Chapter 102
Luca looked up at the building that housed Cyber10 later that week. The building was impressive, but the work
standards hadn’t been up until now, though that would soon change. Nicole was already here, getting to work on turning the business around.
He had used it as an excuse. Nicole had been different lately… sort of touchy and rubbing him the wrong way. It had been like poking the bear, and that bear being him. So when the opportunity to send her to the States had
come up, he had jumped at the chance. It gave him breathing room, and to focus on moving to the states.
He had been in relentless pursuit of Audrey, who had indeed vanished. His security team was still scratching their heads. He worked in the tech industry. Somehow, she had gotten someone to wrap her flight information, or her name had been an alias. Which just didn’t make sense. Why would a model go to those lengths? But that is what
happened.
The gnawing in his chest hadn’t left since Audrey had walked out of his life. But he would find her. And his baby. He hoped she hadn’t aborted the baby. He would only have himself to blame if she had, as that was his last thought before stepping through the front doors of Cyber10 into their lobby.
The place buzzed with activity as employees scurried past him. All, he was sure, trying to look busy. Nicole would have told everyone he was coming. Luca didn’t care. All he wanted was to find Audrey and set things right. The purchase of this company was just convenient. Necessary, even if it brought him closer to her. A reason to be here.
“Luca!” called a voice from off to the side.
He turned to see Nicole approaching; her smile was a little too bright.
“I’m so glad you made it,” she said, before touching his arm. “This place needs a complete overhaul, starting with
the idiot on reception.”
Luca pulled his arm away from her touch. The only woman allowed to touch him was Audrey. He was a highly sexed man, but since Audrey had walked away, he hadn’t had any sex. He needed her. His skin was too tight without her. The chemistry between them had always been red hot. Explosive even. He craved her in a way that made him angry with himself.
“Not now, Nicole,” he snapped. “I think it’s more important I meet the team at Cyber10.”
She raised an eyebrow but didn’t back down. “I’m sure you do, but you might want to hear what I have to say first.”
He paused. “What is it?”
“I have done a full employee analysis regarding your acquisition,” she said smoothly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “It seems some personnel are complete dead wood. Would you like me to arrange their
termination now?”
“No, I will review all files first.” That had been a condition of Nicole coming before him. She wasn’t allowed to get rid of anyone without his say so. Roman’s soon–to–be sister–in–law worked here, and he wanted to make sure she
was safe. Because if she was being underutilized, like Roman said, then he wanted to see if she was any good at coding. It had to be better than some of the staff working in the coding department currently.
Nicole stepped closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “But Luca, it’s only a stupid receptionist.” She leaned in slightly, almost as if trying to share a secret. “I don’t think you want anyone around who’s… unfit for this environment.”
Luca narrowed his eyes at her. “That’s for me to decide, Nicole. I will go over everyone’s file and interview everyone myself.”
“I would understand if they were someone of importance, but the woman is a nobody,” she said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Just keeping you informed, as I have been here longer and now have a good understanding of who is worth keeping and trust me, she isn’t.” She took a step back, as if distancing herself from the tension. coming off him.
Luca had no time for her games. He moved past her toward the elevator bank at the end of the hall, and didn’t pause as he heard Nicole call after him. He would not explain himself to her.
The doors opened just in time for him to escape whatever nonsense she intended to talk about next. She could catch up. As the doors closed, he caught sight of a woman disappearing away from the reception desk at a fast pace. She was tall and had dark blonde hair. He could see she was very pregnant. Sutton maybe Blair’s sister.
He pulled out his phone and dialed Ricci again. The sound of ringing filled his ears until it was finally answered.
“Boss?”
“Have you found anything?” Luca demanded without preamble.
о
“We have nothing,” Ricci replied slowly. “Audrey… well, it appears she has gone dark. We can’t even find anyone by that name in the States.”
Luca’s stomach sank further into despair at hearing her name again. If only he could find her. He didn’t even know
how pregnant she was. He hadn’t given her time to tell him anything. But he was guessing not has pregnant as
Blair’s sister.
The silence stretched between them momentarily under the weight of uncertainty surrounding Audrey’s
whereabouts and his child’s fate.
“Continue searching,” he said firmly before ending the call abruptly, frustration boiling beneath his skin.
His fingers gripped his phone as thoughts raced through his mind. She was pregnant with his child…the baby they
never had time to talk about because he hadn’t bothered listening when it mattered most.
His anger resurfaced, a deep wellspring fueled by realization, yet just beneath lay an overwhelming sense of urgency mixed with guilt for not believing her… not trusting her words when she’d needed him most. He wanted nothing more than redemption now, to fix what he’d broken and make amends for pushing her away.
Suddenly unsure where else to go next. The only thing he had for now was Cyber10.
