Skylar fumed at the man who sat next to her to feed her forcefully.
“Stop it! Don’t act like my guardian!” She snatched the sandwich he was feeding her. Annoyed at his lack of explanation, Skylar didn’t know what to make of it anymore. Why did Valentina Rossi leave in such a temper? What was going on between her and Christian?
“Why can’t I feed you? I am your partner, guardian, friend, and lover. I’m your everything, right?”
“No, you’re just my fake fiance, that’s all!”
“That’s what you think. The world and I think differently. Hurry and complete your breakfast. We’re leaving in fifteen minutes.” He went inside to get their luggage while Skylar hurried with her breakfast. His words echoed in her head.
He wasn’t her friend or lover yet! Would he now claim her as his?
After fifteen minutes, they left Frascati and drove towards Rome. The beauty of her surroundings soon made her forget her predicament. Christian showed her a few attractions on the way, and Skylar was eager to discover more.
“Are you free to sightsee today?”
“I’m on a holiday. I’m free 24/7 for the next three days. Will that do?” Christian winked at her but his phone buzzed with a message from Lillian and he forgot her for a while.
The cops have arrested Erica’s uncle for trying to harm Sebastian. They have evidence to prove that he has been threatening Seb to extort money for the last two years.Lillian.
It shocked Christian that his brother didn’t open up to him when he was going through so much. He hadn’t expected it to be this serious. Sebastian had a habit of going into hibernation when he was upset. They never took it so seriously as he returned after a month. This time, however, things looked upsetting. Did Erica’s uncle abduct him?
Can I call you?Christian.
No, I’m at the hospital. Can’t talk.Lillian.
Oh! Do you think Erica’s uncle is behind Seb’s disappearance?Christian.
Could be. The cops will interrogate him today.Lillian.
Do you want me to come over?Christian.
No. There’s no point coming to Cleveland. Caleb and grandpa Ben have gone to New York to cooperate with the NYPD.Lillian.
Oh! Should I join them there?Christian.
No. Grandpa wants you to handle the business. Maybe Seb is hibernating like before. There’s no evidence to prove he is under a threat.Lillian.
But why would he when he is supposed to marry Erica this month?Christian.
That’s why we have sought police help. I’ll update you if we find him.Lillian.
Christian frowned at her message, deep in thought. This didn’t look like Sebastian’s normal disappearance.
“What has got you so worked up? A message from your Valentina?” Skylar’s jab brought him out of his thoughts and he glanced at her.
“No.” He didn’t clarify further and thought of calling his grandpa later. He could cancel all his plans and go to New York if they needed him. Maybe they would wrap up the work at Venice first, in case he had to return.
“Lombardi, take us to the airport,” he instructed his chauffeur while Skylar gaped at him in surprise. Weren’t they going to Rome on holiday?
“Why are we going to the airport? I thought we were going to Rome.”
“I’ve changed my mind. An emergency has cropped up and I might have to cut this trip short.”
Skylar frowned, waiting for him to elaborate, but he didn’t. Frustration mounted inside her and she turned to face him.
“What emergency? Anything I should know?”
“Nothing to worry about.”
Skylar didn’t prod him further and sulked instead, watching Christian call his pilot.
“Yes, Frederick. We will leave shortly for Venice. We’re on our way to the airport.”
He didn’t seem to be in the mood to talk to her, and Skylar sulked in silence all the way to the airport. She was certain he was hiding something from her. What could it be? Was it related to the woman he loved? Or was it related to Valentina?
They reached the airport but had to wait for four hours for permission to take off.
“Why are we rushing this way? Is it because of Valentina or the other woman you were talking to?”
“I’ll tell you later. Stop fretting so much.”
“How? I’m feeling so disappointed. I should have gone to New York instead.” Christian massaged his temples and turned to face her.
“Then you would be happy to know that we might head to New York soon.”
“Really? I’ll stay back this time. You can go globetrotting or wherever!”
“That’s not happening at all. You will accompany me everywhere.”
