Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

[Next Day]

"What the fuck is taking so long?" Owen grumbled as he slumped on the couch.

"Someone's cranky today." Daniel took a sip of his morning coffee. "Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed today?"

"I just want to get over this and go home, okay?" He grunted. "I am so tired of this place."

"Home?" Daniel tilted his head to the side. "Do you mean you want to go back to your HOUSEKEEPER?" He smirked.

Owen scoffed but did not say anything. Only he knew how badly he wanted to go back and pin Juliana under him especially after what he saw last night.

Just then his phone started ringing. At first he tried to ignore the call but when he saw who it was, he quickly received it before walking outside.

"I'll be outside."

…..

[Outside]

"Hey, sorry to disturb you…" The nervousness in Juliana's voice made him frown.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" He anxiously asked.

"I—"

When she paused, Owen asked, "Bella, tell me what's wrong?"

"When are you coming back?"

"I don't know yet, why?" When she became silent again, he started feeling restless. "You are not telling me something."

"I don't know if I will be around when you come back but—"

"What do you mean?" He frowned. He was definitely not liking where this conversation was going.

After a long pause, Juliana explained, "My friend from highschool has a company. I met him yesterday at the grocery store nearby. He is here on business."

"Yeah so?"

"He offered me a job," she sighed. "The pay is good and he has also assured me that my brother's health insurance will be covered along with mine."

When Owen did not say anything, she added, "The job is in LA."

Juliana's anxiousness shot up when she did not get any answer or reaction from him. "Say something."

"What do you want me to say?" He scoffed. "Seems like you have already made up your mind."

"I—"

"Too bad that isn't happening."

"What are you—"

"You are not going to LA Juliana," he firmly stated, leaving no room for negotiation. "You are going to be a good girl and stay in the city until I am back. Do you understand?"

"You can't tell me what to do," Juliana snapped. "I will take the job."

Throwing his head back, Owen mockingly smirked. "Yeah, you can try. But trust me when I tell you that if you are not there in my house within my radar when I am back, I'll hunt you down and drag you back."

Before she could retort, he added, "I swear on my mother, if I don't find your ass on my couch when I am back, you are going to regret your entire life."

"Owen—"

"Don't argue over this because there is no point. We have a deal and you have to follow it. You are working for me and I am covering your brother's health insurance as well."

Before leaving the country, he had made all the necessary arrangements for Juliana's brother who was still at the hospital.

"I can't stay as your housekeeper my entire life," she remarked.

"We will talk about that when I am back." Without waiting for her reply, he hung up the call.

Contemplating for a while, Owen called the men he had left to keep an eye on Juliana and to keep her safe.

"Yes boss—"

"Keep an close eye on her and make sure she doesn't leave the city," he instructed. "I swear, if she is not there when I am back, I'll kill you."

"Woah, what's with the threat early in the morning?" Justin raised his brows. "Is everything okay?"

"What do you think?" Owen scoffed before hanging up.

"It's the housekeeper," Daniel told Justin and Andrew.

When all the three men grinned, Owen snapped, "Can we stop discussing me and attend the fucking meeting?"

"Alright, let's go." Andrew took out his car keys. "I want to come back before Rachael wakes up."

"Well—" Daniel glanced at his watch. "It's still early so I guess we will be back by then."

The four men boarded the car and left the mansion.

….

[Dexa Hotel]

"Why did you even agree to this meeting?" Kazi frowned. He didn't like dealing with the Volkov's. He would rather kill them all than have a clean conversation with them.

"Well, they requested a meeting and I didn't say no." Riftan took a sip of his whiskey and sighed, "This is good."

"It's six in the morning Rif," Kazi clicked his tongue. "You are supposed to drink a hot beverage."

"Well, it's night somewhere in the world," Riftan chuckled and took another sip.

Taking a sip of his coffee, Kazi glanced at the familiar coat on Riftan's lap. "You are going to return that?"

"Why else do you think I brought it with me?" He raised his brows.

Kazi shrugged his shoulders. "I thought maybe you are obsessing over another man's wife's coat or something."

Before Riftan could answer, four men entered the room.

"Here they are—" Kazi smirked and pointed his chin towards their direction.

Riftan on the other hand did not even bother to look at them. He just kept enjoying his early morning drink.

"Stay alert," Daniel alerted the other three.

"This is a neutral ground," Owen remarked. "He is not foolish enough to break the truce."

"But still, I don't trust this man."

When they stopped right in front of them, Riftan turned around and smiled. "The Volkov's are late. But it's okay, I didn't mind." He raised his glass at them. "My drink kept me entertained."

While Daniel, Owen and Justin mainted an eye contact with Kazi and Riftan, Andrew's eyes never left the coat sitting on Riftan's lap.

How could it not recognise it? It was the same maroon coat Rachael had worn to the mall but when she came back, she didn't have it.

"We have a family, Genovesse," Daniel remarked. "Not everyone can get rid of them like you did."

…..