The Billionaire's Five

Chapter 14

"Telling my kids I love them isn't a habit. It's a constant reminder to them that they are the best thing that happened to me."

Tobias gazed at his phone, eyeing it while the meeting continued with his client continued. 

He was waiting for a text or call from Maureen, either of the two choices. He couldn't help but be worried for his youngest, Nikki.

The little baby had always been a sickly child, and out of all five out them, he had the weakest body. He was quiet and calm most of the time, but there were also times when his energy spiked. 

He was just waiting for a call from Helen or Maureen, but he knew that she was already at school by this time to pick up the kids.

He sighed, turning his head towards the board to see one of their architects presenting a design for a hotel project. He needed to concentrate. 

Minutes passed and their meeting continued, with Tobias asking opinions from the members every now and then. They discussed what rooms and features to add, as well as contacting their client and suppliers.

Towards the end of their meeting, his phone rang.

Tobias walked back to his chair by the end of the table, apologizing to the people present as he grabbed his phone from the table. He asked for a minute break before picking up the call.

It was Maureen, and his worry worsened thinking that Nikki needed to go to the hospital.

He'd leave work if he had to.

"Yes? Is something wrong?" he asked, turning his back towards the mirror overlooking the street. He got straight to the point, as he already told Maureen that he'd leave work if she needed help with Nikki.

"Mr. L-Lawson-Tobias..." the shaking in her voice made Tobias' heart race. 

Something was wrong.

"What is it?" he asked, voice wavering. The loud voice from him made his employees turn around and look, but they quickly looked away seeing that he was in a call.

"The kids... they're gone-they're not here." Maureen's shaking voice sounded over the phone. As her words registered to him, Tobias felt his whole body go cold.

"I think it's their mom." Maureen said, continuing to say that she had Natalie with her and they were going home now. She explained that Anne had talked for a few minutes with a woman and asked for her identification, confirming her words. 

He almost dropped his phone, but then clutched it tightly in his hand in anger.

What in the world was Valerie thinking?

Maureen called his name through the phone, and when he answered, she told him that Natalie and her were on their way home, saying that that's where Valerie would be with the kids.

"Okay, okay. I'll be there." his words held promise, and he was already by the door of the conference room as he finished talking. He signaled his secretary that it was an emergency, telling him to take over the meeting and just move things around so he can go. 

Tobias dropped the call, feet running towards the elevator of their building and towards his car. His heart was racing and it felt like it was going to burst out of his chest.

He couldn't decide if it was due to worry or anger. 

 He raced to the streets, impatiently glaring at the red lights that stopped him from speeding. The usual hour distance from his office to his house was reduced to a quarter.