Love, Lies & Legacy 2- chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

It has been 5 agonizing days since Darius’s disappearance but the sun was shining brightly, that warm afternoon at the Parisian countryside. Annaliese's chateau on the other hand was filled with worries and sadness but at the same time there was determination and hope.

.Just past noon, without expecting any visitors, the doorbell rang. Annaliese took the liberty to answer the door herself. Outside, standing on the cobblestone pavement was a dashing 17 year old with hope in his eyes.

"I may be able to help you with Darius," he said instantly to Annaliese at the door. He was swiftly escorted into the chateau. Before he could start to elucidate, Sienna entered the room.

"Hello Sienna, I am Alejandro Crusellas," he said while holding out a hand. Sienna took his hand and tried her best to smile at him. But Alejandro knew that her smile was full of sadness.

Sienna took a good look at Alejandro and tried to remember where she had heard his name. Then she remembered Charlisse mentioning about him during the Eternal Ball. The girls referred him as Alex who was Spanish which explained the accent that Sienna noticed when he introduced himself. His father is a powerful and opulent shipping magnet from Valencia, Spain. Sienna also remembered seeing Darius talking to him during the ball which meant that he knew Darius.

Annaliese gestured Alex to sit down and explain how he could help. Sienna did not feel like sitting down and just stood in front of the arched window facing the lake.

"It is Martin who took him, am I right?" he asked boldly. Annaliese was a little surprised by Alex's knowing.

"Yes but how did you get this information? Is the society talking about it?" asked Annaliese who knew so well that gossip in the society travels rapidly.

"The society is only talking about Darius's departure. They all think that Darius is off hiding somewhere like what he did 2 years ago. Nothing whatsoever about Martin," he said with assurance.

"Then how do you about Martin?" Annaliese asked.

"Did you know that Darius was the last person to see the Espoir besides West Halloway before it disappeared?" asked Alex while looking at Sienna. Sienna finally turned around and looked at Annaliese.

"I thought you told me that Darius had nothing to do with the Espoir," Sienna said to Annaliese a little too harshly.

"Darius has absolutely nothing to do with the Espoir. He was just the last person to see it. He told me about Martin wanting the Espoir a year ago and what I heard from my sources, Darius is with Martin. I guess Martin thinks that Darius has the Espoir or knows about the whereabouts of it," said Alex while looking both at Sienna and Annaliese.

"You are right but we cannot seem to find Martin," replied Annaliese.

"I know somebody who might know where he is," he said with a raised eyebrow.

"If we know where he is, how are we going to get Darius out? Martin is not your average criminal. He is more influential and cunning than you think," said Sienna back. She was feeling a little uncomfortable by the way Alex looked at her.

"Let me handle that. I need 3 days Annaliese and I do not want any interruptions from your people who are searching for Darius too," ordered Alex.

"All right then. You have 3 days Theo," said Annaliese. Suddenly, Annaliese's cell phone rang and she excused herself from the room. When Annaliese left, Sienna immediately went to the veranda outside. Moments later Alex came out and stood behind her.

"You have to learn to trust me Sienna," he whispered from behind. Sienna was startled for a moment and turned around to face Alex.

"I do not even know you, why should I trust you?" shot Sienna.

"Because I am the closest person you have to saving Darius and because I am his best friend. You are not the only person who cares about him," he said while looking straight into her eyes. Those words soften Sienna a little maybe she should give Alex a chance.

"I'm sorry," she said softly.

"You and Darius must be really close," he said while leaning on the sand colored railing of the veranda.

"What do you mean?" asked Sienna, bewildered.

"You 2 must be really into each other. I have never heard Darius talk about a girl the way he talked about you," he said while shaking his head gently from side to side, his dark brown hair swaying playfully from side to side.

"When did you guys have this talk?" asked Sienna curiously.

"Many times but it does not matter; he is obviously smitten over you ever since the ball. Then again, every boy at the ball found you alluring," he said with a smirk. Sienna gazed into those deep eyes and saw a hint of mischief.

To her Darius was mysterious but Alex seemed so sinister in a seductive kind of way. Now she believed when Charlisse said he was a ladies man. He could have any girl he wanted with his Hispanic features accentuating his already handsome face. Sienna wondered why Darius never mentioned about Alex before.

“I hope you find him,” said Sienna with a hand on Alex’s shoulder.

“I always do,” he said while looking at her from underneath his eyelashes.