For days, Christopher struggled to work. He wasn't sure if he was ever going to see Emilia again after she made it clear that she didn't wish for their relationship to be anything more.
He was biting his lip, trying to forget the sweet taste of her lips and emotion brought by this rejection. Days and he barely slept. Days and he barely thought of anything else.
He sat down behind his desk, resting his head in the palms of his hands, when Patrick came into the room.
"Sir, I wanted to confirm that you are still attending tonight's event." Patrick said carefully. Christopher's state was something he quickly became aware of. He didn't know what occurred but he wasn't going to give yet another reason to be fired.
"What is it?" Christopher asked sharply.
"A charity fundraiser."
"Urgh…" Christopher grunted. "I shall attend." He let out a sigh. He wasn't very keen on the idea of socialising but he needed a distraction, not to mention that he valued the cause.
He hasn't seen Emilia since that fateful night when she demanded a divorce. He half expected the divorce papers any day on his desk. He hasn't even lasted a year.
He thought that things used to go well, and obviously, he had to screw it up.
"I'll respond to the invite then." Patrick confirmed. "Is there anything else that I can do for you, sir?"
"No." Another grunt escaped Christopher's mouth.
Patrick escaped the study as quickly as he could.
Emilia was in a similar state as Christopher. She cried a lot in recent days, barely struggling to focus on her university work.
She spend hours on her mother's bedside, and then hours more crying over her heartbreak.
Christopher will never divorce and choose someone like her. That was obvious.
After two weeks of being back in her apartment the only person that still bothered her notoriously was Grace. It was under her insistence that Emilia decided to go out for the fundraising event. Grace made it seem like it was going to be an amazing distraction and fun. Although Emilia wasn't convinced, her deteriorating mental state needed action.
She dressed up in one of her fancy dresses, looking elegant and breathtaking in her usual way, before she went outside where Grace's driver was already awaiting her.
Emilia was nervous on the way, her entire body was tense. She mostly feared to see one of the familiar faces in the crowd.
She didn't pay much attention to the route or the driver until the car slowed down.
"What's the matter?"
"There seems to be a blockade on a road." The driver answered. Emilia noticed the roadworks and watched as the driver tried to quickly reset the navigation system for a diversion.
The driver managed to wave down one of the workers in hope to ask them for guidance. A man in high visibility vest approached the car with a smile. Emilia watched the scene feeling unsettled. Something in her gut didn't feel right.
"Good evening, I was wondering if you could help us with a diversion route." The driver rolled down the window and asked the approaching man. The man in the high vest bend over and leaned in, ready to give the directions. But what happened next was equally unexpected and shocking.
Instead of the directions, the man moved very swiftly and stabbed the driver with something making him collapse head first onto the steering wheel.
Emilia widened her eyes and dropped her phone and clutch bag. She opened the door on the other side of the car and run out. She run as fast as she could, still trying to comprehend fully the unfolding situation. But she still couldn't escape before something hit her. Next there was blackness.
*
Christopher was unenthusiastic about the event. He stood on the side, sipping on some orange juice. He strongly went on with the non-drinking decision although the past two weeks seemed particularly challenging.
He escaped the busy rooms and found a spot outside. A cold air hit his face, refreshing him and his mind.
He was hiding away from the social engagements for a good quarter of an hour before he spotted Grace pacing nervously as she was making a call. At first, he was not going to intervene at all, but after their eyes met, he realised the level of her panic. Her look was clearly one of someone ready to beg for help. And Christopher's gut feeling was telling him that he should approach her.
"What's the matter, Miss Bleam?" Christopher asked.
"It's nothing, sir." Grace lied.
Christopher noticed her phone was still ringing and a familiar name on it: 'Bestie Emilia Vincent'.
Christopher's heart seemed to sink again at a reminder of Emilia.
As Grace's call disconnected, the number (34) was beside Emilia's name. 34 missed calls.
"Speak." He ordered Grace who was on the verge of tears.
"My friend, Miss Vincent." Grace started with a quivering lip "she was due to attend this event, but… I haven't been able to get in touch with her for hours. My driver said that he did pick her up at the agreed time but they haven't arrived yet."
"How many hours ago did she leave?"
"Two to three hours."
"Did you inform anyone?"
"Not yet, sir."
"Call the police. I am going back to see if maybe they broke down on the way. Try to reach the driver's phone too."
"Of course, sir."
"Here's my number. Call me if you find out anything. And send me the address of where the driver was going to meet her. Drop me a text so I can message you if I find anything." Christopher took the reins as he dictated what to do to Grace.