CONCERN

Aiden’s POV

“What the f**k!” I yelled into the phone, My voice came out louder than I intended, and the entire room fell silent. I could feel the eyes of my business partners on me, but I didn’t care. Lara mattered more than their opinions. “What do you mean you haven’t seen her?”

The driver stammered on the other end, trying to explain. “I waited at the airport, sir, but she never showed up. I checked around, but—”

"Why the hell did it take you three hours to tell me you couldn't find her!” I felt my patience running thin. “Lara was supposed to be here by four! Now it’s seven, Damn it, and you have the audacity to tell me you haven’t seen her?” The driver mumbled some excuse, but I cut him off.

“I don’t care how you do it. You better find her. And don’t call me until you have her.” I ended the call, slamming the phone on the table. The weight of my worry was slowly suffocating me.

" Where are you, baby? Call me. Please.”

I sent it, staring at the screen, and waited for what felt like centuries. "No reply?"I dialled her number, each ring feeling like an eternity, and it went to voicemail again.

I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a deep breath to calm myself. l grabbed my jacket and stormed out of the meeting room. I didn’t care what they thought of me right now. Lara was missing, and nothing else mattered.

She was still new to this city and anything could happen.

I climbed into my car, texting her as I sped toward the airport.

“Princess, where are you?”

“Please, call me.”

“I’m coming to find you.”

I kept sending messages, hoping for a response, anything that would tell me she was safe. But nothing came. I clenched the steering wheel, my mind filled with worry. Why wasn’t she answering? Where could she be?

I pulled up at the airport, not even bothering to park properly. I ran inside, scanning the faces in the crowd. No sign of her. I approached the information desk, showing them her picture, but they hadn’t seen her either.

I clenched my fists, frustrated. I should have been the one to pick her up. But now, she was gone, and I had no idea where to start looking.

I dialled her number again as I got back into my car, whispering under my breath, “Come on, baby. Pick up.”

I decided to send her a voicemail to at least know if she's safe or not.

Sia’s POV

My phone buzzed again, and I glanced at it, seeing another message from my Uncle. I felt a mix of anger and satisfaction. He was finally worried, finally desperate. I smiled to myself, a small smirk playing on my lips. He was worried. Good. This was what I wanted—his concern, his desperate concern, needing to know where I was. I deserved that much from him.

“Baby, please pick up. I need to know you're safe.”

“Why aren’t you answering?”

“Where the hell are you?”

I read them all, my lips curling into a smirk.

Let him chase me. He should feel the way I’d felt. Tonight, I’d wait, and he’d come. He had to.

I wanted him to be the one to come and pick me up, not just send someone else.

I kept thinking about what I’d say when he finally got here. The mere thought of seeing him again, angry and desperate, made my heart race. I sighed, tossing the phone onto the bed and stretching out, feeling a strange mix of satisfaction and nervousness.

Just then, I imagined what he must be going through right now, scolding his driver and probably driving like a maniac around the city. He cared—I knew that much. I rolled over and stared at the ceiling, a grin playing on my lips.

He’d find me eventually, and when he did, it would be on my terms. I will decide how he finds me and where he finds me.