3: The Devil Returns

Baron’s POV

“The world isn't safe, Valerie… I can't let you go.”

I mumble by the door, feeling terrible for locking her against her will. Now, she had given up her little fight.

Painful memories flood in. It's exhausting. My hands dig into my scalp, grabbing a fistful of my hair, and pulling as if to even out the pain. 

“Gosh, Valerie, I’m sorry for dragging you into my mess.” I shut my eyes and take a deep breath. 

Unable to get my emotions together, I groan and kick the wall, wincing from the gush of pain that jolts through my leg. Defeated, I press my back to the wall and slide down till I am butt flat on the floor. My legs sprawl recklessly, hands by my side.

“You’re an amazing woman… beautiful, ambitious…but you’re… you’re just not her.” 

Silence consumes me.

“No matter how I try to forget her, I can't.” 

I sigh, drawing one knee up and resting my hand on it. 

“So I figured that if I make you her, maybe it would hurt less… But god, I feel awful.” I press my lips firmly so I don't break down. 

The steady footsteps pounding down the hallway make me pause. It's Jax, my aide. He’s way too close not to see my tears, so I duck.

“Go away…”

“Boss, you need to see this.” 

“I said fuck off!”

He attempts to speak but just runs his hands together. “Even if it's urgent and it's about Glynn?” He shrugs and takes a smooth turn.

Wait… Glynn?!

The only Glynn I know is the vicious moron. He was my business rival, sworn to take me out of existence until my merger with Veronica’s company made him fold up. And since then, he had disappeared like thin dust until… No!

“He’s back,” Jax says like he’s reading my mind. “And he’s trying to sabotage the current business deal we have going on.”

“What the fuck!”

I fly off my butt. The company can’t afford a lack of funding or scandals. I push Jax aside and start for the exit. He tries to keep up with me. 

When we get to the car, Jax takes the wheel while I sit in the passenger seat in front. 

“And you’re sure this isn't some cheap publicity?”

He shakes his head. “No, boss.” He hits the accelerator. “The team in charge of the latest foreign project was in the middle of the meeting, still on it… But they heard one of the men whisper something about Glynn Cannon.” His fingers slam the wheel grabber.

It's inconvenient just sitting in a car stuck in a traffic jam instead of teleporting. I look a mess, nothing like Baron Carter, CEO of Carter’s group. The only good thing is that I just left work, so I'm in my black blazer and suit pants. I adjust my tie and my clothes. Once we arrive, I hastily dash for the conference room.

Damn! The sight of the potential client walking into the lobby makes my heart drop.

“Mr. Baron.” Nate, the leader of the small group of five prestigious men, extends his hand for a shake.

I fake a smile and take his hand. “Mr. Nate,” I wave at the others. “I heard there are some issues, Would you mind if we rectify them in the boardroom?” 

“Uh…” he flips his watch. “The issue isn't with your team.” 

“Okay. I believe it's something we can adjust for.” I keep my small smile.

Nate grins. “You’re good, Mr. Baron, but the thing is that we got a better offer with a crazy return on interest.” He shrugs. “We go for the most productive, we’re businessmen.”

“Fine. Let's discuss rates.”

He stands upright, giving me a cue that he needs to leave. “How about you send that over? I’m afraid we don't have time.” 

I nod. “Our company is credible and offers good rates, something other companies can't brag about.” I lean in instead of stepping aside. “And some have folded up for fraud… Shanks, Necro… Glynn’s cooperation.” I tsk.

As if it hits close to home, he stiffens under my watch. 

“I’ll do as you say, Mr. Nate.” With that, I step aside for him to walk through. 

The uncertainty crawls out of him, it's obvious in his nonstop blinks and sudden frozen smile. They eventually walk away.

“What did you do?” Jax whispers once they are gone. 

“Just pulled my strings.” I adjust my blazer. “Get me everything you know about the idiot, everything.”

He puts his tab in my view. “Check this out,” he swipes past Glynn’s photo. “He is back, but as a doctor. Works at MasCal hospital as their senior gynecologist.” 

It's not making any sense. “How is a doctor in my business?”

Jax shrugs in a ‘simple’ way. “Pitch a smaller business against ours. Buy them, or if they refuse to sell, take over their boards from crazy investment in their stocks… Viola!”

Crap! 

I sigh. The idiot won’t stay dead, would he?

“Take me home.” 

He doesn't hesitate and we leave the company. He wades off the paparazzi that have managed to crawl out from their bay. The drive home is short. New York’s traffic only knows how to frustrate you when you have an emergency. 

I walk back in, remembering I have a big problem upstairs. Even though my heart doesn't beat for Valerie, I hate seeing her cry. That's one thing I can't handle, and I didn't just make her cry, I broke her. 

My necktie is almost suffocating. I adjust it and walk up the stairs to our room. The door is still locked. 

“Valerie, I'm sorry.” I puff. “I shouldn't have locked you in, but it was the only way… We can talk about this, please…”

After a brief hesitation, I fix the key in the hole and open the door. 

The place is a mess… just without her. It makes me pause. The wardrobe is open and there is no way she sneaked in it. The bathroom is closed but no sound… The open drawer makes me gasp. I run for it, meeting the shock of my life.

It's gone. The diary is gone! 

“Shit!” I groan in frustration. 

As if my day isn't already going bad, I see the open window. The sight is like a dagger that pierced my heart. I sprint for it and fix myself in the small opening to see, but she isn't in sight.

Valerie is gone!