Chapter 44

Where are you Francesca?...
"Where is she Damien? I'm worried, I'm freaking worried" Liza's eyes are at the brink of tears now. Sam holds her gently as she sits on the couch.
"She... She never acts this way. Her phone is always on, she's a surgeon. In all the years I've known her, she never switches off her phone. I... I'm worried"
Sam's eyes softens "she must be fine, maybe her battery's down or she wanted some alone time. She could even be at a friend's house" I stroke my chin, seeing sense in Sam's words.
"No, not at all. She's my best friend, i know her. Francesca doesn't like having large crowds, she doesn't trust easily. I'm her only friend here. She told me she's leaving" her gaze flickers to me "Damien... Please, do something. Find her"
"I can't do anything, for all we know she's with a long time friend or out somewhere. It's not up to twenty four hours so going to the police is out of the list. Let's wait till tomorrow. If she doesn't come back then we'll know if we're to be alert. Go home both of you" With that, I leave the club and drive home.
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My phone rings, snapping me from my sleep. I run my hands through my hair and grab my phone from my nightstand, receiving the call and not bothering to see the caller.
"Damien, sorry to wake you up this early but is she home yet?" My eyes snap open immediately I hear the tension in Liza's voice. Shit, I forgot about Francesca.
I rush from the bed and search the room. She's not here.
"Hold on, I'll search the house now" I rush out of my room, opening each door up stairs, She's not here. After checking her room I knock on her sisters door.
After some seconds, she opens the door, she gasps lightly when she sees me. "Damien, what... Good morning" I stare blankly at her.
"Do you have any idea where Francesca is? Did she drop by yesterday?" I ask impatiently.
"No, she didn't... I wanted to ask what's..." I don't wait for her to finish her statement as I make my way outside.
"Tom!" I call out to the head of security. "Did Francesca come home yesterday?" I ask immediately he comes out of his station.
His brows shoot up "no sir, I didn't see madam come back from the club yesterday" I nod, about to dismiss him when i see Francesca's car parked in the garage. I frown in confusion.
"Tom, this car wasn't here yesterday. How did it get here?" I ask pointing at her car.
"oh, her driver, Rio had dropped it off after midnight sir"
I frown, why will her driver drop off her car? "do you have his phone number?"
He nods "sure sir" he takes out his phone and scrolls through it before handing it to me. I dial the number and tap my foot impatiently.
"Hello Tom" a young man's voice booms through the speaker.
"Damien Lorenzo speaking, why didn't you drop Mrs Lorenzo off yesterday and how did you return the car without her"
He gasps "is she okay sir..."
"answer my question" I snap.
"ok sir. When I dropped her off at the club she told me that I could leave and that she'd call me when she's ready to go. I had waited for her call till midnight but when she didn't call, her line was off so I went to the club but it was closed by then so I assumed she left with a friend. I returned the car after that" he says anxiously. I can hear the worry in his voice, though he's a suspect, I believe he's innocent.
I end the call and return the phone to Tom. "Is madam okay? Is there a cause to worry?" Tom asks anxiously.
"yes there is. Her line is switched off and she didn't come home yesterday, her driver also said she didn't call him as planned. Get Dante and Rico and tell them to wait for me. You know how to prepare, all your computer equipments and the rest... I don't need to explain" Tom nods and runs to the staff quarters.
"Damien, did you see her?" Liza's tensed voice asks again. Shit, I almost forgot I asked her to hold on.
I rub my forehead "no, she's not here" I hear her sharp intake of breath.
"Da... Damien. I... I know, you both... Are not really couples but please... Don't give up on her, please find her. Do something, you might not be married for love but she's till your wife. P... Please... I... I don't know why but I don't feel good. She was telling me some...things recently" she says, her voice shaking anxiously.
I frown in confusion "what has she been telling you? Don't leave anything back, if you want us to find her then I must know everything"
She sniffs "she told me that since the marriage got public... Sh... She's been getting threats, mostly from women. I told het to get off all social media for sometime and she did"
I groan in frustration as I rush to my room. I quickly pick out a black hoodie and black trousers, dropping them on the bed before sitting on a nearby couch. How could I be so careless? I should have gotten her security, I got so caught up in the contract modification that I just distanced myself.
"I'll try my best" I say to Liza. She sniffs again and I know she's crying. Why's she crying? I don't know how to handle crying ladies, I hate melodrama.
"Please Damien, set your differences aside and find her. I'm counting on you, I'll try my best too and please call me if you need any help" with that she ends the call, I know she didn't want me to hear her crying. Trust me Liza, the feeling is mutual.
I take a quick shower and brush my teeth. After putting on my clothes, I brush my hair and crab my car keys, Credit cards, phone and ID before rushing out.
"We're ready boss" Tom said immediately I got outside. Rico and Dante nod in greetings carrying their bags in hand.
"Good, our first stop is the Scotch club" I say before we all get inside my black tinted Rolls Royce.
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"Damien, any progress? I was tensed when Liza told me you still hadn't found her" Sam says immediately we get out of the car.
We're at the club, I asked Sam to wait for me here.
"I just have a few clues, the club is our first clue. Her driver said she didn't call him as planned so there must have been change of plans" i run my hands through my hair.
"Damien, I'm worried. Does her parents know?"
