Strange Addiction

Chapter 28

Quinn

“Nile, calm down.”

After telling him everything, he suddenly rushed out of his office in rage. I had to follow him and stop him from doing anything reckless.

I thought I was the one who was overreacting.

“You refused to tell me anything about her and now I hear this.” He exclaimed.

I looked around, embarrassed that his employees could hear us. His voice was loud and furious. It could be easily mistaken that we were having an argument.

“Will you calm down first? God, Nile. you’re making a scene here. Let’s go back to your office and discuss things there. If you storm out without a proper plan, it will only delay us.”

Gritting his teeth, he whirled around and went back to his office. I swear I hear him growling.

Is this what it felt like when they’re trying to calm me down? It’s exhausting.

“Colton is helping us right now. He will inform us right away when he finds her.”

“You mean that lowlife.” He grunted.

My eyes widened at his name calling for Colton. Oh my god. He and Kura might be total opposites but they’re exactly alike in this aspect.

“Colton is Kura’s best friend. If you call him that way again, she will decorate a bruise on that girly face of yours.”

“Tch. I’m letting my men right now spread throughout the city to find her. My investigator will look into every flight history if she ever left the country."

"There's the plan. It's good that you're back to being level headed." I sat down at one of the chairs suddenly feeling tired.

"I should’ve done this the moment you refuse to let me know her whereabouts." He growled. His voice was deep and guttural indicating his anger.

I've never seen him like this before to anyone, what’s more to a woman. His care for her might have outmatched any one of us.

"I'm sorry, okay. We were trying to convince ourselves that nothing is wrong with her. She usually disappears and reappears. We got used to it but this time she's been gone for weeks without contacting us."

I've been thinking about endless possibilities. Negative possibilities. My chest is aching for her right now. Recently I can't even sleep. Belle was no longer reassuring me. She was also feeling the same way.

I don't know if I can push through the wedding knowing Kura might be in danger. I don't want to celebrate the happiest day of my life while having a lingering feeling that my best friend is…

I clenched my fist at the thought.

I flinched when I heard a loud bang. His fist was slammed on the table with extreme force that echoed the corners of the walls.

"This city will go down if I don't find her. Remember that."

He growled before storming out of the office.

---

Tyler and I were having dinner at one of our favorite restaurants but I was not in the mood to eat. I hardly touched my food.

“What's wrong? No appetite again?” Tyler’s voice was laced with concern.

I placed my knife and fork down and sighed. “Tyler… I think we need to talk.”

“No need. If it’s what you want, then I’ll respect your decision.” His smile was calm and affectionate.

I frowned at his answer. I was confused and curious if he really knew what I was going to say. “You know what I was going to say?”

His hand reached for my face and caressed my cheek. “Since when did I go wrong when it comes to you?” His voice was soft and mellow caressing my heart. His eyes glinted with love that was only directed to me.

“If you want to postpone the wedding because you’re worried for your friend, it’s fine. I understand.” His fingers brushed my fallen hair towards my ear. “We’ll do our best to find her. Okay? So stop worrying now and relax and eat. I don’t want you to get thin.”

I sobbed. “Tyler, I love you so much.”

He chuckled. “I know. Don’t cry.” He then kissed my temple and scooched his chair closer towards mine. “Come on before the food gets cold.” He was adding more food to my plate.

I smiled at his sweet gesture. “What about our families? Won’t they be disappointed that we’re going to postpone our wedding?”

“Don’t worry. They will understand. Let’s just tell them the truth. Not to mention that your family is close with Kura. They will not let anything happen to her.” He exhales. “To be honest, I’m also very worried about her. When we had just started dating, she was very welcoming to me. You told me before that she was one of my obstacles yet we instantly clicked when you introduced us. I saw how she cared for you and Belle. A friend like that is very rare.”

I can’t help but feel sad when I hear his words. “I miss her. I’ll minimize my lectures when she comes back.”

He chuckles. “Save your lectures to our children. It would be bad if you ran out of words to discipline them.”

I smile with a hint of sadness. “I’m sorry, babe. We were looking forward to the wedding.”

He shook his head solemnly. “I’m sure we both know that it’s not going to be a great wedding when someone very important to us is missing.”

---

The next day Tyler took action. He hired people to track Kura’s whereabouts. At least my worries toned down a little knowing a lot of people are helping.

Nixon called this morning. I decided to tell him the truth. He was going to help find her. Even though she was Kura’s ex, I set their differences aside because that doesn’t matter anymore. Nixon obviously still cares for her.

Tyler and I decided to tell our folks our plan to postpone the wedding. It will not push through unless we know where she is.

A knock on my office door pulled me out of my reverie. It was my secretary who opened the door. “Miss Anderson, someone named Colton Steele is here to see you.”

“Let him come in.” I said with a wave of my hand.

A moment later, Colton with a distraught face came in. I stilled, my eyes widened at the expression he was wearing. My hands began to tremble in nervousness.

This could not be good.

“Did you find her?” I asked in alert.

He strode towards the chair in front of my desk and sat down. There was frustration and disappointment in his movements which made my agitation skyrocketed.

He shook his head.

I slumped at the answer.

“There’s something you need to know about.”

I didn’t like the sound of that. And I was right.

The truth that he confessed changes everything now.