The ceo’s secretary

JASON STOKES

“Mr. Stokes, the car is now parked safely in your garage,” Jada reported.

“And what about Lexi?” I demanded, frustration creeping into my voice.

“She’s still unreachable,” Jada replied.

“Then make her reachable! Do something! I’m not paying you for excuses!” I snapped.

“We’re doing everything we can, Mr. Stokes,” she said, her calm and professional demeanor making me feel a pang of guilt.

“She should have been here four hours ago!” I exclaimed.

“Sir, I’m working on it,” she reassured me.

“Stop telling me you’re working on it and tell me exactly what you’re doing,” I insisted.

“I’ve sent one of the security guards to her house to see what’s going on,” she explained.

“Give me a tangible reason why you couldn’t go there yourself,” I demanded, my patience wearing thin.

“Because I was waiting for the car’s delivery,” Jada responded.

“Just get out of my office. Now!” I barked, unable to hide my irritation.

After she left, I picked up my phone and dialed Lexi’s number for the hundredth time, but it still wasn’t reachable. A sense of dread washed over me. Something bad must have happened. Today was supposed to be a happy day-a celebration of our relationship. The car was waiting for her in my garage, but she hadn’t shown up at the office or called to say something was wrong.

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Twenty minutes later, Jada’s voice interrupted my anxious thoughts. “Sir,” she called tentatively.

“You better have good news,” I snapped, barely holding back my frustration.

“Her apartment is locked,” she said.

“And?” I demanded impatiently.

“There was no one in the house, according to the security guard.”

A surge of panic hit me. I shot out of my seat, my phone clutched tightly in my hand, and stormed toward the door. “Get me her sister’s number!” I barked over my shoulder.

“Sir?” Jada sounded confused but obedient.

“You heard me,” I growled. “Judith. Judith Tyler. Get me her number as soon as possible.”

“Consider it done,” she responded, her tone now urgent.

I hurried to the elevator, my mind racing. As I descended to the car park, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. Each second felt like an eternity. Lexi had never gone this long without contacting me. Today was supposed to be one of the happiest days of our lives-a celebration of our love. I had planned everything down to the last detail, including the surprise waiting for her in my garage.

But now, an icy dread crept through my veins. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Why hadn’t she shown up? Why hadn’t she called? What if she was hurt or worse?

When the elevator doors opened, I rushed to my car, fumbling with my keys. I slid into the driver’s seat, my hands shaking as I started the engine. I dialed Lexi’s number again, desperation clawing at me as I sped out of the parking lot and onto the streets. The call went straight to voicemail, the silence on the other end deepening my fear.

The drive to her apartment felt like it took forever, though I must have broken every speed limit along the way. My thoughts raced just as quickly, replaying every possible scenario. Had she been in an accident? Was she in danger? Every unanswered call only amplified my dread.

When I finally arrived at her apartment building, I practically leaped out of the car. The building loomed ominously in the twilight, each window a dark, unhelpful square.

I pounded on the main door, calling her name. “Lexi! Lexi, are you in there?” There was no response. My mind churned with worry. I knocked again, harder this time, feeling the vibrations echo through the apartment.

I turned away, my thoughts scrambling for the next move. As I made my way back to the car, my phone buzzed. I snatched it up, hoping for news. It was Jada.

“I’ve got Judith Tyler’s number, sir,” she said quickly.

“Text it to me,” I replied curtly, my voice strained with anxiety.

Moments later, the number popped up on my screen. I dialed it immediately, praying for an answer, any clue to Lexi’s whereabouts. The phone rang, each tone stretching my nerves tighter until I heard a hesitant voice on the other end.

“Hello?” Judith’s voice crackled through the line.

“Judith?,” I said, my voice shaking.

“Who am I speaking with?”

I swallowed hard and replied. “This is Jason. Jason Stokes, Lexi’s boyfriend.” I added slowly.

I didn’t know if Lexi had mentioned me to Judith, but at this moment, I didn’t care.

“Yes, how may I help you?” Judith’s voice sounded wary, and I could sense her hesitation.

“Please, can you help me get through to Lexi? I’ve been trying to call her since morning, but she isn’t reachable,” I said, the urgency clear in my voice.

“Isn’t she supposed to be in the office right now?” Judith asked, concern creeping in.

“She isn’t, and I can’t get a hold of her,” I explained.

