Chapter 71

**Artemis**


“I don’t think there is much more we can do tonight. The memos will be sent out in the morning. Are you sure about this?” Abigail asks.

“I don’t say or do things I don’t mean. These people didn’t show any loyalty to me so why should I? They were willing to go along with my father’s schemes to destroy my company. Alan and I started this from the bottom and can do it again. I just wish I could see my fathers face when everything comes crashing down around him. We’ll start of the next phase once we leak the story. You’re right though, we need to rest for the night. Things will be happening fast after tomorrow.”

“Yes sir. Tell Blue I say goodbye. She must be really tired.” Abigail waves to us as she leaves.

“I’m surprised Blue didn’t come to see what we were up to.” Alan says as he pours himself another scotch.

He offers some to me but I wave it off. What he said has me wondering why I had hardly seen Blue at all today. I’d fallen into my work hole and forgot all about her. I thought it was going to be easier not to let that happen given how much more I feel for her. Clearly that isn’t the case yet.

“I’ll check on her. Goodnight.” He solutes me with his drink and I head for the stairs.

The stair way and hall are both dark and when I head for our room I don’t see a light coming from under the door. She must have gone to sleep. I open the door as quietly as I can but when I step inside the light from the bathroom is bright enough to show an empty room. The bed is made and the room looks pristine, not normal for Blue. I lean down and turn the light closest to me on and walk toward the bathroom expecting to hear her inside singing like she usually does when she showers.

I don’t hear a thing and when I push the door fully open I don’t see any sign of her. Actually I don’t see anything of hers anywhere. Why would she pack up all of her stuff? I walk out of the bathroom and check the closet. All of her clothes and shoes are neatly put away. I should feel relieved but something still doesn’t feel right. Where is she?

There is no point calling her name since the only place she could be hiding is under the bed, but that’s not likely. Something catches my eye so I walk over to the table next to my side of the bed and suck in a sharp breath when I see Blue’s ring sitting there. There is a slip of paper underneath it. I slide her ring aside and pick the paper up but I hesitate to open it. I can guess what it says given the evidence but I also need to know what she is giving as an excuse. So I open it.


*Artemis

I know this is silly and clique but I couldn’t leave worrying you might think badly of me. So I will explain everything. One of the people I used to live with when I was homeless spoke to the media and said some thinga about me that are completely untrue but could be dangerous to your reputation. The whole world knows what I am now, and I thought it would be best that I leave. This way I can look like the bad guy and you can go back to the way things were and have the jilted lover vibe to go along with it. No one could hate you after your golddigger wife left. Smart right?

Look I know I’m being a coward by running away without saying goodbye, but I couldn’t face you. I know you would convince me to stay and I can’t. I’m so sorry that I’ve caused you so much trouble, but I will say I’m glad you picked me. I won’t forget the short time we’ve had together or the things I have started to feel for you. It doesn’t make sense to care for someone as much as I care about you in such a short time, but I do care for you. More than its probably good to admit, but we seem to jump in headfirst with this sort of shit so here it goes…

I love you Artemis Rhodes, and I hope you can move on and find someone who will make you happy and forget about me. Please don’t look for me. Live your life and maybe we’ll run into eachother on the street again but you will be with a beautiful woman who makes you so happy.

I’m sorry.

Blue*


Once I finishing reading the letter I lock my eyes on the part where she said she loved me. No one has ever said that to me. Never, and even though the rest of the letter is bullshit excuses, I know that part is true. I knew it the first time I saw her in her wedding dress. She was special and I was happy for the first time in my life. Not satisfied with how my life was going but truly happy. I love her and now she’s gone. Why would she run because of some shit she saw on TV? She has this misconception that I need to be protected from the storm she brings but I don’t care about any of that.
I pull my phone out and try to call her but a second later I hear her phone going off here in the room. The sound is coming from the drawer in front of me. She left her phone? How stupid could a person be. Knowing her she probably thought I would have assumed she would use it to get money. Seriously how stupid could a person be? I swear I’m going to tan her ass for this. She couldn’t have gone far on foot, right? I throw her phone on the bed and rush out of the room. Alan nearly runs into me when I reach the stairs but I don’t stop to apologize.

“Where’s the fire?” He calls.

“Blue’s gone.” I say without turning around.

I quickly call the security guys I have yet to use and Bryant as well.

“Sir, Miss Blue had asked me to bring her the items she brought with her when she came to stay with you that first night.”

“When?” I snap at him.

“A couple hours now. She seemed normal other than a slight look of discomfort. I didn’t suspect anything was off.” He sounds apologetic and worried.

I’ve seen him with Blue and know he cares for her safety enough to not let her go off on her own if he knew her plan.

“She’s good at bullshitting. We’ll find her. Get Dane and be here as soon as you can.”

“Yes sir.”

I end the call with him and grab a set of keys on the hook by the garage door. When I step inside I click the unlock button and walk over to the car matching the keys. I don’t bother asking Alan for permission to borrow his car but I am not about to tell the new security guys where we’re staying. I asked them to meet at the gas station ok the edge of the woods around Alan’s property. Alan comes running just as im pulling out of the garage. He runs back inside and I catch him climbing into another car through the rear mirror. I don’t have time to explain everything to him, so he’ll have to keep up if he wants to be included in the briefing I’ll be giving to the guys. Of course being him he doesn’t wait and calls me instead.

“What the fuck man? Why did you take my car?” He yells through the phone.

“I need to find Blue. The security team is meeting me at the gas station so I didn’t have time to explain. If you want me to pay you back for the small amount of gas I’ll be using then fine bur I’m not turning around now.”

“Shut the hell up brother. I don’t give a damn about that. Let’s find your girl.”

“I may be starting to appreciate your company more.” I admit with great discomfort.

“ Is that your way of saying you like me? Are you getting soft man?”

I hang up on him to put an end to that conversation. He’s an idiot. Instead I focus on the task at hand, finding my wife. I’m fucking pissed right now but I’m mostly worried. It’s dark now and I don’t know if she’s lost in the woods or has already left town. Fuck! Why didn’t she take her phone?

Wait…

I pull up my contact list and select the number to my tech guy.

“RIZ.” He says when he picks up.

“Its Artemis. You can hack into security cameras right?”

He scoffs. “ I’m offended you even have to ask boss man. What cha need?”

I tell him the location of the gas station. He starts clicking away at his keyboard in the background.

“Got her. Ill send you a video.” My phone pings and I open the link.

I see Blue stumble out of the tree line. She’s crouched over and trips suddenly. It takes her several seconds before she’s on her feet again.

“She doesn’t look too good boss.”

No she doesn’t.

“Keep an eye out for her. I’m on my way there now.”

Fuck! How badly is she hurt? This woman is going to be the death of me.