Tristan felt like the world stopped revolving for a couple of seconds after hearing Jacob’s news of Belle. He felt a tingling sensation on his scalp and his hands were sweaty.
“Meet me back at the office,” he told his assistant before turning on his heels.
He stepped into his Lamborghini and drove back to the company. Jacob and Nathalie had just arrived when he stepped out of his car and all three of them walked toward the elevator.
“What happened?” he couldn’t wait to reach his office. He was anxious.
Jacob and Nathalie exchanged glances. Both were as nervous as Tristan at the moment. “We went to her apartment and the guard told us she hadn’t seen Belle so he assumed she was staying with Nathalie,” he informed his boss.
Tristan let out a long, dispirited sigh. He walked quickly towards his office as soon as the elevator door opened. Jacob and Nathalie trailed behind.
“What should we do now?” Nathalie asked no one in particular. She can’t stop herself from fiddling with her nails as she’s too worried about the safety of her friend.
“Call Robby and ask him to check all the surveillance cameras in the area,” Tristan instructed his assistant before turning to Nathalie. “Can you please call anyone you think she’ll contact if something happens to her? But don’t be too obvious, we wouldn’t want them to worry about anything. We’re not sure yet what exactly happened to her,” and Nathalie quickly nodded.
Tristan then grabbed a remote control on top of his table. He turned it to the wall and a couple of monitors climbed down slowly. Nathalie furrowed her brows at the sight.
On one monitor, she can see a camera directed at the road just outside the company. On another monitor was a camera capturing the front side of Eden.
Moving her eyes, she saw a camera showing the backside of the club, while other cameras seemed to be monitoring the surrounding area of Belle’s apartment.
‘Is he stalking my friend?’ Nathalie couldn’t help but think.
She wanted to ask him about it but she put the thought aside for the moment. She can ask him about it later.
For now, they should focus on finding Belle first. Who knows what’s happening to her at that moment?
“Look!” Nathalie approached Tristan as soon as he spoke. Jacob also walked closer while he was on the phone. “Robby sent this,” then he pointed towards the biggest monitor. “This is Belle, right?” he asked, turning to Nathalie.
The monitor was showing Belle walking towards the aisle next to Eden. If their assumptions were correct, she was supposed to be coming over for Nathalie through the backdoor.
Nathalie moved closer and nodded. “When was this?”
“This was taken Monday night,” Tristan responded, not taking his eyes off the monitor.
“Monday?” Nathalie echoed and both men nodded. “I haven’t seen Belle since Saturday,” she told Tristan, her voice shaking.
“What do you mean?” Jacob asked from her side.
Nathalie slowly sat down, letting out a heavy sigh. She then looked up at Jacob, tears started to well on them.
“Belle visited me last Saturday. She spent the whole day at my place since my Aunt was not home. She left at 1 in the morning and called me around 2:30 to let me know she was home. I haven’t heard from her since. Sunday was when I lost my phone while doing grocery shopping.”
Tristan and Jacob exchanged glances after hearing Nathalie’s story. “But she’s still at work Monday morning and this was taken Monday night. I guess it’s safe to assume she went missing that same night, maybe after coming to Eden?” Jacob stated. He then dialed someone on his phone. “Can you check for any surveillance camera-”
Before he could continue, Tristan had already clicked on another monitor, the one covering the backside of Eden. From there, they clearly saw a man carrying a woman wearing the same clothes as Belle. It was on Monday night too, just a few minutes from the scene displayed on the other monitor, where Belle was walking towards the aisle.
“Who is this man?” Nathalie asked no one in particular.
“Does Belle know anyone else other than you here in Bree?” Tristan asked.
Nathalie thought for a few seconds before shaking her head. “Aside from you, Jacob and Eric, Belle doesn’t know any other men here.”
Jacob quickly dialed his phone again. “Robby, check the images from monitor 3, she’s the person we’re looking for and she seems to have been kidnapped. Find a way to get a closer look at the car and follow its track.”
Tristan sat on his swivel chair while Jacob sat next to Nathalie while they were all waiting for the next report. With one look, it can easily be said that they were all worried.
Tristan was lighting cigarettes one after another. Nathalie can’t stop picking on her nails while Jacob keeps looking at his phone though it’s not even making any sound.
After what seemed like forever for all three people, Jacob’s phone rang. “Where?… Are you sure?…” Right after ending the call, he stood up and rushed toward Tristan. “Sir, Robby tracked the car and he found it outside a warehouse, south of Bree,” he quickly reported.
Tristan was quick to act after hearing the report and so was Jacob. The CEO stood up quickly and ran inside the room in his office.
When he came out, he tucked something behind his waist. When Nathalie turned, Jacob was no longer in the room.
As soon as Tristan stepped out of his office, Nathalie followed right away. They met Jacob in the elevator, and he too slipped something behind him.
All three waited for the elevator but it seemed to be taking a while. Running out of patience, Tristan headed for the stairs.
Nathalie wanted to wait for the elevator, as she was wearing wedges but had no choice but to follow both men. They rode the car as soon as they reached the parking lot, all three drenched in sweat.
“Any idea of the place?” Tristan asked, seated at the back of the car.
Jacob placed his phone on the car’s holder and touched its screen, “It looks like an abandoned warehouse.”
“Why would anyone kidnap her? She doesn’t even know anyone here in Bree other than us,” Nathalie stated, obviously confused as to why something like this happened to her friend.
“She might have offended someone,” Jacob answered.
The creases on Nathalie’s forehead deepen. She couldn’t think of anyone Belle might have crossed. If there were any, her friend would have told her.
Tristan, who had been quiet all the while, suddenly spoke, “Call for backup.”