Becky’s POVThere was a bottle of wine and two glasses on the table, with two chairs around it.Phillip pulled out a chair for me as soon as he sighted me.“Do you want to join me?” He asked.I laughed as I sat down.“What is this?” I grinned as he served us wine.“I felt we should spend a quiet romantic night stargazing and sipping our drink.” He handed me a glass and sat next to me.“I love it. I never knew you were so romantic,” I teased.“Here,” he said, and I turned to face him only for him to steal a kiss.Sitting with him reminded me of when I was a young girl. My dad loved to stargaze and we often sat together in the backyard. Most times, I would fall asleep and he would carry me inside. I sighed sadly, remembering it all.“Are you okay?” He asked gently.“Yeah, just thinking.”“About?”“My dad,” I said and told him.“I really miss him,” I continued. “That’s why I will do anything to protect his company.”“Yes, and we will. Let me ask you, if you were in charge of the company
Becky’s POVIt was an article about my dad’s company. It was facing bankruptcy and the company manager was hinting that it may soon be sold.“Becky, are you okay?” I heard Frank asking.I didn’t answer, I couldn’t. My mind immediately went to Davis. And I remember what Celine had said this morning.“Becky, answer me!” Frank said frantically.“I have to go. I will talk to you later.” I hung up.I read the article again and noticed something. The company manager was the guy Phillip had been talking to at the party some weeks ago.I started to dial Phillips' number then changed my mind, and rushed out of my office. I drove to see Phillip.He looked surprised as I rushed into his office.“What is it?” He asked, seeing my anxious face.“My father’s company is going bankrupt! We have to do something. Davis will move in,” I said panicking.“Calm down.” He got up and came towards me. “Sit down and relax. What is going on?”“I just read in a news blog that my daddy’s company is filing for bank
Phillip's POVRebecca stared at me as if I had gone crazy.“What did you just say?” She asked me.“I said you are the new owner. Your Rich Electronics is all yours. I bought it for you,” I explained.“Are you serious?”“Yes. The paperwork is all here. I promised you I would make sure the company wasn’t taken from you. I know how much it meant to you.”She couldn’t say a word. She just stared at me, then her eyes became teary.“Oh my God! My dad’s company isn’t gone,” she sniffed.She got up and came to hug me. “I love you, Phillip.”“I love you more. I would do anything to make you happy,” I said, holding her tightly.“So will I be running my dad’s company? I can’t believe it.”“Just sign the paper, and it will be yours,” I said, grinning. She deserves to be happy.“Can I do it later? I need to get used to this.”“Sure. How about this evening at dinner?”She nodded and kissed me. I pulled her onto my lap and kissed her passionately.There was a knock. We pulled away from each other as
Becky’s POVAfter I returned to my office, I sat staring at the paperwork. I still couldn’t bring myself to sign it just yet. I was stunned to believe the business was really mine.“I am going to finally be in charge of your company, Dad.” I whispered aloud. The thought made me dizzy with excitement. I was scared, but ready to give it a try. Then I thought of Wendy and my mom. Phillip had said they had enough money, but would it really be enough and what would they do now? I was still wondering why my mother had agreed to sell when she knew how much it had meant to my Dad.Didn’t she care about his memory at all?As far as I could remember, she had loved my dad, so why had she got rid of his company?As if reading my thoughts, Wendy called me.“Hey Becca,” she said fearfully. “I guess you have read about the company.”“I have. Mom sold it.”“Yeah, I am sorry. I didn’t realize how bad things were. I didn’t know she was planning to sell honestly. I would have told you.”“I know Wendy,
Becky’s POVWhen I opened my eyes I was lying on a bed, but I knew immediately it wasn’t my bed. So where could I be? Then the beeping sounds, smell of antiseptics, and seeing my bandaged arm when I tried lifting it, told me I was in a hospital. It took some minutes before I remembered what had brought me there.I had been in an accident. Has anyone been hurt? I tried to sit up.“Babe, how do you feel?” Philip said from my side where he had been sitting.“How long have I been out?” I asked. It felt like I had been out for days, but he told me it was just for some hours.“Sandra has been here all evening. She left a couple of minutes ago,” he continued.I wanted to sit up, but my right arm hurt badly.“Take it easy sweetie, do you remember what happened?” He asked.“I had an accident, was anyone hurt?” I asked anxiously.“No, luckily. Do you remember what caused the accident?” He asked carefully.I tried to think. “I was trying to avoid a car, I think, then I crashed into something.”
