ROBERT'S POV
I paced back and forth in Barbara's office, my mind racing with thoughts. Where was Ariana? I had tried calling her phone, but it was still switched off. I had called her assistant, but she hadn't heard from Ariana either. A sense of desperation was creeping in, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong.
Barbara got up from her seat, walking over to me. "Rob, try to stay calm. I'm sure Ariana is fine. She might have had an emergency or a last-minute meeting. Let's not jump to conclusions yet."
Barbara couldn't know that. There was a possibility that Ari wasn't safe. With recent happenings, I couldn't trust anyone. It was now very obvious that
ARIANA'S POVI stood frozen, my phone still clutched in my hand, as the menacing voice echoed in my mind. "Come alone...or your precious Rob will pay the price." My breath caught in my throat, and my heart raced like a jackhammer. Panic set in, and I felt the familiar symptoms of a panic attack creeping up on me. My chest constricted, and I struggled to breathe. I tried to calm myself down, but it was too late. The hyperventilation took over, and I felt like I was suffocating.I collapsed onto the couch, my body shaking uncontrollably. Tears streamed down my face as I gasped for air. The attack lasted for what felt like an eternity, leaving me exhausted and drained. When I finally regained control, I broke down into sobs, fear and anxiety consuming me.
ROBERT'S POVI stared at Ariana's purse, my mind racing with thoughts. Something was fishy, and I knew it. I quickly grabbed myphone and dialed Margaret's number. Maybe Ariana was with her, and I was just overreacting. But as soon as Margaret answered, I knew I wasn't."Margaret, it's Rob. Have you seen Ariana?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm."No, Rob. I haven't seen her. Is everything okay?" she replied, concern etched in her voice.I sighed, feeling a sense of desperation creeping in. "I don't know, Margaret. I can't find her anywhere. And now I've found her purse at our house, but she's nowhere to be found."
ROBERT'S POVI punched Thompson with all my might, my anger and frustration spilling over like a volcano erupting. My fist connected with his face with a satisfying crunch, and he stumbled back, holding his cheekbone. For a moment, he looked like a wounded animal, his eyes wide with shock and confusion.But as I turned to face Odette, my rage only intensified. She stormed towards me, her face red with rage, her eyes blazing with fury."Robert, what is wrong with you?" she shouted, her voice echoing through the office like a thunderclap.I stood my ground, my fists still clenched, my arms trembling with tension. "You know exactly what
ROBERT'S POVI was taken aback by Detective Parker's offer, my mind racing with confusion. Why would he want to help me after everything that had happened? But as soon as I recovered from the shock, my entire body became consumed with rage. I remembered the way he had treated Ariana, the way he had arrested her and thrown her in jail without enough evidence. I remembered the pain and suffering he had caused her, and my anger boiled over."Get the hell out of my property!" I screamed, my voice echoing through the hallway. "You have no right to be here! You've done enough damage already!"I slammed the door shut, my heart racing with fury. I couldn't believe I had almost fallen for his trick, almost believing that he
ROBERT'S POVI tried to defend myself, but my father cut me off at every turn. "You have failed, Robbie," he said, his voice cold and harsh. "You have failed the company, and you have failed your family.""I understand your concerns, Father," I said, standing tall and meeting his gaze. "But let me remind you of the facts. Under my leadership, Vanderbilt Holdings has seen a significant increase in profits. Our stock prices have risen by 20% in the past quarter alone, and our market share has expanded by 15%. I've secured major deals with key investors and implemented innovative strategies that have boosted our revenue."My father scoffed, but I continued, unfazed. "I've worked tirelessly to salvage our reputation an
ARIANA'S POVI slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. But there was nothing to see. I was enveloped in thick darkness, and my head was pounding furiously. I tried to lift my hand to my temple, but it wouldn't budge. Panic set in as I realized my hands and legs were tied.I tried to remember where I was and what was happening, but my mind was a jumbled mess. Fear crept in, crawling up my spine like icy fingers. I was trapped, helpless, and alone.Suddenly, Rob's face flashed in my mind. I had come here to find him, to save him. The memory sparked a surge of adrenaline, and I struggled against my restraints. My hands and legs thrashed wildly, but they wouldn't give.
ROBERT'S POVI woke up to the sound of my mother's gentle voice, calling me from the doorway of my room. "Robbie, breakfast is ready." I groggily got out of bed and made my way to the dining room. The table was laid out with a feast, but my stomach was churning with anxiety. Ariana had been missing for three days now, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that had settled over me."Mom, I'm not hungry," I said, trying to push the plate away.Elizabeth Stone looked at me with concern. "Robbie, you need to eat something. You can't keep going on like this."But I couldn't bring myself to take a bite. How could I eat when Ariana was out
ARIANA'S POVI looked up, and shock spread through my entire body like wildfire. The legs belonged to Odette, her raven black hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of night. Her piercing green eyes stared down at me, cold and calculating, devoid of any humanity. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I stuttered out her name, my voice barely audible."Odette... why?"I couldn't believe this. I knew Odette did not really like me but to this extent? She couldn't be this evil.“Why? Is someone blackmailing you?” I could not comprehend why this. I had never liked Odette, she made my skin crawl but could she really have d