Eleven

   "What are you doing?"  Easton Landers was shocked to see Ivan in such a compromising state with Sandra, his secretary. What was more shameful? Sandra was a woman arranged to get married in a few months. She had just been engaged the past week. 

A wave of recognition flashed before Ivan's eyes. It was his secretary in front of him, not Nelly! 

   "I - I - I don't… I didn't mean to," Ivan stammered as he tried to think of the perfect answer to give his grandfather. He knew he had disgraced himself and most especially, he had disgraced the "Landers" name as Easton would always say whenever any of his grandsons made a mistake. 

Under the cold glare of the two powerful figures, Sandra hurried away in shame. 

Sandra was trembling as she adjusted her clothes before shamefully dashing out of the office, bowing her head, not being able to take a glimpse at Easton Landers or Ivan himself. 

   

   As soon as she was out of earshot, Easton turned to his grandson. Now, it was just Ivan standing in front of the angry fiery stares of his grandfather.

“Grandfather, I know I have no explanation now, but believe me, this was a mistake…I …”

 “What lousy mistake is that, huh!” Easton finished and walked out in anger. 

 

Ivan sighed in exasperation. This was all thanks to Nelly. 

And that damned bastard of a secretary didn't stop him!

His phone rang, interrupting the silence of the room. He stole a look at the clock. It was 12 noon. 

Good day sir. We are still on it. We are doing our best…”

“You have till tomorrow to find her or I will fire you for incompetence. Does it take you anything to find a mere woman? How can you be this silly?”

“We apologize sir…” the man began but the line went dead. 

Ivan had employed some of his men to find Nelly. They gave reports to him twice every day. By Noon and by six in the evening. It was always the same story. 

“Did she disappear into thin air then?” he wondered. 

   

The look on Easton's eyes that afternoon meant one thing. Ivan wasn't going to escape the consequences of what he had done. Moreover, Ivan didn't want his grandfather to find out his wife divorced him. 

   "I need to go visit him," Ivan thought when he was on his way back from the office. 

It was the only possible solution at hand. 

He opened the door and saw Katty, seated in the living room, drinking wine. 

   "What brings you over here today?" Katty asked, smiling as she walked towards Ivan. 

   "Where is grandfather?" Ivan asked soberly. 

   "Shh! Do not dare lie to me. Grandfather told me that he was at the office with you today. How can you now pretend that you didn't know he was going out of town for a business trip?" Katty asked, looking closely at Ivan.  

   "I don’t have the time for this madness, Katty. All I want to know is where my grandfather is!" 

“Is there a problem, Ivan? You don't look alright,” she observed.

   “Obviously, I am fine. Thanks for your concern. When is grandfather returning?”

“He will be back next week. Are you sure you are fine? You don't look fine to me,” Katty continued. The genuine look of concern in her eyes made it so difficult for Ivan to ignore her. 

But he knew better than telling her anything. He slumped on a seat and shut his tired eyes. 

Katty thoughtfully poured him a glass of wine and went towards him. 

The door was opened from outside and an excited Daisy came running in. 

“Ivan!” 

She paused when she saw Katty beside him. 

“What do you want to give to him?”

Katty ignored her as usual and handed the glass to Ivan. 

Daisy rushed forward and took the glass from Ivan. 

“What did you add to it, silly girl.” Daisy questioned while inspecting the glass. 

Ivan was already used to this squabble and so didn't get involved. He knew both girls never got along. He merely watched them engage in a heated argument. 

The next thing he saw was blood! Katty was injured with a glass. 

“Ouch!!! My hands. I will tell grandfather, you have never liked me. Now, you want me dead too,” she cried. 

“I didn't touch you. You did that to yourself just to set me up.” Daisy defended in anger. 

“Ahhhh. My wrist….call the doctor…call grandfather…Ivan help me…” katty cried and clung to Ivan with all her strength. Most probably, she wanted to feel him close to her. Daisy frowned when she realized what happened. 

“Ivan she…”

“Get me a first aid kit, hurry up,” Ivan instructed her. 

Daisy watched the scene of Ivan playing the role of a doctor to Katty and her face darkened. This was always Katty's plan. She could go any length to get what she wanted but no one would ever believe her! She had deliberately injured herself right now to make Ivan think that she, Daisy was evil and also to attract Ivan's sympathy and kindness. She knew that Ivan wouldn't turn a blind eye to an injured person. 

“Thank you so much. I can barely move my hands. It's so painful. Help me adjust my dress please.”

Was she seducing her brother right in front of her?

“I will help with that. Ivan has tried already.”

Ivan cast a knowing look at Daisy. She blinked her eyes at him and he got the message. 

“I will do it for her. Don't worry.”

He helped her adjust her dress, completely ignoring all her coquettish actions. 

After helping her as she requested, Ivan held Daisy and made her leave the sitting room. She was so angry that she almost vomited blood! This wasn't the plan. 

“Ivan….I want to go with you too..”

“No. You need to rest. Your hands are injured,” he replied curtly and off he went. 

She wanted to scream! All her plans never ever worked with Ivan. 

“I can help you find her,” Daisy announced once they were alone. 

“Find who?”

“”Nelly.”

“How…how..did you know she's missing?”