Thawing the CEO's Heart

Chapter 32: The Hunt Begins

Aoom's heart pounded in her chest as she and Ice rushed out of the building, their minds consumed with worry for Meena. Aoom's phone remained clutched tightly in her hand, each unanswered call adding to her growing sense of dread.

Meanwhile, at the safehouse, Charlotte tightened the ropes binding Meena to the chair, her eyes gleaming with malice. "You should consider yourself lucky, Meena," she sneered. "You're about to witness the culmination of my revenge."

Meena's eyes widened in fear as she struggled against her restraints. "Charlotte, please," she begged, her voice muffled by the duct tape covering her mouth. "You don't have to do this."

But Charlotte's expression remained cold and unyielding. "Oh, but I do," she retorted, her tone dripping with venom. "Aoom humiliated me, and now it's time for payback."

Back on the streets of Bangkok, Aoom's desperation grew with each passing moment. "Where could she be?" she muttered, her voice laced with frustration. "We've checked everywhere."

Ice glanced at Aoom, her own worry etched into her features. "We'll find her, Aoom," she said, her voice filled with determination. "We just have to keep looking."

But Aoom couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness that gnawed at her insides. "I should have protected her," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I should have been there for her."

Aoom's hands trembled as she frantically dialed Meena's number once more, her heart pounding in her chest. But instead of Meena's familiar voice, she heard Charlotte's mocking laughter on the other end of the line.

"Looking for your girlfriend?" Charlotte's voice taunted, dripping with malice. "I'm sorry, Aoom, we're having a best friend moment right now."

Aoom's grip on the phone tightened, her knuckles turning white with fury. "Charlotte, where is she?" she demanded, her voice laced with urgency.

But before Aoom could get any answers, the line went dead. A sense of helplessness washed over her as she realized the gravity of the situation. "Damn it, Ice," she exclaimed, her voice echoing with frustration. "Charlotte has Meena."

Ice's eyes widened in shock as she absorbed the news. "We need to find her," she declared, her tone urgent. "Now."

Back in the safehouse, Meena's voice trembled with disbelief and hurt as she confronted Charlotte when she removed the duct tape on her mouth. "Charlotte, I thought you were my best friend? We're practically sisters, we grew up together. Why are you doing this to me?" Tears welled up in her eyes, her heart heavy with the weight of betrayal.

But Charlotte's expression remained cold and unyielding. "We were best friends, Meena," she spat, her voice dripping with bitterness. "Until you fell for that woman."

Meena's voice quivered as she tried to reason with her friend. "We can still fix this, Charlotte," she urged, desperation seeping into her words. "Please, just let me go."

A cruel laugh escaped Charlotte's lips as she shook her head in disbelief. "Fix this?" she scoffed.

Charlotte's demeanor turned steely, her voice devoid of warmth. "Do you have any idea how my dad berated me that night after Aoom embarrassed me in front of everyone?" she spat, her words tinged with resentment. "It even jeopardized my position in our company. I had to pretend that I didn't aspire to inherit my father's company because of her. So, I won't rest until she hits rock bottom, and you, Meena, unwittingly made her vulnerable. Now I have her weekness, and I can make her existence a living hell. Well done." Her eyes gleamed with a vengeful resolve as she laid out her sinister intentions.

Meena's eyes widened in shock as she listened to Charlotte's vindictive tirade. She never imagined her best friend harbored such resentment and hatred towards Aoom. As the gravity of the situation sank in, Meena realized she was in deeper trouble than she had ever imagined.