Author's note: this is from Duke's point of view

- - -

​​

~ Eclipse HQ building ~

I was on my way to a meeting with Mr. Yarbro when I got a notification that two individuals entered Sanya's old house.

It was not the schedule for cleaners, so I wondered if those are maintenance guys or if something else was going on.

Normally, I would drop everything and rush to that place, but after two years of numerous false alarms, I learned to control my impulse to run around London because there might be a clue related to Serina.

When I found out that Serina's parents were evicted and the house was put for auction, I was ecstatic. This was a good way to prove to Serina my loyalty, by making sure she gets what belonged to her. Her grandmother intended for Serina to have that house.

To my surprise, the house was off the list before the auction started and I found out that Aldus Mezzanotte purchased it for five times the market price. This only confirmed his relationship with Seraphina, my Sanya.

"You have a meeting. Do you want me to check this out?", Sergio asked me while gesturing to the notification on his phone. As my right-hand man, Sergio got the same notification I did.

I shook my head. "No need to go in person. If it's not the cleaning crew, it's highly likely that it's some maintenance arranged by the Mezzanotte family." I paused as my insides told me I will regret it if I let it be. It's always like this, and I always get disappointed, but I can't help it. "Wait! Ask our guy to take photos. I want to see who entered the house."

"Alright.", Sergio agreed and went to give instructions.

Sergio is the reason why I started this investment company.

One day, Sergio looked at my unkempt appearance and said that I'm rotting in my apartment.

When I refused to get out, Sergio used Sanya against me, saying that if I want to continue generating money, I need to have people working for me and only like that I will be able to provide for her, and… here I am. The owner of the Eclipse, an investment company, with employees and schedule that forces me to get out of my apartment five days a week.

…

My meeting with Mr. Yarbro went as expected and I returned to my office.

It was a lunch meeting that dragged forever because he thought we can be friends or something like that.

Mr. Yarbro is a friendly older man, with valuable connections, but when he started talking about his daughter and showed me her photo, I took a mental note that when Mr. Yarbro wants the next meeting, Sergio or one of his people will attend in my place.

Sergio advised me to hire several secretaries and assistants because only like that I will find reliable people, but the secretaries were too flirty, and I don't trust people easily.

After Serina mentioned Magdalena Thompson and rumors about other girls during one of our dream-like meetings, I knew that I messed up big time. I thought that by ignoring things they will disappear, and I never considered that Serina will hear those gossips and believe them. I was such a fool.

Since Serina disappeared from London, I met her fifty-three times in my dreams (yes, I'm counting).

I found out how much I hurt her by staying away after high school.

At that time, I was not aware of how insecure she was, and unfortunately, my actions played right into the scenario where she felt that I was playing with her, and I found out about it too late.

Would I do things differently if I knew that it will end like this? I refuse to believe that this is how things end between me and Serina.

I told myself to be patient. Blowing a fuse will only make her run away.

It's impossible to get close to her, but at least I know that she is Seraphina Mezzanotte and I'm waiting for the opportunity to approach her. Somehow.

I also know that she loves me. She really-really loves me but instead of being happy about it, my soul is in agony because, despite all that love, she refuses to come to me.

I thought about telling her how those were not dreams, but I changed my mind, as she might freak out and I will lose those rare moments when she is next to me, in my embrace, and my soul is at peace.

I'm unable to breach the security Aldus Mezzanotte is providing her and I tell myself that at least I know she is safe and I will get my chance, but it's hard.

In order to prevent any future gossips, I make sure to stay away from London's nightlife and whoever is caught actively spreading stories about me is being slapped with a lawsuit.

Also, my every employee is required to sign a non-disclosure agreement, but even with that, some gossips are being spread and leaked out of the company. That's why I reassigned all female secretaries to others, and I have Greg to manage my schedule while Sergio is my assistant.

Unfortunately, I don't trust Sergio fully because I'm aware how more than once he was concealing things from me.

And for some odd reason, Magdalena Thompson is still set on me. I haven't seen her in person in years. YEARS! Why the hell is she spreading rumors about how we spent a weekend together? If not for her brother's protection, I would have that woman in social slums.

Just as I was shaking away nasty thoughts about Magdalena, my computer screen showed notification of an email I received with the caption, "Photos of two individuals".

The email had four photos attached.

The first photo showed a blonde and some other person coming out of the main door of Sanya's old house.

The blonde was well dressed, high heels, definitely not a cleaning lady.

The second photo showed a profile of a brunette and I forgot to breathe. Even with those oversized sunglasses, I would never mistake any woman for Serina. She is here. In London.

The last two photos only confirmed that Serina and some blonde woman visited her house.

Why did I attend the stupid meeting instead of going there myself? Serina would open the door and I would embrace her, just how I do it in my dreams and I would not let go of her until she agrees to listen and… I missed it. She is gone.

Serina promised that she will come to London and get in touch with me. She promised and I clung onto it like a lifeline even though I knew she will not do it.

The rumors were too much, and it all fell perfectly into a twisted story of how I played with Serina and abandoned her, and after that, I had fun with who knows how many women.

Serina lost hope in me, she lost hope in us… But I didn't. I'm not a clueless nineteen years-old boy anymore. I have money and connections, and I will be damned if I give up now.

"Sergio!", I called, and the man entered my office two seconds later.

"Yes, young master?"

"This blonde. I need you to find out who she is."

---

If you are not reading this at 'W e b n o v e l . c o m', then the content you're reading is stolen! Please support the author by reading this novel from the original source.