Chapter 7

• Bryan's POV
• I slam my fist on the large desk in front of me as anger courses through me. It jerks the files up, making my pen fall off the desk. I am not really concerned about the pen or the file that is half-open because of the effect of my slamming, my attention is on the man in front of me.
• "What the hell!" I grit in anger.
• "I'm sorry, sir", he apologizes firmly, bending his head down.
• "Sorry?" I scoff. "How is your sorry going to solve this shit? If you don't look for a solution to this problem, I will have no choice but to invite the external auditors to come and check the accounts of your department as well as the Sales and Finance Department. I am no longer taking this shit!" I hit the desk again, the file falls flat on the floor.
• He keeps quiet. I exhale deeply, trying to control my anger. I really don't know why I made this mistake in the first place. Eric is my cousin and he is in charge of the Accounting Department. He has been heading the Department for a year now and all he has been doing has been satisfactory. 
• But these last few months, I have been noticing some suspicious acts from him and I asked my private investigator to find out what he is doing. Eric is smart and nothing has been found about his acts. 
• Now, some accounts are missing while some are having unexplainable discrepancies. I have a feeling he is behind this all but I can't accuse him because of my father who holds him in high esteem and respect him.
• My anger is justifiable, apart from the fact that I had a rough night and came to work in annoyance. 
• The boy I call my son is pissing me off and making me regret why I decided to bring him to my mansion from his mother's house. 
• I can't help the jealousy I feel anytime he asks or cries for her. I am envious of the bond between and I can't help but feel bad whenever I think of how much she means to him. I feel irrelevant in my son's life even though he has been under my roof for almost a week.
• Last night, he refused to eat as usual. It got on my nerves and I shouted at him. He became scared and ate the food forcefully. I had to stay behind to make sure he eats as Camila fed him before going to my room.
• I was about to go to sleep after working on my laptop for another hour when I began to hear his cries followed by Camila knocking on my door. Jason had vomited all he ate and had begun his tantrums again. 
• I storm to his room furiously but nothing worked. My threats didn't stop him from crying, Instead, they increased his tears. I got frustrated and decided to plead with him.
• "Gosh!" I facepalm myself. I had a sleepless night last night and I can't help having financial issues at work too. I don't know what to do. 
• Eric is my father's younger brother's son. I can't make rash decisions like I do take on people I don't know. I don't want to be irrational in my behavior. But if this continues or if I hear something bad about him, I will fire him and hand him over to the police.
• "Get out!" I say. Surprisingly, my voice is calm. I am trying so hard to control my anger and think things through.
• He stares at me and I repeat. "Get out. Find a way to sort this mess or you will have yourself to blame."
• He nods quietly and leaves my office. I exhale deeply and twirl in my swivel chair. I won't be this angry if the account book isn't missing. Something is fishy and I have a feeling it is from Eric. The fault is from him.
• Most times, my instincts are always right, especially when it comes to bad happenings like this. This was how I felt years ago when I lost my baby girl and her mother. 
• That night, I had a bad feeling. I knew something was going to happen. I never thought my enemies were still lurking around to take their revenge on the people I loved the most. 
• The last time we had an encounter before they ambushed Helena and my baby girl was six months before their death. She always goes out with her bodyguard, even though she detest it but she knew what was involved.
• I thought she was going to have an accident since she was angry with me and I was sure she was going to drive roughly. 
• The accident did happen but it wouldn't have happened if Roger's men weren't at her heels. I warned her but she wouldn't listen. I begged her to learn the tactics on how to defend herself in case of emergencies and whenever there was no one to protect her but she refused. She said she didn't want the life I was living.
• When I got there, Susie was already gone but her mother's eyes were open as she tried to talk to me. She demanded one thing from me and it is a hard decision of my life that I am still trying hard to let go of. 
• I loved her and it still hurt despite all these years to know that we never had the chance to reconcile before she died. It still hurt to know that we never took the vows before she left. 
• I am pained by the fact that Roger was behind her death and I am still trying to forgive myself for pushing her out that night because of my selfish desire to become the Mafia Leader.
• Now, I have given it all up.
• The knock on the door jerks me out of my reverie. I look up to see my Personal Assistant peeking into the office, standing by the doorway.
• I crease my brows, wondering why she didn't call me instead of coming. I always instruct her to call me whenever she has a message for me. She only comes in when I have something important to talk to her about or when she comes in with a file.
• "You aren't picking your calls, sir", she utters, as if reading my mind.
• My eyes shift to the landline. How on earth did I not know it was ringing?
• "What is the matter?" I ignore her statement and ask.
• She comes into view and stands with her hand clasped in front of her nervously. She hasn't gotten used to my yellings yet. I hate clumsy PAs and the former PA was fired because of her clumsiness. So far Stella's work is satisfactory, even though she is slow.
• "Someone is here to see you. She said it is important and she doesn't have an appointment", she explains.
• I don't have any appointments this morning. I furrow my brows in curiosity. 
• "Who is this person that came here without an appointment?"
• "I don't know her, sir", she shrugs in ignorance.
• "You did not ask for her name? Is she one of my business partners?" I peer at her.
• "She said her name is Celine...."
• "Celine?" I cut her short with a frown. I know immediately that it is Jason's mother. She is the only Celine I know and she is capable of coming here to beg me. She was once my secretary.
• "Tell her I am not in", I tell her and open my laptop to go through the online statement Stella sent to me earlier.
• Without any questions, she takes the exit. I don't want Celine in my life. Letting her have Jason back is like asking Roger to come back and take another precious thing. 
• Even though I don't know much about the boy I call my son, I love him already. I still haven't been able to take my revenge on Roger, after all these years for making me lose two important people in a day, because of the promise I made to Helena.
• I didn't realize I am lost in thought until my phone begins to ring and I huff in frustration. I close the laptop in front of me. I am not concentrating. There are a lot of things on my mind. Eric, Jason, Helena, Susie, and now Celine.
• I glance at the phone nonchalantly to catch the name of the maid appearing on the screen. It tucks my interest up and I lean forward to pick up the call. Camila doesn't call me unless it is urgent. My mind goes to Jason instantly and I wonder what happened. 
• "Camilla..."
• "Boss", we both speak at the same time.
• "What happened?" I ask her, with a pounding heart. I hope it has nothing to do with my boy 
• "It's Jason. He is sick. Please come home", she pleads and disconnects the call immediately. 
• Her tone of urgency gets me up and racing to the door without thinking.