Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

241 I mean no harm

"I didn't expect you to receive my call after our last conversation," Helen remarked. "But I am glad you did."ﾂ�

When Rachael did not say anything, she added, "You probably must be wondering why this old lady is disturbing you so much, right?"ﾂ�

"It's not like that," Rachael finally said something. "Please feel free to call me whenever you want to."ﾂ�

She was a little surprised to receive a sudden call from Andrew's grandmother. This was the second time she was talking to her and she was still getting the weird feeling.ﾂ�

"But talking is boring isn't it?" Helen sighed. "I think it's time for us to meet."ﾂ�

"Andrew told me he will take me to Russia next week. So I guess we will meet soon."ﾂ�

Rachael wasn't getting a good feeling with the conversation she was having with Helen. For some odd reason, she was feeling very weird and restless.ﾂ�

"You know he will never let me talk to you alone," Helen chuckled. "Your husband is very possessive when it comes to you. Who knows that better than you, right?"ﾂ�

"What are you trying to say?"ﾂ�

"I am in town right now," she answered. "Come and meet me now but don't tell Andrew."ﾂ�

"Why shouldn't I tell him?" Rachael frowned.ﾂ�

"Because he will not let you come," Helen remarked. "I wanna meet you alone Rachael, I have a lot to tell you."ﾂ�

"I am sorry but I am not gonna lie to Andrew." She didn't want to hide anything from Andrew.ﾂ�

Rachael was about to say something else when Helen added, "What if I say that Andrew's life is at stake?"ﾂ�

Helen's words made Rachael frown. "What do you mean?"

"You don't know anything honey," she sighed. "I can't tell you everything over the phone. This is why I want to meet you privately, without the presence of my Andrew or my other grandkids."ﾂ�

"You are lying, aren't you?" Before Helne could say anything, Rachael snapped, "How can you make something up just to force me to meet you?"ﾂ�

The fact that Helen was using Andrew to meet her in private was very infuriating.ﾂ�

"If you think I am making it up then feel free to turn me down."ﾂ�

Rachael was about to say something when she added, "But what if I am right?"ﾂ�

"Think about it and in case you change your mind, I will be at the High End cafe at one."ﾂ�

After hanging up the call, Rachael sat down and pondered for a while. She then glanced at the watch. It was almost 12:45.ﾂ�

Contemplating for a while, she took out her phone and called Andrew. But after a single ring, she hung up the call.ﾂ�

Tossing her phone on the table, she pinched the space between her brows and frowned. She didn't wanna meet Helen without Andrew's knowledge but at the same time, she couldn't shrug off what she had told her.ﾂ�

When Andrew told her about his parents and maternal family, she knew he hadn't relieved the entire truth. But she did not say anything. She wanted to wait for him to tell her everything whenever he wanted to.ﾂ�

Now that Helen had told her that Andrew's life was at risk, she couldn't help but feel anxious.ﾂ�

Given Andrew's character, he would never tell her if his life was actually in danger. He would rather hide it from her than make her feel panicked.ﾂ�

Thinking for a while, Rachael decided to meet Helen. She didn't know if Helen was lying to her but she had to make sure if Andrew's life was really in danger or not.ﾂ�

Just then her phone started ringing. It was Andrew.ﾂ�

Contemplating for a while, she received the call.ﾂ�

"Rach, you had called?"ﾂ�

"Yeah窶祢 mean, it was a mistake," she lied. "I was calling Tina and I accidentally punched your number."ﾂ�

"Oh okay窶ｦListen, I might be stuck here for a couple of more hours," he sighed. "I'll pick you up as soon as I am done, okay?"ﾂ�

"Take your time, I will be here only," she lied again.ﾂ�

"Alright, I'll hang up now. I love you."ﾂ�

"I love you too."ﾂ�

After hanging up the call, Rachael felt very bad for lying to him. She even considered calling him back and telling him everything but she chose not to.ﾂ�

'How bad could a meeting be?' she asked herself. She just wanted to meet Helen and get over it.ﾂ�

She then grabbed her bag and cell phone before leaving the house.ﾂ�

...

