Chapter Five

Cassian’s POV

The boardroom screamed wealth, as they talked about various things that covered, the numbers on mergers, expansion and projected acquisitions, but I had heard only a few or three words of what they were saying. My mind was elsewhere.

“Mr. Hale?” the CFO’s voice called to me, snapping me out of my reverie.  I blinked back and straightened. “Proceed.”

I reclined slightly in my chair, with my hand slunged casually around my mouth. In here, I looked like a man that was cold, calculated and in control. But deep within me, I was  detached.

Beneath my flawlessly tailored suit and unwitherable facade … I could sense her presence, I could feel it. 

Elara.

It had been weeks since she had placed the pen on the divorce papers. Weeks since she had walked out of my office with that same composure she wore like a second skin.  Weeks since she walked out without screaming, and no tears other than silence. 

I should have felt relieved.

Instead, I had not slept well since that very day.  As the meeting ended, we exchanged firmed handshakes and fake smiles to wrap up the meeting. I didn’t bother to linger after that, as I stormed off and walked back to my  private office.

When my phone buzzed, with an  Unknown Caller No ID. I narrowed my eyes as I pressed the green icon. “Cassian Hale,” I said coolly.

“It’s me.” said the voice, low and gravelly. “Your PI.”

I straightened. “Report.”

There was a pause from the other end before he spoke.  “She’s alive and more than that… she’s thriving.”

I felt my jaw  tense. “Thriving?” I repeated, skeptical.

“She disappeared from every address I was able to track down. She's made no withdrawal of the settlement funds. She left the penthouse untouched, unshared. Nothing new bought in her name. I found her by tracking flight manifests. She bought and took a one way flight to Paris.”

I let out a  sigh, as I drummed ny his fingers on the desk. “She left everything… for what?” I muttered.

“I was just about to ask the same. Because, sir… she’s not alone.”

I found myself standing uncomfortably, “What does that mean?”

“I followed her yesterday. She looked… ill. Pale. A man early 30s, European, attractive  escorted her home from a café. He didn’t touch her inappropriately. Just… attentive.”

My jaw locked as I asked further for more details. “And?”

“She looked weak. Dizzy. He helped her inside.” my heart beat increased.

“She didn’t come back out. So I waited. I pulled up her purchase history at the pharmacy this morning. Sir…”

“She bought a pregnancy test.”  I winced as I felt the air press in around me.

“…What did it say?” my voice came out low. Barely above a whisper. 

“She is Pregnant,” the P.I. said. “She didn’t cry. Didn’t call anyone. Just sat there in her apartment just staring at the test.”

I staggered backward, knocking myself into my leather chair as though someone had just struck the air right out of me.

“She’s pregnant?” I whispered.

“Yes. And by the timeline … it’s yours.’”

No, not her. Not Elara. Why did it have to be her? Not her. She's carrying my child? My heart felt as though it had been shredded by glass. I’d been telling myself that I didn’t care. That I wanted freedom and how she had smothered me.

But this?

I balled my  hand as I placed it on the armrest. My mistress, my  affair, the  desperation. For once, after these while it all made sense. I thought of Juliette’s voice. 

“If you stay married to her, I will die.”

I had believed her, and I  had acted. And I had  promised I her that I would end it. So, I filed for divorce, pressured Elara and waited. But Elara hadn’t fought. Not like I had expected. She’d simply… stepped aside.

And now she was carrying my child?

The detective’s voice continued. “You want me to keep pace with her?”

 “No. That won’t be necessary.” I muttered as I ended the call. My hands were trembling as I returned the phone to my pocket. I stared out the window, turning my eyes nowhere. My child. Elara was carrying my child. 

I stood up from my chair, jerking open a drawer. My assistant suddenly stuck his head into the room at the right moment.

“Mr. Hale?”

“Get me the earliest private flight to Paris,” I barked. “I’ll be leaving tonight.”

She blinked. “Paris, sir?”

“Do I need to repeat myself?”

“No, sir.” and with that, she vanished. I undid my tie as I made my way over to my desk. I was short of breath, and my chest was tight.  I had thrown my marriage away for a woman I hadn't even set my eyes on her naked body. She had asked me  not to choose her and so I did. Like a fool.

I was wrong about Elara; she wasn't just a pawn. She was never a pawn. She had been the only person to truly love me. The only one who hadn’t given a damn about my money, the power, the name. And she was the one bearing my child. I jumped to my feet, stuffing files into my brief case. Nothing else mattered to me at the moment other than her. 

And I would find her. Speak to her. And try make her listen. Even if she hated me, so be it. And if she never forgives me I’d be fine.

But my child would grow up to know me. I had lost Elara once. And I’d be damned if I lost this baby as well.