chapter 20

"Charles, please let me go. My son is sick." She cried praying to him. The hands that enveloped her so guarded fell to the sides as he gazes down at her in a blow. A faint nod of his head in asking her the question the most dreaded..... his eyes stare down at her in shock. Aliza replies looking down to her feet. "Yes, Asher is sick and he is my son."Charles's hands formed to fists making the knuckles turn white as he digests the heart wrecking truth revealed to him. In a numb feeling breakdown he walked to the window turning his back to her and blinked his eyes repeatedly to clear the dampness. "Leave" he shouted and Aliza sprinted out of the door without a turn back.FlashbackTwenty one months AgoAfter the morning of their love making Aliza was busy setting the file for the next meeting. The work was very busy as it was the time Richmond Industries was launching their new clothing line. Charles was continuously occupied with the meetings but he sent Aliza away so that she could make arrangements for the next one when there was a knock at her cabin door.A middle aged lady almost in rags with two children appeared in front of her.  The older one, a boy was standing beside her may be around four in a torn shirt and the younger was a girl with a dirty white frock malnourished almost like a beggar was in her lap. "Madam please help me." She prayed dropping to her knees before Aliza. "It was very difficult for me to come up to here to meet you. Nobody allowed me but it was probably my luck that somehow I managed."The security immediately rushed to Aliza's cabin. "Madam we are sorry for the inconvenience caused. But this woman is too stubborn. She just wouldn't listen and escaped us. We will take care of her. Please do not worry." One of the two men in uniform said and was about to pull the woman out but Aliza stopped them. "I will take care of this issue. You may go now." She told the uniformed personnel."Madam?" He asked Aliza in disbelief. "Do not worry. Your job is in tact. I take this responsibility. You may leave now." Aliza left her words in command. Afterall she was soon going to be the wife of CEO and she needs to know the methods to control people.  The men left the cabin in confusion with their hands tied. As soon as they were out Aliza asked the lady with pity. "What is your problem? Why did you come all the way up to meet me?""Madam I heard that you are soon going to be the wife of the CEO and a very generous lady. Please help me with the life of my kids." She urged still bent to her knees. Aliza brought her up and made her sit in one of the chairs. She offered her a glass of water but the lady looked dissatisfied looking at something ahead in a desire.Aliza looked back on where her eyes were stationed and she saw the eatables placed at the visitor's lounge. She immediately rang a bell and a helper knocked at her door. She ordered him with a list of items to eat and one by one the tablein front was decorated with cakes, patties, burgers soft drinks and juices. The woman and her children stared at the food in front with hunger. "Please eat." Aliza told her with a soft tone.  The lady's eyes fell satisfied. She smiled at her in regard and started feeding her kids.After her kids were fed to their contentment, the lady started to speak her problem but Aliza stopped her. "I understand you're as much hungry as your children. Eat first and I will hear you completely. Do not worry. Whatever your problem is I will do my best to solve it." She assured before observing the woman who was gulping the food like she did not have a sight of it for ages. She felt very sorry for whatever situation she was in. "Madam you are a Goddess in the incarnation of a human." The lady told her in gratefulness after wiping her lips with rags she was putting on and started to speak."My husband worked as one of the security men in Richmond Industries. During one of the mafia attacks that happened more than two years ago he was killed by the enemy group. I was sent an official letter from the company that I will be compensated with five million because my husband died while performing his duty but the amount never reached me even after six months of his death." She wiped her tears continuing to speak."I tried through various sources to meet the boss, sent innumerable mails to the concern but my misery wasn't attended. Few months ago I read about you as the boss's fiancee and a very kind lady with a generous heart." She told with an enthusiastic smile. "I tried to meet you several times but the bodyguards simply don't allow me. This time I am lucky. I escaped." She spoke triumphant. "Madam please help me.  I came here with a lot of hopes." The lady cried out to Aliza."What is your name?" Aliza asked her in kindness. "I'm Shelly...Shelly Spark." Aliza nodded to her. "Shelly I think you're mistaken. The boss here Mr Charles Rodriguez is the top notch business man, he is a very kind and benevolent person.  