BETRAYAL

7

"You're going to drool at this rate," Katherine joked after seeing him stare at Winnie for so long.

"Uh," He smiled awkwardly before continuing eating his food.

"You like her, don't you?" she asked him.

"No, It's not like that. I-I....what I mean is-"

Katherine cut him off, "Calvin it's alright. It's okay to like her. It's okay to be with her, as long as she is okay with it. You don't have to pretend like you don't in front of me. I know Michael liked her and all but it's not like they were married or anything," She told him and went back to eating her food.

Calvin couldn't tell if Katherine was genuine or not. Was she really okay with me and her? He wondered.

A few minutes later a waiter came and handed Katherine a tissue, he then whispered something to her and left. Calvin watched as Katherine opens the tissue, it seemed like it was a note.

Katherine eyes widened a little as she quietly read the note,

I'm so sorry I had to leave like this. I'll call and explain everything to you. Please don't tell Calvin, at least until I get away.
~Winnie.

"What is it?" Calvin asked her.

Katherine slowly folded the tissue back and smiled at him, "I think your mom still got it, I can't believe I'm receiving a phone number in a tissue like this at this age."

"Well, I don't blame them. They clearly got eyes. You should use this opportunity to get out more and date," Calvin told her with a smile.

"Should I?" She commented and laughed before she put the tissue in her purse and continued eating her food.

"Isn't Winnie taking too long? Shouldn't we maybe check on her?" Calvin asked Katherine as he looked at the direction Winnie headed to.

"We girls have lots of things to do in the washrooms, just relax she will be back when she is done." Katherine told him. She felt bad she had to lie to Calvin but she couldn't bring herself to tell him, the note felt like a cry for help. Winnie must have been in a tight spot to resort to this.

30 minutes later.....

"I think we should really check on her now," Calvin told her, he was becoming more and more restless.

"Are you afraid that she will leave without you or something?" Katherine joked "Even her phone and purse is still here, what is your worry?"

"It has been more than 30 minutes now," Calvin answered, worries written all over his face.

"Has it been that long? I didn't even notice." She paused a little before adding, "Ok then, wait here I'll go check on her."

"Okay," Calvin muttered. Calvin could feel his stomach tightening a bit. Something doesn't feel right. He hoped he was worrying for nothing.

5 minutes later Katherine came back...

"She is not in the bathroom," she told him, she pretended to be a bit confused at the situation.

"She is not there???" Calvin stood abruptly, he suddenly felt like he couldn't breath. He reached out for his bow tie and pulled it out. He then proceeded to unbutton the first few buttons of his shirt and removed his jacket.

"Maybe she went for some fresh air outside," Katherine said.

"No, she would have told us. Plus It's been more than 40 minutes now I don't think she would go for a fresh air that long," Calvin told her. He took a big breath. Calm down, he told himself. He needed to think.

"Wait here, I'll go check with the securities and try to find her. Maybe something happened to her," He told her before quickly sprinting to the counter. Katherine sighed and sat down. She took a sip of her water and silently waited for Calvin to come back.

Calvin came back 30 minutes later with a look of defeat. He looked like he has aged a year in the past 30 minutes. Katherine almost felt sorry for not telling him when Winnie sent her a note. But she knew she would do the same thing if she was brought back to that time. Cleary there was something happening to Winnie and she was glad she could help her even if it was only that much.

"I think Winnie ran away," Calvin looked like he was going to cry any minute. He slowly sat down and rubbed his face in despair.

"What? What do you mean? How do you know that?" Katherine asked, concerned look all over her face. All those drama classes they had back then in middle and high school was finally paying off.

"I checked on the cctv footage and I saw her leaving the restaurant an hour ago," Calvin answered her in a weak voice.

"Maybe she didn't feel well and went home, try calling her home," she suggested.

"I already called her home and she is not there. Plus she looked alright when she was leaving. Winnie is smart, I'm sure she left her phone and purse here so that we don't suspect anything. I should have seen this coming, I should have known when she suddenly agreed to go on a date with me, when she suddenly started to treat me nicely. I was so blind. It all makes sense now," he felt so cheated. He couldn't believe what happened. By the night was long anything can happen he didn't mean that.

"Cal I think you're overreacting. Why would Winnie do that? Just relax and let's be rational about this. She is a grown up woman, if she really did run away she must have a good reason, maybe she needed sometime away and she'll be back when she clears her head," Katherine told him sincerely. She knew that's what Winnie needed.

"WHAT!!? I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU'RE TAKING HER SIDE!!" Calvin yelled. Katherine flinched, that was the first time Calvin ever yelled at her. He knew Calvin was short tempered but he was always sweet and loving towards her. He listened and respected her the most.

"I'm not taking her side Cal, I'm just trying to reason with you. Plus how is this taking sides? What does this have to do with you?" she reasoned with him.

"Of course it has everything to do with me. I am her...I-", Calvin couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence. What was he to her? Boyfriend? Fiance? Friend? Nobody.

"Exactly! Let's just sit and wait until when she decides to contact us and explain."

"I'm not going to do that!! I can't. I was this close, I can't just stop now. Winnie is mine. I can't just let her go!!" Calvin declared.

"How is Winnie yours exactly? Calvin that's not how love works."

"You're only saying this because of Michael. Winnie and Michael were nothing. And even if they were something he is dead now!!" he yelled before realizing what he just said "Mom that's not what I meant, What I meant is-"

"You're clearly upset right now. I'll just leave, let's talk tomorrow," Katherine told him. It would be a lie if she said she was not hurt by what Calvin said. Michael had to be alive for her to live.

"Wait Mom, I'll drive you."

"I drove here. Don't worry I'll just drive back home. You should also go home and rest," Katherine told him, she gave him a small smile and grabbed her purse before walking away.

Calvin rested his head on the table. He clearly wasn't thinking straight. How can I think straight when Winnie just ran away from me? How can she ran away from me! Actually no..

He took his phone out and searched for a number and pressed call.

"I have a job for you," he told the person on the receiver as soon as he picked the call.

He continued, "There's this girl I need you to locate for me. Actually no, I need you to bring her to me when you find her."

"Just make sure one thing, make sure you don't hurt her. If you hurt even a piece of her hair that will be the end of you, do you hear me?" He told him in a firm serious tone. If anything happens to Winnie I won't be able to live!!

"I'll send you her picture now, distribute it to all your boys in the city and bring her back to me as soon as possible. She won't be far," he disconnected the call.

'She'll be back to me in no time. And this time I'll never let her go.'