The Unknown Billionaire

Chapter 08

A year has passed...

In the small, cozy cafe in Bormio was a warm oasis amidst the cold outside. The couple, Vere and Mira sat at a corner table, sipping their steaming cups of coffee as they watched the snowflakes dance in the frigid air.

Vere's serious expression with his brow furrowed with the weight of responsibility. Before turning his attention to Mira, he gazed out of the window. "Mira, I don’t want to leave you always but because of the business I have to," he said, with a tinged voice of concern. " But this is a company business matter that I need to take care of. The company has a problem."

Mira, ever the supportive wife, offered him a reassuring smile. Her eyes held a hint of pride as she replied, "No problem, Vere. I understand.

I'm thankful that I didn't make a mistake with someone who helped and trusted me. And who would have thought that my intended fake marriage would turn out to be true?"

Mira's word gaze softened as Vere's listened. And reaching his hand across the table to Mira's hand to his. I never expected our marriage to become real," he confessed.

"Something changed from the moment we met. And I don't want it to be fake. Coz that time, the bond that we had is all I know is I want to be with you, forever."

At that time emotion swelled in Mira's heart. She leaned in closer Vere's eyes locked with hers. "And I'm so glad you feel that way," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

"Vere "I love you." Mira's heart melted on a warm and genuine smile from Vere. " Mira, "I love you too," he said softly. After I'm done with this business trip, I promise that I'll be back to you soon so we can spend more time together in our home in Bormio.”

Mira couldn't resist any longer. She got up from her chair and walked around the table to Vere, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. The cafe's atmosphere seemed to disappear as they held each other, two souls bound by a love that had unexpectedly blossomed amid a pretend marriage. As the snow continued to fall outside, Vere and Mira shared a moment of warmth and love that defied the cold winter air.

Beautiful and became something beautiful their love story born out of necessity and circumstances. And as Vere prepared to leave on his business trip, they both knew that their love would only grow stronger in the days and months to come.

It was crisp and cold at dawn the next day, much like the day before and Vere was making his way to the airport, with his suitcase in the back of the car for his business trip. Sparkling snow blankets over Bormio from the previous night still had left a fresh. Painted in shades of white and gray the outside world.

Vere's mind was filled with thoughts of Mira as he couldn’t help but replay the conversation they had from the previous day while he was through the winding roads to the airport.

 He imagines the softness of her voice and the warmth of her smile when she tells him that she loves him deeply. Vere feels comfortable that he knows that someone is waiting for him at home.

As Veres's car neared a particular bend in the road his heart skipped a beat. There's a black sedan parked car on the side of the road, and he squinted through the windshield. The car looks ordinary enough but something about it felt it off.

Vere, pulse quickened that time when he realized there were men in dark suits and standing near the car. As he took a closer look Veres’ stomach churned and couldn’t believe his eyes. Among the men he spotted a familiar face it was Mr. Perry Mira's ex-husband.

Vere muttered to himself, “What's going on?” a sense of unease settling in the pit of his stomach.

Vere noticed that Mr. Perry had bodyguards and their presence looked like silent sentinels, as the car continued to approach the scene. That time Veres' thoughts raced. What could Mr. Perry possibly want and why was he here, near the road that led to their home?

At that time Vere couldn’t take the fear and concern washed over him. He contemplated turning the car around and thought to canceling his trip and rushing back to Mira's side. As he couldn't shake the thought that something might be wrong, that Mira might be in danger.

Vere was about to instruct the driver to stop and turn around, but the car carrying Mr. Perry and his entourage began to move. Vere watched as it pulled away from the side of the road and continued in the opposite direction, away from Bormio. And that time the tension in his shoulders eased slightly, but his mind was still filled with questions and worries.

He was about to call Mira, but his phone buzzed, and it was a message from Mira, a simple "I love you" that brought Vere both relief and a sense of warmth. He quickly replied, "I love you too. Be safe always," before pocketing his phone.

As Vere made his way to the airport, he still couldn’t take that feeling of being uneasy settled over him. Wondering the presence of Mr. Perry in Bormio, the peaceful place where he and Mira settled in. That time Vere couldn’t help but hope that he was making the right decision to continue his journey on his business trips. And he prays that nothing will happen as he leaves the girl behind that he loves most.

The drive to the airport felt like an eternity for Vere, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and concerns. He needed answers, and he needed to ensure Mira's safety. As soon as he had a moment, he dialed James, a trusted friend and confidant who also happened to run a security firm.

"James, it's Vere," he said, his voice filled with urgency as the call connected. "I need your help."

James, who had always been ready to assist Vere, responded immediately, "What's going on, Vere? You sound worried."

"I am," Vere admitted, his gaze still fixed on the snowy landscape outside the car window. "I saw Mira's ex-husband, Mr. Perry, with some bodyguards near our home in Bormio. It didn't look like a coincidence, James. I'm concerned for Mira's safety."

James understood the gravity of the situation. "I'll send a team over to protect Mira right away," he assured Vere. "And we'll investigate why Mr. Perry is in the same place as you. We'll find out what's going on."

"Thank you, James," Vere said, his gratitude evident in his voice. "Please make sure Mira is safe. I'll keep you updated on my trip."

As the car pulled up to the airport, Vere bid farewell to the driver and retrieved his suitcase. He hurried inside, trying to put his worries aside for the moment. But it was difficult to focus on business matters when his heart and mind were with Mira, back in Bormio.

Meanwhile, back in Bormio, Mira had just finished her morning routine and was sipping a cup of tea when the doorbell rang. She wasn't expecting any visitors, and her heart skipped a beat as she cautiously approached the front door.

When she opened it, she was met by a team of security professionals led by a tall, well-built man named Detective Lee. He flashed a reassuring smile. "Mrs. Mendez, I'm Detective Lee, and we're here to ensure your safety."

“Huh? Safety?” Mira answered with confusion.

“Yes, Mr. Vere Mendez requested us here.” Detective Lee answered.

"We'll take care of everything, Mrs. Mendez," Detective Lee said, his tone firm and reassuring. "Your husband is on his way, but until then, we're here to protect you."

As the security team settled into their positions, Mira couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for Vere's quick thinking and support and even the immediate hiring of a bodyguard. She knew that facing the unknown was never easy, but with Vere's love and the dedicated team of professionals by her side, she felt a glimmer of hope.

Unbeknownst to both Vere and Mira, a dangerous game had begun to unfold in the picturesque town of Bormio. As Vere's plane took off, carrying him further from home, he couldn't shake the feeling that their lives were about to take an unexpected and perilous turn.