Phillip’s POV“I am really sorry about all this Phil. If I had known something like this would happen, I wouldn’t have asked her to meet me,” Frank said feeling guilty as we left the hospital.“No, I am sorry instead. It isn’t your fault. I am just so mad that I didn’t try to stop it,” I told him, frowning.We stood near my car waiting for Sandra who was still inside making plans so that Ralph could guard Rebecca.As soon as I heard about the accident, I immediately called Sandra and informed her. Both of us came to the realization immediately that Davis was responsible. We decided to keep Ralph at her door in case the coward tried again.“What do you mean? How could you have stopped it?” Frank asked, puzzled.“This was not an accident,” I said. “Davis is behind this.”“Come on, Phil!”“Yes, he is.”“I agree that the guy is a jerk, but even at that, Davis will not go this far.”“He did. He told me he would get me by going after Rebecca. Now he has. I should have been more careful,” I
Becky’s POVI was dozing off to sleep that evening when Phillip came back.“When do I get out of here?” I groaned.“In a couple of days. How is your arm?”“It still hurts, but not bad. What is it, you look tense?” I said, looking at his face. “And I want the truth.”“I went to see your mom this afternoon, I wanted to get her to come over here, but I did not succeed.”I shrugged. “I guess that's just how it is.” I felt sad. “Cheer up. Whatever her problem is, you don’t need it. What you need is to get well.”I nodded. “Any sign of Davis?”“No. The police went to question him, but found out he left town on a business trip. Meanwhile, I suspect the coward ran away. Celine went with him, and the driver of the car still hasn’t been found.”“So what happens now?” I asked anxiously.“Well, I doubt Davis will come back. Thanks to Sandra, the police found evidence of fraud in his dealings and want to question him on that too. He doesn’t have his company anymore and his reputation is ruined so
Becky’s POV“What does it look like?” he asked, nibbling my ear.“It looks like something romantic,” I said, staring at the picnic basket near the swimming pool.“Yep, a picnic by the pool,” he grinned.“Have I told you, you are romantic?” I teased.“No. Never.”He kissed my forehead, then led me to a deck chair. He gently brought out the food from the basket, laying them on the table.“Do you like it?” He asked.“It is cute, where did you steal the idea?”“Steal? No way, I thought it up myself. Are you saying that I am not romantic?”I laughed and learned back in my chair, watching him-- wealthy, handsome, and romantic, I really was a lucky girl.We sat down to our little picnic. “Did you tell Anna I was going to be living here again?” I asked. He looked uncomfortable. “Well I tried to but…” he hesitated.“What is it?” I asked.“Gran doesn’t really remember you,” he said sadly.“What? She does not?” He shook his head.I sighed unhappily. I was sad, but not surprised.“So it has got
Becky’s POVIt didn’t take long for the cop to find the key and get the chain off my leg. I felt a little dizzy when I tried to stand, but aside from that I was fine. The officer insisted on taking me to the hospital even though I told them I was okay. All I needed was a bath. Phillip rode with me in the ambulance while Celine and Frank were handcuffed and taken away.The doctors agreed I was okay except for the bruise on my ankle, I was told they would keep me for twenty-four hours then I could go home.“I will call Sandra, and the rest to let them know you are okay,” Phillip said as he kissed me.“Sure.”Finally, I was able to take a shower. I felt a lot better, but when I laid down, I couldn’t help being furious about the whole thing. How could Frank do such a thing? He said he loved me, was kidnapping me a funny way of showing it?Sandra and Jenny arrived so quickly I wondered if they had been in the area.They hugged me tightly, laughing and crying.“Thank God you are okay! What
Phillip’s POV“Frank! What the hell! Is this a joke?” Rebecca asked.I just stared at him, too lost to find my voice.“Does it look like a joke, Rebecca?” Frank sneered.“Frank, what are you doing?” I finally was able to mutter.“We are working together. Are you surprised?” Celine asked.“What? So Dom is working for you?” Rebecca asked in astonishment.“Sure. He has been my eye in the house from the day he was hired,” Frank smirked. “His job was to keep an eye on everyone there.”“Why?” I asked, stunned.“Are you asking, you idiot?” he laughed. “You really think I like you? You are dumber than I thought.”“We have been working together from the beginning. We knew each other before he introduced me to you, so it wasn’t so hard to come along,” Celine grinned.“So all the sabotage I have been having at the company, and the investors pulling out because of a false rumor, you were behind it?” I flared at Frank.“Yes. And I also told Jessica to dump you. I told her you were having an affair
Phillip’s POVIt was quite late when I got to the beach. Throughout the drive I kept wondering if I was doing the right thing. The kidnapper had phoned me on my way down and asked me to meet him there. He had told me to turn off my handset, and leave it in the car, warning me not to try anything stupid. The way he spoke, I guessed he was somehow observing me. And on my way down I had a feeling that there was someone coming behind me. I pulled up in front of the rundown abandoned building on the edge of the beach that had once been a warehouse. I did everything I was told and stepped out of the car. The air was cold and damp. I could hear the waves and my heart raced as I walked towards the building. I touched an old wooden door and it opened. It was dark inside, but the moonlight streamed in. Everywhere was quiet.“Hello!” I called out. The empty building echoed back at me.“Anyone here? Rebecca?”“Put your hands behind you!” A voice said quietly behind me.My heart skipped, but I o
