A Debt Owed(65)

I have to admit, I never expected her to pull this prank.

After everything I did for her to make her life as pleasant as possible, after all the kisses and pleasurable touches, this is how she repays me?

My Charlotte has stolen something from me … a notebook that I’d retrieved from her apartment. She went into my study and searched through my drawers until she found it. Goddamn that woman for even getting her hands on the key.

I should’ve known she’d distract me just to steal the thing. Was it her plan all along to seduce me so she could steal it away from me? No wonder she switched from being silent to a sudden vixen. She already knew she was going to take my key.

Fucking smartass girl, stealing what belongs to me. Doesn’t she know it’s dangerous to play these games with me? Or did she think she could get away with it? Not a fucking chance.

I would’ve found out regardless, because I check the notebook daily to help me with digging deeper into her interests and passions. And fuck me, I wasn’t even here to see the look on her face when she realized I’d taken it from her apartment.

That notebook belongs to me now, and I will have it back, one way or another. She’ll pay for what she’s done.

“Come home. Now,” I bark to Jill through the phone.

“Um, sorry, Sir, but I can’t,” Jill replies with a jittery voice.

“What do you mean you can’t?” I shout.

“Sir …” She swallows. “You might want to sit down for this one.”

Sit down? I can’t fucking sit down, I can’t even stop pacing around, the adrenaline is rushing through my veins. “Just tell me what the fuck’s going on.”

“Charlotte has …” She swallows again. “Escaped.”

“WHAT?!” Veins almost pop in my eyes.

My Charlotte … escaped? No, it can’t fucking be true.

Jill rambles, “I’m sorry, Sir, it wasn’t supposed to happen. I was checking the clothes, and then the cashier talked to her, and somehow—”

“I don’t need a rundown, Jill. Where is she?” I ask bluntly.

“I … can’t find her,” she mutters, crying a little. “I’m so sorry, Sir.”

“Stop. You can cry later. Find her. Now.”

“But she could be anywhere by now.”

“Then start looking. I don’t want you to phone me again until you’ve found her,” I growl, and then I hang up the phone.

Rage makes me grab the nearest books and rip them to pieces, throwing them out to the floor.

“Fuck!” I scream, kicking the chair.

Nothing I do can curb the anger circling through my body.

If she’s truly gotten away, she could be anywhere. Hell, if she grabbed a cab, she could be across the border within three hours. And then I’d probably never see her again.

I can’t let that happen.

I have to fucking find her, no matter the cost.



Using one of my other cars, I make my way to the store Jill indicated. She’s standing outside the door, clutching her phone while waiting for me. I barge towards her and grab her coat.

“Did you find her?”

She shakes her head, and my heart sinks into my shoes.

I pace around and look, but there’s no way I’m gonna find her now. Ten minutes have already passed, if not more. She could’ve gone anywhere.

“Why? Why did you let this happen?” I hiss, pointing at her.

“I’m sorry, she … slipped out,” she explains, her eyes tearing up.

“That’s no excuse and you know it,” I say.

“Well, maybe you should’ve been nicer to her,” she blurts out, and she immediately covers her mouth.

I narrow my eyes. “What did you say?”

“I’m just saying … If you’d treated her nicer, she might’ve actually wanted to stay.” She gulps, and rightfully so. It’s taking everything I have right now not to fire her, but this is Jill we’re talking about. She’s been with me from day one. The only one who believed in me when I told her I was going to grow my business into an empire. She’s been my assistant for as long as I can remember.

Grinding my teeth, I turn away for a moment so I can think.

“I shouldn’t have said that,” she murmurs.

“No, you’re right,” I say, sighing out loud. “I thought she was finally warming up to me, finally getting used to the idea of being my wife. But it was all a lie.” My hand forms a fist, and I find it hard to resist the urge to punch the wall. “She only came close so she could steal my key … and the notebook.”

“Notebook?” Jill looks confused.

“Don’t ask,” I say.

“I’m sorry for letting her escape … I truly am,” Jill mutters. “I know you can’t ever forgive me, and I’m not asking that, but I will make it up to you, I promise.”

“Stop,” I say, holding up my hand. “Stop apologizing.”

The shock on her face turns to into a gentle smile. “I … wish I did better.”

“I know you do,” I say, while I rub my forehead. “But it happened, and now we have to deal with it.”

“I already called Nick and told him to send out an alert to all your contacts.”