Cedric
"What do you mean? She is gone?" Claude had to come to the office, where he had concern written all over him.
"She was supposed to go to the bathroom but she never returned." He narrated. There was always a way she planned to get under my skin. There was absolutely nothing that made sense with her disappearance.
"Claude, let me get this straight. I placed my wife under your care and you let her slip under your nose? If she wanted to go to the bathroom, you should have goddamn followed her." He was shocked, he had his eyes lit with surprise. I was willing to do anything to keep that woman within my reach, but somehow, someone doesn't just get to do the job right; it was crazily annoying. It was annoying that I had to watch him tell me this sob story, and I had no idea how to look for her or even where.
The migraine picked up again and my vision started to blur a little. I walked towards the edge, trying to drain the pain with a Valentino wine. That didn't work, I threw in some rocks and added scotch to the mix.
"That woman didn't want that abortion, but because of the sick motherfucker that you are, you had to force her to get one. I take full responsibility for her actions and I was supposed to keep her under my close watch after all the warnings you gave. But my crime here was that I respected her as your wife to give her the privacy that she needed. Something you've certainly stolen from her all this while."
"Claude, I swear to God," I spoke in French. "I am the one that's supposed to be feeling pained by her disappearance. She is my fucking wife."
"Oh, now you remember that? Or maybe because of the media stunt you wanna manage, that's why it has occurred to you now." I glared at him as he threw those words right back at me. I didn't know what to do with it, all the confusion.
The stress was taking a toll on me. I remembered the care she had on her face each time I approached her with the level of stress I had to take in. She didn't say a word but I knew just how much she cared. How much she wanted to at least.
Claude sighed. "I'm sorry, man. I know how much you love to keep her beside you. How much do you need her? I should have paid more attention. What do we do now?" He began. "I combed the streets just immediately we noticed she was gone and even down to a mile, there wasn't any sign of her. Does she know anyone in France that she must have seemed safe from?"
Who does she need safety from? I asked myself. Deep down, I knew the answer to that, but I had just been in my world of denial. I was more concerned about how the media was going to interpret this. It wasn't a good look at me and the company. Not during this transition.
"Her father lives here. But after the first night of her accident, he has been in the fucking wind. He doesn't even live where he used to because he knew his daughter would come to find him. Her friend just relocated here too with her boyfriend but she isn't with her."
He scoffed. "Why do you think so?" Claude asked.
"Because I made damn sure she doesn't come to visit her again after I found out that she was in my house as per Emily's request."
"So you threatened her." I rolled my eyes at him, still coping with the migraine.
I stood up, paving the room in the wake of my impulse. "We have to damn find her. She is new here and if she is found in places where she isn't supposed to be, it won't be good for any of us."I started. "I give you and your team three hours. Do whatever you want to and bring her here. That's all I want to see. Results!"
Claude found his way out of my office. I broke down holding my head in pain. I could feel myself brushing over the edge. An episode was brewing and there was no telling what I would do. I might be lost in my thoughts while enraged.
I pulled out my left drawer and brought out my pill bottle. I placed two in my palms as I popped them with the drink lying idle on the table. I was able to get my thoughts straight and sign off what needed to be signed. I wanted to get some certain things done and get off as soon as possible. Deep down, I knew that she might not be seen. Staying with her these past few weeks had made me realise what a smart woman she was. If she was running from me, then she must have had a good plan to stay hidden from me, even if it was for a little while.
Claude had been my best friend for the longest time, and if there was anyone I trusted this task to, it was him. A few hours later, he barged in with frustration in his eyes.
"So?! Where the fuck is she?" I asked him.
The concern he had in his eyes, gave me the answer that I needed. "I am having the law enforcement under your payroll, combing the streets and the city searching for her. I know she wouldn't be able to hide on her own in a city she wasn't too familiar with." he sighed as I tried to regain my thoughts back from the darker places I tend to find myself. "I think we should be thinking of other options.
"What the fuck do you mean?"
"That she might be in danger."
The journalistic review was coming in and they were already catching wind of the news. I quickly placed a pin on the news, showing it to stay contained. Claude and I, with a few other law enforcement that I trusted, were going to keep the pin on the news. I didn't know how long I was going to hold the media of this. I didn't want the company shares to drop and I knew just a tactical view to make that happen.
Still trying to focus. "Take more men; I don't care how much you spend to make that happen; I want as many people on it as soon as possible. Ping her phone and get a location. I think we would narrow out the search from there."
Claude stopped me, with his index finger hanging in the air. "We just tracked her phone and the direction is situated at a congested area down in the city. From the looks of it, she may be in danger."
I was getting impatient. "and?!"
"It might take weeks to find her."
I scoffed in anger. "Do it faster."