Healing hearts

Chapter thirty one

Xander's pov

After I left Cassie's office, I drove straight to mine. When I arrived, the receptionist told me that two people were waiting for me, and that they were my friends. I got in and saw Ryan and Shawn - those bastards, I thought.

"Well, well, if it isn't corporate smith," Ryan joked, and Shawn laughed.

"What the hell are you both doing here?" I asked, my voice thick with anger. "I told you both to stay away from me."

"Relax," Ryan said, raising his hands in a calming gesture. "We came to say thanks for not going to the police with the evidence you got. That was really cool, man."

"Whatever," I said. "Now get out of my office."

"Chill, bro," Shawn said. "We need some help. We need money."

I scoffed at them. "And what makes you think I would ever give you money?"

"Come on, man," Ryan said. "For old time's sake."

"You must be crazy to believe I will ever give you a dime," I said. "Both of you get out before I call security."

"Look," Shawn said. "You can't do this to us. The money is urgent - we need it. If you want, we'll pay you back."

"No," I said firmly.

They both glared at me. "You'll regret this, Smith," Ryan said.

"Get lost, you suck" I said, echoing his once said words to me.

He glared at me as Shawn pulled him out the door.

I really wanted nothing ever to do with them ever again.

Cassie's pov

Days went by, and at first everything was normal. But then Brian seemed like something was bothering him, and I was worried about him. The issue at the company had been resolved, but my brother seemed different. He had become hot tempered, especially towards the employees. He wasn't concentrating on his work, and was trying to make ridiculous deals at work. I wondered what was going on.

I asked him if it had anything to do with the loan he had taken from his friend, but he said no. He said he was just trying to work hard and build the company. But I felt he was going about it the wrong way.

I explained the situation to Xander. He told me not to worry, that my brother was a good businessman and knew what he was doing.

"I'm really worried about Brian, you know?" I said to Kelly, I was currently in my former apartment with my son. "I feel like something is really wrong."

"I think you're worrying over nothing," she said. "Like Xander said, he's a smart businessman, and I'm sure he knows what he's doing."

"A smart businessman who made the company lose twenty five million dollars?" I said, and she sighed.

"I don't know," I said. "I just feel like something is wrong with him."

"Well talk to your dad, then," she said. "If Brian won't tell you  what's going on, maybe your dad will." I thought about it and nodded.

After spending the entire day at Kelly's house, I went home. Xander had gone to play golf with some business associates, so he wasn't home all day. I parked my car and carried my son outside . As I approached the door, I saw two men standing there.

"Hello, can I help you?" I asked.

"Hey, beautiful," one of the men said, leering at me. I felt my skin crawl. "Xander's got a good one here," he said to his partner.

I looked at them, they looked familiar I was trying to place where I'd seen them before. "What's this about?" I asked again.

"We're here to see your husband, miss," the other man said. "Where is he?"

"I don't know," I said. "And I'd like to know who you both are".

"We're his best friends, don't you know that?" the other man said.

"What kind of wife are you?" he sneered.

I was beginning to feel uncomfortable. "Look," I said. "If you really were his friends, I'm sure I would know about you. And my husband is not available right now. Can you please meet him someplace else?"

"Why?" the creepy one said. "We've got you right here."

"Stop it, Ryan," the reasonable one said. "We'll go now."

They both left, and not long after, Xander came home. I told him everything and described the men. He told me they were his former friends, Ryan and Shawn. I realized I had seen them that night at the club.

"They wanted to borrow money," he said. "And I refused them."

He called someone on his phone. "How dare you come to my home?" he shouted. They said something on the other line and he asked where they were.

"I'll be there in five minutes."He said and hung up and told me he was going to meet them.

I told him not to go, that these guys seemed dangerous, but he said he could handle them. I had a bad feeling about him going, and I was scared, but he told me everything would be fine. He kissed me and left, and I sighed.

I put Alex to sleep and then waited for Xander to come home. But he didn't return until I fell asleep.