[High End Cafe]ﾂ�

When Rachael arrived at the cafe, she looked around with a hope that she would find Helen. She had never met her but she had seen her picture in Andrew's phone.ﾂ�

After making sure she wasn't there, she took a seat and ordered a cup of coffee for herself.ﾂ�

After almost ten minutes, a man approached her.ﾂ�

"Mrs. Collins." When Rachael looked at him, he smiled, "It's good to finally meet you."ﾂ�

"I am sorry窶能" Rachael got up. "I didn't recognise."ﾂ�

"You won't because we haven't met before," he remarked. "My name is Lokus, Mrs. Volkov has sent me here. Madam is waiting for you, please follow me."ﾂ�

"Why didn't she come inside?"ﾂ�

"Madam doesn't like crowded places."ﾂ�

His reply made her frown. Why would she invite her to a cafe if she doesn't wanna come in?

"Please窶能" Lokus politely stepped away, waiting for her to lead the way.ﾂ�

"Wait, let me clear the bill first." She was about to grab her purse when Lokus stopped her.ﾂ�

"Don't worry about the bill madam, my men will take care of it."ﾂ�

Though she found it a little weird, she still shrugged off the feeling and walked out of the cafe while Lokus followed her.ﾂ�

窶ｦ..

[Outside]ﾂ�

As soon as they stepped out, Rachael frowned when she did not see anyone standing outside the cafe.ﾂ�

"Where is she?" she inquired.ﾂ�

"This way窶能" He guided her towards the car.ﾂ�

Not getting a good feeling out of it, Rachael refused to move. "I窶祢 am not comfortable with this. I came here to meet Andrew's grandmother, I don't even know who you are."ﾂ�

She then took out her phone. "I need to call Andrew窶能" But before she could even unlock her phone, Lokus took it away.ﾂ�

"I am sorry madam but I am afraid you can't make any phone calls now." He shoved it inside his pocket.ﾂ�

"What are you trying to do?" Rachael snapped. "Give me my phone back." Her heart started racing uncontrollably. She cursed herself for leaving the house without telling Andrew.ﾂ�

And now that her phone was gone, how was she supposed to call him to let him know what was going on?ﾂ�

"With all due respect madam, I can't do that," Lokus sighed. "Please don't worry, I mean no harm. I am just following the orders given to me."ﾂ�

When she took a step back, he added, "I have been working with the Volkovs for more than four decades now. I have seen the young master, Andrew, grow up in front of me. I seriously mean no harm."ﾂ�

"Then what do you want?" She gulped in nervousness. Though the situation she had pushed herself into was pretty tight, Lokus did not give her any threat vibes. But she still didn't let her guard down.ﾂ�

"I am here to take you to Russia." He glanced at his watch. "We should leave, we have a flight to catch in thirty minutes."ﾂ�

...

[Two hours later]ﾂ�

[Collins corporation]ﾂ�

Andrew frowned when the call did not go through. He had been trying to call Rachael for more than ten minutes now but her number was out of coverage.ﾂ�

After trying for a couple of more times, he called George.ﾂ�

"George, where are you?"ﾂ�

"Office," George answered. "What happened?"ﾂ�

"I can't get in touch with Rach, her number is not reachable." Andrew pinched the space between his brows. He was feeling very anxious.ﾂ�

"She was at home when Emma and I left. I'll call someone at home and then let you know."ﾂ�

"Alright."ﾂ�

After hanging up the call, Andrew called Rachael again.ﾂ�

Just then Ben rushed inside the room.ﾂ�

"Boss窶能"ﾂ�

The panicked look on his face made Andrew feel even more anxious. "What are you doing here?"ﾂ�

"Lokus and his men are in the city, they arrived this morning."ﾂ�

Ben was enjoying his day off with Tina when he received the news from his men. The sudden arrival of Helen's right hand man wasn't a very good sign. He knew they were up to something.ﾂ�

He tried calling Andrew to inform him about the new situation but the call did not go through.ﾂ�

Not wanting to waste anymore time, he quickly rushed over to the office.ﾂ�

"What?" Andrew frowned. "What are they doing here?"ﾂ�

"We still have no idea but窶能" A phone call interrupted him.ﾂ�

When Andrew called the caller ID, he quickly received the call.ﾂ�

"George窶能"ﾂ�

"The helper said Rach left home a couple of hours ago."ﾂ�

Andrew pursed his lips and frowned. He wasn't getting a good feeling about it.ﾂ�

When he did not say anything, George asked, "Is everything okay?"ﾂ�

"Yeah, everything is fine. I'll call you later."ﾂ�

After hanging up the call, Andrew got up from his seat and called Lokas first but the call did not go through.

窶ｦ..