Contract And Marriage

Maximus

“Find her!” I shouted at the airport security after realizing my wife was missing. I was restless, not knowing what to do. I had been waiting for four hours for any news about Sarina, and yet there was still nothing. I had never felt this scared in my life, and I never wanted to feel this way again.

I paced back and forth inside the security control room. At the same time, they continued to sweep all possible exits that anyone might have used to take her. “Hey, man!” Andrei said, entering with Allan right behind him. “What happened?” I had called him because I knew he had connections at the airport and with the authorities here in Las Vegas.

“I don’t know. She just went to the restroom, and I was outside waiting for her, but she never came out,” I said, my words tumbling out in a rush.

“Okay, breathe, man, breathe,” Andrei said, patting my back. How could I do that when Sarina was the only reason I could breathe? Fuck! Just when everything was okay between us. This happened when she knew I loved her, and she loved me back. Just when I had no more secrets from her and I had finally experienced her love, she was taken from me.

“I don’t know how I will do that if she’s not here, man,” I said, feeling like a candle burning out.

My friend took a deep breath and looked at the security personnel inside, seemingly asking for a report. “We’ve searched everywhere, even the utility personnel. We followed all her activities from the moment she left the ladies’ room until she disposed of all the garbage in the dumping area,” the head of security quickly explained.

“Can’t we get any lead?” Andrei asked.

“I’m sorry, sir. But, as Mr. Lardizabal’s request, we’ve already contacted everyone related to the incident, but none of them found anything unusual.”

“How about the cleaning lady?”

“She said she didn’t see anyone there as well.”

“Don’t you have CCTV outside the restroom?” Allan asked.

“It was broken the night before, and maintenance was busy fixing the areas that needed it most,” the security head explained.

“And do you think the restrooms are not as important?” I asked angrily, stepping closer to him. Allan quickly restrained me while Andrei stepped in between us.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

“No, sir. It’s because there’s a working CCTV after you leave the hall outside the restroom, which is already a dead end. So the camera will capture anyone who comes in and out of there.” I understood his point, and I would think the same. But Sarina, my beloved wife, was missing.

“We’re going to find her, Max. I already called Mariano and informed him about this.” I rubbed my neck, trying to think of who or what could have done this. My wife couldn’t just disappear like that. Someone took her, and I was sure it was planned because there wasn’t a single trace of Sarina being taken.

“Andrei, I don’t know, but I feel that Roskov is somehow connected to this.” I had been thinking about it for a while but tried to push it out because I didn’t want to imagine such a terrible scenario. I couldn’t bear the thought of my wife falling into his hands.

“Don’t think that way, Max. Let’s just hope that she’s fine.,” he replied in a low voice. He must have thought the possibility but didn’t want to frighten me.

But what could I do now? I feel so helpless and powerless. Being one of the wealthiest, I never thought I would be able to feel his way. It feels like I can do nothing, but I wouldn’t leave here without Sarina. I wouldn’t go back to the Philippines without my wife.

The entire airport security team continued the search for Sarina. Mariano’s men were also quietly investigating, and a week had already passed-a week of not knowing what had happened to my wife. But I refused to lose hope; I wanted to see her again and feel her love. But what could I do? Everything felt lifeless without her.

“Maximus! Get yourself ready! Is that the face you will show your wife when we find her?” Mariano asked angrily. I was in one of his mansion’s rooms because he wanted me to stay with him while I was still in Las Vegas, looking for Sarina.

“I am always ready, Mar…” I responded listlessly as I sat on the bed.

“Get up and let’s go.”

“Where?” I asked.

“You’ll know when we get there.” I didn’t ask further because, in the past few days, we always ended up at the police station. I got up as he wanted, then went to the bathroom and showered.

It was quick because I disliked my usual routine. I followed Mariano downstairs, and he stood up from the couch when he saw me and started walking out to his car.

We drove to wherever we were going, but I still felt listless. I wanted to see my wife, but with the way the police investigation was going, I couldn’t help but feel discouraged. They never showed me a concrete report of my wife’s whereabouts, a clue, or any lead that might tell me where Sarina is now.

I didn’t know if it was better that her body hadn’t been found, if something terrible had happened to her, or if I should just wait and hope to see her again. This situation was painful for me. She was with me in our hotel room not long ago, sharing passionate moments. I could still hear her every moan, and the words she rarely spoke were like music to my ears.

Is this the price of the extreme happiness I felt? I wish she hadn’t said she loved me if this would happen. It would have been fine even if I thought I was the only one who loved her. Or she didn’t reciprocate my feelings.

I wish I hadn’t felt her desire if it meant I wouldn’t see her again.

I wish things could go back to the way they were. When I thought she wanted our contract to end and to leave me.

I wish things could return to where I thought she didn’t want us to have children.

I wish things could go back to when I was the only one who loved her.

I have many wishes, but I know I can’t turn back time.

“Maximus, you’re zoning out. Be ready; we will meet someone,” he said, making me turn my gaze on him sitting beside me. I knew he was concerned and wanted to help as much as possible. I also knew he had other matters to attend to, but he spent his time helping me search for my wife.

“If it’s not related to my wife, then it holds no importance to me,” I replied, sounding sulking. And I don’t care if he thinks that way. Sarina is the only important person or thing in my life, whatever he calls her. To me, she’s the only one that matters, so if it’s not about her, other things are just trash.

“And you think I didn’t know that?” he asked, making me frown. “Yes, we found something, so you better prepare for the worst.” It sounded like a threat, making me extremely anxious. No, nothing happened to my wife, right? I don’t think I would be able to take it.

I fell silent and looked out the window again, holding back my tears. I wasn’t a crybaby, and I had never cried in front of anyone. But with the fear I felt now, I didn’t care if my brother saw tears streaming down my cheeks.

The car stopped in front of a two-story house. Mariano got out, and I followed. As we walked, I noticed the houses were far apart. If anyone needed help, the neighbors would be quite a distance away. The property was also surrounded by a high fence.

We walked towards the house just as the main door opened, revealing a man I assumed was one of my brother’s men based on his respectful nod.

“Where is he?” Mariano asked.

“Inside,” the man replied shortly before guiding us inside and straight to the basement.

“I told you I knew nothing!” a man’s voice shouted. I looked at Mariano because I knew what kind of person he was. He was kind but not someone you could fight with. He was far from his father, both in kindness and as an enemy. Why did he bring me here?

A man with his head covered with a cloth was tied to a wooden chair. “What happened?” my brother asked another man we found there. “Take off his cover,” he ordered, and his man quickly complied.

“Who are you? Why did you bring me here?” the man asked. I just stared at him, trying to remember where I had seen him. Wait, is he one of those men in the casino?

“Who is he?” I couldn’t help but ask my brother, who was now holding a swiss knife he took from a table lined with deadly tools.

“We found his fingerprint on the bottle in the airport dumping area,” my brother replied. “And I believe they managed to get Sarina out of the restroom easily because she had lost consciousness.”

“Lost consciousness?” I asked, looking at him, and he looked back at me. “The bottle that you found-”

“At least you caught on to that,” he cut me off, then looked at the man. My jaw clenched, and my vision blurry; all I could see was red. I think this is the time when I would kill someone.