Building an Empire [M/M]

Chapter Twelve

*sneaks in* 

*leaves update* 

*runs away* 

Mike

"...once again today a press-conference was held live from Asisma's headquarters," the scene changed from the news studio, where the sweet-looking reporter stared seriously into the camera, to the tall tower that was the pharmacy capital in Pareo, "surprisingly both Mark van Heimar and his ex-wife Anne van Heimar were present as an even higher reward - or ransom money depending on the situation - was announced." A small snippet of Mark's speech was cut in. "...therefore we are ready to negotiate. If half a million isn't enough, please, contact us..." Cut back to the reporter in the studio who turned to a guest.

"So John, you're an export in disappearances, what do you reckon the boy-wonder's chances are?" John straightened a bit more in his seat before looking directly into the camera and saying, "Seeing as Alexander van Heimar has now been missing for about 2 months, and we've heard no ransom demands, I'd say his chances are very-"

Mike turned off the TV and threw the remote against the wall. The sound was a disappointing clang that sounded hollow in the otherwise quiet room. Lately he hadn't been able to turn on the TV or pick up a magazine without being sucker-punched with the knowledge that Alex still hadn't been found. And it's my fucking fault. At first it hadn't helped that Alex's father refused to negotiate with "terrorists", but then public opinion had pushed him into taking on a victim role. Apparently being a stubborn, uncaring bastard was bad PR. He'd now even gotten Alex's mother to help - probably for a very nice sum of money.

He was torn out of his thoughts by his phone vibrating. It was a text from one of his pals.

Their makin a docu bout alex mayn!!

Mike didn't bother answering. He had already heard the announcement earlier today. The producers had also contacted him at least once a day for the past 3 weeks to get him to do an interview. At first he'd politely told them no. Now he just picked up the call so he could tell them to go fuck themselves before hanging up. This was turning into a bigger and bigger media circus. And all he wanted was to have his friend back safe and just as much of an arse as before.

Siobhan

I glanced at the door yet again. Alex had been strangely quiet all day. The food that had been brought in for breakfast had barely been touched and she hadn't complained once about being bored or needing to go outside. The worry had been building steadily since then and now it was almost noon. Go in. Talk to her. I wanted to, but would she like that? What was I supposed to say? Or do? I wanted to help her so badly it felt like an itch in my body. I would not feel rest until she was happy. To hell with it, I'll at least try.

I knocked the door and heard a quiet "enter". Alex was sitting in a chair staring out of the window with her back to me, looking so small and quiet that I almost asked who I had to kill. Surely there was something I could do. No matter how small or how big.

I frowned. Even though I had just entered the room and stood there frozen, she had yet to look at me. Her eyes were focused on the horizon. "Alex?" She didn't turn toward me or look in my direction, simply tilted her head a bit more to one side as if to show she was listening. Oh, bloody hell. What do I say?! "How can I help you so you won't feel sad? What can I do?" I wanted to hit myself. Why couldn't I have Mercus's smooth charm and charisma?

Slowly the shoulders which had been hunched straightened and Alex turned her head back. I expected her eyes to be red and puffy and her cheeks wet, but instead they were clear and bright. The light brown, honey eyes sparking with thought.