Chapter 21 – The Disappearing Act
Ethan's phone buzzed for the third time that hour. Still no message from Clara.
At first, he'd brushed it off. Clara often went silent when she was mad.
But when her phone went straight to voicemail, his stomach turned into ice.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
He slammed his laptop shut, startling Damien who stood across the office holding two coffees.
"Whoa, someone's in a mood," Damien said, raising a brow.
"Have you heard from Clara?" Ethan demanded.
Damien's easy smirk faded. "No. Why?"
"She was supposed to meet her friend an hour ago. She never showed up."
A thick silence filled the office.
Then Damien's phone lit up. He frowned. "That's weird… one of my security guys just sent me footage."
He turned the screen toward Ethan. Clara's car was parked on the curb—but she wasn't the one who got out.
A man in black had opened the door and slid into the driver's seat.
Ethan's pulse roared in his ears. "Trace that plate. Now."