“Yes, sir,” he answers but still doesn’t move.
“Well …”
“Uh …”
“Get out of here.”
He scrambles to get out of his seat and scurries out of the door.
Useless fucking idiot.
If he wasn’t the best at what he does, he would have been fired long ago. But the simple fact is, if he can’t fix it, no one can. He just needs a kick in the ass every now and then.
I go back to my desk and check my cell. Two missed calls from Beth.
I connect to her number and wait for her to answer.
“King. Where the fuck are you?” she asks impatiently and I chuckle.
“Good morning, Beth. It’s lovely to hear your voice.” I sit back in my brown leather chair, stretching out with my legs crossed at the ankle.
“Quit it, King. Where is your girl? She was due here a half hour ago, but she’s a no show. Does this have something to do with you? ‘Cause it’s not gonna wash with me if you’re making her late by keeping her in your bedroom…”
I can actually feel the color drain from me as I stand abruptly and start to pace between my desk and the door.
She’s not there? Where could she be? She was so excited about meeting Beth this morning.
“Did you call her cell? Maybe she lost track of time along the strip, you know how easy that is to do…”
“I called. Several times. That’s why I’m calling you. If you find her before I do, can you get her to call me? We have a lot to go over before she starts.”
“Sure. I’ll go check the apartment. Maybe she’s still trying to find something suitable to wear to meet Las Vegas’s best dressed beauty,” I joke, although it doesn’t feel funny. This is why I gave her a cell. So that I, or anyone else for that matter, can get in touch with her whenever.
“You’re smooth, King, but I’m not happy,” she grumbles.
“I know.” I sigh. “I’ll sort it.”
She hangs up without saying goodbye, and I mutter under my breath out of frustration. Beth is not one to tolerate lateness, and this would have really pissed her off. Arianna is gonna have to work hard to get over this false start.
I head up to the penthouse, jabbing impatiently at the elevator buttons. I don’t know why it makes me so agitated that she hasn’t turned up for work. Maybe it’s because I know she was so excited about starting, that wild horses wouldn’t have stopped her. She wouldn’t have missed it, would she? Maybe I don’t know her all that well at all, and she’s a serial latecomer, buteven that doesn’t explain her not answering her cell. Or, maybe it’s because I’m so goddamn whipped that I can’t bear the thought of not knowing where she is, and hating the fact that she’s not with me, under me, on top of me, every minute of the day.
I barge into the elevator as soon as the door opens and in my haste, I nearly knock someone flying. He has a briefcase that drops to the floor with a thud.
“Shit,” I curse. “Sorry, mate,” I offer, clapping the man on the back. I try to pick up his case but he’s there before me, and he grabs it up fast, clutching it to his chest protectively.
“No harm done,” he replies. He seems twitchy, and his dark eyes dart all around, but this is Las Vegas and you never know who you’re going to bump into. If I wasn’t in such a hurry, I’d have watched him out on the CCTV, just to be sure what he’s up to, but Arianna is the only thing on my mind right now, and the CCTV probably wouldn’t fucking work anyway.
I head up to the penthouse, finding mine empty. When I cross the hall and look a little closer, the door to Arianna’s suite is open just a fraction. I push it open further and the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. Something doesn’t feel right.
“Arianna,” I call. “Arianna,” I shout louder but still nothing.
I stride through to the bedroom, and it’s like a wrecking ball hits me in the chest, almost knocking me off my feet.
Images of my father flash through my head, along with feelings of helplessness and confusion.
My girl. My stunning girl.
She’s on the floor. She’s naked. She’s…is she breathing?
