The CEO's Assistant

"Throw her in a cell, I'll deal with her later." Liam furiously hung up his phone, he couldn't tell if he was angrier at the maids or himself for not noticing how scheming Maya really was. Not waiting another second, he dials Jesse, Juliette's bodyguard, as Liam slides into the driver's seat.

"Where is she?"

"What do you mean you lost her?" Liam yelled into the car's microphone. Jesse had trailed Arianna across different parts of the city, before he realised he'd been tricked and that Arianna had her car switched out with an identical copy, once she realised she was being followed.

"I'm sorry sir, I will find her I swear."

"You better find her. Your job is on the line." Liam stared at the traffic, "Get everyone to help, I need her found, I need her safe." He's tone sounded almost vulnerable, before he hung up.

Why did she have to run?

Where did she go?

And why does that seem to be her defence?

Does she not trust him? He realised he couldn't blame her after everything she'd been through with Julien, it had taken her almost a decade to open her heart again, and like a fool he'd just gone and broken her trust. Liam felt the dread in his heart start to grow at the thought of her never forgiving him.

He found himself wondering why he even lied to her in the first place, why'd did he go to the lunch. Liam found himself thinking about her constantly, for the first time he cared for someone else more than he did his family's reputation. The anxiety he was feeling, the unease caused by not knowing her whereabouts, it was something he didn't like. He felt guilty for lying to her and only now realised just how much of a mistake it was.

As he aimlessly drove around not wanting to go home to where she wasn't, when suddenly he saw a store that made him realise exactly where he needed to go and who he needed to see.

Joan.

~ ~ ~

Meanwhile, in an old rundown part of Paris, stood a five-storey apartment building, it wasn't fancy nor luxurious, but it was clean, there were no broken windows and all the locks worked. A large, older woman with thick square glasses stood at the reception desk.

Suddenly, there was the squeak from one of the front doors opening, surprise covered her face as she glanced up from the computer.

"Miss Howard how are you?" she stood up to greet the young owner of the building.

"I am well Margret, how are you?" The woman's gentle voice and noble aura were unusual to find in this neighbourhood, the surrounding suburbs mostly consisted of criminals, homeless people and those who did not want to be found. This building however was an exception, Miss Howard had built and renovated this building to act a refuge for women who were seeking shelter from abuse.

"I'm doing very well, Janet from apartment 3C started a new job last week, she and her son move out next month." Margret reported the good news. On top of giving these women a home, Miss Howard also did her best to give them a stable future, with her help most women didn't stay longer than a year, and proceeded to create a new future for themselves and their children, there was only one person who had never left.

"That's wonderful to hear." The wealthy woman walked into the office. "What about Judy?" She asked with a sad soft voice.

"She goes to see a counsellor once a week now, but that's about the only time she leaves the building." The two women discussed the tenants, before the young owner proceeded to her room on the fifth floor.

~ ~ ~

"Wait…" Odette called as she watched the handsome figure disappear out the door. Her green eyes welled up. "W…why?" Odette dramatically fell to her knees and sobbed into her hands. Watching the poor girl cry, brought a familiar ache to Camilla's heart. While the old matriarch could sympathise with the girl, even felt a slight pity for her, Camilla couldn't help but be proud of her son for his decision to choose love over benefits. If it weren't for the promise she'd made to Joan, she would have whole heartedly supported them and perhaps somewhere deep down, she did.

"Oh honey, it's not your fault." Lorraine wrapped her arms around her sobbing daughter, before turning to glare at her husband, "Fix this." She demanded through her teeth, as she pulled her daughter to her feet and guided Odette out of the room.

"I am so sorry for my son's behaviour Mr. Whittingham." William apologised before anything else could be said.

"That's quite alright Mr. Clair. I understand where your son is coming from." Joseph stood up to meet William's eyes. "I just hope he grows to understand his position." Joseph extended his hand.

"Oh he will." William responded shaking the man's hand while grinning internally. Joseph turned to leave, yet he couldn't seem to shake the uneasy feeling he felt, in the reflection of the hallway mirror he caught sight of Camilla, who seemed vaguely familiar, before momentarily noticing the same uneasy expression appeared upon her face as well.

Camilla watched her husband an uneasy feeling filled her, she knew her husband well and his intentions, for people who got in his way, were never good. She knew that was how he saw Arianna, as an obstacle.

"May?" Camilla called for her assistant, who had worked alongside her for decades before even her children were born.

"Yes Madam?"

"Mr. Whittingham did you recognise him?" She asked curiously, knowing she'd seen him somewhere.

"I believe he attended a party Ms. Richard held decades ago."

"Hmm, must a be coincidence." Camilla shrugged as this was not the time to be thinking about social events from the past, but deep down inside she had a terrible feeling and feared for Arianna's life.