CHAPTER TWELVE
“WILL YOU BE taking a date with you to this evening’s gala, sir?” Vee asks just before she leaves my office.
“No.” I respond without looking at her.
She sighs, “Excuse me for saying this sir, but it’s been almost two years since she went missing. I know you don’t want to hear this, but you should really think about getting out there and dating again.”
“That will be all Vee.”
“Sir—”
“Enough!” I slam my fist on the top of my desk making her jump back. “I will find her. No matter how long it takes.”
“No one said that would change. But you can’t wait around forever. She wouldn’t—”
Abruptly standing, I shove my chair back, splaying the tips of my fingers on my desk as I lean forward. “I am so tired of people telling me what Autumn would and wouldn’t do. Or say. Or think. Or expect. Your job is to run my schedule, not my personal life. I have been lax lately, and I apologize for allowing the lines to blur. But this ends now.”
Vee opens her mouth to say something then snaps it shut. “I will let them know it’s just you then.” She says walking toward the door.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” She adds stopping and turning back to meet me frustrated glare. “This file came for you.”
She walks over and drops the file on my desk, ignoring my outstretched hand, then turns to leave again. It feels like my teeth are about to break from how tight I’m clenching my jaw. I have never sent her home early before but, “Vee.” She stops looking back at me with irritated eyes. “You may go home. Take the rest of the day.”
Her mouth falls open. Her forehead creases as her brows lift in surprise. “Excuse me?”
“I was perfectly clear. Go home.”
“Am I being fired?” She snaps marching back to stop in front of my desk.
“No. However, you clearly have a different idea on how I should be running my life. The attitude you have suddenly adopted isn’t tolerated.”
Annoyance and frustration cross her face, then disappear under the something else, worry maybe. “Please don’t send me home. I apologize for crossing the line. You are right.”
“I appreciate the apology, Vee. I’m still sending you home. Go get some rest. You have been as stressed as I have. Besides I’m sure you need to get ready for the gala tonight.”
“I wasn’t planning on going. Roger ended up having to travel for work.”
“Then go meet him. I can see you want to. Take some time off. I’ll deal with the new girl.”
She gives me a sympathetic smile, then turns and leaves. Once the door shuts behind her, I glance down at the large manilla envelope she tossed on my desk. It doesn’t say who it’s from, but it’s addressed to me. My pulse jerks. It’s been a while since I have received anything personally. Usually Mark takes care of all anonymous mail. The label is hand written, and it’s definitely been through the post. Grabbing the letter opener from my top drawer, I splay the seam, holding the envelope away from my face.
When nothing happens, I dump the contents on my desk. A thick stack of papers clipped together falls out along with a small note. It’s from Wolf. I let out a held breath and re-take my seat.
Sorry for the incognito. I’m not sure if Mark has informed you of what has been going on. Hopefully this didn’t come as a surprise. If it did well, I’m sorry.
Anyway, I have sent several files I found on your fiancée’s family home. As well as all of her school records. You weren’t kidding when you said you were having issues getting them released. I had to pull a lot of strings.
The only other thing in here is a few business deals you did that didn’t go as smoothly as the others. Let know if we should flag any of these people.
One last thing. I must tell you that the more we look for her the stranger things are getting. Not for me, but for you. I know Mark wants you to focus on the company. Which by the way, congratulations man! Fastest growing company in the world. That is a huge accomplishment. Anyway, you need to be careful.
Mark may not believe it, but the action he has been interfering tells me she is still very much alive. I think we are on the right track. Hold out for a little longer. I’ll keep you updated on anything else I find out.
P.S. Don’t tell Mark I told you anything. He is trying so hard to keep you safe, and focused. I don’t want to break that either. I just feel you need to be aware.
W.
I roll my eyes and set the note aside. “Fastest growing only because you have given me nothing to do to help.” I mutter under my breath as I take the clip off the stack of papers.
I flip through the history on her family’s house. Although it’s interesting to know that it’s been in the family for generations. That she comes from old and new money. And their home was the oldest in town. None of it is relevant.
