ODDS OF LOVE - SEASON 14

Episode 20

That night at the lavish Evergreen Acres estate of billionaire Nicholas Volokouv in the dining room where the assorted family and guests gathered around the enormous polished oak wood table the continued absence of one Ariel Kendall seemed to haunt the dinner.

At the head of the table Nicholas himself appeared very disturbed and distracted as he barely touched the various meal courses placed before him by the staff. Matilda , seated opposite him at the other end of the table and looking regally elegant in a long silky dress sitting in a rented manual wheelchair as befitting her doctor ordered pregnancy bed rest , attempted to no avail to lift his spirits with her numerous light jokes and stories of performing overseas and at their son's restaurant.

Maxim , seated next to his wife Natasha who was feeling oddly sick to her own stomach and fatigued that evening , was also extremely quiet as he ignored his dinner in favor of continually glancing at both his expensive wristwatch and his father's expressionless face. 

Alexi was seated beside his own " very special guest  " Washington Reign reporter Scott Sands. Both Alexi and Scott were tasked with providing their own version of stimulating dinner conversation primarily Alexi's droll jokes over the silence owing to Race Jr. eating in the nursery that night with the boys and their governess as Scott provided tidbits of his award winning performance on the Rebel show. 

The younger invited guests , Theodore  Rochester , Luci Moore , Sol Klein and Jeff Kendall , tried their best to keep up the spirits of Alan but his thoughts remained on the whereabouts of his own mother.  Luci and Sol told amusing tales of the Romeo and Juliet rehearsals at school as Theodore gazed with worry upon his boyfriend and Jeff observed everything with his narrowed  blue eyes. 

As the black dressed maids came in with the dessert course of  medovik which was a Russian honey cake with moist layers of a soft cookie like texture and creamy sour cream frosting the cell phone of Nicholas began to ring shrilly. The abrupt sound seemed to startle everyone present at the table as it chimed. 

Alan lifted his brown eyes up from his plate of untouched food and asked almost helplessly , " Is that my mother ? "

Natasha huffed with a hand against her stomach and the other to her forehead , " It is quite rude to accept telephone calls at the dinner hour , Father. "

Maxim stunned all by turning to his wife suddenly and retorting , " Hush , Natasha. Father , answer it ! "

Nicholas cut his eyes stiffly at his middle born son even as he did just that. " Yes ? This is Nicholas Volokouv speaking. "

On the other end of the phone line a deeply muffled man's voice retorted harshly , " Good. Listen closely to my words , Mister Volokouv , listen carefully. Your lady's life and even her son's life depends on your obedience in this one matter. No law enforcement must be involved in this. I want a million dollars for the return of Ariel Kendall. And , I want it by Wednesday evening. I shall be in touch with you very shortly for instructions of exchanging the money. "

Nicholas's green eyes glinted coldly as he replied smoothly , " I wish to speak with her. Now. "

Alan swallowed hard and Theodore reached over to hold his hand , giving it a tight squeeze while Luci and Sol looked at each other with growing curiosity. 

Jeff demanded , " Is that Mom ? What the hell is going on ? "

Nicholas ignored everyone at the table as the man's voice was suddenly replaced by that of a terrified Ariel crying out , " Nicholas , please help me....... "Then she was gone again and the man was back on the line , saying roughly in his deeply accented voice that resembled a less educated and uncultured version of Nicholas's own tone ," You have your orders. Remember. No law enforcement. We are watching you. I will be in touch. "

Then the call was disconnected abruptly and Nicholas stood up with all eyes turned towards him including Maxim who also stood up , demanding in a very rare arrogant tone , " Now can we telephone the police , Father ! "

Jeff stood up as well , his strong broad hand now on his younger brother's tensed shoulder. " Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on ! Was that Mom ? Where the hell is she ! " 

Scott Sands leaned forward in his seat , dark eyes narrowed instinctively , a slight smile curving his lips as he thought that there might be a story for him right here at his companion's dinner table.