Chapter 526 - THE SHOW I

Now that she's out of surveillance, Cayenne borrowed Seiji's phone and called her husband.

Stefan was currently attending a meeting with the shareholders when suddenly, his phone rang. Seeing the familiar string of numbers, his heart leapt up and he waved his hand to stop the presenter for a while. "Let's take a break. We'll resume once I am back." He picked up his phone and answer it as he left the meeting room to get back to his office.

"Hubby." Cayenne whispered on the other line when Stefan answered her call. "I miss you."

"We just talked earlier." Stefan responded with faint chuckles. "But I also miss you.. Every second that you are away is the same number of seconds that I am missing you."

"I'm sorry."

"What are you apologizing for? It's my fault for not taking care of you. It's my fault for hiring incapable men to be your guards." Stefan replied while pushing the door to his office and he walked to the couch to sit comfortably while talking to her.

"No, it's not. Also, your men weren't incapable. We just didn't expect that there were enemies lurking around the area and that they were looking for me specifically. Who would have thought? Almost every Saturday, I'd go to Justin's place but nothing happened. So, don't blame the bodyguards."

"Alright. I won't blame anyone but myself. Anyway," Stefan shifted his legs and crossed it together. "Tristan told me that you and Seiji left the Rule mansion together. Where are you now?"

"I am visiting his family in Country C."

"He didn't introduce you as his future wife, did her?"

"Of course, not." Cayenne laughed at her husband's reply, knowing that he's being jealous again. "His family knew about the situation. After this, you have to compensate them for their losses, okay? I'm pretty sure that they'd lose some money because of my plans."

"It's fine. Can compensate him with whatever he wants."

"Okay. Don't you forget to come and pick me up on that day."

Stefan and Cayenne talked for almost an hour while in the meeting room, the shareholders were looking at Elena with questioning gaze.

"Please understand our boss. We all knew that he's very busy looking for his wife, too. Anyone who calls his private number should be the investigators he hired. Let's just wait a moment." Elena told them as she wiped the cold sweat forming on her forehead.

"Is there any lead to where the lady boss is?" one of the shareholders asked.

"Hn. There's a lead already and sir Stefan is working so hard to chase on it."

"That's good to know. As long as she's alive, we don't have to worry that much. We'll just have to worry if she's gone." A female shareholder expressed her opinion in this matter.

Last year, when Travis got into accident, Jillyanna took over the company as the new acting CEO in behalf of her husband who was lying in the hospital, comatose and unresponsive. On the first day that Jillyanna took over their business, what she did was to clean the empire of her husband. Many employees lost their jobs and many shareholders were exposed of their evil deeds. Anyone who contradicts her will end up in jail. That news really sent goosebumps to everyone.

And when you think about it, Stefan was friend with Jillyanna and Travis. And not just that, their missing lady boss was very close to Cayenne. If at some point, their lady boss will be found dead, the Madrigal couple won't just sit idly about it. They would surely create a storm in the business world that will give everyone a nightmare for weeks or maybe months.

Stefan has many enemies because there were many people who were jealous of him. Cayenne got enemies as well, probably because she was Stefan's wife. If she's caught up in the web made my Stefan's rivals, three people will, for sure, retaliate indiscriminately. Wait, not just three, Reuben will surely dispose everyone who might have caused his daughter's ill fate.

Just imagining of what might happen in the future, the shareholders shivered and rubbed their arms to calm themselves.

As soon as Stefan came back, he was serious once again. The meeting continued while Cayenne continued her plans as well.

Days passed by quickly and soon, the most-awaited day has arrived. Stefan booked his flight along with Tristan and Elena. The other bodyguards have come as well to protect them. After what happened to Cayenne, Stefan invested to have more bodyguards. He asked Travis to look for some bodyguards for him no matter how expensive they are. Travis knew a lot of people which made it easier for him to hire these capable men. The old bodyguards that he hired weren't fired but instead, they teamed up by four and guarded each family member.

"I am excited to see their reaction." Tristan commented while putting his luggage inside the compartment over his head.

"That old Rule will surely pay for what he did." Elena also stated. In the office, she seemed to have no knowledge of what was going on but in truth, Stefan and Tristan didn't keep any secrets from her. The reason she acted like she has no knowledge about was to make sure that she won't alert the enemies in case they've got spies in their turf.

Since country C was Rule's turf. Stefan didn't dare contact their police department, afraid that someone working for the Rule family will tip them off. Instead, Travis asked Major General Calhoun to settle this matter since it also involves the welfare of the whole country.

On the other hand, Cayenne was currently sitting on her chair while two people work on her make-up and her hair. Artemis was done with her make-up and her hairstyle so she asked someone to help her put on the dress.

The wedding was prepared in a hurry which almost cost them 2 million but Nikko Rule didn't mind. Once the Rule and Sy family become one, 2 million can be replaced immediately, or so he thought.

Cayenne's wedding gown wasn't very expensive but its style was gorgeous. Sadly, it will become one of the things that she will dispose later.

"Are you nervous?" Artemis asked.

"Nope."

The two of them looked at the mirror and their eyes met. There was this tacit understanding that no one in the room noticed except for them.

"Where's Diana? Why isn't she here yet?" Cayenne asked while closing her eyes for the make-up artist to work on her eyelid.

"She'll be here in a bit."

The preparation continued and Seiji was already dressed up as well. "Grandpa, no matter what happens later, you don't have to be afraid or nervous, okay? Everything is just an act."

"I know. I know. I just wish that this is true." Simon Sy commented while thumping his cane on the floor. He had witnessed how much his grandson loves Cayenne. He witnessed the times he cut himself just to prepare lunch for her. He witnessed how he studied so hard but still make way for her to secure the scholarship that she was working so hard for.

In what aspect is his grandson lacking? In what aspect did he lose to Stefan? He is handsome. He cares for her. He did so many things for her. But why? Why didn't he receive even a little bit of love from him?

Sensing the displeasure coming from Simon, Seiji smiled faintly. "Grandpa, you taught me that love shouldn't be forced. If you love someone, you can love them as much as you want to but that doesn't mean they are obliged to love you back."

"But –"

"It's alright grandpa. I'm alright. I know that Cayenne will be happier with Stefan. I want her to be happy, too. I don't want to hurt her because of my selfishness."

Simon just looked at his grandson and sigh. Fate can be cruel sometimes. Still everything happens for a reason and Seiji didn't want to dwell on the past anymore.

At 9:30 in the morning, the wedding venue was almost full. Cayenne told Seiji that she didn't want a church wedding because she can only have it with Stefan. She didn't want to have any bad memories related to churches. So, they chose a beach wedding instead.

If it was a real wedding, any bride would be happy to see the venue and the beautiful view. But she's not just any other bride. 

"Is everything ready in your end?" Cayenne asked Diana and Artemis.

"Yes. Once your husband comes, someone will deliver the flash drive to him. I already paid one of the waiters."

"Good. After this day, once I get back to my husband, we will severe our ties. You don't need to recognize me as a family in public. At the same time, you don't need to tell your parents about my existence. Everything shall end here."

"We understood. Thank you for helping us, Cayenne."

"You're helping me, too. It's win-win situation for us."

"Alright. It's time to start the show." Artemis reached out her hand and held Cayenne. The three of them went out of the dressing room to meet with the organizer to start the ceremony soon.

"I'm waiting for you." Cayenne muttered under her breath.

"I'm coming for you." Stefan whispered as soon as he boarded the car after getting out of the airport.