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Disappeared

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Chapter 18: Disappeared (Christian's POV)

"Wait," I bit out sharply after Jules and she stopped midway and spun on her heels, glaring at me with a huff. "Someone's in a rush," I commented, opening the backseat door and taking out the bouquet of sunflowers I bought. 

She kept her hands in front of her, clutching her purse, and watched me, maintaining a blank face without giving her emotions away. "Flowers?" 

"For your mother dearest," I nodded, locking the car and then meeting her where she stood at the entrance to the building. 

Her eyes narrowed while she watched me. "You flatter her." 

"She's your mother. I'm obligated to flatter her and I tell no lies." 

She shook her head at me subtly as we headed inside. 

"Maisie is wonderful, Jules, I don't know why you're bothered by the fact that I brought your mother flowers." 

"I'm not bothered that you brought flowers for my mother," she huffed, walking into the building and giving the concierge a small smile and wave as we walked past the front desk and towards the elevator. 

I eyed her in amusement. "Are you bothered I didn't bring you any?" 

If looks could kill then the glare she gave me would have buried me six feet under. "I'd rather you don't bring me flowers ever, Christian." 

"You used to like it." 

"I used to like you," she scoffed, both of us growing still momentarily and turning to look at each other. "Used to," she added quickly. "As in past tense," she mumbled before stepping into the elevator as the doors slid open before us. 

I held her gaze as I moved to stand beside her, pressing down the button to the top floor where Luke and Maisie have always stayed whenever they were in New York. Of course, I knew the place, I got them the deal. 

They bought the condo through Lukov Empires and Estates, it was a small deal made before I had even met Jules and it was done without my father's knowledge. It was meant to be a step towards collaboration and healthy competition but when their lovely son Alex found out, he shattered the whole plan and had nothing but criticism to give not just to me but even his own parents for working with the enemy. 

I knew Jules's parents and brother before I knew her and while it was true that my father and Luke absolutely despised each other after the long-lasting rivalry of our companies when I started taking over, I went in open-minded and more than willing to make friends out of foe for my own and the company's benefit. Luke Declan was the first and most important person on that list. Had I known I would fall madly in love with his daughter not too long after, I would have been a bit more careful. 

"Hold my hand," I said, reaching for her. 

She swatted it away. "Holding your arm is just as good," she retorted, linking her arm in mine as we walked towards the front door. 

"Smile, Milaya. We have a show to put on," I smirked as she rang the doorbell. 

"Shut up, Christian," she said mockingly, facing me. "And focus." 

I held her gaze, both of our faces snapping forward when the doors opened. 

"Christian!" Maisie exclaimed, grinning widely at me before turning to her daughter. "You finally brought him over again." 

"I sure did," Jules nodded with a soft chuckle, pulling her arm out of mine slowly as I held out the flowers. 

"These are for you, Maisie," I told her with a faint nod. 

"You remembered my favorite flowers. Good job, Christian," she praised, taking the bouquet from me before stepping aside. "Come on in, you two. Your Dad's cooking, honey, do you want to go help out?" She waited for Jules to respond. 

"I don't... cook, Mom, you know that," Jules replied doubtfully. 

"I can help," I shrugged. 

"You're still a gem," Maisie said, patting my shoulder. 

"Was that a test to make sure I was?" I chuckled softly before unbuttoning my sleeves and pulling them up to the elbows, heading to the kitchen while Jules stayed there, having a conversation with her Mom. Glancing at Jules one last time over my shoulder, my eyes met hers and she didn't look away as she continued speaking to Maisie, not until I was out of sight. I entered the kitchen and found Luke already setting up the table. "Need a little help?" I offered. 

"Hello, Christian!" He sent me a quick wave before reaching for the wine glasses. "How've you been, son? Good, I hope," he laughed, swiftly taking the apron off and folding it up, setting it on the counter behind him. 

"Great, Luke. You?" 

"Fantastic. Come on, have a seat. I was just about to call Maisie and serve. Wait a second." He left the kitchen while calling for his wife and I released a quiet breath, taking a look around. 

The place hasn't changed at all since I came here the first time as Jules's boyfriend. 

When the three of them strolled into the kitchen, Luke and Maisie took their seats together almost immediately, leaving Jules and me to sit together across from them at the dining table for six. I stole a glance at Jules while she walked over as slowly as possible and kept my eyes on hers, shooting her a pointed glance before pulling her chair out for her. 

"Thanks," she said softly before sitting down while I did the same. Once everyone was settled down and we all served ourselves one at a time, the conversation began and I practically felt Jules go absolutely stiff beside me. 

"We haven't seen you in a very long time, Christian," Luke said with a little laugh while reaching for his wife's wine glass and pouring her some. 

"Yes, you all but disappeared on us," Maisie said, shaking her head. 

"Well, you don't visit us a lot in New York now, do you? What can I say?" I replied, taking the bottle from Luke and taking Jules's glass out of her hands, my eyes cutting to hers as our fingers brushed against each other's, sending a faint buzzing under my skin. 

"That is true," Luke admitted. 

"How've you been, honey?" Maisie asked me. 

"Great, you?" I nodded with the faintest smile I could manage for courtesy's sake. 

"Good, yeah." 

"How's the company going?" Luke questioned, watching me with lifted brows. 

"I better be careful now if you're in town," I joked, making him laugh while nodding in appreciation. 

"You better watch out then," he added. 

