Part 83

Claire enjoyed the cool mountain air in the morning with a cup of coffee in her hand. She felt like she was filming a commercial this morning—the beautiful natural scenery, a steaming cup of coffee in her hand, and her relaxed stance, one hand resting on the terrace railing of her room.

Yes, after successfully getting away from Antony, Claire had asked the taxi driver to be her personal driver until she reached her destination. First, she asked the driver to stop by a clothing store that sold complete outfits, including undergarments. Then, she asked him to take her to a 24-hour convenience store to buy some food. Finally, she requested that the driver take her to a lodge she had found online.

And now, here she was, spending the night—and possibly a few more—in a camping-themed lodge, having chosen a luxury room, tempted by the offer of a hot water Jacuzzi.

Since last night, Claire had switched her phone to airplane mode, making it impossible to receive any messages or calls, and she did so intentionally because she didn’t want to be disturbed by anyone, especially her mother or Antony.

Choosing to forget all her burdens, Claire placed her cup on the rattan table on the terrace. She sat down on the cushioned wooden chair and covered her legs with a thin blanket she had brought from the room.

It was still early in the morning, but because she had trouble sleeping the night before, she felt drowsy again. Caffeine didn’t seem to keep her eyes open.

Claire closed her eyes and drifted off into a morning nap. She didn’t care if people were starting to look for her.

At Antony’s place.

After being relentlessly mocked by Gian, Antony decided to call another cousin, hoping to get some clarity. Unfortunately, instead of offering a solution as Antony had hoped, Altezza also joined in teasing him, just like Gian had earlier. Frustrated, Antony decided to hang up the phone.

"When are we leaving?" asked Letizia, Gian's older sister, from outside Antony’s office. "Antony, your mother is calling you. She says today we're getting fitted for your engagement outfit," she added enthusiastically.

The only response to Letizia’s call was laughter, of course, coming from Gian. Letizia immediately shot him a puzzled look, while Antony glared at him sharply.

"What’s wrong with you, brother?" Letizia asked, frowning at Gian. He responded by waving his hand dismissively in front of his face.

"Nothing," he replied softly, but once again deliberately flashed a mocking smile. "Where are we going?" he asked as he walked toward his sister.

Antony didn’t hear Letizia’s answer because the siblings had already left his office.

Will his engagement to Claire still happen, even though his bride-to-be was unreachable? Antony wondered to himself. However, he tried to push the negative thoughts aside and convinced himself that everything would work out. His engagement to Claire would succeed. He was determined to find his bride, no matter what. If necessary, he would contact every one of her acquaintances one by one to track her down.

Antony suddenly paused, realizing why hadn’t that idea crossed his mind before? He silently cursed his own foolishness.

He reached for his phone again and called his assistant to track down a contact. Not long after, he got the number he needed. And yes, it was Bella’s number—the only close friend of Claire that Antony knew of.

A wide yawn echoed as a greeting from a distance. The phone's owner likely had no idea that the person calling was her CEO.

“Who is this?” Bella asked, her voice still groggy with sleep.

“It’s me, Antony,” he replied in his usual flat tone.

“Antony?” she asked, sounding unsure.

“Yes, Antony Quirino. CEO of Coskun Company,” Antony clarified, not intending to sound arrogant, but just trying to help the girl snap back to reality.

"Si-Sir Antony?" Bella’s voice was now laced with panic. "How did you get my number?" She quickly added, "Forget that. What can I do for you?" she asked again, her tone now confused.

“I just want to know—do you happen to be with Claire right now?” Antony cut straight to the point.

There was a split second of silence before Bella answered, “No, Sir. She’s not with me.” She replied firmly. “Isn’t she at her house?” Bella asked, a question Antony found foolish.

“No,” Antony responded bluntly. “She hasn’t returned home since last night,” he added, though he wasn’t entirely sure. Who knew if Claire had snuck back home after midnight? He should have verified before answering Bella’s question.

Bella seemed to hesitate on the other end. “She was with me last night, Sir, but not for long. She left in an online taxi after learning that I was heading back to Manhattan,” Bella replied, her voice sounding slightly uncertain. “C-could something have happened to her? Could the taxi driver have done something bad to her?” she blurted out in a panic, and immediately, Antony felt a surge of worry. But then, he heard a tapping sound.

“Ah, I think I know now, Sir,” Bella said calmly. “Last night I thought it was strange, but now I understand what Claire meant.” She continued, her tone returning to normal.

"What? You understand what?" Antony asked, eager for an explanation.

“Forgive me if I’m being bold, but are you and Claire currently fighting?” Bella asked. “I don’t mean to meddle, but if you are, I think I know the answer to your question.”

Antony fell silent. He needed Bella's insight, but he couldn’t bring himself to explain the misunderstanding between him and Claire. Clearing his throat and unconsciously scratching his neck, he replied, “We’re not fighting. There’s just been a little misunderstanding,” Antony admitted softly, though he was sure Bella could still hear him.

A clicking sound came from Bella’s end. “Claire isn’t the type to leave over a small misunderstanding, Sir. If it were really just that, she’d prefer to talk things out directly. She only leaves when she’s truly angry. Remember what happened at Chand’s wedding?” Bella reminded him. “She was so angry with Abigail that she chose to leave her own niece behind. So, I’m certain she’s gone because she’s upset with you—or maybe someone else. But it’s definitely not me,” Bella added quickly.

Antony took a long breath. Fine, Bella was Claire’s best friend. She clearly knew her better than he did in some ways, and he had no argument left.

“Yeah, I made her mad. But really, it was just a misunderstanding,” Antony said weakly. “Do you know where she might have gone?”

There was another brief silence, perhaps Bella shaking her head without realizing Antony couldn’t see her.

“No, Sir,” Bella replied regretfully. “But last night she did ask me to go on a vacation with her, on the condition that I’d be willing to turn off my phone. So, I can only assume she’s really trying to hide.” Bella’s answer wasn’t new to Antony; he already knew Claire wanted to disappear for a while.

That wasn’t what he was after. He needed to know where Claire might be at this moment.

“You have no clue at all where she might have gone?” Antony asked, his impatience evident.

“No, Sir. I’m sorry. Claire didn’t get the chance to tell me where she was planning to take me because I’d already told her I was going to visit my parents,” Bella said, her voice full of regret. “But maybe Gladwin knows?” she added hesitantly.

Antony could only rub his temple in frustration. He ended the call after thanking Claire’s best friend.

Aware that his family was waiting for him, Antony slipped his phone back into his pocket. He’d contact Claire’s family one by one later. If necessary, he’d visit them in person.

Could Claire have gone to see Harry? The thought crossed his mind for a moment, but Antony shook his head. No, Harry was still in Kansas, and he wouldn’t be leaving until after Antony’s engagement to Claire was over.