Two weeks had passed since Adrian had slowly begun to regain his courage. The pain of Talia's disappearance and the memory of her note still haunted him, but he forced himself to step into the office, trying to act normal, to push forward.
Just as the familiar rhythm of his workday began to settle, the door to his office opened—and Cassandra stepped in, a cold, calculating smile on her face. In her hands was a small package and an envelope, her heels clicking sharply on the floor.
"Morning, Adrian," she said, her tone dripping with faux sympathy. "I thought you might like… some reminders."
Before he could react, she set the package on his desk. The envelope had his name scrawled across it, along with a mocking note: "Enjoy these. Your little maid was quite the actress, wasn't she? Seems your 'lioness' had a lot more secrets than you knew."
Adrian froze. His stomach dropped. Every memory, every moment with Talia, now came crashing back—her laughter, her kindness, her innocence, the way he had cherished her… all now twisted into this cruel mockery.
Cassandra's eyes gleamed as she watched him, savoring the moment. "I thought it was better you see for yourself. Sometimes the truth hurts, doesn't it?"
Rage and heartbreak surged in Adrian. He grabbed the envelope with shaking hands, opened it, and the contents hit him like a blow. Every photo, every image meant to degrade her… it burned his chest, and fury and sorrow tangled into one unbearable knot.
He slammed the desk with a fist. "No… no! This can't be… Talia wouldn't—"
But Cassandra's mocking smile only widened. "Oh, she would, Adrian. And now you see. Best to forget her. Stop thinking about her; stop caring… she's nothing but trouble."
Adrian's jaw tightened. His eyes flashed with a mixture of hatred and heartbreak. In that moment, he vowed—swore to himself—that he would never let her thoughts, her image, or this betrayal haunt him again. He would block it out, never allow her back into his mind… or so he promised, even as the sting of loss and betrayal cut deep.
Cassandra left, her heels clicking down the hall, leaving Adrian staring at the desk, the package, and the cruel mockery that shattered him… at least for now.
Talia's mother had been trying to reach her for days. Every call went unanswered, every message ignored. Her unease grew into dread, and a week after Talia promised to come home for the weekend, she could no longer sit idle.
She stormed to the Wolfe Tower, her heart racing and her voice trembling with panic. "Where is my daughter?!" she demanded, creating a scene in the lobby as security tried to calm her. Her eyes darted anxiously from one floor to another, desperate for any sign of Talia.
Word of the commotion reached Adrian. He stepped out of his office, taking in the scene: a woman, frantic, unrelenting, her eyes filled with fear and desperation. Then he saw the photograph she clutched tightly to her chest—it was Talia.
"Mrs…?" Adrian started gently, stepping forward. "Please, let me help. Let's go to my office."
The mother hesitated, but desperation gave way to trust. Adrian guided her to his office and offered a seat. His gaze softened as he tried to calm her.
"I'm so sorry," he began carefully. "Your daughter… She left a note before she went. She didn't tell anyone where she was going. I… I only found out recently. And then…" He hesitated, placing the envelope with the pictures Cassandra had sent on the desk.
Her hands trembled as she opened it. First confusion, then horror, then tears poured down her face. "This… this can't be! My daughter… She's a good girl! She would never…" Her voice broke. She sobbed, struggling to reconcile the images with the Talia she knew.
Adrian watched silently, giving her space, before gently speaking again. "I know it's hard to believe, but this might not be what it seems. There's a chance she's been taken… or is being manipulated. I need you to know—I'm going to do everything to find her."
Her face hardened, determination overtaking despair. "This… this could be abduction. And blackmail," she said, wiping her tears. "You must act immediately. You can't waste a moment. Investigate this, Mr. Wolfe, or—" she choked up again, "my daughter may be lost forever."
Adrian's jaw tightened. The fury and responsibility settled over him. "You're right. I'll take every measure necessary. We will find her."
