The CEO's Wife

StephanieI had been so happy to see Jake there in that room. I felt like I hadn’t breathed until I saw him—held him. He came for me. He really came!He was my lifeline. I held onto him for as long as I could. I didn’t miss the exchange between him and Todd, the expression on his face as his jaw tensed when the guard came back in. I clutched onto his words like they were a living, breathing thing that would save me.‘I’m not leaving without you.’‘I will always find you.’‘Just a few more hours.’I replayed them over and over again in my mind. They brought me comfort—he was here. It was going to be okay. Don’t get me wrong, I was still scared out of my mind having ended up in jail in the first place, but knowing he was just on the other side of the building helped. The guard pulled the door open, the heavy metal door clanging as it swung.“I wouldn’t get too comfortable, doll,” he said as he ushered me in, closing then locking the door behind me. Was he being sarcastic? This concrete

StephanieI have never done drugs. Even on nights out with my friends, my hangovers could only be so intense because I was too poor to actually drink the good stuff. Hunger, on the other hand, is a pain that I am used to.Nothing, however, could prepare me for the pain in my head as my eyes opened, trying to adjust to the pitch-black darkness. My muscles were tense. I feared rigor mortis was setting in. I could hardly move. My eyes felt heavy, like all they wanted to do was close again.I let out a small groan, trying to move, but my body wouldn't respond."Where am I?" For a fleeting second, I could convince myself that I was in Jake's penthouse suite, the sounds of the London traffic faint beneath the many floors below where people were milling about. How his warm arms would hold me tight and tell me to go back to sleep or he would make me.A small smile tugged at my lips, but I wasn't in my bed, nor was Jake holding me. The harsh, cold metal pressed into my skin and bones, complete

JakeI had barely turned the corner in my Aston Martin before Todd was blowing up my cell. I canceled the call, but he just kept ringing. After the fifth time, I picked up."WHAT?" I pinched my brow. My stress levels were through the roof, and despite the early morning, traffic was gridlocked. Typical."Jake... don't do anything stupid. We will find her." Todd was unnaturally calm whilst I had blood roaring in my ears. My gaze stared blankly out the window as I watched the hoards of people cross the street on their way to work. My eyes landed on a couple as they came out of a coffee shop together. He kissed her cheek and they parted ways, a smile lighting up her face as she left. Looking at them, something so normal—would I ever have that again?The haunting image of my wife filled my mind. Those big blue doe eyes she had crushed me. Todd was probably right, but as a red haze continued to fill me up, all I could focus on was finding a way to get her back. First, I just needed confirmat

StephanieMy eyes blinked rapidly as I stared at the brick wall.No.I knew it was a long shot, but the sinking feeling taking over me was unlike anything I had ever been prepared for. I had always believed if you were a good person and had good thoughts, things like this wouldn't happen to you. Life had not been kind to me already. My parents had been killed in a car crash by a drunk driver, which left my sister severely hospitalized and unable to walk until only recently. The cost of her treatment had crippled me, leaving me few options.When I became Jake's secretary, I was so grateful for the job and money. I felt I could finally breathe, that I wasn't drowning in payments. It also meant I had a target on my back that could be easily exploited. Carter had cornered me on one coffee run, requesting information on Jake's cases where he could counter-argue in court and use this information against him. It was not my finest moment. I agreed—I had no other choice. After losing my parent

Jake"Daniel, can you follow the vehicle, see if we can get the full license on another camera?" If we got lucky with this, but the more information we can gather, the more details I can have to nail Carter with this that even he wouldn't be able to weasel out in court.Daniel nodded, typing away. "I can check. It will take a while as some of these cameras are Ring cameras, but I'll see what I can do." I let out a ragged breath. Even I knew Carter would cover his tracks, but it might give us some more leads and a way to narrow down our search."All I'm getting are shell companies. What is Carter's full name? Maybe there is a way for me to track him and see if the transfers line up?" James offered as Christian nodded in the corner, being as helpful as an elephant in the room."Dickson." James nodded and began typing. "Do you know what his mother's maiden name was?" I stared at him like he had grown a second head. "No, I don't even know yours. Why would I know his?" I tried to think bac