I shake my head "no, they don't. It's not twenty four hours yet so we can't call the police. I've got this covered. We won't call the police until midnight. And please, stop worrying like a damsel in distress, it's making me uncomfortable. You're just like your girlfriend. She was literally crying on the phone this morning. You guys need to calm down" I said all these to Sam but deep down, I'm worried as hell. She's my responsibility, I don't leave my responsibilities unattended to. I sigh before entering the club with Sam, Tom, Rico and Dante trailing behind me.
The club is busy with workers cleaning the mess that was made yesterday. They all pause seeing the five of us. I don't blame them though, we're all dressed in black.
"Where's the owner?" I ask the barman who was busy cleaning the messy counter. His eyes scan all of us and his eyes relaxes when he recognizes Sam and I.
"He's at the back attending to stuff" his gaze flicks to the back room anxiously. By stuff I know what he means. He must be with some lady, I honestly don't care.
I narrow my eyes at him. "call him out now, tell him we need to see him. Now"
"But... Sir, he said we shouldn't disturb him..."
"I honestly don't care. Call him now and put it on speaker" he gulps in panic but does as I say and puts the call on speaker. Sam paces anxiously behind me and I just roll my eyes.
"Kelvin!!! What have I told you about disturbing me when I'm busy...." I roll my eyes at his outburst. He's obviously panting.
"Damien Lorenzo speaking, I need to see you now Harry. It's important and whatever business you have must wait. If you like your club then you'll be here in no more than one minute" I say sternly.
"but... I'm"
"fifty seconds" I snap before signalling to Kelvin to end the call. I check my wristwatch and wait. Five more seconds and...
Harry rushes out of the room in barely any clothes. He's putting on a wrinkled white singlet and blue jeans which he's just pulling up and buckling his belt. Ridiculous, how do you do this in a freaking club.
His brown eyes anxiously scan the room and his cheeks flush when he sees his employees staring at him in confusion. "Hello m... Mr Lorenzo"
"All of you, go clean somewhere else" I say turning to the employees. They all leave hurriedly. After they're out of view I turn to Harry and smirk dipping my hands in my pocket.
"Harry, I'm not here for any sort of conversation, I'm here for serious business. In order words, I'm here to give orders. You're aware I'm married right?"
He smiles anxiously "of course, I do"
I nod "good. Now, my wife was at this club yesterday. I'm sure you saw her right?"
"Yes  I did"
I nod again. "great, well my wife is now missing. And it happens that we couldn't find her after she left your club"
His eyes widen and his smile falters in panic "sir, I absolutely no nothing of it. I didn't even know when she left... I..."
I raise my raise hand "enough!!! Of course I know you have no hand in it. You'll be foolish to even think of it. You're fully aware of what I'm capable of, be it professionally, legally, financially and illegally. But it's obvious that she didn't just disappear and something tells me someone is at fault. But I obviously know the person isn't aware of my wrath"
He relaxes a little but he still knows I have more to say "what do you want me to do?"
I smirk "straight to the point, I like that. Now, I need your CCTV footage, for both inside and outside the club"
He tenses up instantly "but... It's confidential. I signed a confidential contract. People's privacy will be invaded. The footage is only for emergencies..."
"DO YOU THINK MY WIFE GETTING KIDNAPPED IS NOT AN EMERGENCY?!!!" I say raising my voice. My jaw hardens and I ball my hands into fists. He takes a step back in fear and Sam Pat's my back secretly asking me to keep calm. I have to raise my voice or else this fool won't understand, I don't have time to waste here. I can't wait to find her so I can freaking rest, I'm tired of the frequent calls I'm getting from Liza. It's sickening.
"Now listen, I didn't come here to ask your permission. I came here to give you an order. One which you must follow, Incase you've forgotten then let me enlighten you. Who loaned you the money to build this club?"
"you" he says in a whisper.
"who owns the land?"
"you"
"who covered up the mess you made that could have cost you your life?"
"you"
I point at him "it's good that you remember. Now, where is the control room?"
He exhales. "I'll lead the way" i cock my head to the side. Good, he's smart. It's good we did this the easy way. Yes, this is the easy way, you don't want to know the hard way.
"Tom and Rico, follow him and recap the footage to the moment she stepped into the club until when she left. Watch it and inform me if you find something. Copy it into your drive and wait for me there. I'll be there now" they nod and move to Harry to lead the way.
"Oh Harry, if what happened here today, especially the part where I said my wife is missing gets out to even a single soul other than the six of us in this room then I promise you, you'll wish I just left you to rot in jail two years ago" he looks frightened but he nods and leads Tom and Rico to the control room.
"Man, you literally know everyone's dirty secret. You had him on the freaking neck" Sam says, amusement evident in his eyes.
I shrug "what can I say, I know the business world so well I might as well know the people" we both grin at my words before Sam pokes me playfully. We chat a little about what to do next for some time before Rico rushes towards us.
"Boss, we found something" he says out of breath. Sam and I exchange nervous glances before rushing to the control room with Rico leading the way.
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MUST READ!!!
Another long chapter!!! Damien's POV is literally as challenging and difficult as his personality but I love him either way.
Please answer the following questions below. The winners will be mentioned in the next chapter.
Do you think Francesca was kidnapped?
Who do you think is responsible?
Will Damien find her?
Is she safe?