Charles has no connection with mafia." Shelly gave out a hysteric laugher between her cries. "Mam please excuse me but you seem more innocent than me.""That man out sitting there....is an American mafia leader." She pointed to the closed CEO's door with venom. "He killed innumerable lives without a pinch in his heart." She spat the words.  "He has many illegal  activities, drug deals running. This business you see...." She pointed with her eyes around. "Is just a charade to cover his black money. The government has announced a huge reward to the person who catches him red handed with his illegal weapons but till date no one could catch hold of him." She twists her lips in distaste. "There is corruption in our country at every step. He is a living example of a billionaire mafia. He fills the pockets of those government and police officials and they are out of his business."The information Aliza received from the lady was like a bombshell. "Enough" She yelled at her in disbelief.  "I do not believe you." She ordered her firm. "That man....you call him?" Aliza nods to her in pinching anger pointing towards the CEO's door Shelly held a few moments ago. "Is a seraph in his employees hearts. He is a beautiful dream of every unmarried young girl. He is not just the CEO of Richmond Industries but my fiancee and soon to be my husband." Aliza spoke the words with pride. "I do not tolerate somebody disrespecting my fiancee. The entrance is open. Please walk out or else I am going to call the security." Aliza said in a controlled tone monitoring her temper to her best abilities.Tears once again rolled out of Shelly's cheeks as her hopes have been destroyed but something strikes her mind at the right moment. "Madam I can prove to you that he is a mafia leader if you come with me." Aliza wanted to evince Shelly that she was wrong. She hated her because she spoke ill of her husband. With the only intention to prove her fiancée was an Angel she walked out of the office with Shelly.Shelly took Aliza to her dilapidated hut and showed her arms and ammunition that her husband possessed working through mafia of Richmonds. She showed her pictures of old warehouses where Charles was brutally beating and killing people. Aliza couldn't believe what she was seeing. Was she getting framed into this? Was this woman a trap to mislead her from her fiancee? This seems to be a well designed plot and she needs to get out of this. Aliza thought and recollected about various things regarding Charles when something strikes her mind.Aliza wanted to give her belief another chance. Leaving Shelly's place she rushed to Fredrick's home where Stella was also present. She confronted him about his accident. Fredrick though was hesitant Stella had to vomit out everything about Charles - the person behind her brother's paralyzed state.World crushed around Aliza as she understood the naked and dangerous truth of her life. How was she going to continue her life with a killer who could take away lives of people within a blink of the eye.  What would be the future of her children? Will their lives be secured with such a perilous man as their father? What would be the impact of such families in the brought up of their children? Aliza cursed her innocence in believing Charles so easily. She thought he rescued her from her sick life but the truth was he pulled her more into an oasis. Aliza fell in love with him without knowing his true identity. Masking her emotions before Charles she introduced Shelly to him after he came out of the meeting. She explained to him about her situation keeping aside the mafia topic and excused herself from work calling sick. Charles's concern about Aliza's health was an underplay. He was worried sick. He wanted to hold her to his chest ask her on what happened and if need be take her to a doctor but  looking after the desolate woman waiting for his plea he had to necessitate the need of the hour.He immediately pulled a cheque from his top drawer and wrote a sum of 10 million on that. "Madam I'm sorry for the inconvenience caused to you. I will personally look into this matter and punish the people behind who had the audacity to misappropriate your funds. Have a great life ahead. In case of any problem regarding health, children's education etc, you can call me directly. Here is my number." Charles handed her his visiting card and walked her to the entrance.From the warm treatment received and the personal care of the CEO Shelly's eyes were filled with tears of gratitude. "Sir, madam was right about you. You are truly an Angel in every woman's heart. May you long live with a happy family." She held her daughter to him to hold. "My daughter was born after my husband's death. In the agony of his loss I couldn't name her. Please give her a name." She requested him. Charles held the baby in his left arm and ran his hand softly on her head. "Aliza.""Aliza" the woman spoke the name of her baby softly. "It's a very beautiful name sir." She remarked and Charles nodded. "It's the name of my fiancee, the woman who brought you here." Shelly was very happy. Soon as she came out of CEO's office she wanted to thank Aliza for the help but alas the damage had already been done.The wall between Charles and Aliza had been built and it was indestructible.