AUTHOR'S P.O.V
He couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong. He hated this feeling, hated the way it made him question everything. But he knew his instincts were always right. After all, it wasn't just his business acumen that made him the undisputed king of the business world, but his razor-sharp instincts that always seemed to guide him to the top.
Sitting in the sleek, modern conference room, he barely listened to his useless board of directors try to find solutions for their decision on a huge project that meant a lot to the company in his absence. Their decision would've ruined his hard work and dedication to turning Lanchester Empire into what it was currently after its collapse upon his dad's demise. He'd had to cut his honeymoon short just to be there to handle things.
The board of directors droned on, their voices a cacophony of uncertainty. Reed's attention wandered, his thoughts consumed by Valerie. She'd been distant, closed off, and it bothered him. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. His mind replayed their last interactions – the brief conversations, the missed connections, the sleep-deprived gazes. Every time he came home, she was asleep, her beauty muted by exhaustion.
Reed's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. If something happened to his wife... The thought sent a jolt of adrenaline through his veins.
Without warning, he stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. The room fell silent, the board of directors staring at him in surprise. Without a word, he strode towards the door, his long legs eating up the distance. A baffled Stephan hurried after him, "Sir, what—"
Reed didn't respond. The cool air of the office lobby enveloped him, a welcome respite from the stifling conference room. He quickened his pace, his eyes fixed on the elevator. His mind was already racing ahead, thoughts of Valerie consuming him.
Stephan struggled to keep up, "Reed, what's wrong?"
Reed's expression remained impassive, but his eyes betrayed a glimmer of concern. "I need to go home."
He pushed the elevator button, his eyes fixed on the doors as they slid open. Reed stepped inside. Stephan followed, his brow furrowed in concern. "Is everything okay, sir?"
Reed didn't respond. He couldn't. He was too busy trying to shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in his stomach.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. But his mind was already made up. He had to get to Valerie. He had to make sure she was safe.
The elevator doors opened and they stepped out into the cold night. He spotted his car, parked by the entrance, and strode towards it with Stephan behind him.
The driver opened the door, and Reed slid into the car, his eyes already fixed on his phone. He dialed Valerie's number, his fingers moving with a sense of urgency. As the phone rang, he felt a growing sense of unease. No one picked up.
He tried again, his brow furrowed in concern. The twentieth attempt yielded the same result - silence. His mood darkened as he realized her phone was switched off after his first call. Was it intentional, or... Something was indeed wrong, he could feel it.
Stephan, who had accompanied his boss, sensed the change in the atmosphere. The air seemed to thicken, heavy with tension. He knew the man sitting beside him was a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode. He prayed to the heavens he wouldn't become a victim of Reed's dangerous mood.
“Call Skye,”Reed demanded, his voice flat and cold, sending shivers down Stephan's spine.
Stephan fumbled for his phone in his pocket, his hands trembling slightly as he hurriedly dialed Skye's number. She didn't pick up on the first ring. He tried again, his impatience growing.
