Chapter 2

She didn't Just leave, She disappeared

Jake's POV 

"Any news?" My voice was calm. Too calm.

The two men standing in front of my desk shifted uncomfortably,their eyes avoiding mine as if looking at me directly would burn. That alone told me everything I needed to know.

"No, sir," One of them finally said."We're still investigating."

Silence filled the office. It was Heavy and piercing.

I leaned back slowly in my chair,my fingers tapping once against the armrest.

"Still investigating," I repeated casually.

Neither of them spoke. I let out a quiet breath,tilting my head slightly as I studied them.

"Do you know how long it's been?" My tone didn't rise. It didn't need to.

"Two years, sir," The other one replied carefully.

"Two years," I echoed.

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the desk,my gaze locking onto them.

"Two years of resources. Two years of manpower. Two years of money..." I paused,my voice dropping a bit.

"And you're standing here telling me you have nothing," my hand curled into a fists. The room went still.

"I... sir,we believe she may have left the country..." one of them was saying when I cut in sharply.

"Believe?" The word tasted bitter.

"You're not paid to believe. You're paid to know," My tone was low,rumbling growl,each word gripping with venom.

Neither of them dared to respond.

I stood up slowly. My movement alone was enough to make them stiffened.

"She didn't vanish, " I continued,walking around the desk with heavy footsteps.

 "People don't just disappear." I repeated, I stopped in front of them.

"She ran." I added my jaw tightened.

"And you let her." I accused them,my voice a low growl.

"Sir,we are expanding our search," one of the men were saying when I interrupted abruptly.

"You should have done that a year ago." My voice dropped colder.

"This is the last time I repeat myself." I said sternly while holding their gaze,one after the other,ensuring my warning was received.

"Find her." I immediately barked. "No excuses, no theories and definitely no delays," I took another step closer,my eyes glowing with fury.

"Find. My. Wife." I muttered.

"Yes sir," They both said quickly.

I straightened,turning away from them as if they were no longer worth my attention.

"You can leave." I added calmly.

I didn't watch them go,I didn't need to.

The door closed behind me and  silence immediately returned. But it didn't last,a knock followed almost immediately.

"Come in," I yelled in irritation, my jaw tightening.

Stella my secretary stepped in cautiously,she hesitated at first,her eyes flickering briefly around the room before settling on me. Careful,always careful.

"Sir... your meeting with the GB Group is about to begin." 

I didn't respond immediately, instead I walked back to my desk,picking up the file that has been sitting untouched for the last ten minutes.

"Reschedule it," I muttered sharply. Her head snapped up a bit "sir?"

"I'm not in the mood," I added,my eyes resting on hers.

There was a brief pause before she responded "With all due respect, sir, they're already in the boardroom." 

I stilled. Slowly I lifted my gaze to her.

She swallowed. "...They insisted."

For a moment I said nothing, then I grabbed the file.

"Fine." I brushed past her,already heading for the door. 

"Let's not waste their time then."

The boardroom fell silent the moment I walked in. As it should.

I took my seat at the head of the table, dropping the file in front of me. "You can begin," I whispered firmly.

Voices started, presentations followed. Numbers,projections, agreement. I heard everything and nothing,because none of it mattered.

Not when my mind kept drifting back to the same place,the same face and woman.

Jessica.

My fingers tightened somewhat against the table. It was two years now and she had managed to do what no one else ever had.

She disappear with no trace,mistake,nothing, like a ghost.

"Mr Stone?"

I didn't respond.

"Mr Stone."

My eyes lifted slowly,the room was quiet again and all eyes were on me waiting.

I blinked once,straightening a bit. "Continue." I nodded towards the presenter.

The man hesitated,then nodded quickly and resumed speaking.

I leaned back in my chair,my gaze wandering away again.

This was pointless. All of it,I thought, my frustration apparent. The only thing that mattered was finding her.

"Sir?" Stella's voice followed me the moment I stepped out of the boardroom.

"You have another appointment at..." she was saying when I countered.

 "Cancel it."

She paused. "Sir,it's already.."

"I said cancel it," I added sternly,my tone was final.

She didn't argue again.

"Yes,sir."

I kept walking,I didn't need meetings,deals, or any of this.

Not when my head felt like it was about to split open from the same thought repeating over and over again."Where is she?"

"Sir,I will get the car ready." My driver was saying when I countered him. "I will drive." 

My driver stopped immediately,handing me the keys without question.

I got in without another word,the engine roared to life and I drove straight to the gym.

I needed to get the tension out of my system or else I was going to lose control.

The moment I stepped into the private section,I pulled my shirt off and tossed it aside.

I needed no greetings or distraction, but the punching bag in front of me waiting.

I stepped forward and hit it hard. The impact echoed through the room. Again and again,each punch heavier than the last.

My punches were not controlled or measured but raw and unfiltered because that was all I had left.

Frustration, regret and anger followed with every bag I hit and how harder I go.

Her face flashed in my mind. The way she look at me before everything changed. Before I ruined it.

My fist slammed into the bag again and a sharp breath escaped me.

I stopped for a second, gripping the bag tightly as my chest rose and fell.

"She didn't even fight me," I muttered under my breath. That was the part that stayed with me.

"She just.... left."

With no warning,argument or second chance. Just gone.

My grip clenched and for the first time something unfamiliar crept in. Not anger,or frustration but something heavier. I felt Guilty.

I exhaled slowly,stepping back. "I'll fix it," I murmured aloud.

"I don't care what it takes," I added with determination.

My phone buzzed but I ignored it.

It rang again,annoyed,I grabbed it,glancing at the screen.

Unknown number. I almost declined it but something made me answer.

"Yes?"

"Sir..." The voice was hesitant but familiar,it was one of the investigators.

My grip instantly squeezed on the phone,my voice firm and sharp. "What's it?"

"We found something, " He said.

Everything in me went still,my heartbeat slowed. "Say that again."

"We have a lead sir."

There was a brief silence before I asked.

"Where?" My voice was quiet now,controlled but dangerous.

"We're still confirming, but.."

"I don't care about confirmation," my tone cutting through his words. "Location?"

"New York, sir."