Chapter hundred and ten

Oliver

“What do you mean you saw her ride off in his car?”

I couldn't hear or see anything past the thundering of my heart. Xavier's words played in my head like a fucking jukebox.

“Goodness gracious!” Ethan said beside me. “It can't be good.”

“Why didn't you stop her or him?” I half yelled.

“Didn't realize I was on babysitting duties.” He said sarcastically.

“You're making it worse.” Ethan warned.

“I was outside receiving a business call when I spotted them. She entered his car willingly, talking and smiling with him. It didn't seem she was in danger so I didn't think much of it. I only found it suspicious after I heard murmurs about the announcement your mother made.” Xavier explained.

His explanation did nothing to calm me down. Several questions raced across my mind. Why would she go with Ron? Was she that upset? How upset was she exactly?

And why would Ron take her anywhere? He's an old man in his late sixties. What does he want with her? What if the fan enthusiasm he displayed on the first day they meant wasn't ordinary?

I shouldn't have shrugged off the bad feeling I got from him. He could be a very bad man and may be capable of doing terrible things to her. The anger swirling in me slowly morphed into intense fear.

I should have gone to her first instead of trying to talk some sense into my mother. It had taken an uncomfortably long amount of time to get through the crowd and find my mother. People were lining up to congratulate me. I had to fight my way out of the crowd.

I hadn't spotted Dallas where she stood. I assumed she had gone back to her room because she was upset. I was going to deal with my mother first then go to her. That seems to have been the biggest mistake I've made tonight.

It's not like my mother had listened to me or accepted what she did was inappropriate. She had shrugged it off as a trivial matter. She didn't seem to care that she'd ruin her sister's wedding. She was just content with the results of what she had done.

“Let's go find her.” I said already heading towards the door.

“Are you crazy? We can't just drive off when we have no idea where she is. Calm down, let's come up with a plan.” Ethan was the one who talked this time.

“So what am I supposed to do? I can't just wait here without knowing what's happening to her.” I barked at them.

I wasn't in control of myself anymore. It was different when I thought she was just mad at me, but now she could possibly be in danger and I'm just standing there chit chatting with my friends.

“You know, it baffles me that you continue to overlook the fact that you have a technology expert in your midst.” Ethan said and clicked his tongue.

“Not time for jokes, Hart. Get to the point. Can you track her?” Xavier asked.

“Of course. Good thing she left with her purse. Hopefully, her phone is inside.”

“Then why the hell are you still standing there?” I half yelled.

“My laptop is in my car. I'll go get it.”

“No need to go get it. Let's go together.”

I took the remaining stairs two at a time and walked briskly outside the main house. I could hear their footsteps following closely.

I headed straight for Ethan's car. A black Mercedes parked at the very far end. He opened his car, brought out his laptop and started working immediately, his fingers flying over the keyboard.

I couldn't stop myself from pacing around while I waited for him.

“What's taking so long?” I yelled, unable to take the suspense anymore.

“It's only been two minutes, Oliver. Maybe you should stop pacing around.” Xavier said from where he stood with his arms folded.

It's only been two minutes? That felt like hours.

“How long is it supposed to take?” I asked my cousin, completely ignoring Xavier's words.

He sighed, probably realizing what I just did.

“Any minute now. You should calm down and listen to Xavier. Stop pacing.”

“Calm down? My girlfriend is missing.” Even saying it out loud did nothing to help the panic inside me.

“I told you she isn't missing. She's with Ron. I saw it. Another person probably saw it too. And the goddamn CCTV camera is a witness too. We're going to find her. But you need to calm the fuck down.” Xavier said, sounding frustrated.

I was about to lash out at him some more but Ethan interrupted me.

“I've got her location. And I really don't think she's in danger.”

I rushed to Ethan's side, almost stumbling on my steps.

“Bishop Academy for Young Fencers?” I couldn't believe my own ears as I said the words out loud.

“Kinda hard to harm someone in a private academy, don't you think?” Ethan said.

I didn't give him a reply. I was heading for my car when he suddenly grabbed my arm.

“Don’t go. She wanted to be alone for a reason. Now that you know she's not harmed, you should wait until she comes back.”

What he said made sense, but I was too blinded by my panic to care. I snatched my arm and walked away, not uttering a word. Neither of them tried to stop me again.
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My heart was pounding the entire ride uptown. I finally went to the said academy after almost an hour's drive. I still don't understand why he would take her somewhere that far.

I got out of the car and headed for the entrance. But I didn't need to go inside before I spotted her. She seem to have halted midsteps to listen to him as they were in the middle of the road.

I couldn't hear anything as I approached them but Dallas seem startled by something Ron said. He had a small smile on his face.

Before I could reach them, Ron raised his head and saw me. It took only seconds for Dallas to spot me too. She seem surprised at first but her expression morphed into what was obviously a fake smile.

I don't know what made it sting more. The fact that she wasn't fine or that she was faking with me.

“Oliver, wouldn't expect to see you here.” Ron's voice broke my concentration on her.

“I fancy the sport.” Was the only response I gave him.

“That's fantastic. Well, we have more things to bond over. We can watch the game together.”

I gave him a nod but I never took my eyes off Dallas. I didn't like how uncomfortable she seems right now.

“I don't think that would be possible now. We have to take our leave now. Dallas?” I called.

She stared at me for a long while, an indecipherable expression on her face. I discreetly held my breath, praying silently that she doesn't refuse to follow me. I don't think I can leave her alone with Ron anymore. Not when she looked so damn…scared? I can't even pinpoint the emotion on her face.

“I have to go now.” It seemed like she wanted to smile, but it came out as a whimper.

She walked away from him without waiting for a response. I trailed behind her until she stopped just a few feet away from the car. We were far from hearing distance now.

I stopped after her, not quite knowing how to approach the subject. She already said she was going to stand by me through everything. I wasn't sure ‘everything’ included what happened today.

“I didn't know she was going to do that.” I started.

“I know.” She said with a sigh. “I'm not mad because of it. I know you wouldn't hurt me like that.”

A surge of relief washed over me and I finally released the breath I was holding. My fingers itched to touch her, embrace her. I took a step forward to do that but she stepped back, stretching her arm out to put some distance between us.

“I still need to talk to you about something.”

She sounded really serious and I couldn't stop the chills that ran down my spine. I got a bad feeling about whatever it is she wanted to say.

“We can talk when we get home.” I said, hoping to change her mind.

“No, I have to say it now.”

She swallowed hard as if forcing herself not to break down.

“We should stop seeing each other.” she said.

And my whole world fucking stopped