Xavier's pov:

I got tensed as soon as I heard Chris' voice. He is a really confident man. He never sounds so scared.

"First of all, calm down. Then tell me what's the matter?"

I could hear his loud breathing as if he is trying to make peace to his racing heart.

"Sir, the resorts and the bars in France have collapsed. Everything is ruptured."

"What do you mean Chris? Be clear."

"Sir, I ran a check over the system. I was shocked to see the data. Mr. Lancaster ran away with every detail and all funds from all the resorts and bars in France. He was the only person who had access to every bank detail and important files. He has been missing from last two days and today his account has been credited with huge balance. That's almost equal to the amount that's been deducted from our accounts."

"What the fuck? How the hell can he get access to all the money in the accounts? For God's sake, the France Resorts and Bars make valuation worth more than 7 billions."

"Sir, Mr. Lancaster along with two authorities from the bank and an employee from the marketing department did all this. I've given an order to file a police complaint regarding the issue. But, you need to be present there personally for the formalities." Chris told me.

"I think you're right. I must go there immediately."

"Sir, I asked the captain to be ready. Your private jet is waiting for you at the airport."

"Thank you Chris. I'll leave immediately. Take care of the work and be in touch with Lucas for all the official matters, in case I'm out of reach." I told him and hung up the call.

I sat on the bed. Freaking out was the only thing that I was doing right now.

The door of my room opened with a thud. There was Lucas catching his breath, probably because he came running.

"Hey, are you okay? I got to know the whole France thing." He asked me looking as freaked out as me.

"How did you reach here this quickly? Because, I just ended my call with Chris like a minute ago." I was surprised to see him.

"Chris informed me before he called you. He knew how much important the France resort was to you. We both know how much you have strived to get that land and build your dream project in France. He knew that you would freak out. So, he called me first so that I could reach to you as early as possible." Lucas told me.

"Sometimes, I don't understand whether I pay him or you do. Because every time there's something that I would stress about, he gives the call first to you and then to me." I let out a sad chuckle.

"Because he knows his boss very well. He knows at what moment you would get stressed and would need your best friend with you."

I looked at Lucas for a second and hugged him.

"I don't know man what's happening to me? Sometimes, it feels like everything is breaking down into pieces. First the marriage thing, then the accident and now cheery on cake is this scandal. You very well know how important the resorts and the bars in France were for me. I spent almost 70% of my wealth on building those. I strived so hard to achieve that land. You know everything.

Why does this keep happening to me? Why am I the only one who always gets stuck in such things?" I poured my feelings.

"First of all calm down. And the next thing, just get in your head that you aren't a 5 year old child who would cry on every mistake and every bad thing . You weren't like this before. What happened to you? Why do you keep on losing hope?

I agree that this is a great concern but, it isn't something that would bring you down on streets. I agree that you invested a huge portion of your wealth into those resorts and bars. But, you have earned like some 10 to 20 times greater amount from those.

And what are you stressing about? I agree that in this situation the first thing the shareholders do, is demand there investments back.

But even you know that you and I, are both the majority of the shareholders in the company in France.

You have the 52% shares. I have 31%. That means 83% of the shares are with us, in our family. You just have to pay off the rest of the 17% and that will be only if the shareholders demand their investments back.

And still you haven't reached France. You don't know what situation is going on there. So, rather than freaking out here, I will suggest you to pack your bags as soon as possible and leave for France. Your presence is very important there at this situation." Lucas brought me back to practicality.

"I think you are right Lucas. I shouldn't be freaking out . I should leave for France right now. Just let me change."

"I'll pack your back till then. Get ready fast."

"No need of packing my bags. I already have some clothes and the essentials in my suite in the resort. Just do one thing, get my passport and other documents that would be necessary at the airport from my study." I told Lucas so that it would save time.

"Okay." With that he left towards my study and I went to the washroom.

I got ready within a minute or two and moved towards my study. Lucas was coming out of the room with my documents with him.

Rather than moving out of the mansion, he moved towards second floor.

"Where are you going Lucas?"

"Don't you want to meet Maya before you leave?" He asked me.

"No." I answered straight away.

"Why? You do know that you won't be returning back anytime soon, don't you? See her at least once."

"I gave a thought about it Lucas. I won't be able to leave this place if I see her. I know that I won't see her soon, but if I see her now, I won't be able to concentrate on work. Her face would keep on flashing infront of me."

