"Three days without my wife…" Vincencio muttered, wiping his sweat after doing all the housework on weekends. "…how hard it could be…"
Vincencio's life without his wife started as soon as his wife left and went to their hometown, which he had never visited before. But, one day, maybe he'll go there with her. As for now, he enjoyed the moment being alone and able to do as he wished while his wife was away for business. However, before he could even do what he wanted, a phone call happened.
"What's up, Medina?" Vincencio answered the call happily, but Medina's tone greeted him furiously.
'Don't tell me you're still at home?'
"Yeah, I just finished my laundry. Why?" He answered and was about to enter the house when he felt something he had forgotten.
'You forgot Skylar assigned you as her proxy starting today.'
"Fuck, I forgot." He said, almost dropping the laundry basket.
'Hurry up. You've got a meeting to attend.'
"I didn't sign for that." He refuted as he started picking the laundry again when Medina warned him.
'Tell that to your wife. Hurry up. Unless you want me to pick you up.'
"NOPE! I'm coming, I just need to put the laundry inside." He quickly responded and hurried when he noticed the call had ended. "She hung up."
When the laundry was safe, Vincencio quickly drove to the company, but was greeted by an annoyed Medina. He wanted to greet her, but decided against it since he needed to be present for a scheduled meeting in thirty minutes. Luckily, the hectic schedule at both the company and the hotel ended smoothly. He handled them successfully, but he was left drained as he slouched at his wife's office desk.
"Now, you know what she felt during working hours, and sometimes she extends it just to have her free time with you," Medina said, placing a warm tea that quickly caught Vincencio's attention.
"I know, that's why I'm taking care of her at home, but now that I have a business at night, I have to adapt and be flexible so she won't feel neglected." Vincencio sighed heavily before drinking his tea.
"And great sex will do." Medina teased, making him slightly blush.
"Med, don't start there." He said, composing himself.
"Why can't you?" she curiously wondered, settling some papers on Skylar's shelves.
"It's not that I can't. I want her to be ready to be a mother and not an over-the-top workaholic one, and besides, I'm still holding a secret that I'm looking for the right time to share with her." He sighed heavily again, catching Medina's attention.
"Tell her. Share your thoughts with her. She'll understand even if it's difficult." She softly told him, making him nod.
"I know. I'm just making sure about something." He said before sipping his tea.
"About what?" she curiously wondered.
"She won't leave or reject me once she learn them." He answered honestly, making her frown.
"Then you don't love her that much." She bluntly said, making him glare.
"Don't question my love for her, Medina. You don't know what I'm carrying and how much control has taken me not to claim her for good." He growled, making the entire office freeze, and Medina frowned, noticing the weight he was carrying, reminding her about Irina.
"I'm not questioning your love for her. You're head-over-heels over that woman. But if you truly love her, this thing won't matter." Medina responded gently, trying not to snap at the longing man before her.
"What do you mean?" he wondered lowly.
"Regardless of being rejected, there will always be a piece of care that won't fade, which makes you stay." With a sigh, Medina gave her honest opinion that Vincencio listened to. "Try to look beyond the surface. Feel Skylar's darkness and light. Go beyond it and grab it once you're sure about your feelings for her. Because Vincencio, she never loves like she loves you, and I hope you didn't just see it, but feel it too."
"I do, Medina, more than you know…I'm just scared of being hurt again." He admitted with his vulnerable tone.
"You're not the only one who's scared, Vince. Everyone is afraid when it comes to love because they know it's real." She made a point before sadly reminding him. "How long are you going to be scared? You won't know when she'll be gone beside you."
"MEDINA!" He growled, but Medina did not flinch.
"She's facing something dangerous that you can't imagine, and she's keeping you away from it. She won't let it touch you. She won't let that happen after what happened to you. Vince, I've witnessed the worst thing to her when she almost lost you." She shared something unspoken, making him speechless until Medina left. "Keep that in consideration. See you tomorrow."
"I know…I know that I could lose her any moment, but…I can't bring her to learn about it without assurance that she won't leave…" Vincencio thought sadly, crying slightly about the secret he was keeping gravely in his closet before mumbling. "If you only knew Medina, you won't be able to say that…Skylar is my second chance in love…"
***
Vincencio calmed his racing thoughts before heading to his usual night routine and became the Night Hound. He was collected and composed, but the intimidation that he always wore became dark to the point that no one was able to approach him, except the Presley Siblings.
"Boss, we've got information about the newly formed two groups of gangsters from the east and the west side of the city. The first group from the east was hired to watch over a businesswoman, and the second one from the west was eyeing our business for a few nights already." Lesley reported coldly, but Night Hound sensed something in them.
"What do you want to do to them?" Prince wondered, controlling himself from smashing something in his boss's office. Vincencio sensed their grimace over the reports.
"Nothing since they were just watching, observing, but once they sabotage our work, we need to be ready to retaliate." He quickly answered what they'll do to the second ground before asking, "And regarding the first group, who was the businesswoman they were after?"
"Skylar Saison-Monsour." Lesley coldly answered, making Night Hound break his pen yet remain unreadable.
"They were after her due to the rejected merger and corporation." Prince spat with venom.
"It's because of that snake, am I right?" Night Hound guessed, and something was building inside of him.
