Chapter 5 - THE MAN WHO NOTICED HER ABSENCE|
Rafael did not notice Elena's absence immediately.
At first, he assumed she was completing the errand Vivienne had given her. Then he noticed that the guests had begun leaving, the photographers had packed away their equipment, and Elena had still not returned.
He asked his security chief.
"Where is Miss Brooks?"
"She left the building."
"When?"
"About forty minutes ago."
"Who authorized it?"
"No one, sir."
Rafael turned toward Vivienne.
"Why did you send her downstairs?"
Vivienne adjusted one diamond earring.
"I needed my gift."
"Alessandro could have sent someone else."
"I wanted Elena to do it."
"Why?"
Vivienne gave him a tired smile.
"Must everything be an interrogation?"
Rafael studied her.
He had agreed to marry her because their families had spent years negotiating an alliance. He understood the business reasons. He understood the political advantages. He had even convinced himself that the arrangement would be tolerable.
But he did not understand why Vivienne seemed so interested in humiliating his secretary.
"Where is Alessandro?" he asked.
"He left."
"Without telling me?"
"Perhaps he was tired."
Rafael walked to the private elevator.
He found Alessandro in the underground garage, speaking to a driver.
"Where is Elena?"
Alessandro looked at him.
"She went home."
"Why?"
"Because she should have gone home three years ago."
Rafael's expression hardened.
"What does that mean?"
"It means you have allowed a good woman to spend three years standing beside you while you pretended not to notice her."
Rafael stared at him.
"Be careful."
"I am too old to be frightened by your warnings."
Alessandro stepped closer.
"Did you know she carried a resignation letter in her bag tonight?"
Rafael said nothing.
"She wrote it seventeen times. She kept finding reasons to stay. Tonight, you gave her one reason to leave."
Rafael glanced toward the elevator.
"What happened downstairs?"
Alessandro hesitated.
"She discovered something about her father."
"What?"
"Something you should have been told years ago."
Rafael's eyes narrowed.
"Tell me."
Alessandro shook his head.
"Not here."
Rafael's phone rang. It was his security chief.
"Sir, Miss Brooks's apartment has been accessed."
Rafael went still.
"By whom?"
"We don't know. The door was forced. Her mother is missing."
Rafael's expression changed completely.
"Find Elena. Now."
He ended the call and looked at Alessandro.
"Whatever she found, someone is willing to hurt her for it."
May you like
Alessandro nodded.
"Then perhaps you should stop thinking like a boss and start thinking like a man who has something to lose."