Christian got up and walked away to call grandpa Ben and take an update. With Sebastian in trouble, he couldn’t concentrate on his work at all.
“Grandpa, do you need me there?” he asked, going straight to the point.
“No, the cops have located Seb in Fairbanks, Alaska.”
A gasp of relief escaped Christian on hearing that his brother was safe.
“What’s he doing there? Did you have a word with him?”
“He’s there to strike a deal with some lodge owner in Fairbanks, in the Northern Lights Area overlooking Mt. Denali.”
“He could have informed us, at least.”
“The connectivity is bad as the weather is quite extreme now. Our calls didn’t go through. The police have contacted the Chief of Police at the Fairbanks Police Department. I’ll update you whenever I have a word with Seb.”
Christian disconnected the call, and a sense of relief washed over him. At least his brother was safe and he could continue with the trip. His glance fell upon Skylar, busy typing away on her mobile phone. He smiled at the excited look on her face. Now what had got her excited? Christian purposely hadn’t explained himself to her. He wanted her to feel more and more jealous! He wanted her to feel the desperation.
Skylar looked up at him and closed her phone. “Who were you messaging? Your friends?” he asked, sitting down beside her.
“No.” She turned her face the other way.
“Then?” he prodded, a smile tugging at his lips at her immaturity. She didn’t know he could see through her.
“It’s none of your business.”
“It is my business. After all, when Sienna marries Lucas Donnelly, I have to accompany you to their wedding.” Skylar’s jaws dropped with surprise and she whirled around to stare at him.
“How do you know about them?”
“They’re in the news. Check today’s newspaper.”
“Yes. Alyssa has forwarded me the clipping, but I didn’t expect you to know. By the way, only I will attend their wedding, not you. Sienna won’t invite you.”
Christian smiled and pulled her up with him. “C’mon, it’s time to go.”
After twenty minutes, the jet took off and headed towards Venice. “We can stop in Florence to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa.”
“I thought you had an emergency? You don’t have to stop there for my sake.” She didn’t even look at the bipolar man. It was difficult to understand what was going on in his head.
“The emergency is under control. We can afford to relax and enjoy ourselves.” Skylar scoffed and gave him a look of disbelief.
“What was the emergency? Did one of your whores get pregnant or something in Venice?”
Christian rolled his eyes at the jab. Couldn’t she get over her jealousy and understand him for a change?
“Do you really think so? Is that what you understood about me? Do you think I really have time for such petty flings?” Skylar shrugged and looked away.
“Then what was Valentina?”
“Why are you stuck with Valentina? There’ll be many women like her who hound me everywhere I go. Will you pair me up with each of them? Surely, Skylar, I expected more maturity from you. It was fine to be jealous, but aren’t you dragging the issue?”
Skylar fumed and got up to leave, but he grabbed her hand instead and pulled her down on the seat beside him, almost on his lap. “Listen for once ‘coz I hate to explain myself repeatedly.”
“Let me go, Christian. The attendant is staring at us.”
“Let her.” He pressed a button, and a screen closed shut in front of them, giving them privacy from prying eyes. Skylar’s breath hitched, realizing they were all alone, locked up within the small confines of the lounge area.
“I don’t want to listen to your explanation.” She was about to get up and leave when he pulled her back down, but this time, she landed on his lap. Her cheeks colored profusely, and she struggled to get free.
“Stop struggling or I won’t be responsible for the consequences,” he growled, making her stop immediately.
“Sebastian was missing, and it was Lillian calling and messaging me all this while. The other day, you overheard me talk to Lillian.”
Skylar’s mouth hung upon and she felt a little foolish for jumping to the wrong conclusions and making a fool of herself in front of him.
“Oh, where is Sebastian then?”
“Caleb and grandpa Ben have come to New York to cooperate with the NYPD in their search for Seb. That’s why I wanted to wrap up most of the work in case we have to head to New York. This was the emergency I was talking about. The cops found him in Alaska, so we can continue with our initial plans.”
Skylar hung her head in shame for jumping to all the wrong conclusions.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“No problem. I can forgive you if you kiss me, Skylar.”