chapter 32

Matthias POV

"I'm sorry that I was stupid enough to fall in love with you"

Those words slipped out of my mouth when I snapped at Josie. Did I mean to say that?

Of course not. Not at all.

I care about her, like a lot.

I do love Josie.

I've been planning on telling her after the wedding, but somehow it slipped out when we were arguing about Destiny's little scam.

No, I didn't sleep with her and yes I know it was harsh for me to put Josie in her place. She didn't want to believe me that I was telling her the truth. She cut me off and didn't want to let me explain what's going on and how can we solve this.

Instead, she denied everything which hurt me the most. This whole time I've been proving Josie that I'm willing to change for her and only her.

But, I guess it didn't work; it's painful to know that you can try to give your all to someone you love and it's still not good enough.

∞

Two chestnut eyes melted like Hershey's she swept her gaze over me unabashedly.

Damn me for finding Josie this attractive.

I'd only gotten as far as her collarbone before she'd ended my visual journey. Her voice was soft. As soft as I knew her skin would be when I touched it.

"Eyes up here buddy."

'When', not the 'if', that blazed in her eyes.

"What did you say?" I cocked my head to the side. I was intrigued, not deaf. I'd heard what Khalid said, but I wondered if he had the guts to say it again.

If only she knew that the more I saw of her lips, the more I craved them. I fought the urge to reach out, sweep my thumb across that lip.

Damn it Matthias get it together! Stop thinking about Josie for a minute!

Snap
Snap
Snap

"Boss!" Galen barked at me and I shot my eyes open.

"Yeah?" I jolted, realizing that I was daydreaming about Josie.

Again.

"Now it's not the time to be in Lala Land. We need to discuss this, the alleged leaked video," he said to me, trying to make me snap out of my dream world.

"Oh, right."

''Hi, Matthias,'' a group of blonde and brunette women passed by me giggling and smiled flirtatiously.

''Ladies,'' I smiled back as Khalid and Galen cleared their throats together and gave me that glare. "I nodded, "Of course. I understand,'' I said back to them.

''Boss, by looking at this file this was dated back three years ago. Bob had some connections in regards to the leaked video, turns out the guy in the video wasn't you,'' Galen said.

''So, why did Destiny blackmailed Josie if it wasn't me?''

''Out of jealousy, I'd assume,'' Khalid adds himself.

Khalid continued, "Also, because of the sensitive nature of the investigation, we would like to work alone."

''Alone?'' I snapped.

''It's for your safety boss. You have to trust us.''

I heaved a deep sigh. I felt my head spinning. I loved my job and loved digging into the nitty-gritty world of number crunching. I felt my brain responding to the challenge before me.

"Well, then, I accept.''

∞

I shuffled along the floor barely awake as the top of my sweatpants hung off of my hips. I made a point of double knotting the drawstring so they wouldn't fall.

Walking over to the bedroom, I opened the lights just to see if Josie was there asleep. I wasn't going to be okay if I didn't see her one last time before I went to sleep.

My heart dropped into pieces to find out that she wasn't there.

Josie is gone.

''Josie?'' I panicked, going to the bathroom and still didn't find her.

The thoughts are accelerating inside my head. I want them to slow so I can breathe but they won't. My breaths come in gasps and I feel like I will blackout.

My heart is hammering inside my chest as it belongs to a rabbit running for its skin. The room spins and I squat on the floor, trying to make everything slow to something my brain and body can cope with.

I feel so sick.

''Where is she?'' I gritted through my teeth, while I'm having an anxiety attack.

I grabbed my phone and called the boys to see if I had any information on Josie; which none of them responded.

At this point, I'm freaking out and don't know where she is, so I'd thought to leave the room and figure it out on my own.

∞

I couldn't believe I was being the sensible one. Usually, I was the one begging everyone to go out and live their lives, the guy that was always looking for a good time, but for some reason, I was getting knots in my stomach.

I made it to some random bar that was close by the hotel, assuming that Josie might've ended up in here.

"Hey, you made it!" A very hefty blonde ran over to me and gave me a big squeeze. ''A drink darling?" She said in her thick French accent.

''I'm here to see my wife,'' I said with an attitude and her face frowned. I pushed her to the side and went inside the bar looking for Josie.

My eyes searched everywhere in fear from left to right and finally, I spotted her up on the second floor, laying her head down on the table.

What the hell she is doing up there?

Without a doubt, I paced myself upstairs to get her down and talk to her about disappearing out of nowhere. I got to the second floor and walked my way towards Josie. Her head was down as if she was passed out with a couple of drinks surrounded on the table.

''Josie,'' my voice cracked. ''Josie, baby, do you hear me?'' ''Baby, please wake up.''

''Mm,'' she groaned.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" A deep French accent growled behind me. I turned toward the guy and met those blue eyes.

''Getting her,'' I pointed at Josie.

"Who do you think you are, her father?" He responded. I hissed walking to him, and he takes a shot of his drink.

''No, I'm her fucking husband and I'm two seconds away to beat the shit out of you. What the fuck did you do to my wife?''

''Gave her what she wanted. My dick," he smirked.

I threw his body weight behind the fist that edged closer to his face, it hit his jaw with such force blood pooled into my mouth. I continued this battering until he fell to the floor. His chest gently rose and sank with each shallow breath he drew in.

He groaned and said ''pitiè de Moi [mercy on me], continuing to groan which led to a cry.

With heavy breaths I replied ''Stay the fuck away from my wife.''

''Monsieur Lekas, are you alright?!'' Some random guy said to me. I shook my head yes while everyone was staring at me, confused and trying to figure out what was going on.

Kneeling, I went to Josie and swept her feet from the ground. I walked down the steps and went over to the limousine that drove me here outside. I heard the whispers and confusion from everyone while I was near the limousine, having Josie wrapped around my arms.

This is so embarrassing, fuck.

''Where to Monsieur?'' The driver said.

''Hotel, please.''

Josie groans again and I immediately targeted my eyes at her.

''Matthias?'' Josie said my name in a whisper.

''Shh,'' I hushed her, taking the extra string of hairs away from her face, running my hands around her chin softly. ''I'm here love, go to sleep.''

''Matthias.''

I felt an urge to do something, to comfort her, but also myself. In a moment I pressed my lips against her forehead.

''Go to sleep baby, I'm still here.''