"Yes, boss." They replied.
"Keep watching, but don't let them touch everything that belongs to that businesswoman. Not even a single hair should be touched. Are we clear on that, siblings?" With firmness, he commanded the siblings.
"Crystal clear, boss." They responded before they were dismissed.
Alone in his office, Night Hound was furious. Everything was burning inside of him. He wanted to rip things off, but recalling his wife's smile, soothing voice, and touch, he calmed down. However, the turmoil was still there, and just a little bit, he could snap, but it would only pour out when his wife came home.
***
Vincencio's life moved on; unfortunately, it became his worst nightmare to go through. He moved smoothly in both ways. He handled his daylight and nighttime business perfectly; however, the house still felt empty. His heart was frozen, longing for his wife.
"Wifey, I miss you already," Vincencio mumbled under his tired voice as he grabbed his wife's hoodie that he either hugged or wore, pretending that Skylar was hugging her. "I want you home. In my arms…"
Vincencio was not a sensitive man, but when it came to Skylar, he was different. He easily became emotional when alone, but was still an intimidating and ruthless boss. Another lonely morning, in the company, everyone could feel the cold tension coming from him. He was still approachable, but nobody could stay long in a conversation without feeling thrown out into a pile of freezing snow.
"Are you Skylar number two?" Medina teasingly asked as she put down the report file on the desk.
"Morning, Medina." Vincencio coldly replied, glued to the paperwork.
"See, definitely a Skylar number two." She teasingly grinned, but her teasing was ignored.
"What brings you here?" He coldly asked.
"I shouldn't be saying this, but seeing you turned like her, it's very suffocating. We don't need two Skylars in one company." With a teasing tone, she started, making Vincencio stop working and frown at her.
"Spill Medina, we've got a meeting in an hour." He said coldly, making her grin.
"I know that schedule. Anyway, she called and informed me about the close deals she made during her travels. She's ready to head home tomorrow afternoon after her last meeting." She said, informing him about Skylar's update. Vincencio nodded and went back to work.
"I've seen the update in the system, but it's good to hear. Head back to work now." He said coldly, ignoring her words. Medina knew that Vincencio was happy hearing it.
"Don't squeal like a love-struck teenager as soon as I closed the door." She teased as she went to the door.
"Go now, and I need that file ready." He said coldly, dismissing her.
"Yes, Sir Vincencio." She chuckled and left the office.
Like what Medina thought, Vincencio was overjoyed at the news. His smile almost breaks his jaw, and his eyes sparkle with the desire to hold her once again. However, he did not show it; he remained an unreadable man. He focused on his schedule for the day and was patient with waiting for his wife's return.
Vincencio survived the two days without his wife, and hearing the great news, he went to SR Night Pub. He was chilling at the bar area when he met his friend and business partner, Liam.
"I heard you survived two days without your wife." Liam teasingly greeted him, patting his back.
"I know, but damn, I miss her so much," Vincencio replied, giggling before drinking his whiskey.
"Then make her feel special and claim her. Mark her." He told him, but it made Vincencio sigh heavily.
"She doesn't know." He sadly said, making Liam pity him, but he also understood him.
"She's a clever person, dude. She'll notice strange things, especially to those she loves, and it includes you." He reminded Vincencio about his wife's clever mind on connecting things once she put her mind to it.
"Even if she does, I can't just drop it to her face." He reasoned, making Liam pat his shoulder.
"Then be prepared to see the pain in her eyes once she learned it in a certain incident." Liam teased him, yet it held a warning, making him frown.
"Don't jinx, Liam." He coldly said, making the man chuckle.
"Just think about it, and your Aunt has been looking for you in booth five." Liam patted and informed his Aunt Tiffania presence at the pub, then left.
"That's odd." Vincencio thought and went to booth five to meet his aunt.
At booth five, his Aunt Tiffania was having a nice drink, observing the pub like a quiet predator, guarding her property. However, it quickly vanished when Vincencio appeared and sat with her without being invited.
"This is an odd visit from you, Aunty." Vincencio greeted, watching his aunt carefully.
"I know, but I have to." Aunt Tiffania sternly responded, making him frown.
"Is there anything you want to update me on?" He curiously wondered, and she nodded.
"I don't want to remind you about it, but she's in the city." She started, making him sigh.
"What's she doing here?" He asked coldly.
"Looking for you, to bring you back to the pack and perhaps to apologize, or maybe to have you back." She shrugged her shoulders, replying to the possible reason why Vincencio's ex-mate was looking for him.
"Aunty, you know my answer to that possibility that I don't want to consider at all. I'm happy with my wife." He sighed heavily, annoyed with the news.
"I know, I can see that. But she knows about your marriage. She knows her." She said sternly, making him growl deeply.
"If she dares lay a finger on her or just make an attempt, I'll forget she's a pack member." He growled warningly, making his aunt flinch. He was still an alpha.
"Then end it. If you have to break her bones to make her see that, then do it. For your wife, Vince. I don't want Skylar to be heartbroken. I could see she went through tough hardship already, and dealing with this stupid woman is just a nuisance in your peaceful marriage." She sternly said, finishing her wine.
"I know. I'll end it before Sky's return." He said coldly and left. His aunt enjoyed the rest of the night because he still had to work at the Midnight Guardian.