Chapter Nine (UNEDITED)

--Kindly put your playlist here—

"I love you, not because of what you have but because of what I feels...

I care for you, not because you need care but because I want to...

I'm always here for you, not because I want you to be with me, but because...

I want to be with you." – from: aboutalllovequotes.blogspot.com

Tristan's POV

*** Wellington, New Zealand

"How could you Tristan! I came here in New Zealand, all the way from England and you wouldn't allow me to get inside your building... And that bodyguards of yours, they disrespected me! Why are you treating me like this? I'm your mother for heaven's sake!"

"My mother is dead." I snapped at Marilyn who was standing infront me.

"Okay, I may not be your mother by blood, but still, you are my stepson."

I put down my pen and leaned back on my chair. "What do you want?"

"I miss you... and Kobe misses you. Can we just be together like we used to be. We're family."

I smirked and rubbed my chin. Didn't she know Kobe's secret yet? He reconnected with me. He visited me here in New Zealand last summer while Marilyn was in Singapore with her latest boytoy.

"Cut the drama, Marilyn. I'm busy. Say what you want and leave."

"You are becoming disrespectful!"

"Respect is earned, not given. The way you treated me when I was a kid... I could say that you don't deserve my respect."

She heaved a sigh then flung her arms in the air. Then she sat down on the couch which was facing my office table, still so poise and classy like a trophy wife. Her head held high and a sarcastic smile was plastered on her face.

I assessed her appearance. I hardly recognized her when she entered the office. She looked so different from the last time I saw her. Kobe told me that she underwent too many plastic surgeries just to look younger, but it turned out the opposite.

Marilyn cleared her throat and smiled sweetly.

"Tristan, I'm sorry if I was hard on you before. I just did what was best for you. I want to discipline you... you know... motherly instinct. I always treat you as my very own son. I loved you dad and I learned to love you too."

I smirked. That was the most funny statement I've ever heard. I knew Marilyn so much. She couldn't fool me anymore. "How much money do you need?"

"Money?"

"Yes. Money. That's why you're here." I blurted.

She frowned, then gave me a sad expression. "I... I don't need money."

"Really? So what do you want. Tender loving care? Either you need money or you're sick and about to die. You want forgiveness for all your sins cause you're afraid to go to hell and face Lucifer. Tell me... which is which?"

"You're so harsh!" She glared angrily at me now. The old Marilyn I knew was back – looking at me like an evil queen.

I looked at my watch and said. "Your five minutes is up. Just send my best regards to Kobe. Goodbye Marilyn." I stood up and headed to the adjoining room leading to the boardroom.

"Wait." Marilyn stood up too. "Please Tristan... hear me out."

"I can't spare another minute with you. I have a board meeting."

"Tristan, please. I need two million dollars immediately – now. I owe someone and... and I don't have enough funds anymore. I put some of my properties on sale but it takes longer for my solicitor to find a buyer."

I grinned. I was right. She never changed.

"I'm not a banker. As you can see, I managed an airline business." I pointed at the big floor to ceiling windows that showed a few number of aircrafts outside.

"Okay, fine. You can choose any of the houses for two million dollars. But I need the money NOW."

Two million dollars for the house? That was cheap, considering that the houses were mansions. Either she was stupid or desperate. A loan shark businessman probably ran after her.

Marilyn didn't know anything about handling her money. Kobe told me that she spent her money with her lovers – buying ferraris, expensive vacations, shopping and partying. No wonder she ran out of funds.

"So tell me, which one of the houses do you want?"

I knew which one I wanted. The house where my parents spent their last time together. The place that brought happy memories to them, where they continued their love for each other.

"I want the Paris mansion."

***

It had been four months since I last saw Mia. Before I left for New Zealand, she went home to our California mansion to talk to me about her relationship with Xander. She also told me that she was getting married in a few months.

I was upset. But I realized that there was nothing that I could do about it anymore. She was in love and she was willing to do anything to fight for her love for that casanova.

