you mean they took her, where are the cameras in this building?"
"Carlos, get her to show you the clips from the previous hour" I began to make calls. I always had a calm and collected disposition to things but right now I just wanted to have Samantha back.
Who dared take something belonging to me, Luca Ivanov? I am going to gut every single soul in this town if I had to. Only I can take her, keep her, and do as I please with her.
I was enraged and as soon as Carlos got out of the CCTV room we got in the car. I got behind the wheel because now was not the time for responsible driving.
The tail we had on the guys that took her placed them close to the outskirts of the town. "Where the fuck are they taking her to?!" I said out loud with frustration evident in my voice.
"We would find her", Carlos said, trying to reassure me. Damn right, we will. I would turn this town and its environs upside down if we don't.
Upfront we had crossed the outskirts and there were trees and barely any houses. I kept looking to my side for any suspicious houses or vehicles.
Carlos said the guys took off in a gray pickup van. He couldn't make out the plate numbers as it was intentionally covered.
"Boss? I see a van in the corner". The van was very easy to miss as it was in a corner partially shielded by short trees.
I swerved the car to a halt and we got out and made our way quietly to the other side of the road where the van was parked. We examined the van and it fit the description Carlos gave from the CCTV.
I cocked my gun in the back of my pocket and signaled to Carlos to scan the other end. There was a farm-like shed just in front but it seemed like we were at the back of the shed.
We advanced further, checking all sides of the area our eyes could see. The place looked like a fight had transpired. There were scattered rubber cans and a few specks of blood.
What if it was Samantha's? We heard gunshots out front. Carlos and I ran in the direction of the sound.
"Xavier?" He looked back at me with a gun in his hand, a body laying on the floor some meters away lifeless.
"Xavier, what is this?" I asked him, but he kept looking straight and saying nothing.
I moved forward because I saw a figure gaping from the shadows. "Samantha? Is that you?"
She slowly came out from the corner. Bursting into tears she ran towards me and threw her arms around me in a hug.
I stood there unable to move as she hugged me and sobbed uncontrollably. I didn't hear grief, I heard safety. She was safe with me.