Chapter 22

Allison's POV

I don't remember terminating the call. The second my mind registers Elsa's words, I'm out of my seat. As I hurriedly pack my stuff into my bag and turn off my system, I can hear Amy saying something in an annoyed tone. I don't bother listening.

I'm too busy rushing out of the office.

Peterson has disappeared.

That's all I can think about as I take the stairs two at a time. I know I'm panicking, but I can't help it. Peterson could be anywhere. He could be doing anything, now that I can no longer keep an eye on him. He might be a useless bum, but even I have learnt from experience how dangerous Peterson can get when I take my eyes off him. He could be putting plans in motion to ruin my life at this very moment. I have to find him immediately, and I have to start now. I know that leaving the company during work hours without obtaining permission is going to get me into serious trouble with the higher-ups. Especially with Rachel Fisher, but I can worry about that later.

As I hurry out of the building, I dial Elsa's number.

"When?" is what I say as soon as she picks.

"I'm not sure," she replies. "Earlier this morning, I think? The security personnel we got to keep tabs on him called to report to me that he had slipped out of his neighbourhood somehow. His house is empty, and he took some of his stuff and emptied his bank account too, so clearly he's been planning to run for a while."

Of course the security personnel called her. When we went to hire them, they wouldn't even speak to me, because they "don't take orders from a lowly Omega".

"Allison?" Elsa calls, sounding worried. "What are you going to do? Let me help you with this."

I'm grateful for the offer, but I can't tell her that I'm leaving the company right now. She would just insist on coming with me, and then she would also get in trouble.

I can't let that happen.

"Could you call the security personnel back?" I say. "Tell them to embark on a search for him immediately. And to send you hourly updates on their progress. He needs to be found as soon as possible."

"I'll do that," Elsa replies without hesitation. 

"I'll do everything in my power to make sure that he's found."

"Thanks, Elsa," I say.

"What about you, Allison?" Elsa asks. "What are you planning to do?" 

She still sounds worried, as if she fears that I'll go driving around the city in search of him. If I thought that would be useful in any way, I would have done it without hesitation. But I'm not so foolish that I would go around doing pointless things just because I'm panicking.

"What am I planning to do?" I reply. "Of course, I'm planning to do what I do best."

"Good luck," Elsa says, and I know she understands.

"You too," I reply.

I hang up when I get to my car, and I'm filled with purpose as I drive out of the company premises.

I'm going to do what I do best. I'm not authorized to search for people using the company's computers, so I'm going home, and I'm going to tear the internet apart if that's what it will take to find that bastard.

Hacking isn't something I do usually, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

……

I'm typing away furiously at the keyboard when Ian gets home. I actually don't notice that he has returned until he knocks on the door.

"Come in," I call out, not taking my eyes off the screen.

Ian walks in, carrying a tray with covered plates in it.

"I brought you dinner," he says.

"Thanks," I reply, still typing.

He drops the tray on my bedside table and walks closer to stand behind me.

"What are you doing?" he asks.

"Searching for Peterson."

I had hoped to find him by now, but he did an even better job of disappearing than I expected. I guess he can do something right if he puts his mind to it. A pity that he never puts his mind to doing things that are actually reasonable or useful.

"Oh," Ian says with sympathy. "I heard from Elsa. Where do you think he could have gone?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," I reply, running my fingers through my hair with a tired sigh. "This might sound strange, but I really don't know nearly enough about him. He wasn't the sort to talk about himself while we were dating. I see now that this should have warned me, but… well."

But I was a fool back then, is what I think, but don't say.

I know that Ian would just start lecturing me like Elsa does. A spike of pain shoots through my head, and I lean back in my seat, placing the back of my hand on my forehead. Ian touches my shoulder gently.

"How long have you been staring at that screen?" he asks.

"Long," I reply. "Hours. Since morning."

"You need to take a break," he says. "Eat your dinner, and have some rest."

"While Peterson is out there plotting my downfall."

"I'm sure even Peterson has to take a break from his evil plans to eat and rest," Ian insists.

I sigh, but I can't argue with him. I do need to take a break. My stomach is aching from being empty for so long and my fingers are numb from typing for hours. My neck is stiff and my head is swimming.

"Fine, you win," I say.

I stand and stretch, cracking my fingers and my neck. Then I sit on my bed and uncover the plates.

"You'll have to provide distraction, though," I say, picking up my spoon.

"What kind of distraction?" Ian asks.

"Hmm…" I tap my chin with the spoon, smiling mischievously. "You can tell me which of the lovely ladies at the company have caught your eye."

I don't expect the blood that rushes to Ian's cheeks as he hastens to deny my words.

"There isn't anyone like that!" he says.

Ian is usually so calm and collected. It's very rare to see him so flustered.

This is interesting, I think, my smile growing wider. 

I tuck into my meal as I get ready to tease the life out of him. What an excellent way to distract myself.