I swept through my hair in frustration , my mind racing with every possible explanation for her absence. “I’m at your door now, and it’s locked,” I said to Judith. “Lexi! Lexi!” I shouted, my voice echoing off the walls as I approached her window, peering inside.

“I spoke to her this morning,” Judith said, her tone now tinged with worry. “There was nothing wrong. Let me try her number, and if I can’t reach her, I’ll call Cynthia. Maybe she’s with her or something.”

“Thank you,” I replied, my voice cracking under the weight of my concern.

I hung up the phone, panic surging through me, and slid open Lexi’s window. The room beyond was eerily empty, yet a chaotic scene of clothes strewn everywhere made my heart sink. The realization hit me instantly: Lexi was gone.

“NOOOOOOOOO!” I screamed, the word tearing from my throat as I hoisted myself through the window. “No! This can’t be happening,” I muttered frantically, stumbling through the room. “Lexi, don’t do this to me!”

I rushed to her bedroom, my heart hammering in my chest so hard I could barely breathe. A cold sweat broke out on my skin despite the cool air. Her closet door hung wide open, revealing bare shelves and hangers. The sight of her missing sponge case and toothbrush confirmed my worst fears-she had left, and she had taken her essentials with her.

My phone rang, jolting me from my panic. I answered without checking the caller ID, my hand shaking.

“Hello?” Judith’s voice came through the line, bringing a faint sense of grounding.

“Hello,” I replied, my voice barely a whisper.

“I just finished talking to Cynthia,” Judith said. “They’re not together.”

“Did she have any idea where Lexi might be?” I asked, gripping the phone tighter, hoping for a sliver of information that could explain this nightmare.

“She said no,” Judith answered, her voice heavy with concern. “The last time she saw Lexi was yesterday afternoon, and they talked this morning. Lexi didn’t mention anything unusual.”

I sank onto the bed, my mind reeling. The morning had seemed so normal, so full of promise, and now it felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me. How could everything fall apart so quickly?

“Thank you,” I said, my voice trembling.

“I’m on my way home too,” Judith said, though her own worry was evident. ”

I was staring into space, my mind numb, when I noticed her phone on the bed. “She isn’t with her phone,” I said to Judith, picking it up, feeling its weight like a lifeline.

“She isn’t with her phone?” Judith echoed, her voice rising with alarm.

“Yes, it’s here with me right now,” I replied, the strangeness of the situation hitting me harder. “Why would she leave without it?”

“I don’t know. This doesn’t make any sense.”

I sighed, feeling the frustration and confusion mount. I pulled out a plastic chair and sank into it, trying to piece together the scattered fragments of what had happened.

That’s when I saw it-a small piece of paper lying quietly on her table, almost hidden among the clutter. I picked it up, and my heart sank as I read the two simple words written on it: “I’m sorry.”

“She’s gone,” I said, my voice barely audible, the words catching in my throat.

“Excuse me, what’s going on?” Judith’s voice cut through the haze.

“Lexi is gone,” I repeated, the reality of it crashing down on me.

“Gone? Gone to where? I’m on my way home right now,” Judith said, panic edging her voice.

I hung up the phone and bolted out of the window like a madman, those two words echoing in my mind. I scrambled into my car and drove back to the office, the engine roaring as I sped through the streets, my thoughts a chaotic whirl of fear and desperation.

“Find her! Find her!” my mind screamed, a frantic mantra that spurred me on.

I rushed through the building, my heart pounding in my chest, bursting into her office only to find it as empty and still as when I had left it. The starkness of the space mirrored the void now expanding within me.

I laid the phone on her desk, the “I’m sorry” note beside it, the only clues to her sudden disappearance. I collapsed into her chair, the weight of the situation pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe. Where could she have gone? Why did she leave? Questions swirled with no answers, the silence in the office growing heavier with each passing moment.

I felt a hollow ache as I stared at her empty desk, the echoes of our last conversation playing through my mind. I could see her smile, hear her laugh, feel the warmth of her presence, and now, the stark reality of her absence was almost too much to bear. I had planned everything for us today, every detail to make her happy, and now it had all crumbled into confusion and loss.

The day that was supposed to be filled with joy had turned into a nightmare, and I was left with nothing but the hollow echo of her absence and the haunting note that offered no solace. Desperation clawed at me, and I knew I had to find her, to understand why she had left.

Slowly, I rose to my feet and made my way to my own office, my mind still reeling from the chaos of the past hour. As I entered, I heard a voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Finally,” Sofia said, lounging in one of the chairs as if she owned the place.

