Chapter 45: Forty-Five

“What’s all this?” They got into the living room while she took the contents out, skimming over the documents. “Is this what I think it is?” Melina’s semblance paled, and a trembling took over her body. She didn’t know what to think about.

“Melina, he’s playing you. All this time, his sole purpose was to take Eve away. This is the proof. He filed for guardianship. Did you sign these papers agreeing with this?” He raked his fingers through his hair, turning around and sitting on the coffee table, staring at Melina.

“Of course not. I’d never do such a thing. Not the sole guardianship, Xanthos! What’s wrong with you?” Her voice came out in a screech.

“Give a look at the last few pages. He went as low as to forge your signature.”

With shaky fingers, she fumbled through the papers, and she didn’t want to believe in what her eyes were seeing. They were so perfect, she couldn’t tell the difference. It was the work of an expert. The shock wasn’t for the quality of the forgery. She knew how things worked in this kind of underworld, but for his audacity. Melina squeezed her eyes shut. That innocent girl had no place in her life anymore, and she wouldn’t jump to conclusions. She refused to think Henry would act this low on her. She breathed deeply and stared at Xanthos. “No, this is impossible. He wouldn’t do this to me. There must be an explanation.”

“Melina! Are you so blinded by him?” Fear for her was evident in his astonishment. She didn’t deserve all this. “You barely know him, Mel. You said yourself once, we don’t know what his capable of, but you’re so enthralled by him, you lost your ability to think!” He growled at her. He didn’t mean to, but it was beyond his strength. How could she be so blind?

“Xan, don’t go there. It’s none of your business.” It was a low hiss, but she got fed up to be treated as the poor, naive girl. She was a grown woman. Ok, in the beginning she freaked out, but a lot has happened since then.

“You’re about to lose Eve! I will see what I can do, but until we prove this isn’t your signature, she will be in the US with him.”

“Look at me, my friend.” Melina walked to him, positioning herself between his knees and cupping his cheek. “I know you worry about us. But as crazy as it seems, I will ask you, give me some time to sort this out. There’s something fishy in all this.” Melina sighed, staring at those bright blue eyes full of concern.

“But…” Lord! He tried to voice his worries to her, but she cut him off.

“No buts, Xan. My life is this mess today, because I got scared in the past and jumped to conclusions too fast. I won’t repeat the same mistake this time around. Please, do not confront him, or you’ll make things worse. Let me deal with him and I’ll keep you informed. Can you trust me on this?” Melina peeked at the clock, and anxiety hit her. She didn’t want Henry to catch Xanthos there. “Please, not a word of this to anybody. Now go. I’ll keep you posted.” She kissed his forehead.

“Be careful, Mel. We don’t know with whom we’re dealing.” He stood up and hugged her tight.

“Thank you for being such a good friend. You and Gabs are better than siblings!”

The envelope in her hands seemed to burn her fingers. She refused to believe he’d do this to her. Not after everything that happened between them, but something bugged him these last few days. She couldn’t deny it. Maybe he wanted to tell her and didn’t get the courage to do it. She doubted it was the problem. There was hurt, concern, and fear in those pools of honey, not this kind of betrayal.

Melina has promised herself to embrace her fate and make her life easier. She also promised to give Henry the benefit of the doubt, even though she didn’t voice him. He didn’t need to know about that. Henry had his secrets, so was she.

It didn’t take long for her phone to buzz again. She thought to be Xanthos with more info, or even Henry, for some reason, but she froze when she saw it was a text from an unknown number. Melina didn’t dare to breathe. She felt numb. A cold sweat assaulted her, making her palms clammy. Closing her eyes, she recited a brief prayer and tapped on the screen. Rage fueled her mind. She was sick and tired of this shit. This time she wouldn’t coward away and only receive the nasty message. She was going to write back.

“Did you think changing numbers could keep me away? I thought you were smarter.” It read.

“And you are an annoying freak! I’m tired of you. What the hell do you still want?” She punched on the screen keyboard with heavy fingers.

“It gives me pleasure messing with Hank’s head. The bastard betrayed the family and put me in hardships with the Boss. He deserves every shit that comes in his way.”

“Why don’t you take on him at once and stop crippling my life! It’s between you two!”

“But then it wouldn’t be fun. You are he’s soft spot, besides he needs you to get his hands on your fortune.”

Sweat covered her forehead and drops of it streamed down her temples. Her lungs seemed unable to function, and the room suddenly spun. She didn’t know what he was talking about. As long as she knew, she had no money.

“Ok, now you’re crazy. I have no fortune. Your son of a bitch boss wiped my parents out and executed them, you bunch of cold-hearted assholes.” She never cursed in her life, and she didn’t like it or felt comfortable with it, but for the first time she felt the urge to lash out.

“Oh, your lover boy didn’t tell you? When he took Franco down and dismantled his business, Hank got back everything that belonged to your parents, but since he used the legal ways to do it, he couldn’t get his hands on it. So, he needs you.”

“I don’t believe you. It makes little sense!”

“Why don’t you ask him? Don't get your panties in a twist, lady. I won’t waste my time delivering you messages. I have other ways to keep tabs on you. Besides, I believe it’s time for me to get hands on the problem, don’t you think, Kitty Kat?”

How could he know her pet name? The air left Melina’s body and her heart stuttered. This creep was closer than she could imagine. They didn’t pay attention to this possibility, and fear hit her at full-blown. She needed to sort this conversation out. She leaped out of her bed and the room spun worse than before, making her stomach churn. The urge to throw up was enormous, but she breathed to calm herself down. She didn’t have time for that. The documents about her parents' estate were somewhere in her wardrobe, searching for them in a frenzy. She dumped all her drawers, files, everything scavenging for them.

Once she found them, Melina took pictures and forwarded them to Xanthos. Then she buzzed him. “Xan, I need you to check all these documents I sent you.”

“Hey. Sure, I’ll do it first thing in the morning. What are they?”

“I don’t have until morning, Xan. Please, whatever information you can get for me right now, it will be of much help. They are my parents' estate, and I believe they are back in my hands.”

“Why did you think of it at this moment?” He knew her as the back of his hand. Melina was up to something. Things were getting dangerous, and he didn’t have a clue how to help her, not even through his legal ways. He’d have to make some calls and research.

“Remember the creep, who sent me messages? Yep. Him. It didn’t matter Henry changed my phone number, he has a way to get it back.” Melina didn’t mention about the guy being close and watching them. She would, but at the right time.

“Melina, this is serious.” He scolded her.

“Don’t you think I know. We don’t have time to waste on chitchat. I’ll wait for your call.”

She didn’t need to hear an earful now, so Melina hung up and waited, analyzing all the surrounding papers. The only thing left for her were some trust funds in her name that she used to travel abroad and open the clinic with Gabs. The only source of money she had counted on for the past years came from her hard work at the clinic, her late nights checking on patients, and working every other night on duty. It was eleven in the evening when Xanthos called her back.

“Mel, I have some info, but I will check better in the morning with a few colleagues who are experts in estates and inheritances.” He became silent, gathering strength to deliver the rest.

“And? Please, don’t kill me with anxiety. I’m almost having a heart attack, Xanthos!” Her knuckles were white, holding the phone to her ear.

“Mel, the guy wasn’t wrong. All your parents’ possessions are back in their names with you as the sole heir, but until you claim it, Henry is the guardian of your fortune.”

Now it was her turn to be silent. The words disappeared from her head, and tears escaped her eyes unchecked. More and more, their situation was becoming complicated. So much for embracing her fate!