Chapter 5 5

Lily's POV

"Is he gone?" Carmen, my personal assistant/nanny asked. She hid in my bedroom the whole time Xander Valiente was in the house.

"I guess so."

The front door opened and my personal driver/bodyguard, Eduardo rushed in.

Carmen and I jerked up.

"You scare the hell out of us, Eduardo!" Carmen yelled.

"I'm sorry. I came in to tell you that he already left." Eduardo replied.

Carmen heaved a sigh. "That's good. Okay, help us pack all these things, Eduardo. We need to hurry up. He might come back."

"I don't think he'll come back." I told them.

"We can't be sure. Men like that don't easily give up." Carmen opened the boxes and loaded some stuffs inside.

I shrugged my shoulders and sat at the corner of the room, on the floor. I couldn't get his image out of my mind. His presence was so unnerving that my body was still shaking. I found him very disturbing.

"Are you okay?" Carmen asked.

I was not okay. I wanted to cry... to pour my heart out. But I didn't want to break down. Not now. Not again.

"Oh dear." Carmen put down the books and walked towards me.

"I'm really fine. No need to worry. I... I'm okay. I'm just tired." I stood up and rubbed my temple.

"Are you sure?" Carmen sounded so concern again.

"Yeah." I said then headed to my bedroom. I continued packing my clothes and shoes in my luggage. I finished immediately since there were just a few stuff to pack.

I changed my clothes into thick black jeggings and V-neck white merino sweater. Then I grabbed my tan faux shearling jacket. It was July and the peak of winter to the place we were heading.

I yawned. I was so sleepy, but we had to get going. I could sleep later.

I went back to the living room, all set and ready to go. The boxes were already sealed. It contained some of my pictures, books, magazines, collections and other.

"Can I keep this as a souvenir?" Eduardo held a picture frame. It was a picture of me with him and Carmen in the beach. It was taken about six months ago.

"Of course, you can keep it Eduardo." I said. He wouldn't be coming with us and it was really sad leaving him. I was used having him as my driver and bodyguard.

"Thank you miss."

"We have to go now. We have a long flight ahead of us." Carmen said.

Twenty minutes later ***

"Oh God. I forgot your passport." Carmen said in a panic. We were already halfway to the airport when she remembered it.

"Where did you put it?"

"I guess it's on the dining table when I grabbed some water." She said then checked the time in her wristwatch. "I'm sorry. We need to go back to the apartment."

Xander's POV

I can't get her out of my mind.

I was inside my private plane, feeling so confused. I was holding a glass of whiskey and staring at nothing.

"We're leaving in fifteen minutes Mr. Valiente." My pilot said then walked away after I acknowledged him with a nod.

My phone suddenly rang. It was Mr. Hayes. The private investigator.

I called him awhile ago that he got the wrong girl. But he still insisted that Lily was Mia.

"I can't talk to you now. We're leaving in a few minutes."

"Mr. Valiente, just give me a minute. I sent you a picture in your email. Please check on it."

"Enough about this already. Lily is not Mia." I drawled frustratedly.

"I can prove to you that she is Mia. Please. Open your email."

I took my phone and opened my email. The picture took me by surprise. It was Mia wearing her favorite black dress. Beside her was the woman I saw in the picture awhile ago, at Lily's living room – Lily's mother.

"You've seen the picture?"

"Yes." I replied.

"That woman beside her... Is that the same woman that Lily said her mother?"

"Yes."

"HA-HA! She lied to you Mr. Valiente. That's Carmen Vega. Her personal assistant and nanny. That picture was taken a year ago, when Mia started her modelling career. I got the picture from her fellow model."

I stared at the picture with total disbelief. I was numb with increasing rage and shock.

Damn it. She fooled me!

***

She's gone.

I didn't have a choice but to break the front door of the apartment. I was banging it for half an hour and nobody answered.

When I entered the house, the boxes in the corner were gone. I checked her room and her wardrobe, her clothes were all gone.

I went to her bathroom and saw an empty box of ash blond hair color cream.

I was restless. I tried to figure out where she went. She said she was moving to that telenovela actor's house.

DAMMIT! I wouldn't allow that now.

I went back to the living room and looked around. The picture frame was gone. I inhaled deeply, easing my nerves. How could you do this to me, Mia.

I took my phone and called Mr. Hayes. I wanted him to check where the hell that telenovela actor lived.    I have to get Mia, by any means necessary. I would fight for her and wouldn't stop until I have her back.

I was about to turn to go when something caught my eye – a board backed envelope on top of the dining table.

I stopped.

I looked at it intently. Maybe it was just an empty envelope. I strode towards the front door, aiming to find Mia as soon as possible.

When I opened the door, I stopped again. I was really disturbed. My mind wouldn't rest until I'll get hold of that envelope.

I closed the door and walked towards the dining table. I took the envelope and opened it in a hurry.

Inside was a black colored passport. I opened it and stared at the picture.

Just in time, the front door opened. A woman came in and said.

"Let me explain."