In that office, a silent pact was made: Adrian would leave no stone unturned to bring Talia back, and her mother's anguish fueled his resolve.
Adrian didn't waste a second. Pulling out his phone, his fingers moved quickly as he dialed the authorities. "This is Adrian Wolfe," he said firmly. "I need a full investigation immediately. My employee, Talia Brooks, has gone missing under suspicious circumstances. I want every available unit involved, and I want this handled thoroughly and urgently."
He hung up, his eyes meeting Talia's mother, who stood rigid, her panic barely restrained. "We will find her," Adrian promised, his voice steady and commanding. "I swear, I will bring her back safely. You have my word."
Talia's mother turned toward the door, her gaze cold and unyielding. "Listen to me carefully, Mr. Wolfe," she said, her voice sharp, trembling with controlled anger. "If my daughter is harmed… or if she is not found, every single person in this building—everyone in Wolfe & Co.—will answer for it. Do you understand me?"
Adrian nodded, his jaw set, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. "I understand. And I assure you… she will be found. I will not rest until she is safe. I promise you that."
Her eyes softened slightly, but the warning remained in her tone. She left the office, still tense, leaving Adrian standing there, already plotting the next moves, calling for every possible lead to be investigated.
The building seemed suddenly quieter, the urgency of the situation settling over everyone who caught a glimpse of the storm in Adrian's eyes. Talia's mother's warning had fueled his resolve.
That night, Cassandra arrived at Adrian's house, moving with calculated charm. Her heels clicked on the polished floors as she approached, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Adrian," she purred, "you look tense. Why don't you let me help you relax?"
Adrian didn't even look up from his phone. Fingers flying across the screen, he coordinated with security, tracking every lead for Talia.
Cassandra's eyes narrowed. "What are you doing? Calling security for a… girl who disappeared? Why do you care so much?"
Finally, Adrian set the phone down, his gaze hard and unyielding. "Because she matters. And nothing you do will distract me from finding her. Now leave."
She stepped closer, trying to seduce him, leaning in with calculated charm. "Come on, Adrian… you're tense. Let me take care of you. You'll feel better—"
His hand shot out, pushing her back forcefully. "I said stay away!" His voice was sharp and commanding. "I'm not here for you. I will not be manipulated. You have no place here."
Cassandra's lips twisted into a sneer, fury flashing in her eyes. "You think you can just push me away? You think you're better than me?"
"I'm not thinking about you," Adrian said coldly, standing tall. "I'm thinking about finding Talia. That's all that matters. Stay away or there will be consequences."
Cassandra's face hardened as her anger bubbled. "This isn't over," she hissed, turning sharply and storming out, leaving Adrian alone, phone back in hand, fully focused on rescuing Talia.
Cassandra paced in her car, gripping the steering wheel tightly. The chill of fear ran through her veins—the police were moving fast, and she knew they couldn't afford any mistakes. Pulling out her phone, she dialed Alex.
"Alex… we have a problem," she hissed as soon as he picked up. "The authorities are moving faster than we expected. If they trace anything, we're done for. What do we do next?"
On the other end, Alex's voice was sharp but controlled. "Calm down. We need to think carefully. No mistakes. First thing—we cut all devices at the location. No cameras, no phones, nothing that can trace us."
Cassandra nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "Understood. I'll make sure nothing can be tracked. But… what if Adrian gets suspicious?"
Alex's tone hardened. "Then we keep him busy. Manipulate him, distract him, and make him think he's chasing ghosts. The less he knows the better."
Cassandra took a deep breath, her hands tightening around the phone. "Alright. I'll handle it. But we need to move fast. Any delay could ruin everything."
Alex's voice was low and determined. "Exactly. Cut everything. Erase all traces. Make sure no one can link anything back to us. We do this perfectly—or it's over."
Cassandra hung up, her pulse racing. The plan was in motion, and every second counted. The tension between fear and determination filled the car as she prepared to act, knowing the next moves would be critical.