Becky’s POV“It has been awhile hasn’t it?” Celine sneered.“So you are behind this? You are working with Dom! I guessed it.”“I am not the only one, stupid.” She laughed.“Who else? Your dad, right?”“You don’t need to know. Did you really think you and Phillip would get away with what you did to my family?”“We didn’t do anything!” I said angrily. “He did. My dad lost his company and reputation because of him! Now it is time for payback.”“You won’t get away with this, Celine!” “Save it! We already have. We are going to get money and get rid of you both.”I swallowed nervously.“What do you mean?” I demanded.“Simple, stupid. We are going to get ransom for you, then make sure you are never seen again. Are you scared?” She asked mockingly.“It won’t work. Phillip has probably informed the security agencies. If you kill me, you will regret it,” I said bravely.“He hasn’t, and he won’t. Besides who said anything about killing you? Although I would have preferred that, my partner has
Phillip’s POVSandra and Jenny looked at me anxiously as I hung up.“Well?” They asked.“The caller is asking for two hundred million dollars.” Sandra gasped. “When does he want it?” She muttered.“In five days.”“I will pay for it.”“Do you have that much money aunt Sandy? Your company may collapse,” Jenny told her.“I don’t mind,” she said. “Okay, I will pay half. Can you make up for the rest, Phillip?”“Wait, you want us to pay the ransom?” I asked, surprised.“Of course,” they chorused.“No. We are not paying any ransom. I will call the police.”“No! The kidnapper warned you not to, remember?” Jenny said.Sandra joined her. “She is right. We will keep it quiet, pay the ransom and Rebecca will be returned to us.” “Come on you two, you can’t really believe that? What if he gets the money and we never hear from him or Rebecca again?”“It is a risk we have to take,” Jenny said.“I prefer to risk going to the police,” I insisted.“No. Pay the money. It is the only way to get her bac
Becky’s POVI groaned and twisted as light infiltrated into my eyes. My eyes still felt heavy and that arrogant fragrance was still hovering over my nose.I thought I was at home and was drifting off to sleep again when I heard a cellphone ringing somewhere. The ringtone sounded like mine. I forced myself to open my eyes, and realized with a shock that I wasn’t on my bed at home.Quickly sitting up, my head spun a bit, and realization hit me that I was on an airbed. I looked around and noticed how small and dusty the room was. The only thing visible being the airbed and a portable toilet. Light streamed in from a glass window that had metal bars.Where am I? I thought.I scanned through my brain to recollect my past. Then I remembered. I was at the cemetery, about to leave when I saw Dom standing near my car. I remembered the hankie he tossed before me before I went blank.My heart skipped a beat. Did Dom kidnap me? Why? For money or something more? I tried to stand up, but I felt a p
Phillip’s POV“Enough Wendy! Go to your room!” Her mother snapped.Wendy frowned. “If you know where she is, mom, you should say it. If anything happens to her, you will be held accountable.” She marched to her room.“You see what you have caused! Now my own daughter thinks I am guilty!” She told me angrily.“Are you?” I asked, looking her in the eye.“Don’t be stupid, of course not. I didn’t know she was missing until Wendy started accusing me this afternoon. She was here yesterday and left the way she came.”“So where were you hoping to get the half a million from?”“Like I said, from Rebecca. She promised to give it to me.”I frowned. This was definitely a lie.“She couldn’t have,” I said. “I have looked at the financial records, with the way you left the company, if she took that much money out she risked going bankrupt. So how was she going to do it?”She looked surprised then uncomfortable.“Well maybe from her savings.”“Definitely no. She hasn’t saved up to that.”“I said mayb
Phillip’s POVAn officer stood there. The look on his face caused my heart to sink.“Good evening, Sir, I am asking for Rebecca Richards,” he said.“She is not here. Is anything wrong?”“We found her car parked at the cemetery. We would like her to come and remove it.”“The cemetery. Oh my God!” Sandra said, coming to join us. “She is not with us; we guess she must be in trouble.”“Have you made a report?” The cop asked.“No. I wanted to wait for twenty-four hours. But I will go now and do it,” I responded.I went straight ahead with the cop to remove the vehicle. The car keys, her phone, and her purse were on the driver’s seat.It became glaring that something was definitely wrong. ***“Jerry has something to do with this!” Jenny insisted.We were all in my living room. After I left the station, I went home and let Sandra know what had happened, then I called Frank and Jenny to inform them too. They didn’t waste time to show up in the mansion.After we all agreed that Rebecca may ha
Phillip’s POVFrank was sitting at a table eating lunch when I got to the restaurant.“I thought you guys had changed your minds and weren’t coming. I decided to order lunch for myself and have a lonely meal,” he complained.“Sorry, I got caught up in an emergency meeting,” I said, joining him.“On Saturday?”“Like I said, it's an emergency.”“Is everything okay now?”“Yeah. I have it under control.”“Why weren’t you picking your calls?” He asked.“You called me? I didn’t hear it. I turned off the volume. Is Rebecca not here?”“No. I called her too, but she did not pick up. She must be at work.”“No. She is taking time off work to prepare for our wedding.”“Really?”“Yes. I thought she would be here, that's why I didn’t hurry so much.”“Nope. I haven’t seen any sign of her. I have been calling her all afternoon,” Frank told me.I dialed her number. It rang without an answer.“She is supposed to meet Jenny this afternoon to pick up her gown. I guess that is where she is. She must have