29 The search for Louis 4

'If she could not wait for me, is it my call that she would pick?' he asked himself.

To be stable and think properly of his next action, he took a seat, on the chair she sat before. His thoughts went back to the days when Nichole was dotting on him and would overlook his faults, but he ignored her. That day, he was the one to be ignored by her.

'Could she be seeing another man? That would be murderous because I cannot withstand it,' he pondered. The thought that she could be with another man in the Airport disorganized him. He began to walk around and asked questions, hoping that she could be in the office of one of the higher ups. Then, he inquired from the middle-aged man who sat next to him.

“Excuse me please.”

“Yes, how may I help you?”

“Do you by any means see the woman who sat here a few minutes ago?”

“Yes. That pretty lady. I saw her leave the lobby,” the man informed. Now, Arthur felt some butterflies in his stomach again when he saw the lustful look on the man's face when he said 'pretty lady'. He thanked him all the same.

“Thank you for the information.”

He walked out of the lobby and asked the hawkers and touts who were hanging around, and one of them gave a perfect description of Nichole and ended up demonstrating how her hips were.

“Yes. The lady with curved hips. I saw her walking to the car park with a man. I'm sure they have left.”

He quickly thanked him, left for his car and sat down. Now, he had no choice but to call her. He called her number and to his surprise, she picked.

At Cairo.

The team members woke up early as usual. Louis was pleased with them as they gathered at the Exhibition Arena, and he encouraged them by addressing them.

“Good morning to you all.”

“Good morning to you, boss.”

“I must say that I am lucky to have you all in my team. We have less than two weeks to go. I plead with you to put in your best so that our purpose of coming here will be achieved. Are we together?”

“Yes boss. We are together.”

“We will put in our best, boss.”

“We will not fail you, boss.”

“Thank you, boss. We are encouraged.”

They all responded one after the other to his words of encouragement.

“Thank you all,” He acknowledged. Then, he decided to call on his domestic staff members because he owed them that. When the call got through, Fred picked up his call and he inquired,“Fred, how are you?”

“Good to hear from you, boss. I am good.”

“That is good. I called to inform you that my phone will be off for some time. Don't get worried if you cannot reach me. Did you get it?”

“All right, boss.”

“Take care.”

(Cut)

He turned off his phone again and continued with his work. His only worry currently was how to get his woman and baby back without doing something stupid, and unless he came up with an idea, he would not speak with any member of his family.

At the Airport.

“Hello, Mr. Bailey. How may I help you?” Nichole responded.

Mr. Bailey looked at his phone again to be certain that he called the right number before he could say anything, but it was too late, she had cut. At that point, many deadly thoughts ran through his mind.

'May be the man stopped her from talking to me,' he reasoned before he called back. Although, the call connected, but she did not pick.

'What will I tell our children? How can I handle the case of Louis and their missing mother at the same time?' He thought, and rested his head on the steering for some time before he decided to turn on his ignition.

In An Airport Taxi on the Way to Dover.

Nichole was resting on the back seat. She could not turn off her phone, for that would be too much for Arthur to bear, coupled with the missing Louis. Neither would she want him to make a fool of himself at the airport, considering his age and status. Above all, she had not forgotten how much she loved him.

'We can continue our bickering when he returns home,’ she thought and sent him a message using the same tone that he used on her the previous day.

(Arthur dear. I have the privilege of taking myself back home with an Airport Taxi. Nichole.)

At the Airport.

While Arthur was resting his head on the steering, he got a message alert on his phone. (Ding)

At that point, he had been drained out emotionally and physically. Then, he managed to raise his head to check the message he just got. He was elated immediately he discovered that the message was from her, and he quickly read through. His face beamed with a smile, and he wiped the drop of tears that tickled down his cheek with his kerchief.

'Nice woman. She cares about me so much,’ he concluded and quickly replied.

(All right, dear, see you at home.)

He turned on his ignition and drove off with an increased love for her. Nichole got home, had her breakfast and left for work. Mr. Bailey returned and drove to her apartment. Then, her janitor walked to him and informed him that she had left for work.

“That is good. Thank you,” he appreciated the janitor before he drove to his house. Meanwhile, he had to be at the office since Denise would not be available, so, he prepared and left for work. The office was not giving him the comfort he expected, even though he had much to do. For over an hour, he could not make any headway. The tea that his secretary served him when he got to the office was getting cold. Likewise, he sipped it, picked his phone and sent a message.

(Nichole dear, I wish to let you know that I am back. Can we have dinner tonight at your apartment? Arthur.)

'Ha ha ha. Cow. You can remain at the Airport if you like.'

That was Nichole reaction to Arthur's message. She tossed her phone aside and continued with her work.

At Arthur's Office.

While he was patiently waiting for Nichole's reply to his message, his secretary informed him that he had some guests.

'Why now?' He mumbled before he responded.

“Let them in, please.”

From that moment, the visitors coming to congratulate him over the success of the son's marriage ceremony became endless.

“Congratulations, Mr. Bailey.”

“Thank you. I appreciate.”

He responded with a divided attention because he took a quick peep at his phone at intervals while the guests came and left. Soon, the message alert came.

(Arthur, I wish to let you know that I am glad that you are back. We cannot have dinner at my apartment tonight because I don't have food. Nichole.)

Arthur forgot that he had visitors before him and smiled before he let out.

“Silly girl. At least, her reply is better than not replying at all.”