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"Have you found him?" Alex asked, and his P.I. nodded. "I found him, sir, but there is a problem," Collins said and handed Alex a document. Alex's eyes trailed from him to the document he was holding out. Alex took it from him and sighed deeply as he read through it, which contained a full background check on Gerald. "How long has this been?" He asked. "About ten years now, sir.. he had been in and out jail for the past twenty years, " Collins explained, and Alex dropped the document on his table and ran his hand through his hair. That explains why Gladys couldn't find him easily. he had not for once even tried to reach out to his mother or anyone while he was in jail. "When will he be out?" "In a few months, sir," Collins answered, and Alex nodded. "Can you arrange for me to meet him?" Alex wanted to know the kind of person he was before he met Juliet. He didn't want to upset her more than she already... "I will try to do that, sir," "Thank you," Alex said, and Collins left; Patrick came in soon after, wondering what was going on and why Collins had come by the office. Was Alex trying to find someone? Collins was known to be very good at running background checks on people... "excuse me for asking; I don't mean to be nosy, but Sir, are you trying to find someone?" Patrick asked and couldn't keep his curiosity to himself... "Yes, Juliet's father", Alex answered... he picked up the document in front of him and handed it to Patrick, who collected it and read silently, the look of surprise flashing across his face as he read it... "She doesn't know about him yet" Alex said when Patrick was done... "Do you think she will be heartbroken if she finds out?" he asked, and Alex sighed deeply... "I don't know, that is why we are going on a short trip" "Short trip?" Patrick asked in confusion, wondering what the trip entailed... "Yes, a story trip; we will be gone for a day or two. You can stay back if you want," Alex said, but In a tone that didn't give Patrick a chance to stay back if he wanted... "OK, sir, I will get ready for the trip," Patrick said and left Alex's office to inform Olivia about it... ______________________ _____________________ As Alex ate dinner that night with Juliet he couldn't help but keep glancing at her, his eyes filled with worry about how she was going to take the truth... he glanced at her once more and their eyes met but Alex quickly looked away making juliet confused... when they were done they went upstairs to his room and Alex sat on the bed waiting for Juliet to change into her pyjamas... "Do you have something to say to me?" Juliet asked when she came out of the bathroom and Alex nodded. He drew her hand softly and made her Seat beside him on the bed... she was a little concerned, wondering if what he wanted to tell her was about her father.... was he dead... her heart almost dropped at the thought that he was dead before she got the chance to meet him. Then what about Gladys? She could only imagine how broken-hearted Gladys would be if she found out her son had died after searching for him so.. it would break her and Juliet wished that wasn't the case... "is something wrong" she asked in a low voice, her heart beating in fear as she waited for Alex to tell her what was wrong. "I'm going on a business trip" "a business trip," Juliet asked and Alex nodded... she didn't want him to know that she was sad about this sudden business trip, but Juliet was sad that he had to go, she needed him by her side, but knew it would be selfish of her if she asked him to stay... "when will you be back," She asked that instead... "I will be gone for just a few days, and I promise to be back as soon as possible; I can't postpone it, and I have to be there tomorrow", Alex said, and Juliet's eyes almost watered up... "Can I come with" Juliet couldn't stop herself from asking... she was already missing him even though he was sitting right in front of her and she didn't mind coming with him. She wanted to promise that she wasn't going to interfere with his work... she just wanted to be by his side... Alex wished he could tell Juliet the truth about what he was going to do, but he knew she would want to come with him and he wouldn't be able to stop her because it was her father he was going to meet... "I don't think it will be a good idea... I will be working all through," Alex said, hoping to dissuade her... Juliet sighed deeply and Alex opened his arms for her... she snuggled into his arms and closed her eyes, not wanting to let him go ever... "I miss you already" Alex muttered and planted a soft kiss on her temple... "Have you found him yet?" She asked, and Alex swallowed, knowing that he had to lie to her once again; he felt a pang of guilt in his heart as he opened his mouth to answer. "No, yet, but I will soon..." Alex said, and Juliet nodded, feeling rest assured as she stayed in his arms... That night, as they both lay in bed... juliet was fast asleep and Alex was wide awake; Alex thought about what the future held for Juliet and how it would be for her to meet her father. He hadn't even told her that her father was in jail and was also an ex-convict, that was why she had not seen him in years... he tilted His head to look at her sleeping face, and a smile appeared on his face... she looked so peaceful as she slept... "I'm sorry for lying to you" Alex muttered and Juliet snuggled closer into his arms and stirred in her sleep... a part of him hoped that her father wasn't a bad person like his background check showed.... he hoped that life had just not been good to him and he had taken a bad turn... he hoped all of that for Juliet's sake so she wouldn't be heartbroken when she found out the truth... he cared for her way too much and it hurt him to think that she could heartbroken...