CHAPTER 52
ROBERT’S POV
~ “So…?” I asked in a gruff, impatient tone. “Did you find her? Where is she?” ~
Frank heaved a sigh and his shoulders fell. “I’m sorry boss but I don’t have any lead on her yet.”
“What?” I lashed at him with gritted teeth. “How can you tell me that after all the time I gave you and all the money I’m putting into this?”
“Boss, I just need a little more time. This isn’t an easy task…”
He tried to say but I brought a hand forward to cut him off with a stern expression on my face. “Don’t tell me that! You have proven to be incompetent. Not only did you waste nearly an hour of my time, but you returned empty-handed with not even a single piece of information or clue. It’s obvious you don’t want your job back…”
“No, I do…” As if that struck a cord in him, he said quickly with a pleading expression on his face.
“Well too bad!” I snapped. “Because you just lost it forever. I’m taking you off this case. Leave my office and refund my money before the end of today or else there will be severe consequences. I’m going to find someone else up to the task to handle this or better still do it myself since from the looks of it, I seem to be the only competent person here.”
He tried to beg some more but I turned deaf to his pleas and flung my hand, signalling for him to leave my office. I turned my back to him and towards the expansive windows of my office, fuming as a mix of rage and regret coursed through me.
I couldn’t believe after all the time and money I had given him he had the guts to return empty-handed, knowing how important this was to me. He has proven to be unserious and incompetent and I don’t work well with such people. I had so much hope in him I thought we’d be able to find Lily before the end of today or tomorrow. I didn’t expect this at all.
But unfortunately, I didn’t know any other person with the technical knowledge and skills to pull this off. Even though I had said I would handle the job myself if the need arose, I knew I couldn’t. I said that out of anger and to let him know how important and serious finding Lily was to me. I wasn’t so good in that aspect and I was too occupied with work and family stuff
I needed someone and Frank was the only person I could think of. He’s been working for the company since its inception and ever since, has been handling all our social media accounts and technical issues like it was a walk in the park. With his level of experience and expertise, I know he could get the job done. He just needs to put in more effort and be extremely serious with it.
“Wait…” I said, pinching the bridge of my nose and sighing in frustration, stopping him just as he was about to walk out the door. I couldn’t let my anger and impatience cloud my judgment and make me push away the one person capable of handling this job.
“I’m willing to give you a second chance,” I said as I turned to face him but my face was hardened with a serious expression.
His eyes lit up like a child offered something sweet, the gloom that once shadowed his face vanishing instantly.
“But if you fail me again that will be the end of it,” I said firmly with a ruthless expression, making it known to him.
“I promise you, boss, I won’t let you down,” He gave me his word. “Ever since I started working for you, I have never let you down or left any job incomplete. Trust me on this one, I will find her and I will make sure to bring her back to you.”
My tough look softened a bit, and my lips curled in satisfaction, knowing he had sworn loyalty to me and meant every word he said. Now I could rest assured he’d get the job done without me needing to worry.
Adjusting my suit, I walked over to my desk and leaned against the edge, lifting my gaze to him. “Exactly how long will it take you to find her?”
He glanced up, his lips wriggling slightly as he seemed to calculate a rough estimate.
“Just before the week runs out,” he said, returning his gaze to me.
“Are you sure?” I cocked a brow to confirm.
“Yes,” he nodded firmly. “I’m reviewing all phone records, call logs, and security footage from the prison where she served her sentence and also checking all CCTV footage in the city I could get my hands on. New York is a big city, so it’s not an easy task. Plus, I need to be extremely careful and cover my tracks to avoid being detected, so I need all the time I can get.”
I nodded in agreement. He sounded like he knew what he was doing and from all that he mentioned, it seemed like it’ll take a lot of time.
“Alright,” I shrugged. “Take all the time you need. Just make sure you come back with good news before the week runs out and do let me know if you need anything else to help you with the job.”
“Okay boss,” he bounced his head. “It won’t take long before I find her. That I can promise you.” He said with a reassuring smile plastered on his face as he happily left the office.
After he left, I stayed in that position for quite some time, feeling optimistic for the first time in a long time. The past weeks had been filled with nothing but bad news and setbacks, and I was glad to know there was finally something I could smile about.
“I can’t wait to see you again, Lily. I can’t wait to see my kids.” I smiled dreamily and breathed out in overwhelmed before getting ready to leave my office for my family house.
*
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On getting to the family mansion, I was surprised to see my mother opening the door for me and welcoming me in.
“You’re finally back, honey,” she exclaimed eagerly as she hugged me as if I had been away for years, her voice rising unusually with excitement. “I was just about to call you, you were taking so long!”
“I had a few things to handle at the office,” I replied as I hugged her back but with not much enthusiasm as I was already tired and wondering what the excitement was all about.
One of the servants was about to take off my suit jacket and carry my briefcase as always but my mother quickly dismissed her and instead, did it herself, grinning overexcitedly with every movement.
My brows creased in puzzlement. As far as know, she couldn’t care less for me when I returned from work and has never helped me out of my suit jacket or carried my briefcase before. I couldn’t help thinking there was something more to this. There was something she was not telling me. Not to mention, she was dressed lavishly like she was hosting a grand event.
Before I could open my mouth to say something, she beat me to it.
“Come, I want you show you something.” She took my wrist and led me towards the dining area.
As we approached, I was hit with the smell of something fancy-like a five-star dinner, but that was way too much for a Tuesday.
I quirked my brows, wondering if I had missed out on some kind of family event. “What’s going on, mother?”
“I’ve arranged a little surprise for you!” She beamed. Her hold on my wrist never faltered as she practically kept pulling me down the hallway to the dining.
Before I could protest any further, she opened the dining room door with a flourish. Sitting at the table was a young beautiful woman about the same age as Lily dressed in an elegant red velvet gown. She wore light make-up that made her appear almost like a Barbie doll and around her neck and in her ears were a diamond necklace and earrings that caught the light as she turned towards our direction, giving me a sweet smile.
I froze. “Mother… who is this?”
My mother smiled proudly and breathed out like she’d accomplished something huge. “Meet Rosaline, your soon bride-to-be.”