Chapter 9 Discovering His Wife

"Are you alright?" Timothy enquired. He studied the distressed CEO intently, a look of worry on his face.

He took a deep breath and shook his head. He was watching the emergency entrance with concern.

"Did you hear anything from the doctor that examined her?"

"No, and that only makes it worse. I'm going insane while waiting here, anticipating the worse."

"Alex, you can't be acting like this. Be upbeat and consider the children's feelings."

"What, children?" He inquired, appearing perplexed.

Timothy stared at him and shook his head. He realized Alexus was not in the right mind to handle another issue.

AFTER MIDNIGHT, the surgeon informed Alexus that his wife's procedure had been completed and was a success. Within twenty-four hours, she was supposed to be awakened. That made him feel better, and he was grateful that his wife was safe from the emergency.

While waiting for his wife to be brought to the specified ward, he noticed two men with a woman eyeing him subtly. He caught them looking in his direction several times. And he wasn't shocked when the brunette-haired woman drew nearer. But she would stop when he would go to the emergency door, trying to check if his wife was ready to be transferred.

The woman smiled at him demurely when he stood for a while, facing the ward where his wife would be transferred from the intensive care unit.

"Hi, good evening. I'm Gwen," the woman introduced him.

"Yes?" He arched one brow. |You've been aiming to approach me. Any help you need?"

The woman smiled broadly at what he said.

"We were informed that this would be Rafaella's ward."

"May I know with whom I'm speaking?"

The woman identified herself. "I'm a friend of Rafa from Italy."

"And I'm her spouse, Alessandro but feel free to call me Alexus."

"Oh. Alessandro Latimer, "The woman responded by grinning. "I've finally met you," she said.

He quirked his eyebrow at her and accepted her hand. After shaking hands with the woman, she called her two companions.

'I assume you know who I am.'

"Sure, a bit," the woman replied with a smile. "I'm glad you're together now..."

Alexus was stunned for a moment before he beamed, "Yes."

"Glad to know that you're back together. Where's the twins?"

"At home. " Tomorrow, they'll be here, "He replied, gazing back at the woman. He was aware that she was using these inquiries to test him. "How did you come to know my wife?"

The woman cast a glance at her two companions. The two men around him were busy checking the premises he observed. Their eyes were pointing out the positions of the camera along the hallway.

"Can we talk in private?" The big-size man in his forties talked.

"What are you, detectives?" He bluntly asked in a low voice before looking around them. "Who hired you?"

The three looked at each other before barking with laughter.

"I'm Ruslan," said the man who wanted to talk to him privately. "And off the record, your wife used to work with us. I was supposed to be trailing her, but after she used the restroom at the airport, I could not find her."

"What's the deal?" Alexus attempted to conceal his disbelief. "What is it about?"

Gwen said, "I was on her team, and she worked with us."

"What?" He lost the ability to conceal his amazement.

"I'm Leo. It seemed like you've no notion yet," the tall skinny man with the glasses broke his silence, "Did you notice anything odd around this area?"

"Yep. Two men, I think, the same men I spotted where the accident happened. Libby explained that she was supposed to accompany them back to the airport."

"For the suitcases," Ruslan tacked on.

Alex gave the nod.

"Do you mean Libby's here?"

"Ah, the nanny. At home with the kids," he replied, watching the woman. He knew what she was doing-still checking the credibility of what he said.

"Alright, that's cool."

He inquired, "May I see your identification?" He kept an eye on each of them.

When Ruslan showed him his ID, he opened his hand.

"And you mentioned Rafa was your coworker? "He queried.

"Yes, but she gave her notice two weeks ago. You know, I followed her from a distance."

He did not appear astonished, even though he was. "Does Lambert remain in charge in Milan?"

"Nope. No longer," Gwen retorted but could not hide her surprise. "He relocated to the Washington headquarters six years ago after receiving a promotion. And how did you come to know him?"