“Sofia, I’m not in the mood,” I muttered, irritation lacing my words.

“Why wouldn’t you be in the mood when I am?” she replied, her eyes glinting with mischief.

“Sofia, just go straight to the point. What do you want?” I demanded, walking to my desk, my patience worn thin.

“The same thing I’ve always wanted,” she said, her voice sultry. “You.”

“I’ve told you before, you’re no longer my taste,” I shot back, settling into my chair, fatigue weighing me down.

“Give me a chance to prove you wrong if you’re so sure of yourself,” she purred, rising from her seat and sauntering over to me, her hips swaying provocatively.

“I’m not here to play games, Sofia,” I warned, my tone sharp.

“I really miss you, Jason,” she said, her voice softening as she took a seat across from me, leaning forward, her eyes pleading.

“Say that to Steve,” I snapped, the memory of betrayal still raw. “The last guy I caught you fucking.”

“I told you I’m sorry,” she protested, her voice a mixture of anger and desperation.

“How many times do you expect me to take your apologies? How many times, huh?” My voice rose with each word, anger flaring. “I caught you fucking that guy on our bed, Sofia. You were fucking him on our bed, and you expect me to be calm with it?”

“What else do you want me to say?” she asked, frustration and hurt battling in her eyes.

“I don’t want you to say anything. I just want you to leave me alone,” I said, my voice cold and final.

“Is it because of her?” Sofia’s eyes flicked toward Lexi’s office, bitterness creeping into her tone.

“Yeah, because of her. I love her! You get it? I fucking love her!” I shouted, the intensity of my feelings for Lexi spilling over, my frustration with Sofia amplifying my fear for Lexi’s disappearance.

Sofia stared at me, shock and anger flickering across her face. “You love her?” she spat, disbelief giving way to jealousy.

“Yes, I do,” I said, my voice breaking. “I fucking love her.”

“And she fucking loves money,” Sofia said, picking up her bag and striding toward the door. Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and my jaw dropped.

“Wait a minute, what are you talking about?” I stammered, finding my voice after a moment of shock.

“I said, she fucking loves money,” she repeated, her tone dripping with venom.

I sprang from my seat and blocked her path in seconds, my eyes locked on hers with a fury I could barely contain. “What have you done to her?” I demanded, my voice a low growl, fists clenching at my sides.

“Get out of my way, Jason!” Sofia snapped, trying to push past me.

“Not until you tell me what you mean by that,” I insisted, my anger bubbling over. “What do you know about Lexi?”

“Just what I said,” Sofia sneered, glaring at me. “She loves money. She’d do anything for it. Maybe that’s why she left you high and dry.”

My mind raced, trying to piece together what she was insinuating. “You’re lying,” I said, though doubt crept into my voice. “Lexi isn’t like that.”

“Oh, isn’t she?” Sofia shot back, her eyes narrowing. “Why don’t you check your precious Lexi’s bank account or ask around? She’s not the saint you think she is.”

“Why should I believe anything you say?” I snapped, my voice rising. “You’d say anything to mess with me. What did you do to her?”

I lunged at Sofia, grabbing her by the neck and roughly shoving her against the wall. Her eyes widened in shock and fear as I tightened my grip.

“What have you done to her?” I growled, my voice low and dangerous.

“You’re choking me,” she gasped, her face contorting in panic.

“What have you done to her?” I demanded again, my grip tightening as rage surged through me.

“It’s not like you’re going to kill me,” she spat, defiance flickering in her eyes.

I pressed harder, leaning in close. “I will kill you and your entire family if you’ve touched a single hair on her head. So, I’m asking you for the last time, where is Lexi?”

“I don’t know where she is!” she choked out, her voice barely more than a whisper.

I squeezed her neck harder, feeling the pulse quicken under my fingers. “Where is Lexi, for the last time?” I roared.

“I don’t know where she is,” she gasped, her eyes wide with terror. “But I know your dad paid her off.”

“My dad?” The words hit me like a thunderbolt, and I froze, shock and confusion momentarily overpowering my rage.

Sofia nodded, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she clutched at my hand.

I released her, my mind reeling. My father? What the hell did he have to do with this? I stumbled back, staring at Sofia as she sagged against the wall, rubbing her neck and gasping for air.

Without another word, I turned and stormed out of the office, my thoughts a chaotic whirlwind. My father had paid Lexi off? Why?

I needed answers, and I was going to get them-starting with my father.