Feeling Jules's gaze on me, I couldn't help but look at her. She was watching me with doubt so evidently swirling in her eyes that it almost offended me. "It was a joke," I whispered in annoyance. "He got it, you clearly didn't," I mumbled, leaning in closer to her. 

In return, she offered me a beaming grin, the kind that shone as bright as the sun or glowed brighter than the stars. The kind I hadn't seen since I lost her. "Only because I know you," she said through clenched teeth, scooting her chair a little closer to mine. 

"You think you still do?" I muttered, lifting a brow. 

"Oh, definitely," she whispered before facing forward. 

"We'll see," I replied quickly, daring her back. 

"Jules told you about the wedding, we take it," Maisie said, smiling at me. 

"She did," I answered, "Santorini is great for weddings from what I've heard." 

"Are you looking into wedding destinations then?" she teased, looking between Jules and me. 

"Mom," Jules hissed quietly, staring at her Mom in confusion and shock. 

"What? Is it so wrong of me to expect a wedding invitation soon? You have been engaged for two years now." 

We stole another glance at each other. 

"But Mom—" 

"Aren't weddings supposed to be surprises, Maisie?" I asked, flashing her a smile. 

She watched me for a moment and then sighed, "You better marry my daughter, Christian." 

I bit back my smile behind the wine glass as I took a sip of the Chardonnay. 

"Well, I won't push. Whenever you both are ready," she finally shrugged in defeat. 

Jules sighed in frustration quietly and began to stand up. "I need to use the bathroom. I'll be right back, excuse me," she mumbled, walking behind my chair and heading to the guest room bathroom. 

"How's your father, Christian?" Luke cleared his throat as we all continued eating. 

"I wouldn't really know. Aside from weekly dinners, we don't see each other often. It's still the same," I explained. 

He seemed to pause and think his response through before speaking up. "You've handled the company very well from what I've seen and heard over the years. Considering what you went through to take your rightful spot, you're doing great. Whatever it counts for, we're proud of you," he said nonchalantly. 

It took me a minute to really hear his words and react with a faint, distracted nod. 

I hate lying to them and it's proving to be much harder than I thought it would. 

"I appreciate that, Luke. Really," I responded. 

Not too long after, Jules came back to the table, and dinner went as smoothly as it could have... Until Santorini came up again. 

"We better see you there in Santorini with Jules, Christian," Maisie said. 

"Oh, I don't know," I chuckled dryly, shaking my head, "I don't think Alex would like that very much." 

Jules nudged my knee with her own under the table while picking up her wine glass. 

I nudged hers back. "Not to mention, I have a lot of work to do. I don't know if I can take that much time off." 

"Then put your father to use one last time," Luke scoffed. 

"Luke," Maisie scolded. 

"Dad," Jules huffed at the same time. 

"Son, I don't mean to be rude, you know that."

"That's okay. I know what you meant," I shrugged. I had no problem admitting what an asshole my father was. If I hated him, it was no surprise that Luke did as well. "But with work and—" 

"I'm not going to take no for an answer. After you disappeared, we're seeing you now. You've been with Jules for years and you haven't met her family yet." 

"I've met you both," I replied with a smirk. 

"We don't count, we're her parents. Her grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Plus, we've already told everyone you'll be there. All eyes are on you, Christian, don't let us down." 

"Dear God," Jules whispered under her breath before downing the rest of her wine. 

I braced her with a firm grip on her thigh, telling her wordlessly to slow down, to keep it under control for just a little longer. She stiffened under my touch where my hand met her bare leg at the slit of her dress. "I..." I paused, watching her parents' expectant and hopeful expressions. 

Damn it. 

"I will think of something," I finally said after a long quiet moment of deliberation. 

Jules instantly threw my hand off, anger radiating off of her as she threw the napkin onto the table. 

"Honey, where's your ring?" Maisie asked suddenly. 

"What?" Jules asked, caught off-guard. 

"Your ring," her mother repeated. 

Jules's eyes slid down to where my left hand moved back to her thigh and she stared at the band around my ring finger. The gold-plated band sat right there while a faint champagne shade of gold made a border around the band on the top and bottom, the same shade of Jules's ring. Jules's hand slowly found mine on her thigh and she slipped her palm under mine, locking our fingers together. 

Finally realizing what I was doing, she let me hold her hand while I dropped the ring into her palm. "I uh," she cleared her throat, "I must have left it in the bathroom when I took it off to wash my hands. I'm sure I'll find it, just a second," she laughed softly and slowly stood up again, glancing down at me hesitantly. 

"Well, he won't be mad at you, Julie, relax," her Dad laughed, watching us. 

"Help me find that ring, will you?" she asked me bluntly, intensely holding my gaze. Her eyes were sharp and stone cold. 

What the fuck did I do to piss her off this time? 

"Sure," I nodded once, still holding her hand as she rounded my seat before I too followed her. "Lead the way then, Milaya," I said quietly, trailing behind her while glancing at her parents over my shoulder. "Don't give your parents the wrong idea." 

"Don't talk unless you want me to murder you in that bedroom," she ground out, pulling the guest room door open for me. "Get inside. Now." 

"As you wish, love," I smirked, strolling in.

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Chapter 18

Alright so this book may not be as much of a slow burn as I originally planned for it to be because as I'm writing it, I'm realizing that it's much harder to make second chance romances a slow burn while they're fake dating cuz there's just too many moments to make it burn like a slow burn lol

but the book will have everything it needs dw

next ch: cherish

"HOW DO YOU LOSE A WOMAN?"
~