I never met Xander Valiente and I never wanted to meet him. There was no use. I didn't like him for Mia. He was a player and enjoyed partying with a group of spoiled young elites like him. His circle of friends was quite wild.

I was on my way home to my ranch when my phone rang.

"Tristan."

"Mia?"

She was sobbing uncontrollably like she was in deep pain. I instantly got worried. How I wished she was with me at that moment so I could comfort her.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"It's about Xander... You're right about him."

Oh God. Rage started building inside me. All I could think at that moment was to murder Xander Valiente.

Eversince, I wanted to take Mia away from him. They had been living together for a couple of months already.

"Where are you?"

"I don't know."

My anger was replaced with panic. "What do you mean you don't know?"

"I was upset and... and I've been driving for hours and... and I bumped my car on a tree...."

"What? Are you okay?"

"Um... I guess so..."

"Mia, tell me, where are you?" I almost shouted on the phone.

"I'm in the woods... Oh Tristan...  I have a blood on my forehead."

"Mia, listen to me. Did you turn on your car's GPS?"

"I-I guess so... Tristan, help me. It's so dark in here."

I was really in a panic. I have to find Mia. I have to go there myself and check if she was fine. But New Zealand was so far from California. Damn it!

"Stay in the car."

"Wha...at?"

Damn it. The line was choppy.

"Mia, stay in the car. I'll send my men to get you."

"I'm not in the car anymore. I've been walking for an hour." Her voice trembled.

"What? Oh, Mia... where are you?" I sounded desperate.

"I... I don't know. Tristan... I'm sorry... I should have listen to you." She was crying now.

"Stay calm, okay? I'll get you. Trust me, I'll get you."

*** Califonia Hospital Medial Center

I arrived in California the following day. I immediately went to the hospital where Mia was confined.  My men found Mia in the woods unconcious. Until now, she have not woke up yet. I was worried about her. She was my little sister, I loved her. I have to protect her.

I swear, I won't allow Xander Valiente to come near her again

Stella's POV

*** Petrakis' mansio, New York

"Hi, how are you?" Eros Petrakis greeted me with a light hug.

"I'm fine, thank you." I placed my hand on his forearm. "You didn't come in my birthday party last month."

"I was in Russia."

"I was expecting you." It was true. My family and I were expecting Eros to come to my birthday party, since he would be my future husband.

He chuckled. "My business deals are more important to me than crossing countries just to attend parties, Stella."

I dropped my lashes quickly. That hurts. I knew Eros didn't like to marry me as much as I didn't want to marry him too. But our family agreed on this arranged marriage.  And a few years back, Eros agreed on this also.

"I understand. You're a busy man, like my papa."

Dad, mom and I spent Christmas dinner with the Petrakis family. Mom said that I have to get used spending special dinners with the Petrakis family since I would be part of their family very soon. It was very awkward. I was not comfortable doing this. But I have to, for my family. Besides, I trusted my parents. They wouldn't decide on anything that could harm me.

I was seated beside Eros in the dining table. His secretary, who I found weird wearing old fashioned clothes and thick black-rimmed eyeglasses was seated on his other side. I tried to talk to him, but his attention was focused on his secretary. It was obvious that Eros was more interested on her secretary than me.

Eros' cousin Paul kept me entertained. We talked about our profession, people we knew, music and a lot of things. I enjoyed talking to him. He was quite charming.

"I thought Tristan would be here?" Chloe, Eros sister said.

The mere mention of Tristan's name made my heart jumped. It had been a year since the last time I saw him.

"He had an emergency last night. Something happened to one of his planes." Eros' dad, Markos Petrakis said.

"I admire Tristan. He is a hardworking young man. Despite having all that money he inherited from his dad, he didn't stop working. He started his own business from scratch." Eros' mom said.

Yeah. But he became a certified bastard. I couldn't forget how angry he was when he came to my house in Beverly Hills. He was mad as hell when he found out about Mia and Xander. I didn't like Tristan... I hated him.

But why is it that I can't get him out of my mind?