The papers from her school aren’t that important either. Just transcripts and grades. It appears at one point she had a stalker issue, but it was handled quickly and quietly. I slide them to the side. I want to go through it more, just to get to know more about her when I wasn’t around. But right now I want to see what else Wolf sent me.
The last stack is clients, I had issues with in the past. Kimber, as well as Jack, were small issues that were later rectified. We finished on good terms. I have even worked with Jack on a few more projects over the last year. Good man.
The last two though, I stare at confused. Brandon Hamilton, and his son, Christopher Hamilton. Brandon and I ended on very good terms. I made sure he and his wife were set for the rest of their lives. He was eternally grateful, and if I recall he sought me out. Not the other way around. However, Christopher was the problematic one. Yes, why couldn’t I remember his name. Pesky, childish, boy. He was so small and meek looking it made me sick. He even attempted businesses, at the magnitude I did. I could see my feelings echoed in his fathers eyes.
I stare at Christopher’s picture attached to his file for several minutes trying to place him. Then it clicks. Shit! I stand so quickly I knock my chair over. That son of a bitch is Luke! He has the same cold light brown eyes, and sandy brown hair. Snatching the phone from my desk, I call Mark.
Mark bursts through the door ten minutes later, shutting and locking it behind him. “Give me your phone.” He says abruptly. I hand it over and watch him smash it, then toss it in the trash.
“Your phone has been tapped.”
I stare at the shattered phone lying innocently at the bottom of the trash. “Wolf?” My gaze snaps to Mark.
“Always blocked your call to him. He’s safe.”
“Are you sure? They can hear what we are talking about.”
“You two have never used each others real names.” He says rolling his eyes. He’s always found it a bit childish. “There is no way to look him up. I assure you he’s safe.”
“Now, what did you find?” He adds walking around my desk to look at the spread out files.
I pull out the Hamilton’s files. “Do you remember this man?”
“Of course. He was probably one of your best deals. I’m my memory serves me correctly he has brought you a lot of business since that deal.”
“Yes, he has. On occasion, we still meet. That’s not the point though. Do you remember his son?” His dark annoyed gaze tells me he does, so I continue on pulling out his file and pointing to his picture. “This is the man I saw on the ambulance that night. The one that was calling himself Luke. I also believe it was the man I saw in the black sedan that day I bought her dress.”
“You saw him again? Why didn’t you tell me?” He snaps snatching the file from my hand.
“I didn’t have enough detail. It didn’t seem relevant, at the time. I understand that is not the case now.”
Mark rolls his eyes, but doesn’t say anything. He just glares at me then focuses on the file in his hand. “Says here he went to Harvard then Yale. Smart, yet he never graduated.”
Yale? A nagging feeling erupts in my chest. Yanking her school file in front of me, I find the Yale insignia quickly. It could just be a coincidence, until I notice his face behind her in a few of the images. His gaze always trained on her, and always in the background.
“Mark,” I mutter his name almost in a whisper. He comes up next to me and looks down.
“Well, shit.”
“Shit?”
He checks his watch then looks at me. “We can discuss this later. Right now, I need to get you home. You need to get ready for tonight.”
“Screw that. What is going on?” I take several breaths trying to keep myself from exploding like I did earlier.
“We just have to be careful. If it was a threat solely against you as we have been thinking we could handle it. However, not knowing where she is. Or, whether or not our actions could affect her, make this harder. We don’t want to push them to do anything drastic.”
I’m about to protest going to the gala tonight when Mark stands crossing built arms across his wide chest. I can see he is not in the mood to fight with me, and to be honest I don’t want to fight with him. I woke up on edge. Exploded on Vee. I don’t need another blow up.
Grabbing my jacket off the back of my chair, and collecting the files on my desk, I head for the door. The last place I want to be is at a gala tonight. I bet I don’t leave tonight without at least ten numbers shoved into my pocket. But the looks of utter disbelief as I reject every single one of them is almost satisfying. It will be even better when I arrive at one with Autumn on my arm again. A wicked smile pulls the corners of my mouth as I leave my office behind for the night.