The Billionaire’s Promise

”I have bad news Boss. Your wife was kidnapped from the cruise ship. Her bodyguards colluded with the kidnappers. ”

”What? ” The pen he was holding snapped into two. His face contorted in fury.

”Find out who the kidnappers are right now! Exhaust all resources to bring her back! ” He commanded urgently, his voice filled with both anger and anguish.

”Bo… Boss. Their get away boat was caught in a tornado and has capsized. The kidnappers bloated bodies were recovered. Your wife is missing. ” The assistant was scared to say that probably his wife was also dead.

Time stood still.

Erik felt as if an iron fist squeezed his heart. It stopped beating for a few seconds and he cannot breathe. Clutching his chest, he staggered backwards and fell down as he lost consciousness.

An hour has passed when Erik regained his consciousness. Against the doctors advise, he boarded a helicopter and scanned the area where the cruise ship traversed last night hoping against hope that miraculously he will find his wife safe and sound.

Marlon, Eriks assistant alerted the marines and rescue boats were deployed.

The search continued for the entire day and the days that followed. Erik ordered the search area to be expanded to neighboring islands including the uninhabited small islands dotting the West Sea. In desperation, he announced a huge reward for those who can provide a lead to where his wife was.

Erik has slept for only two hours each night and ate very little. A week has passed but there was no news about his wife.

Perhaps his rational mind has accepted that indeed there was no chance for her to survive the tornado. But his stubborn heart was in denial. For as long as he does not see the corpse of his wife, he shall hold onto a glimmer of hope that she was still alive.

”Yana, why did it come to this? Next week is only our first wedding anniversary! ” He lamented bitterly.

At the end of the week with very little sleep and nourishment coupled with extreme exhaustion and emotional upheaval, Erik collapsed and went into coma. He stayed in the hospital for a week.

On the day he was discharged, he went to the bar with Marlon and his two best friends, Vince and Josh.

He downed glass after glass of liquor. His friends were just silently drinking with him. No words of comfort were being said. They just accompany him.

”I regretted not coming home that night and not going with her on that trip. I really regretted it. ” He said in a mournful voice.

The scene of the last time he saw his wife suddenly played before his eyes.

It was his companys anniversary. Cassie dragged him to the balcony of the banquet hall. She said she has something confidential to tell him. Without warning, she threw herself into him in a tight embrace.

”I know that you still love me and I love you too. All these years, I never stopped loving you. ” She then kissed him on the lips.

Before he can extricate himself from her embrace, he heard a faint gasp. When he turned around, he saw his wife, a shocked expression on her face. He pushed Cassie away and hurriedly walked towards his wife.

”Its not what you think… ” Erik paused when he saw her eyes. Her eyes were always bright and they sparkled like the stars in the sky. At that moment he can only see the hurt and the light from them was snuffed out. She turned around with a look of defeat, her shoulders hunched.

Before Erik can follow her, Camille his secretary called her.

”Boss, its time for your speech! ”

A pleasant male voice coming from the speaker filled the air. The scene playing before Erik vanished into thin air and he was brought back to where he was … the VIP room of a famous night club in Central District. Their room was on the second floor and has an unobstructed view of the stage below if the thick curtains were drawn. Speakers were installed in the room so guests have the option to listen to or block off sounds coming from the stage.

All four men glanced at the stage where a handsome man was standing beside a beautiful woman who was sitting on a tall chair with her right leg overlapping her left leg, her right hand holding the microphone. The duo were no other than Gary Shaw and the famous diva, Zha Zha singing the classic duet ”One Sweet Day! ”

Sorry, I never to told you, all I wanted to say yaaa ye … Now, its too late to hold you, cause youve flown away, so far away yeyyy. Garys voice was soulful. It mirrored how Erik felt about his wife.

Eriks hand holding the glass froze mid air and he felt as if a thousand knives were cutting through his heart turning it into tiny shreds.

Never, had I imagined, living without your smile. Darling, I never showed you, assumed youd always be there. I, I took your presence for granted, but I always cared, and I missed the love we shared.

”Ahem… ahem. ” Josh cleared his throat. ”Maybe we should turn off the speaker. ”

”I think you are right. ” Marlon stood up to turn off the speaker but Erik glanced at him fiercely.

And so, they continued to listen to the duet while drinking in silence.

Feeling and knowing you hear me, It keeps me alive… alive!

Erik looked at the female singer on the stage. In his drunken state, it seemed to him that she was looking into his soul and sending him a message of hope.

And I know you
e shining down on me from heaven, like so many friends weve lost along the way. And I know eventually well be together, together, one sweet day aaay ye

He had a sudden feeling that his wife did not die and they will be together, one sweet day.

Sorry I never told you, all I wanted to say.

The song faded into silence. Despite the melancholy air, a loud applause was heard at the ground floor.

Erik twisted the wedding ring in his finger. He closed his eyes, as a tear drop escaped from each of them. He raised his glass to no one in particular.

”All I wanted to say is I love you so much my dear wife. Happy Wedding Anniversary. Come back to me please! ” He said loud enough for everyone to hear and then he passed out.

His three companions sat motionless for some time. In all their years together, they have never seen him so broken. He was truly in love but what a tragedy!

Meanwhile in a hospital in another country, the middle and the fourth finger of a young womans right hand were resting on the golden band on her left hand. Suddenly, she opened her eyes and blurted out hoarsely.

”Erik! ”