Honestly, leaving Maya was the biggest decision I took now. But, I know that my Maya is safe with Mimi, Lucas, Dan, Liam and Daisy. They all will take care of her, probably better than me.

"As you wish Xav." Lucas agreed with me.

We both moved towards the airport. Lucas was going to drop me there.

On the way, I told him everything that he needs to do in my absence.

From taking Maya's care to handling my work. Definitely, I will look after the company from there. But, there are certain deals that are going to take place within next two weeks. My presence would be required. But, in my place there are few meetings, that need to be handled by him.

He dropped me off at the airport promising that he'll take care of everything. With that assurance, I left for France.

Maya's pov:

I was sitting alone in my room from the last one hour. No one came to talk to me. I was getting really bored. This was the first time, I guess, in these days that I'm alone in the room.

It was around 8 when I heard footsteps coming towards my room. Anna and Lucas entered my room with Renee behind them pushing ahead the dinner trolley. She kept the dinner on my bed and left.

I looked at Lucas and Anna. They looked really stressed out.

"What's up guys? What happened? Why do you look so stressed?" I asked them.

"Lucas has something to talk to you Maya. But, that'll happen later. Now, it's already past your dinner time . Have dinner first, take your medicines and then you kids can sit and talk." Anna said.

"I will have my dinner Anna. Just tell me, what happened ? Lucas, he looks really stressed. I know something is wrong."

"Not a single word Maya. Keep quiet. Have your dinner, take your medicines and then you guys can do whatever you want. And, I am not leaving from here until you have your dinner." She ordered me like a mother. I liked that right of hers over me. I smiled at her and nodded.

She fed me the dinner and gave me my medicines. All the time, I was just looking at locus who was sitting on the couch with his hands folded together, between his chin and his knees. I made sure to have my dinner and my medicines quickly.

After making sure that I took all my medicines properly, Anna left the room signalling Lucas to come and talk to me.

Lucas came and sat near me on the bed. He held my hand in his and looked at me.

"Don't take this in a wrong way Maya. Whatever I am going to tell you, just understand this like a mature person."

"What's wrong Lucas? You are scaring me now. Everything's fine, right? Dan is alright, right?" I asked him.

"Everything's fine Maya. it just, I want to tell you something."

"Okay. Umm... What's that?"

"Xavier's been off to France."

I looked shocked at him for a second and then realised that he is surely joking. I started laughing.

"Why are you laughing Maya? What's wrong?"

"You cracked a joke and I laughed. That's what people do, right? That was a good joke Lucas. But, I know that you are kidding."

"Trust me, I'm not kidding Maya. Xavier has really gone to France. There was some emergency. So, he had to leave as soon as possible." Lucas told me. He didn't look like he was kidding.

"That's not a thing to joke about Lucas. If you guys are making fun of me then, I must tell you that it's not a funny thing. Where is Mr. Adams? I am sure he must be here in the mention itself. And, if he really wanted to go to France , then he would have at least informed me."

"Trust me Maya, I am really not kidding. Xavier is not here . He left for the airport. I myself dropped him there. I am coming straight from the airport. His flight would have taken off by now."

I stayed quiet for moment realising that Lucas wasn't kidding about this thing. Mr. Adams really left for France. That was reason, I haven't seen him ever since he left the room ,when John visited. Otherwise, knowing his nature, he would have come here 10 times in an hour to see if I am doing fine or not.

I didn't realise when my eyes prickled with tears and one of them slipped through my eye, down to my cheek until Lucas wiped it off.

"Didn't he care about even informing me once? " I asked Lucas with my tearful eyes.

"I already told you to not take this in a wrong way. Situations have been so worse that we couldn't waste anymore time here. He had to reach there as soon as possible. "

"So, you mean to say that informing me that he is going to France, that would have hardly taken a minute, was waste of time."

"No no Maya. Fuck! This is all going a wrong way." Lucas said.

"You know what , in these few days, I thought that somewhere there's a chance that we can work this thing out. Even if that's 0.1% , I wanted to take that chance, seeing the changes in him. But, I guess, I was wrong. Maybe, I don't even exist for him. That's why , he didn't bother to inform."

"No Maya. You have to understand that it was really the hardest thing for him to leave you here, all alone. I had to convince him a lot to go there, leaving your responsibility to me.

