I can’t believe I still can’t locate her until now, what with all the resources at my disposal. I already hired people to find her, all to no avail.

She vanished without a trace. No paper trail whatsoever.

She paid her hotel reservation using a prepaid card, which makes the owner of the card untraceable in the hotel records. She paid cash at the club. She used an alias in the hotel registry, and the hotel’s front desk didn’t ask for her real identity, most probably to the tune of 20 fucking dollars for zipping it. I wanted to strangle the front desk staff for that.

My tech guys tried matching her photos taken from the CCTV cams to thousands of people in social media but came out negative. The CCTV shots were too dark and grainy to find a perfect photo match online.

I’m fucking going crazy. She can’t just vanish like this. Without a word.

Why? I treated her good. I remember everything that happened between us and I don’t recall seeing her unsatisfied. Or unhappy.

She gave her virginity to me. I should be special, right?

There are so many questions boggling me.

I have to find her. I can’t function well until I find her.

I’ve been barking like a rabid dog at every employee who crossed my path today. Poor sods cowered like whipped puppies. I’m on my way to the pits and Luc won’t be pleased to find me like this when he gets back.

My phone rings. I almost don’t want to answer it, but it’s Duncan, the casino manager.

“Boss, Dylan Bradley just hit a million dollars at the high stakes table.”

Fuck. Bradley is the best poker player from Cali, and he wants to take my millions tonight. In his fucking dreams.

“Who’s dealing?”

“Brock.”

“Pull him out and put Amelia in.”

“Amelia, Boss?”

“You heard me. Tell her to wear a strong perfume and show some tits. Call Annika to send her best broads, have them prance around Bradley’s table. Distract the fucker. He’s not getting another million, you hear me, or I’ll have your balls spinning on a fucking roulette.”

“Y-yes, Boss.”

I cut the call. Fuck, I’m losing it.

“Wow. Look at you.”

I can see what Aria sees in the full-length mirror.

I look awesome in my wedding gown. It’s a magnificent one of a kind piece by Vera Wang. Costs a fortune, too. I would have wanted a simple, off the rack number but Mom would have none of it, and Bill approved of my mother’s choice.

If only I’m a blushing bride for real.

“Hey, are you alright?” Aria’s sympathetic voice breaks into my melancholic musing.

“I don’t know, Aria.”

“You’re thinking of him.”

I don’t answer. I always think about him. Every hour. Every minute.

“Leigh, what if…what if he’s the right man for you?”

I breathe out a hollow laugh. “Aria, don’t talk like this a few hours before my wedding.”

“But girl, there’s still time to change your mind.”

“In my wedding gown with everyone arriving at the church in a few hours?” I shake my head. “I don’t think so.”

“As long as you haven’t uttered ‘I do’ yet, there’s time.”

“We’ve discussed this before. That was a fantasy. It was over the day I left Vegas. Now, this,” I gesture to my gown, “is my reality.”

“But…I just can’t help wondering what if—“

“No what ifs. He was Mr. Wrong. He was…I saw him in action, Aria. He had women hanging onto his arm. Beautiful and unbelievably sophisticated-looking women. Supermodel type. I couldn’t even believe he ended up with me that night when he had those women.”

Aria shrugs. “He found you special.”

“Maybe a novelty for the night. But he’s a player, a very sophisticated one. I don’t think I can compete with those women, nor can I survive his lifestyle. Parties like that, not my thing. I’m a simple girl, you know that.”

“Hun, you’ll never know until you see him again.”

“You’re such an optimist. Come on, it was Vegas, the Sin City. I’m sure he’s already forgotten about me. He’s not the type who’d go after women. Women go after him.”

“You said you got along just fine.”

“He did get me. No man gets me right away, not that l’ve been exposed to a lot of men in that manner, but we communicated so well…and I was…I was happy with him. While it lasted, at least.”

“Who knows? Your precious virginity might have left him a big impression.”

I roll my eyes at my best friend. “Ha-ha.”

“You know, men who’re into casual sex would find a woman who’s pure as the driven snow kinda unique,” she says cheekily.

“Shut up.”

She shrugs. “What can I say? I’m a romantic. I’m a sucker for HEA.”

“You and your HEAs. They don’t always happen. Proof? Me.”

Aria falls silent. “You’ve fallen in love with this man, haven’t you?” she asks me after a while.

“That’s beside the point,” I reply, the invisible noose around my neck getting tighter. “And it doesn’t matter anymore. Not after today.”

“Well, well, well, look at you!”

My mother walks into the suite.

“Ready for some pictorial before we head to the church?”

I nod at my mother.

“You look incredible, Leigh. Just perfect.”

Aria discreetly leaves the room, so Mom and I can have some privacy.

“You’re so beautiful, honey. Bill will be so proud to have you as his wife.”

I try to smile. It’s hard when my heart is breaking into a million pieces.

“Thank you, Leigh. You have no idea how you’ve made me and your father so happy. We love you so much.”

“I love you, too, Mom,” I whisper, fighting the tears that threaten to ruin my flawless make-up.

That is the bottom line of it all.

Love.

I pace my office, waiting for Davis’ call. He’s my go to guy when I encounter web problems, especially with our online gaming system that operates worldwide. I’m counting on him to locate Leigh.

I feel worse than yesterday. I barely sleep. I only eat because I need to. I missed my workouts, and that’s fucking sacrosanct. I know when I miss a workout that I have it bad. Really bad.

Jerry, my personal assistant, comes in.

“Sir, I want to remind you to check your mail. You haven’t checked them for days. They’re on your table.”

“Anything important?”

“Just the usual from your banks. But there’s a wedding invitation for you.”

“A wedding invitation?” I get invited to events around Vegas all the time, but seldom to weddings.

“From Bill Peyton.”

I nod. “Thank you, Jerry.”

Jerry nods and leaves the room quietly.

I call Davis. “Any news?”

“None, Bron. But I’m really trying—”

“Try harder!”

“That would be hacking into every airline security system to get their passenger list on the day she left. We’re not even sure if she left by plane. Maybe she’s just from around the neighboring states. It can take a while —“

“Do it. Hack into everything. Get me all the info of every woman that fits her description.”

“But Bron—“

“Do it. I’ll cover your ass.”

I cut the call. I rake my hair with my fingers, sighing deeply, fighting the desperation that’s threatening to overpower my sanity. I had this crazy thought that I’d get over her as the days went by, but I was wrong. I want her more than ever.

I can’t live without her.

There. The scary truth. And I’ve long ceased to be scared of anything. Not even death. But the thought of not seeing her again is—

No. I will find her. I will!

I sit at my table, looking at the stack of unopened mail.

I pick the wedding invitation, staring at it. I still haven’t decided on what to do with Peyton. Luc can’t be bothered by it. And I can’t be bothered, too. Not until I find Leigh. Everything else is secondary to that.

Peyton-Spencer Nuptials, it says on the envelope. My name is printed on it. Peyton is actually inviting me to his fucking wedding.

I shake my head, opening the envelope, curious to know about the people connected to Peyton. They could influence my decision.

There’s a silvery paper inside with a picture of a couple. Peyton and his beautiful, much younger fiancee—

My blood freezes in my veins.

I blank out for a bit, then my adrenaline rushes. The pounding of my heart is almost deafening.

I check the wedding date.

Christ!

She’s getting married today! This afternoon!

I check my watch, then I call my pilot, Jackson.

“Have the jet ready now. We’re flying to Chicago.”

“Now, Boss?”

Yes, right fucking NOW!”