Bands of the Unpaid Dowry

Chapter 30

Manuela rushed through the space in search of her cousin. She was torn between directly following her friend and informing her cousin of the mishap. She didn't know what had just happened but she knew from a glance from the presence of the red-haired heiress that she was involved in whatever was happening. When she finally found her cousin, she found that he was still thronged with people. Her present scowl hardened, and her eyebrows attached to each other.

Her eyes scanned the people and her cousin in their midst; she raised her hand to get his attention but even in his tall frame, all his attention was on the people chatting him up, but she could tell by the slight tremble in his hands that he was anxious to get out of there. She saw his eyes dart around but they barely found her. Manuela was anxious because an increasing waste in time meant she was missing her friend. Her legs shook and her eyes scanned the perimeter stressfully for another opening. Her eyes met blue orbs in an African print shirt, and she exhaled in relief, waving at Sean and started to move toward him.

"Sean, Millicent, something is wrong." Sean's face contorted in worry, and he shifted his eyes momentarily to Jace, who he knew was looking for a way out to see her. He grabbed onto Manuela's shoulders and his eyes bore into hers. He had to bend down to do that.

"What happened to Millicent?" She gulped in confusion herself.

"There's a painting of her in the last hallway; Gwen was there and when Mimi saw it, I don't know Sean, she rushed out. I have to go find her. Get Jace; let him get that thing off." She was speaking so quickly that he had to focus to make them out.

Sean did not wait to comprehend whatever she had said. He pushed through the crowd and placed a heavy hand on his friend's shoulder. Jace stopped his words and turned to see Sean's face and he instantly sobered from the chatty atmosphere. When he heard the words that his friend spoke his gray eyes shot to Manuela who was already turning away. He strained himself out of the crowd, Sean following close and walked directly to the end of the display. His jaw clenched, his meteor gray-blue eyes had an enraged fire as he looked at the painting he had never done. Every angle and stroke showed that it was not a work of his hand. His heavy footsteps echoed in the hall among the people and he wasted no time in yanking off the art.

Cole stood next to his daunting presence searching around with a nervous pair of eyes as people's surprised eyes probed the scene. He saw Sean with his own lips set in a thin line and hard eyes on the spot where the piece had previously been. The material was thrusted into his hands in an angry fashion, and he could barely stand in position when the harsh glare of Jace fell on him.

"Get rid of it." Jace was already running out of the venue before any remarks could be made.

He found Manuela pacing feverishly in front of the entrance, held back by the many flashing lights and just like Sean had grabbed onto her, he held her shoulders in fear.

"Where is she, Manu?" His cousin's eyes were just as fearful.

"I don't know. But this is bad. I don't know what is going on but to Mimi right now, that would be like her dignity being ripped off. We were once exploited sexually as a country and so most of us never expose ourselves like that. She's probably breaking." She watched him pull the roots of his hair like Sean who ran a hand through his blond locks.

"Let's split. I'll go with Manu and Jace, go to the next street where there are less people. Do you know where she could be? What she does when she is in a bad mood." Sean asked equally distraught about his friend.

"I need to find her. I don't want her getting hurt. I'm going round." Jace's long legs had already carried him out and he ran through the press.

Jace's feet beat the paved sidewalks of the streets of LA with his neck straining from left to right for the kinky curled that was in a gorgeous up do and her flawless face. He ran his hand through his head when he made the turn to the third street with no sign of Millicent. His jaw hardened and his eyes were fiery as he searched the streets with numerous shops and people walking around their daily life. Raising his phone that was clutched in his hand, he dialed Sean as he continued to run through the street.