Even, I believe that family is important.

Trust me, if it wasn't his company in France, I would have myself never allowed him to leave you. He had worked day and night to set his name in France. He risked his everything for that. If he didn't go there immediately, he could have fallen down a hard way. And, I couldn't see my best friend's dream crashing down.

And about informing you, I told him to meet you once before leaving. But, he denied. Wanna know why?" Lucas asked me.

I nodded.

"Because he couldn't control himself, if he saw you the last time. He wouldn't be able to leave.

Believe me, he isn't as tough as he portrays to be. He is a real emotional guy. If he would have seen you before leaving, trust me he would have cried there itself and would have let go off those billions in hell. Tell me, would you have liked to see him losing so much?"

"I think you are right Lucas. I am sorry that I overreacted so much. But, I guess you're over exaggerating this.

He would have cried for you, Dan or Anna. But, I am not his family and niether do we have such relation that he would not have liked to leave me.

I agree he was in a haste and it's perfectly okay if he didn't inform me. But, I am pretty sure, that he wouldn't have cried or become emotional at the thought of leaving me." I told him.

"I wish Maya that you knew the reality." Lucas said.

"What's that supposed to me Lucas?"

"Nothing my dear Princess. Now, just go to sleep.

I'll be staying this night with you and then we'll take turns over with Dan and Daisy. Because, you need someone with you 24/7 at least till your leg and your hand is healed. So , now let's just sleep. "

I nodded smiling at Lucas.

He started working towards the couch. He sat on the couch and adjusted the pillow and the comforter on it.

"What are you doing Lucas?" I asked him.

"Making myself a place to sleep Maya. " He answered.

"There's is no need of sleeping on the couch. This bed is big enough for 4 people to sleep on and we are just two. You can sleep here . You are my brother, right? So, there's no need to be awkward around me."

"I'll be anything but awkward around you Maya. I am not uncomfortable. It's just that I don't want to hurt you in any possible way. I am scared of that." Lucas said with a sparkle of innocence.

"Brother can never hurt of his sister and a protective brother like yours can never do this, even in dreams. I'll be fine and now get up and sleep on the bed and it's my order." I told him a bit strictly.

"Looking at your strictness, I shouldn't say this . But, I can't even stop myself now . You think you look bossy, but reality is my dear sister, you look really funny." Lukas said bursting in laughter.

I threw a pillow on him and instead of hurting him, he caught that and sat on the bed laughing.

We chatted for a while before calling it a night.

Xavier's pov:

I was resting on my bed in the flight. Not that I want to flaunt but, these are the pros of being wealthy. You have your own bed in your own private jet.

I tried to take my mind somewhere else but there was only one thing that occupied my entire brain right now.

What would be Maya doing right now? How would she be living without me?

Definitely Dan, Lucas, Mimi, Daisy, Liam all will take care of her. But, will she be okay? Would she be having any pain right now? Should I call her?

All sorts of thoughts kept running in my mind the whole time. But, finally after thinking a lot, I decided that I will not talk to Maya or even see her on video call while I am in France.

Because, once I see her, I definitely know that I wouldn't be able to control myself and would keep on calling her frequently and I wouldn't be able to look after this mess properly.

Right now, taking care of my company was the foremost thing that I should have on my mind. Not only my money is at stake, but thousands of people who work for me , their lives , their jobs are at stake.

They earn their bread and butter by working here and it would be really unfair to them if I couldn't handle my company well because of my emotions and they would have to lose their jobs.

I could anyhow afford the loss that I would face. I would renew the amount anyway. But, they wouldn't be able to survive long without any job. And, I can't play with the lives of thousands of people and their families that depend on me.

I reached France and started off with my work as soon as possible.

I need to do a lot of things here. I need to have a check on the investigation going on right now. I also need to work by myself on investigating this. I made sure to hire the best investigator in France for this matter.

I reached the Bank, where my funds are deposited and started off with my meeting with the manager.

While talking to him, I came to know that an employee of his bank was involved in all this mess. But, somewhere I had this doubt on him that he also has to do something regarding this. Because, without a manager's sign, a transaction couldn't happen. After, my meeting I went on with the local cops there and discussed this complete matter.

This whole time, I missed Maya's beautiful face and her sweet voice . But, I made up my mind about this and proceeded with my work ahead.