Abduct

Daxton 

“Cute” A smile stretched the corner of my lips as I stared at the unaware picture Josh had taken of Verena with the caption ‘She’s settled in, sir.’

Words were not enough to describe the warmth that spread on my chest knowing that she was now close to me. While Verena thought that our story was over, I had spent the last two weeks decorating this room for her. 

I wanted to create a space where she was comfortable, a space better than her own home and now, I couldn't help but wonder if she loved the room. 

Was it to her taste? 

Suddenly, the smile on my face slowly faltered when a knock sounded on my office door. I twisted on the couch, watching as the door creaked open when the receptionist poked her head inside—eyes searching around until they landed on me. 

She straightened immediately, offering me a small smile. “You have a guest”

“Who?” I raised a brow. 

“Mr—” Before she could finish, a familiar head of messy brown hair appeared behind her and the smile on my face died.

Kian. 

“Uncle” He waved, raising a crimson bag with the neck of an expensive whiskey bottle peeking from it before he glanced at the receptionist with a soft grin. “You can leave now, I will take it from here”

Despite the anger that coursed through me because of how he treated Verena, I stood up, offering him a smile. “And to whom do I owe this pleasant surprise?”

Kian grinned, dropping the wine on my desk before sauntering towards me. “I missed you, Uncle Daxton,” He hugged me briefly before plopping down on the leather couch across from me. 

I huffed, falling back to the couch. “You missed me and never reached out to me…”

Kian flitted his eyes around like he was desperately searching for something before his eyes darted back to me. “Forgive me, uncle, you know how tight my schedule could be”

A soft chuckle escaped me. “I know. What do I offer you, a drink or?…”

Kian cut in, waving his hands at me dismissively. “No, you don't need to offer me anything. I won't be spending a long time here as I came to see you for something very important”

Despite knowing the reason he was here, I decided to play alongside him. “That is such a shame, Kian. I would have loved to spend the rest of the evening with you. Since you came to see me for something important, I guess it is concerning the project my brother mentioned last month?”

Confusion set in Kian’s eyes as he shook his head. “Project?…” He trailed. “I am not here on behalf of my dad but for something far more important”

“What could be more important than a million-dollar project?”

The smile on Kian’s face faded. “Me, uncle Daxton,”

I feigned compassion. “What is wrong with you, Kian? Is it a health issue?”

Kian scoffed. “Health issue, more like a heart issue?”

“It still has to do with your health. If you have issues concerning your heart, you should be seeing your doctor unless you are here because you need help with my doctor’s contact”

Kian laughed, till tears sprang to his eyes and he leaned back on the couch. “I don't need a doctor, uncle, because the one who broke my heart is you”

I pointed to myself. “Me?”

“Mmm,” He nodded. 

“You used to call me your favorite nephew, would spoil me with toys, and take me to watch your hockey games in high school. You used to love me, uncle…”

I leaned forward, taking the full weight of his gaze. “And I still do, Kian. Nothing has changed”

Kian heaved an exasperated sigh. “Well, I can't blame you for my broken heart because the fault is mainly mine. And I believe that when one acknowledges their fault, then the problem is half-solved”

He stared into space for a second like he was struggling to articulate his words then dragged his gaze back to me. “Umm…this is about my wife, Verena” 

His wife? Laughable. 

“What about her?”

“The thing is I did something silly and brought up the idea of an open marriage between us…” He trailed. “But things went wrong when the one she decided to have sex with was—you!”

Laughter threatened to bubble from my throat but I kept the same composure. “Really?”

Kian waved his hands at me frantically. “No, don't take my words the wrong way or think that I am here for a fight. I have forgiven you both because it is neither your nor Verena’s fault. She had no idea you were my uncle and you also didn't know she was my wife…”

I cut in, small bits of laughter ripping from my mouth before my eyes slowly darkened on Kian. “Who said that I didn't know that she was your wife?”

Dread crawled through Kian’s eyes, the tension between us thickening as he forced out a laugh and ran a hand through his hair. “You couldn't have known, you were never at my wedding and…” 

All I did was stare, leaning back on the couch while watching the way the smile on his face faded into oblivion and that expression of ‘knowing’ slipped on his face. “You knew?” His voice was low. 

I nodded. 

Suddenly, he snapped, slamming his fist on the small table as water in the glass cup spilled onto the surface. “You knew she was my wife and you had sex with her?” His face twisted in rage and disbelief. 

He rose to his feet, running his hands through his hair as he barked out a caustic scoffing laughter. “I can't believe this, can't believe that you would do this to me”

“Uncle, where is Verena!”

A rueful smile tilted my lips upward. “Why are you bothered about Verena? Don't you have Zita?”

“None of your business, Uncle Daxton!” He yelled. “I am giving you thirty days to end whatever you have with my wife and bring her back to me or be ready to be slammed with a lawsuit for abducting my wife!”