Chapter 43

#43 “Evelyn? Abducted?”

Sophia sat alone in her apartment, a glass of wine in hand, her thoughts consumed by the events of the morning. It was unusual for her to skip work, but the situation had taken such a sudden and unexpected turn that she needed this moment alone to gather her thoughts.

As she sipped her wine, she couldn’t help but replay the confrontation with Alexander in her mind. She had kept the truth from him, and the knowledge that he believed she had been using him weighed heavily on her.

Yet, despite the bitterness of the situation, Sophia had come to the reluctant conclusion that it might be for the best that they didn’t meet again. It was time to leave her ex-husband in the past.

There were more pressing matters at hand, particularly the safety of her best friend, Evelyn, who was currently in captivity. Sophia knew she had to act swiftly; time was of the essence.

With determination in her eyes, Sophia decided to start by calling her parents. Evelyn had a close relationship with them and spoke to them every day, especially since they worked together. Sophia dialed her mother’s number, her impatience growing as the phone rang. After what felt like an eternity, Evelyn’s mother answered the phone. “Hello?”

Sophia wasted no time, urgency in her tone. “Hello, it’s Sophia. Have you heard from Evelyn or spoken to her today?”

Evelyn’s mother hesitated for a moment before replying. “No, Sophia, I haven’t heard from her today. Is something wrong?”

Sophia’s heart sank as she received the confirmation she had feared. “Yes, something’s very wrong.

Evelyn’s missing, and I think she’s in trouble. We need to find her as soon as possible. 11 Evelyn’s mother’s voice quivered as she responded, “Oh my goodness, this is terrible news. We’ll do everything we can to locate her. Please, Sophia, let’s coordinate our efforts to find our dear girl.”

Sophia felt a wave of relief as Evelyn’s mother offered her support and cooperation. “Thank you. Let’s act quickly and work together to bring Evelyn back safely. I’ll see what I can do, but if you learn anything, contact me immediately.”

“Yes, of course,” Evelyn’s mother replied, her voice quivering with worry and fear. With their brief conversation coming to an end, Sophia hung up the phone and began pacing nervously around the room. Her mind raced with thoughts of Evelyn’s safety and what steps she needed to take next.

As Sophia contemplated her next move, her thoughts briefly drifted to the last time Alexander had come to her aid. She couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions, including a sense of guilt for how things turned out between them.

However, she knew that her current focus had to be entirely on the urgent situation at hand-the search for her missing friend, Evelyn.

Sophia thought of a best friend who might throw some light on the case. Sophia swiftly dialed Benjamin’s number, her fingers trembling with urgency as the call connected.

“Benjamin, it’s Sophia,” she greeted, her voice filled with tension. “I need to know what’s happening at Grimms’ bank regarding Stone Enterprise and Williams Enterprises. Tell me everything.”

Benjamin replied promptly, “Sophia, Grimms’ bank has been closely monitoring Williams’ decline, and they’ve pounced on the opportunity to regain Stone Enterprise’s cooperation. They’re currently gathering all the necessary documents to compete for the deposit that Williams Enterprises recently acquired.”

Sophia absorbed the information quickly, realizing the implications. Evelyn’s abduction was a calculated move to disrupt their business competition and potentially jeopardize Stone Enterprise’s financial stability.

“Thank you, Benjamin, Stay vigilant and keep me updated on any developments,” Sophia instructed.

As Sophia was about to end the call, Benjamin’s voice interrupted her, his tone filled with gentle concern.

“Wait a minute, Sophia,” he said, ” something’s not right. You sound worried. What’s going on?”

Sophia hesitated for a moment, her heart heavy with the weight of the situation. She took a deep breath before responding, “Benjamin, it’s Evelyn. She’s been abducted, and I’m deeply concerned.”

Benjamin’s voice conveyed his shock and concern as he replied, “Evelyn? Abducted? Are you sure, Sophia?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” Sophia replied firmly. Benjamin asked, “What happened? Tell me everything.”

Sophia realized that she could trust Benjamin with the details and proceeded to recount the events leading up to Evelyn’s disappearance. She explained the potential motivations behind it, the involvement of Grimms’ bank.

Listening intently, Benjamin assured her, “Sophia, I’ll do everything in my power to help. We’ll find Evelyn and get to the bottom of this. Stay strong.”

Sophia thanked him and ended the conversation. She knew she had one more call to make. As much as she wondered if he was the right person, Sophia still didn’t have much of a choice. Wasting no time, she called Michael.

When Michael answered, he greeted her casually, unaware of the storm brewing in her life. “And that’s if it’s not the beautiful Sophia, what can I do for you today?”

Sophia rolled her eyes but replied, ” Michael, I need your help with something important. I need information about someone.”

“Of course, Sophia, you know I’m here for you. What do you need?” Sophia explained the situation without divulging the details of the blackmail, not wanting to inform Michael. She still didn’t trust him fully.

“I need information about a person who’s been causing trouble. I want to find out who they are and what they’re up to.”

“You know, Sophia, helping you with this favor is no small task. I hope you’re prepared to repay me properly.”

“What do you want?” she asks directly.

“I want one night with you and your perfect body,” he replies smugly. Sophia bristled at his comment, the frustration with his suggestive tone bubbling to the surface. She retorted firmly, “Michael, let’s stay focused on the task at hand. We can discuss any repayment’ later.”

With that, she left the conversation hanging, determined to get the information she needed without being sidetracked by Michael’s playful banter.

After ending her call with Michael, Sophia’s mind was abuzz with thoughts and suspicions. She had a hunch about who might be behind all the chaos that had entered her life.

As she contemplated the puzzle that had unfolded before her, Sophia couldn’t help but feel a renewed sense of determination. She knew that uncovering the truth and putting an end to the turmoil would be a challenging and dangerous task, but she was ready to face whatever lay ahead.

Despite everything, Sophia already had a clear idea of who could be behind all this.