Lovers in California: Held For Ransom

• 8 •

--Nathan's POV--

Wednesday 2:30pm

Jeez, what a trip that was. I was literally working all the time. Going to meetings and conferences really isn't that fun you know. Yeah, New York is amazing, but it isn't amazing when you can't see any of it because you're stuck inside offices all day.

Anyway, enough of me ranting. I just landed and got off the plane. I still had on my work pants with matching blazer, a white button up shirt and smart shoes (I had a quick meeting this morning and didn't have time to change). I decided to text Isabelle, like I always do, to let her know I had landed and that I'd be home soon.

"Just landed babe, I'll c u in about an hour x x" I texted her. I couldn't help but smile when I was typing it, I missed her so much and I couldn't wait to see her again.

I got my luggage and then waited for a taxi. As I was waiting, my phone made a noise letting me know I had got a message. "Yay! That'll be Isabelle!" I excitedly thought to myself and grabbed my phone from my pocket. However, I was extremely disappointed when I looked at the message. It was already from work telling me to do something. "Oh fuck off" I angrily muttered, which caused some heads to turn my way, and shoved my phone back in my pocket.

My taxi soon arrived and I hopped inside. As we were reaching up to our house, I checked my phone to see if I had missed a message from her. Nope, nothing. This was a little weird, she's normally really good with messaging back quickly. I don't know, maybe she was busy and didn't hear her phone or something?

We pulled up outside, I paid the taxi driver and said goodbye. Ahh, it was good to finally be home. I saw that Isabelle's car was still parked in the drive, so she must be home.

I let myself in and shut the door behind me.

"Honey, I'm home!" I called out. Cheesy I know, but it was our little thing. "Babe?" I then said after a few seconds. Nothing.

I put my keys where the rest of the keys go but I suddenly noticed something - Isabelle's keys weren't there. Ok... So she must be out? Well it was Wednesday after all, so she could be working.

This all seemed a little strange to me, and I just felt like something was wrong. I walked down the corridor and glanced into the lounge. That's when I saw her laptop on the coffee table still open. She never leaves her laptop like that when she goes out. Ok, this was getting weirder.

I then walked into the kitchen. I stopped right in my tracks when I saw a note on the breakfast bar. I quickly walked over to it and picked it up, then began to read it. I couldn't believe what it said.

"What the fuck?" I muttered to myself and had to sit down to process everything.

I read the note over and over again. I was just so confused. Then my confusion went over to anger. Somebody had my baby girl.

I needed something to wake me up a bit as I was a little brain dead. Coffee was my solution. I went over to the fridge to see if we had any milk. Chances are it would be out of date - it was. I quickly went to the door, grabbed my keys and ran to my car. I jumped in and sped off down the round to our nearest grocery store.

I wasn't really paying much attention to the road because I was too focused on what was going on. However, I eventually made it there in one piece.

Little did I know, I was going to have a little surprise when I got back.