20. Chris

“Ive bought him out. He has been removed from being the CEO. Hes dirt broke now,” Clark informs me, looking overjoyed at his achievement.

I take the files from him and scan through them, smiling. I snap them close and offer him a proud smile. “You did a great job. Because of this, I will give you a reward.”

He straightens up in his chair, appearing suddenly interested in what I have to say.

“You are getting a raise and a two-month long vacation to any country of your choice. All expenses sponsored by me.”

He beams, “I’m very grateful, boss.”

“Im more grateful for what you have done. You completely destroyed the bastard.” Perez is now ruined beyond repair. I can imagine him making a fuss right now, throwing things.

A knock comes on my door, and my personal assistant, Sarah, walks in with a bouquet of flowers.

“The flowers have arrived, sir.” She simply says and places them on the desk.

“Thank you.” She hurries off, leaving Clark and me alone. He eyes the flowers, his eyebrows lifting in question.

“These are lovely.” He points to the flowers while looking at me. “Has my boss finally found the one?” He teases.

I grin. “She was always there. I just never noticed.”

“I wish you good luck in winning your lady love, sir.”

“I need it. I really, really do.”

Its been a week since I confessed my feelings to her, a week of me consistently buying her flowers and driving her to and from work every day.

Yet she still hasnt confessed her feelings to me. I have no other choice but to wait till shes comfortable enough to accept our love. I will wait forever if I have to.

My phone buzzes, signaling that I’ve received a text. Its from an unknown number.

Its a picture of Gianna in a darkly lit room with her mouth taped, eyes closed, and hands tied behind the chair shes sitting on.

My phone slips from my hand, falling to the floor with a crash.

“Boss, whats wrong? Boss? Boss, you look pale.” I can barely hear Clarks panicked voice or how he has moved close to me to check my phone. The only thing on my mind is that Gianna has been kidnapped because of me.

“If you dont hand over the ownership of the shares you stole from me, Im going to ruin your lady love beyond recognition,” Charles reads out, gulping.

I snap out of my daze and grip the handle of my chair in anger. “Find exactly where that bastard is keeping Gianna. Now.”

“On it, boss.” He runs out with my phone.

My heart and head hurts. I cant even imagine what Gianna is going through at the moment. She must be so scared and confused. And this all happened because I wasnt open enough—not proactive enough.

When Perez started targeting her to get to me, I should have pulled out all the stops to protect her. But I was too lost in my head and feelings to do anything.

The door bangs open, and a sweating Nala rushes in, panting. “Chris, Ive been trying to reach you.”

I stand and rush to her in panic, checking her for any bruises on her body. “Are you alright?”

“Im not.” Tears fall from her eyes. “G-Gianna and I were walking, and some unknown gunmen just dragged her away, and I couldn’t do anything to help her.” She cries, crouching to the floor. “Its all my fault. If I hadnt told her to take a walk with me, this wouldnt have happened.”

I kneel beside her, hugging her to myself and rubbing her back. “If anyone is at fault, its me. So please stop blaming yourself.”

She looks up at me, eyes red and swollen from all the crying. “What do you mean?”

“I will bring her back. I promise.” I helped her up, made her sit on the sofa, and called Sarah to get her a cold drink.

Nala manages to stop heaving. “Why would they have her kidnapped? G never fights with anyone. The only person I can think of who is capable of this is Kendrick, but I still doubt he would go to such lengths just to get her back.”

“Its not Kendrick,” I assure her. “Its Perez.”

She gulps, her eyes wide in shock. “Perez? That bastard! What does he have to do with G? He could have had me kidnapped instead.”

“I should have protected her. Gotten her security. It seems I just keep on making her life miserable.”

Nala immediately holds my hand, shaking her head. “I have never seen G so happy until you guys got together.”

Sarah walks in holding the cold drink which she hands to a grateful Nala. She looks at me. “I got a call from Clark. He has found Giannas location.”

I stand up in an instant. “Where is it?”

“Its at an abandoned workshop near Solstice Canyon.”

I immediately head straight for the door, only for Nala to rush and block my way.

“You are not thinking clearly, Chris. What if he hurts you?” she asks, refusing to let me get past. “You can’t underestimate him. If he is confident enough to do this, he must have the means to do so. He’ll—He won’t hesitate to hurt you,” she says.

“I won’t hesitate to hurt him either,” I respond, my voice low.

I dont like to hurt people. Im not as ruthless as my father or my grandfather. But if theres one thing Ive learned from them, its that if I have to get my hands bloody for my loved ones, I should.

She gapes at me. “You cant just go out there without a plan.”

Shes right. Im too agitated to think straight. If I go there as I am right now, I would surely be shot down dead.

“Fine, give me your phone.”

She hands it to me. “What are you going to do?”

I choose not to answer her. I dial Clark’s number on her phone and call him. After four rings, he picks up.

“It’s me.” He’ll recognize my voice.

“Oh, sorry, boss. I didnt know it was you.”

“Whats the latest?” I ask, getting straight to the point.

“He has more guards than I can count right now. If you go there alone and give into his request, you will be walking into a trap.”

“Who says Im going to give in to his request? I want this to be his end.”

Im not underestimating Perez. He has the backing of people who have been plotting my familys downfall for years.

“Get the team ready,” I order. “We are going in. Im going to pretend that I have done what he wants, and as soon as he discovers that Im lying, there will be a shootout.”

“Thats dangerous.” I can hear the fear in his voice.

“Get the police involved. If he doesnt die there and then, I will make sure he and his cohorts rot in jail.” I pause, taking a deep breath to calm my anger. “But remember, Gianna must come out of there alive and without a scratch.”

“What about you?”

“Don’t worry about me. Just do your job. Assemble the guys in the next thirty minutes. I will connect with you all soon.”

I turn to look at Sarah, who looks perplexed. “Get me a new phone now.” She nods and scurries off.

“Please dont do anything stupid. Please promise me you will come back alive with Gianna as well. Please,” Nala desperately pleads, looking so afraid.

I cup her face and smile to reassure her. “I promise that I will bring her back safe and sound.”

If I cant be alive with Gianna, then I have every intention of taking that asshole out with me.