Chapter 251: If We Touch Hands, Will I Lose You?

[FROLO]

The texts hadn’t been answered.

All the calls went to voicemail.

And reasonably, Katya went to the senator’s residence, only to find out that the senator hadn’t been there since the gala had happened.

That was weeks ago.

It made no sense because Katya could swear he had been talking to Alek at least once a week. So, what the hell had happened to the senator?

The news of the share transfer hit the markets early the next day, and Katya stared at the reports, as if he was hoping that this was false.

But it wasn’t. He had checked the transfer papers, and they were legitimate. Had Alek’s signature and all. But if he had signed that over, surely, he would have known if something was wrong, no?

Sighing, Katya called work and took the morning off. Something was not right, and he needed to know he was certain before he asked for help from other crazier options.

The crazier option being Sergei.

Damn.

When Katya got to the new Senate building, he found Leon, Alek’s secretary, sitting at his desk like he always was.

"Where is he?" Katya asked after a few pleasantries. He was trying really hard not to freak out, but this was his boyfriend who was missing. The man he had chosen. He couldn’t just lose him. It wasn’t fair.

"In a meeting. He’s been busy these past few days," Leon said, and Katya stared at him as if to tell him he could read through his bullshitting.

"I’ll wait then," Katya said as he took a seat in the waiting lounge, occasionally dialing Alek. But the calls still went to voicemail. It was so unlike Alek because the alpha always picked up after the first ring.

Katya had been calling him since last evening, and there was no response yet. It was crazy because it never happened. Not like this.

"Uhh... Katya, you can’t. The meeting will take longer," Leon said, dropping all formalities with him. The man usually called him Chairman Romanov, but today he didn’t.

And Katya noticed.

He wasn’t as pressed over the titles, but it wasn’t daily that someone changed that much.

"Is he avoiding me? Did I do something wrong?" Katya wondered, and Leon stared at him helplessly. He knew nothing would make sense of the excuses he was giving the man. But then something had to suffice, no?

"He is not... He... He’s just... Busy," Leon said, and Katya stared at him unrelentingly.

"You’re a terrible liar, Leon. Where’s Alek? If he signed the ownership papers, he should be able to talk to me, no? Besides, he’s my boyfriend, and he hasn’t picked up a call since noon yesterday," Katya pointed out, and Leon sighed.

This was not going to end well.

"Alright. I’ll tell you, but you must promise not to do anything," Leon said, and Katya arched a brow at him.

"I’m already breaking my promise here, man. The least you can do is work with me," Leon pleaded, and Katya sighed, agreeing.

He knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but whatever Alek had gotten himself into, Katya would find a way to get him out of it.

"He told me he was going off-grid for a week or two. Said to tell you that he was on a retreat that didn’t need his phone. I was supposed to send the ownership papers next week, but then he triggered a failsafe and had me send them yesterday.

"That is all I know. I promise. As for where he is, I truly don’t know. He said it was safer if I didn’t have a clue. That’s why everyone believes he’s on a retreat," Leon said, and Katya paused.

Retreat?

Was that what everyone believed?

When had that even happened?

Oh, but Katya couldn’t think of when he had heard it, but he couldn’t exactly ask Leon because then it would be obvious that these past weeks, Alek hadn’t exactly crossed his mind that much.

He’d been preoccupied at work with the project, an—

No. He was preoccupied with work.

That was enough explanation for this. But damn, maybe he could have seen the signs these past weeks.

"He’s been gone too long. When did you hear from him yesterday?" Katya asked, keeping his mind busy with Alek because otherwise his guilt would eat him up.

Because obviously, he had neglected his relationship enough to even miss the fact that an entire city believed his boyfriend was on a retreat while he didn’t have the slightest clue.

What a good boyfriend he had proven to be.

Fuck.

"I’m sorry, Katya, but that is something I can’t disclose. If I do, you will be in danger, and the senator won’t forgive me for putting you in harm’s way," Leon insisted, and Katya groaned in frustration, but did he even have the right to be frustrated?

"Come on, Leon," Katya insisted.

"If by the end of next week, we still don’t hear from him, I’ll tell you and start organizing a search party. For now, just go back to work and live your life like you always have.

"If there are any discrepancies, the senator may end up being in danger," Leon asked politely.

Katya wanted to fight him. To demand where Alek was. He wanted to say that he had every right, and maybe he did.

But if Alek had chosen not to tell Katya what he was planning, then it had to be something serious.

"Is it related to the Moskowskys?" Katya wondered. He knew he was biting a rotten bone here, but he had to try and brainstorm even if he was being ridiculous with every word from his mouth.

"Moskowskys don’t hide their prisoners, Chairman. They punish them in front of the world to send a message. If they had the senator, we would already know," Leon said amusedly.

It was like the sad state of things whenever a Moskowsky was involved was suddenly the only reassurance he needed to know that neither Sergei nor Yaroslav had his boyfriend.

And honestly, it was relieving to say the least.

"Fine. But keep me updated, otherwise I’ll start a search party of my own, and we may clash along the way," Katya said, and Leon just smiled at him softly.

"You really do love him, don’t you?" Leon said as Katya got up, ready to leave.

He looked at Leon like he was not sure what to say to that.

Leon sighed, like he’d been debating whether to say the next part.

"He’s only ever had me in his entire life. The brothers who were brought together by life. I used to worry that he’d never be happy again after what happened to us growing up, especially since he always sees the world through hopeful eyes.

"Then he met you, and he started smiling more. He may be the senator, but to me, he’ll always be my little brother whose heart has been his greatest weakness. I’m just glad he has you," Leon said, and Katya froze.

That...

That was not what he was expecting.

Not today.

"He’s my boyfriend, of course, I love him," Katya said softly, even though his words were a bit shaky.

"I know... But Katya, if ever you find happiness somewhere that is not him... Could you please do me a favor and let him down slowly?"

"I’m not going anywhere... Let me know if you need anything for the search party," Katya said before he walked out.

Did he believe his own words, though?