"Ten years ago, we were together," Alexus stated. "I knew he was going too far with his endeavor."

"Oh. It's a small world, huh?" She grinned. "And then, three years ago, Rafa joined us."

"How did that occur?"

While eyeing the hallway subtly, Gwen explained, "She came to meet us with Luigi, our head's friend. Rafa needed an assistant because she frequently faced attempts in her life. And she decided to work with us after graduating from college."

Alexus nodded. He realized that there were too many things he did not know about his wife since she vanished from her bedroom at that last moment with her.

"How about the con artist? Did you manage to pin him?"

"How did you know about that?"

"You can't just expect him to leave her alone," Leo butted in while Ruslan chuckled.

Gwen smiled at him teasingly. "Yes, but not his first attempt, which rattled Rafa. The second one halted, and we got him."

"Have you learned what the hustler's motivation was?"

"Nope. While in custody, he killed himself."

"Or someone did..."

The three coworkers looked at each other in silence.

While there was only one person, Alexus could think of as a potential suspect in stalking his wife. He preferred not to divulge anything about that issue. Listening to the torrent of information he had gleaned from the conversation with the three spies, he was condemning himself.

"Are you okay with us watching the ward?" Leo queried.

Alexus took it, "I'd love it," he said. "What exactly is in that luggage, then?"

"At the time, we don't know. Since the searchers could not locate it inside the hotel, and those suspected Rafa could have gotten it, believing it to be her luggage."

"That might be the situation," Alexus said. "However, if the airport made no noise over it, it must be another little but valuable item, like diamonds."

The three looked at each other as the older one spoke.

"It's interesting to have met you, Alexus," Ruslan said with satisfaction.

"Likewise, men. It's an honor to have this conversation..."

Each of them shook hands again before turning their backs in different directions. Alexus's eyes followed them quietly when his mobile phone rang.

"WHAT'S UP, Sandy?" He greeted her casually when he saw on the phone screen who his caller was.

"You dared to ask me?" Said the woman sarcastically on the other line.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You left me because she suddenly appeared?" She explained. " And not even a phone call afterward?"

"I thought you knew what happened. Marla should have mentioned how busy I was dealing with them tonight."

"Well, yes. Thanks to her, though, I'd rather expect to hear from you when you left the part." She made it clear that she was not happy with what he did. "So, you're going to Las Vegas tomorrow?"

"No. I'm not going anywhere tomorrow because there are many things I need to do."

"But Marla said--"

"I'm sorry, Sandy. I won't be divorcing my wife. I desire her return."

"Aren't you losing your mind? How about me? Always be your mistress?"

Alex chuckled. "Sandy, come on. Be less theatrical. As I kept telling you, there is no us, but you continued trying. You need the sex you get from your backup guy to live with me, which doesn't tally with my lifestyle."

"What are you referring to?"

"Sandy, I don't appreciate this nasty talk. And let's quit skirting the issue."

"I'm not playing with you, Alexus," Sandy suppressed the emotion that wanted to burst out at the man's coldness, disregarding her feelings, but she knew better than to challenge him. "I'm expecting you to be honest with me."

"Great! Then let's drop the mask, shall we?" Alexus replied. "I'm aware of your relationship with David. I'm not surprised if you know the details we discussed in my study room because I've known your relationship with him for some time now. Sandy, though, need not fear. I know your needs, which I have been unable to meet for five years. I've already stated that I don't need a woman or a partner to grow the business. Whatever makes you happy, I won't be there to stop it. We're not that young anymore. No ill will exist between us."

"I don't dispute that. But Alex, it's just for fundamental gratification. Not enough for me to want to wed him."

"Well, that's your issue, and I'd rather not be part of that. And never claim you wanted to be my fiancee because you love me. Then we have a different outlook on loving someone."

"Alex-"

"Sandy, no. Enough already. As you know, I am still married and would like to try it again with my wife."

"Even when she betrayed you many times?"