CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

LILY

Ever since we got back from meeting my dad, I’ve felt like someone’s been watching me. I keep looking around, but I don’t see anybody.

I haven’t told Blake about it yet. I assume he’ll get me a bodyguard if I say anything. So, that’s why I don’t.

The next day, I’m meeting Jenny for lunch. We planned on meeting at a new Indian place. When I arrive, she is already sitting at a table waiting for me.

I take a seat next to her.

"Two things I need your help with," I tell her.

"What’s the first thing?"

Before I can tell her, our waitress comes over and asks what we want.

"Could you come back in a couple of minutes? I haven’t looked at the menu yet." She gives me a polite smile, then leaves.

"I need a job. Do you know of any openings?"

She nods. "One or two maybe. Let me look into it. I’ll let you know."

The waitress returns and takes our order before she leaves again.

"What’s the second thing?"

I look around to make sure no one is listening, and then I lean closer to her. "I think someone is following me. Haven’t seen anyone, but I have this feeling."

"Have you told Blake?"

"No, I’m afraid he would lock me in the apartment or call in the National Guard."

Neither option would make me happy.

"Be careful. Your gut instinct is always right."

I miss this. I enjoy hanging out with her. I don’t get to spend much time with her, even though we are both in New York now. If Blake has any free time, I spend it with him. I need to get out more, but our romance is still so new that I want to spend all my free time with him. I know he feels the same way because he’s always coming home early or taking long lunches to be with me.

After lunch with Jenny, I go off on my own to do a little shopping, checking out some small boutique stores. Blake texts that he’ll be home early. I still have plenty of time before he comes home. I notice a cute little lingerie store, so I decide to take a quick peek. They have some beautiful pieces that Blake would love to see me in. I will have to tell Jenny about this place. I hurry back home to get ready for Blake.

I take a long soak in the bathtub and add some excellent smelling salts. I dry myself off and put on my new panties and bra. The set I decide to wear tonight is see-through white lace with little ruffles on the top of the panties and bra. It’s a cutesy set that will definitely drive Blake crazy.

I text him to ask if he’s close. He says that he’s getting out of the car. I pose on the chair that is directly across from the elevator. I want to be the first thing he sees when he gets off it. Minutes pass, and no Blake. Maybe someone stopped him downstairs to talk.

After ten minutes, he still isn’t here. I push up from the chair and stomp to the phone and dial down to the security desk.

"Yes, Mr. Dalton. How can we help you?"

"This is Ms. Allen. Is Blake in the lobby?"

"No, Ms. Allen. Mr. Dalton is not here."

"Ok, thanks." I hang up.

I call Blake. I’m getting a little grumpy because I had this whole seduction thing ready, and he gets waylaid by someone else. The phone goes straight to voicemail. That’s strange. He always picks up the phone when I call.

I hurry and call Noah. While the phone is ringing, I hustle to the bedroom to put on a pair of jeans and a shirt. I’m pulling my shirt over my head when Noah answers. I drop the phone, trying to talk and get my shirt on at the same time.

"Sorry, Noah. Is Blake with you?" I walk back into the living room. Still no Blake.

"No, he isn’t. Why?"

"He texted he was just outside the building almost twenty minutes ago. He’s still not here. He won’t pick up his phone. I’m worried."

I hit the elevator button, and the doors open. It’s empty.

He doesn’t say anything. "Noah?"

I get on the elevator and head to the lobby.

"It’s okay, Lily. I’m coming. I’ll check with Rob and see if he’s heard from Blake."

"Okay."

I hang up, and the doors open. I step out and look around. Blake isn’t here. I walk up to the security desk. "I need you to find Blake."

The jerk doorman brushes me off. "I’m sorry, Ms. Allen. I don’t know where he is."

"Well, he called me saying that he was getting out of his car, right outside the building, and he never showed up. He has to be here somewhere."

I’m practically screaming at the guy by the time I’m done. The doorman comes running over since I’m making a scene in the lobby.

"Can I help you?" he asks me.

"Blake was on his way inside, and he disappeared. I want to know what’s going on."

I try to stay calm, but I can feel that something bad has happened.

The doorman looks over at the security guy.

"Check the tapes. Run them back about––"

He looks at me.

"Twenty-five minutes," I say.

It’s been that long already. I try to keep myself from falling apart. There has to be a perfectly good explanation. Tenants meander by, trying to find out what’s going on. I ignore them all. I feel relief when both Noah and Rob walk through the doors. They will find the answers. The doorman and security guy think I’m overreacting, but I’m not. Something bad has happened to Blake.

They walk toward me.

"Have they found anything out yet?" they ask me.

"They are checking the tapes now," I reply.

They both go around the desk to check the tapes with the security guy. The guy has a different attitude now that the owners of the building are standing over him. I really don’t care what’s going on. I just want Blake back with me.

"There he is." Blake points to the screen.

I hurry around the desk and look. Blake is walking to the elevator and raises his hand to push the button when he turns to look at something. He walks to the back door and goes through. Doesn’t return.

"Where did he go? Do you have more cameras back there?"

I don’t wait for an answer. I rush to the door that Blake walked through earlier. Nothing. There is a hall with doors on each side, then a door to the back alley. I open the back door and poke my head out.

Nothing.

I head back to the lobby.

A phone is lying on the floor by the first door I went through. I reach down and pick it up. I know before I turn it over that it’s Blake’s. Someone has taken him.