Chapter 47 Bronson

I check my phone for what feels like the hundredth time in the last hour. I can feel the migraine growing at an alarming rate as my pacing drags my feet across the room.
“Is there something wrong Mr. Fortworth?” I stop mid step, looking back over at Miss Romsley, the CEO here at Northington Incorporated. I’ve been in her office for over two hours and yet, I do not believe we have actually gotten any work done.
Not since I read the message from Rand regarding Nikki. Instinctively I check my phone once again.
Rand: She’s gone sir, the room is empty. Landen and I are out looking.
Me: What do you mean she is gone?
Rand: Checked her room, everything is still there, but her backpack is gone. Wherever she is sir, its temporary.
Me: F*ck, just find her. I need to know she is safe. Do not let her know you are tailing her. Find her, report back, and make sure she is safe.
“Mr. Fortworth?”
I give Miss Romsley a genuine smile, then place my phone back into my pocket. I have to trust Rand now, trust him to bring her home. If Nikki didn’t pack all her stuff and taker off, then it could be something simple, but I won’t chance her safety. Not when I still don’t know where we stand.
I hate this feeling. The feeling of uncertainty that leads me to questioning everything. But I have to remain stoic, remain the business mogul that I created years ago, making sure no one can get under my skin.
“I’m sorry Miss Romsley. I had a small emergency that I am trying to straighten out, but I’m sure it will work itself out. You have my full attention now.”
She’s quiet at first, simply stares at me with a small smile traced on her thin lips. She’s an older woman, sixty-three, and short, but I could tell within five minutes of meeting her, that she was going to be different than any other person I tried to acquire a company from.
“It’s no problem Mr. Fortworth.” She begins but tilts her head slightly and looks me up and down while tapping her finger against her chin. “Although you don’t seem like the kind of man to allow such trivial things to interrupt such an important meeting.”
I pause, not knowing what to say. Clearing my throat, I walk over and sit opposite her then adjust my tie. Anyone looking in would say I have it together, that my mogul mask is back on, but I feel anything but calm. Not knowing where Nikki is, whether she ran away or something worse, is gutting at me in a way I haven’t felt since Clara. Since the day I walked out of her life.
“You’re right, it is something more important, but then, so is this meeting with you.”
“What’s her name?”
“Excuse me?” My mask slips a little, making me quickly recover, but I am too late. Miss Romsley is smirking, and a giggle escapes her as she stands and walks over towards me. She’s short but since I am now sitting, her height is above mine. Looking up at her I give her a confused look, one she ignores. “Miss Romsley I–"
“I may be a stubborn and persistent old woman, but I do know what it’s like to be swept up so much with someone, you forget everything around you. None of your decisions make sense and you question everything you’ve ever known before them.”
I stay silent, causing her to chuckle once again.
“So, I ask you once again Mr. Fortworth.” She states sitting down at a chair near me. “What’s her name?”
I don’t know what makes me answer her, what makes me give in to this woman whom I have met only two hours ago. It could be a mix of emotions as I wonder in the back of my mind where Nikki is, it could be because she is, so far, the most honest woman I’ve ever met, or it could be because I desperately want to tell someone about the woman that has wrapped every finger around my mind.
So, I speak. And I don’t stop until I get to where we are now. Miss Romsley stays rooted in her spot, nodding her head at certain points and giggling at the funny moments that seem to follow Nikki and I together. I even tell her about the almost kiss and how I can’t stop wishing I hadn’t reacted that way.
“So, Nikki is missing now?” I nod my head, hating that I still haven’t received a message from Rand. If anyone can find her it’s him but I still worry.
What if she is hurt?
What if she needs me?
What if she ran away?
“I don’t know where she is, and as much as it loathes me to admit, I have to take into consideration that she could have just run but….”
“But what, Bronson.”
“But I don’t think she would have. Nikki is strong, she’s independent and funny, charming but kind and she’s incredibly smart. Something tells me that even though she is upset with me, I would have known it was coming.”
Miss Romsley stays silent as I speak and when I finish, she stands from her seat, comes over and extends her hand out to me.
“I would love for my company to be a part of Fortworth Incorporated.” My confused face must register as shock as I stand, and she giggles. “Oh please, Mr. Fortworth. I had already made up my mind when your assistant called to schedule this appointment last week. I started this company years ago, but even I knew that it was going nowhere as long as we had someone stronger at the wheel. I’m a tech guru, always have been, never meant to do anything more and I’d prefer it that way, but if I could save my company, save the ideas floating around in this building to help hospitals, to help our military, to save lives….I would do anything for it.”
“Then why meet with me?” Miss Romsley looks away, almost as if she can’t look directly at me for this answer.
“I needed to see the person that would represent my name. To represent my late husbands name. If you ended up being a good man, then it was a no brainer. But if you walked in like some stick up his ass, mogul, it would have been a hard no.”
This time it’s me that chuckles.
“Now, go get her Bronson, and do keep me updated with how it all works out. I love a good romance.” She winks then walks out of the meeting room where I stare and watch her go, only moving when I get a message from Rand telling me that he’s found her.
Go get her indeed.