She's My Sleeping Pill

After a moment of struggle, Luiz tried his best to calm his nerves. He needed to think. He needed to figure out a way to escape.

Meanwhile, beyond the confines of his cage, pandemonium unfolded. Reporters flocked Stefan's company to know the recent bombing. People were weaving conspiracies on this news and rivals were claiming Luiz's death. And without confirmation of his state, whether alive or dead, his modelling career was going downhill.

Business can't stop just because he was gone. He can be replaced with someone else. And even if it's against Stefan, these brands won't cower in fear since they have the rights to do so.

"I appreciate your concern and yes, I understand the need to replace him, but please keep the contract. We believe that Luiz will be back," Elena responded to the DOIR's spokesperson regarding their initiative to replace Luiz.

"It's fine, but kindly settle the fee incurred due to the contract breach. This serendipitous event has left us all with few choices to choose. We respect your decision and of course, we're always open for business once Luiz returns," David told another brand manager who expressed his unwillingness to continue waiting for Luiz.

Of course, what David said was all BS lip service.

With Stefan's personality, there's no way that he would allow these brands to work with Luiz again.

On the other hand, Cayenne was pacing back and forth in the living room after they returned home. At first, she wanted to see her children, but decided to put it off as she was restless from the event. She didn't want the triplets to see her weak side.

"Hon, do you have any update from the investigators?" Cayenne asked anxiously. "Or any news from the abductors? He must have been kidnapped!"

Stefan pulled Cayenne by her hand and had her sat on his lap. It was his only way to calm her. He needed to hold her in his arms.

Despite his raising anxiety, he can't show it to his wife.

Yes, he was worried of the things that might have happened to Luiz, but he was more worried of what will happen to his wife if things get worse.

Right now, all he could think of was to exchange everything for Luiz's safety. "Love," he muttered while caressing her face, "I know that your thoughts are all over the place, and you are worried for your brother. I am, too," he said as he looked directly in her eyes. "But I want you to do your best to calm down. We need to think rationally and clearly of what our next moves would be. Right now, just so you know, I'm willing to exchange everything for your brother's safety."

"I know," Cayenne teared up and snuggled up to him. "I know that you will do everything, and it's the reason why I am torn in between. I don't want you to lose the things you worked so hard for, but my brother's life weighs more to me."

"And I feel the same. I can always start over again as long as our family is altogether, but Luiz is only one. Our wealth won't matter compared to him."

Cayenne's tears fell silently on Stefan's chest. She never thought that someone out there held so much grudge towards her to the point that they would even involve her family.

"Why is it like this?" she mumbled in tears. "Every time I received so much blessings, after experiencing so much joy in life, fate would crash me so cruelly. Is it because I'm not deserving of all the things that I have now?"

"I'm sorry to interrupt your thoughts, Madam, but an evil person's character is not your fault. The things you have now are the results of your hard work," Nikolai commented when he heard the way Cayenne lamented as if she was at fault.

His statement caught Cayenne's attention and for some reason, her approval points for this man increased.

"Also, please believe me when I say Luiz will be okay; and if you will permit me to work on my own, without doubting me and questioning me of the things I will do, I will ensure you that I'll be able to bring your brother back without exchanging anything."

Nikolai knew that Cayenne didn't have favourable impression of him, specially when he gets home from spending time with Dr. Rivera's girlfriend.

"I'll allow you," Stefan answered in behalf of his wife who was looked at Nikolai with scrutiny. "I'll allow you to use any resources needed as long as you can bring Luiz back."

"You have my words," Nikolai said and left. "Do not contact me in the next three days," he added before going out of the house.

The unsettling feeling that Cayenne felt slowly dispersed as he watched the back of the person that she couldn't really get along with.

As a bodyguard, Nikolai was really serious with his job. She can't joke with him unlike the other guards. He would only invoke fear when he was around, but she had seen him smile while watching Isabelle Ignacio from afar. A sad smile with a longing gaze.

Because of that, she started to suspect him of harboring feelings for the doctor's girlfriend. Normally, she wouldn't care of the relationship that their employees have, but it was different for Nikolai since the person he was fond of Eliezer Rivera's girlfriend; and Eli was a family friend – Jillyanna's best friend; and Cayenne being Cayenne, she owed Jillyanna so much.

Still, seeing the disappearing back of the man who promised to bring her brother, Cayenne stood up and ran after him.

"Nikolai!" she called with clenched fist, "I won't doubt you again. I won't question you when you get back, but please take care of yourself and bring my brother back," Cayenne stated and bowed her head. "I can't lose my brother."

"Yes, Madam."

****

Luiz didn't know how much time had passed and he was feeling lethargic. His hands and feet were numb from being tied and he was hungry, yet he tried his best to stay awake.

"I told you he's not the one that I want you to kidnap! What use do I have of him?!"

Luiz could tell that the person was using a voice changer so it was hard to recognize him or her.

"Get your ass out of her and bring me the child! I want the child!"

"But boss, the children are well-guarded. How can I get them?"

"Study this map! Idiot!"

Luiz perked up his ears to listen more. If he can't escape, at least, he can leave a clue to the rescuers. He must protect the triplets no matter the cost.