I called Tracy again. And again.
Straight to voicemail.
The blue glow of my phone lit my face in the dark bedroom as I stared at the screen like it might suddenly answer me back. My chest felt tight, restless. I hadn't slept properly all night—every time I closed my eyes, the same thought circled
back: Why would she shut me out again without a word?
With a sharp breath, I swung my legs off the bed and jumped to my feet.
Barefoot, dressed only in my pajama shirt and pants. Quickly, I found my slippers and slid them on as I ran down the stairs, the soft lights of the penthouse flicking on automatically as I passed.
The sitting room opened up around me—expensive, immaculate, and completely useless against the storm in my head. I paced from one end to the other, scrolling through my phone, rubbing my head, replaying every moment of our date. Every laugh. Every look. Nothing felt wrong. Nothing explained this silence.
It's too early to panic, I told myself.
But my heart didn't listen.
Before I could think better of it, I dialed Tolu.
"Bro," I snapped the moment the call connected, my voice edged with frustration, "what's going on? Have you heard from Tracy?"
Tolu hesitated—and that alone made my stomach drop.
Instead of Tracy, Tolu spilled everything about Kelvin and Sonia. How Kelvin had told him about the separation. How Sonia had walked in on Kelvin with someone else—caught them mid-mistake—and vanished from the house disappointed.
I ran a hand through my hair, pacing harder. "Okay... but what does that have to do with Tracy?" I demanded. "That doesn't explain why she's not answering me."
Tolu sighed on the other end. "I know. It's messy, man."
Before the call ended, Tolu promised to reach out to Sonia, to dig deeper and find out if she knew anything Tracy hadn't said. I thanked him quickly and hung up, the frustration still burning hot in my chest.
Needing air—real air—i walked out to the garden. The morning was just beginning to stretch awake, the pool water still and reflective, the city quiet beneath me. I leaned against the railing, breathing slowly, trying to calm my thoughts.
That was when I felt it.
A gentle hand stroked my shoulder.
I turned to see my mother standing behind me, concerned about my restlessness. I forced a smile—one she immediately saw through—and sat beside the pool. Slowly, carefully, I opened up. I told her about what had been weighing on me lately. About Tracy. About how the date had gone better than I'd dared to hope. About how losing contact with her now felt like the ground shifting beneath my feet.
She listened. Didn't interrupt. Just stayed.
We had a long chat for about an hour until my phone rang again.
Tolu.
I answered instantly.
Tolu's voice was heavier this time. He told me everything—how Sonia had finally admitted the truth. How she'd betrayed Tracy. How she'd crossed a line she couldn't take back. Sonia had confessed that she'd ruined her relationship with Tracy, that Tracy had shut everyone out completely.
"She's not answering anyone, Fred," Tolu said quietly. "Sonia doesn't even know where she is."
The words landed like a punch.
I felt anger and worry twist together inside me. I'd just found Tracy again—just—and now she was gone without a word. Again. It felt unbearable. Toxic. Beautiful and painful all at once.
"This love..." I muttered after the call ended, kicking the air in raw frustration. "This love will finish me."
And then—
My phone rang.
I froze.
The name on the screen made my breath catch.
Tracy.
I answered so fast my fingers shook. "Hey—hey, I've been so worried," I said, relief flooding my voice. "Where are you?"
On the other end, Tracy exhaled—a long, tired breath that carried everything she hadn't said.
"Fred," she murmured, "just... meet me. I'll send you the address. The apartment where I'm staying."
That was all she said before the line went dead and a message popped up on my screen. The address.
I didn't hesitate.
I rushed past my mother, promising I'd explain later, already signaling one of my bodyguards. Within minutes, the car was pulling out of the driveway, the city waking fully now as we drove.
Relief, fear, hope—everything tangled together in my chest as we headed toward Tracy.
This time, I was not letting her disappear again.