Page 75 of His to Possess
"Really," he insisted. "Keep me in the loop. I have resources, connections. If you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out."
I shifted on my feet, conflicted. Part of me wanted to reject his help outright, to cling to the familiar hatred we had nursed for years. But Laurel's safety was more important than my pride.
"Alright," I conceded, the word feeling strange on my tongue. "I'll keep you updated. And… thanks."
"Of course," August replied, and I could hear the relief in his voice. "We may have our differences, Rex, but Laurel doesn't deserve to pay for them. Let's find her."
As I ended the call, I was struck by how strange this all felt. August Mendelson, my friend turned sworn enemy for years, now offering his help. The ice between us hadn't completely thawed, but there was a crack in it now, a possibility I had never expected.
I turned to face Remy and Nolan, who had been watching me intently throughout the conversation. Their expressions were a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Well?" Remy prompted, raising an eyebrow.
I let out a long breath, trying to organize my thoughts. "August doesn't know where Laurel is," I began, "but he thinks her disappearance might be connected to what happened in Paris."
Nolan nodded thoughtfully. "It makes sense. Whatever drove her out of Paris must have been serious. If it's caught up with her now…"
"Exactly," I agreed, pacing the room. "We need to dig deeper into her past, find out what really happened in Paris."
"Goddammit!" I growled, tossing the phone onto the bed. "He's not answering. Must have turned his phone off."
The room fell silent, the weight of our failed attempts hanging heavy in the air. I ran a hand through my hair, feeling more lost than ever.
"What now?" I asked, hating the vulnerability in my voice.
Before anyone could answer, Nolan returned, his expression grim. "Greyson's on board," he said. "He's reaching out to his contacts now. We should have something soon."
I nodded, a small measure of relief washing over me. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
Chapter 25
Laurel
I hurried up the street, my shoulders hunched against the gloomy Parisian morning. The city of light felt more like a prison now, its beauty tarnished by the hell I had been living for the past three weeks.
Alain. The name alone made my stomach churn. How could I have been so blind? The man I had once loved revealed himself to be a monster, a two-faced psycho who delighted in my misery. In public, he played the role of the magnanimous savior, the good man who gave a second chance to the woman who had betrayed him. But behind closed doors, his true nature emerged—cold, cruel, and relentlessly manipulative.
I shook my head, disgusted with myself. How had I never seen it before? The signs must have been there, but love, or what I had thought was love, had blinded me. Now, I was paying the price for that blindness, forced to work under his thumb, my reputation in tatters.
The worst part was, Alain didn't even have the decency to help me find a place to stay when I arrived. I had to scramble, burning through what little savings I had left from Chicago to secure a shabby studio apartment. It was barely livable, but it was all I could afford now.
As I navigated the busy sidewalk, dodging other commuters, I clenched my fists. I didn't care if I had to beg on the streets. I didn't care if I had to sell every possession I owned. I would find a way to expose Alain and his scheming. I would make sure everyone saw him for who he truly was.
I stepped into the opulent De Lamalle Galerie, my heart pounding against my ribs. The familiar scent of oil paint and wood polish hit me, a cruel reminder of better days.
I made my way to my workspace, a small desk tucked away in a corner on the second floor. It was isolated enough to make me feel exposed, yet not private enough for comfort. My hands shook slightly as I arranged my belongings, carefully positioning my bag to obscure the small notebook hidden within. That little book was my lifeline, filled with every scrap of evidence I had managed to gather so far.
As I settled in, other employees began to trickle in. Their wary glances spoke volumes about the oppressive atmosphere Alain cultivated. No one made eye contact for long, all of us trapped.
I pulled out my laptop, trying to appear busy and unobtrusive. The tension in the air was thick enough to choke on. Every footstep made me flinch, wondering if it was Alain coming to torment me further.
A young intern bumped into my desk, his face pale with fear as he stammered an apology. I forced a smile, assuring him it was fine, but my heart ached. This place was poison, crushing the spirit of everyone who worked here.
I turned to my computer screen, pretending to focus on work while my mind raced. How much longer could I endure this?How many more of Alain's twisted games and veiled threats would I have to navigate before I found a way out?
The sound of the elevator pinged, and a hush fell over the office. I didn't need to look up to know it was him. His presence filled the room like a dark cloud, suffocating us all.
He strode into the office, exuding an aura of charm and authority that made my skin crawl. His arrival alone was enough to silence the room, every employee suddenly finding their computer screens and paperwork utterly fascinating.
