Irresistible Boss Succumbing to Your Touch (Maria Anita) novel Chapter 3

Flavian’s POV

We returned to Cam's house after talking to that woman, Rita's godmother's sister. It was a difficult conversation; Orlando was devastated by everything that was revealed. I must confess it was one of the most perverse plots I had ever seen in my life; everything that lady told us was surprising and unbelievable. Orlando made the entire journey back in silence, completely lost in his own thoughts. I took the opportunity to check with Detective Albert if there was any news, but they still knew nothing, not even the slightest idea where Manuela could be.

"Dad! Flavian! How did it go?" Cam greeted us, looking even more distressed.

"Cam, it was difficult, but we still don't have any leads on Manu," I said while sitting down. Cam looked at me discouraged.

"I confess I had hope you would find her," Cam lamented. "The only way now is to do what Rita wants."

"What do you mean?" I looked at him curiously.

"She was here, making demands to reveal where Manu is," Cam let his body fall into the chair beside me.

"What does that wretch want?" Orlando finally spoke.

"A lifetime pension with an amount she'll set, and it will be high, plus ten percent of the company. That's what I managed to negotiate, because she wanted much more," Cam looked at his father dejectedly.

"Do whatever she wants, but bring your sister home," Orlando decreed.

"What happened at that place you went to, Orlando?" Olivia, who had been observing everything from the side, noticed her father-in-law's tension.

"The truth, Olivia, I discovered the whole truth. A truth that had been under my eyes all these years." Orlando sighed, and just as he was about to start speaking, the house intercom rang, and Olivia went to answer it.

"Who is it, Oli?" Cam asked when his wife put the intercom back on the hook, and she looked at us smiling.

"Million-dollar reinforcements!" Olivia simply said and went to open the door.

Suddenly the house was invaded by chatter, and several familiar faces were in front of me.

"Detective, tell me you're sitting here because you've already found Little Key," Melissa was the most anxious of our friends standing there before me.

They all arrived together: Alexander and Catherine, Henry and Samantha, Rick, Lexie, Fred and Melissa. They were all looking at me anxiously, all worried about Manu. I looked at them feeling immense gratitude for having them there.

"Everyone, please, calm down. We haven't found Manu yet, but there's a large team of police officers searching," I said and felt Alexander's hand on my shoulder.

"How are you holding up, Flavian? What can we do to help?" Alexander always made himself available to help with everything, and I felt relieved to have his support at that moment.

"I'm feeling terrible, Alexander, you know exactly what I'm going through. You can help me think, maybe we're missing something," I replied.

Olivia stepped forward to introduce everyone to Orlando, who was moved to see that his daughter had so many good friends. He was also very happy to see my sister; the two had gotten along well when they first met, and Lexie quickly set about distracting him.

"Look, PH wanted to come, but he had an exam at college. I told him I'd keep him updated," Rick informed us. They had become party friends, as Lexie was always saying.

"I just want to know one thing," Melissa looked at Olivia. "Where does that snake live? I'm going to teach her a lesson."

"Well, I'm going to help you, Mel," Olivia was more than willing, and I knew well what Melissa's lessons were like - she would destroy Rita.

We spent the night around town and the outskirts, searching, asking questions, not caring if we were getting people out of bed, and as we eliminated possibilities, we informed each other.

At six in the morning, we met in front of the church, as Rita and her church ladies attended seven o'clock mass every day. I took the opportunity to talk to the Priest, who was a great defender of Rita, but I didn't blame him; he didn't know what a pest she was. She had created an image of a devout believer and good woman, and much of the town believed it. When I told him about the things she did to Manuela and everything we had discovered, his reaction was shock, and he could hardly believe what I was saying.

When mass ended, we couldn't hold the girls back anymore. They planted themselves in front of Rita and her clan of church ladies in the middle of the square. Melissa wasted no time and started speaking.

"My God, these women are crazy!" Cam stared in disbelief at the chaos they were creating.

"Come on, Rita, tell everyone you were Calvin's mistress and that Julian isn't Orlando's son," Melissa taunted. "Seriously, I'm shocked by your ability to lie, little Rita!" Melissa placed her hand over her heart with the best expression of shock I'd ever seen.

"Rita, what are these young ladies talking about?" demanded an elderly woman who was part of Rita's church group.

"They're just a bunch of lunatics, Hilda!" Rita simply responded.

"We might be crazy, but we're not liars!" Catherine retorted.

"Come on, Rita, just tell us where Manuela is," Olivia demanded.

"You third-rate model!" Rita was foaming with rage.

"What's all this commotion in my town?" And there he was - the corrupt detective who danced to his wife's tune.