Ch 62: She’s not here

CHAPTER 6

Over the next few days, Abigail found herself in complete bliss. She was so happy despite the tragedy of losing her brother. Owen and Alice did their best to make her feel like she was part of the family and she truly felt like she was. Then there were the scorching nights with the man she loved.

Not once did they take a break and it always ended with the both of them covered in perspiration thoroughly sated and exhausted. Owen had promised to take her to Vegas next weekend and show her the time of her life after he married her.

Again the quick wedding was delayed because he had some emergency he had to deal with in Italy. However, if she was disappointed it was immediately eliminated when he presented her with the most beautiful engagement ring she'd ever seen.

She cried as he got down on one knee and gave her an exceptional proposal. The next morning after a particularly hot night in which he told her that he was going to make memories so she would miss him more than usual, he gave her a long kiss, took his luggage and left. Four days later her world shattered.

***

Owen entered his penthouse dragging his luggage with barely containable elation to be home, "Abigail!" he called while stripping off his coat. He missed her more than he would miss breathing. He was sure of it. Her beautiful flushed naked body was burned in his mind the whole time he was away.

Hanna came bustling down the hall, "She's not here." She answered taking his coat. "No?" He was surprised. He'd phoned her yesterday morning and told him when he'd be home, "Where is she?" he said looking over Hanna's head to the long corridor.

When she didn't answer he brought his eyes back to his housekeeper and saw the fatigue registering on her face, "Hanna?" "Oh, Mr. Ross, she took off—I think." "You think?" the alarm he felt was instantaneous.

"We got up this morning, Alice went to school—I went to see what was keeping her and—Oh lord, she must've left in the middle of the night. It doesn't look like your bed was slept in. I tried calling your hotel, but they said you'd checked out already."

"Abigail's gone?" he said as if he didn't hear that "The hell you say!" he ran by her and up to his room just to search her dresser. Her clothes were gone—everything of hers was gone. Then his eyes focused on the top of the dresser and the object sitting there. Her ring. Her diamond engagement ring. He picked it up and stared at it.

"Mr. Ross ?" Hanna's voice came from behind him, "I called the police but they said I had to wait twenty-four hours." "Thank you, Hanna." Despite his outward calm, Owen tried his best to squash his panic but it was pretty much impossible.