Chapter 36
Cecilia’s pov
My expression hardened as I fought to keep my composure. Something wasn’t right about this situation.
“Why lock the door?” I asked, keeping my tone calm and measured as my gaze swept over each man in the room. “Is my simple question about two employees really a matter so delicate it must be discussed behind closed doors p>
Thomas Dunn responded with that same oily smile that had begun to wear thin. “No, no, Ms. Moore, please don’t misunderstand. The supervisor isn’t hiding anything by locking the door. It’s just that this matter… well, it’s not something we want circulating among the workforce. People start talking, rumors spread, and before you know it, morale takes a hit p>
“I see.” I let the words hang in the air, my voice cool. “So there is something being hidden here after all p>
“You don’t understand the full picture,” Thomas explained, his voice adopting a confidential tone. “The two people you asked about were among our earliest factory workers—a married couple. They suffered a terrible accident here years ago that left them both disabled and unable to work. To avoid a public scandal, we reached an arrangement with them. Rather uniquely, they requested to remain on payroll for fifteen years, despite their inability to work p>
I pressed my lips together, silently counting to three. The lie was so elaborate it was almost impressive.
“And why wasn’t headquarters informed of this arrangement?” I asked, feigning credulity, as though I were carefully weighing his words.
Thomas sighed dramatically. “Office executives never truly understand workers’ struggles. If we’d reported it officially, many people would’ve lost their jobs. Finding work isn’t easy these days. Besides, paying them gradually or in a lump sum costs roughly the same in the end p>
“Mr. Dunn,” I said, leaning forward slightly, “”Personally, I can sympathize with wanting to protect your workers. But professionally? This completely bypasses company policy and proper channels. And now, look what it’s caused—your employees think the factory is haunted. You’re frightening them with shadows born of secrecy p>
“Yes, yes, we know it’s not by the book,” Thomas nodded vigorously. “That’s why we wanted to discuss this with you directly. Perhaps we could resolve this without troubling Alpha Sebastian? He oversees such an enormous operation with the Silver Peak Pack’s businesses. Bothering him with such a… trivial matter seems his voice dropped, “unnecessary p>
I made a show of considering his proposal.
“Very well,” I finally said. “I won’t escalate this—yet. But I’ll need to meet this couple myself and verify their condition.” If everything checks out as you’ve described, I’ll let it go p>
Thomas froze momentarily before recovering. “Of course. No problem at all p>
Sebastian’s pov
I finally returned to the hotel at about eight o’clock in the evening. The whole day of the summit and the lengthy dinner that followed me exhausted me both physically and mentally, but my nerves were always tight. I took off my blazer, loosened my tie, and was about to take a break before the video conference.
However, as soon as I sat down, the door was pushed open suddenly, as if the air was disturbed.
Beta Sawyer rushed in, losing his composure on his face. He was as calm as a mountain on weekdays, and his brow was frowning and his expression was anxious.
“Cecilia hasn’t come back yet.” He spoke, his voice low and rapid, “Her phone has not been connected.” I was stunned for a moment, and the movements on my hands stopped.
Soren—my wolf—suddenly became alert at that moment and she was gone.
Our partner was out of touch.
“Look for her, go find her immediately!” He roared deep in my consciousness, “She is ours! Something happened to her p>
My brows frowned and my breathing sank.
“You haven’t contacted her all day?” I lowered my voice, trying my best to suppress the rising anger and anxiety in my body, and kept my tone calm on the surface.
Beta Sawyer shook his head, looking solemn. “We said she would call if there was a problem, but she didn’t contact her. I thought she was back p>
Wrong. Too wrong. No, Cecilia was not the kind of person who lost contact at will. She was always cautious, punctual, and meticulous in details. She could not have no news for no reason.
Soren growled inside me. “She needs us, she is in danger. Stop sitting, Alpha, go bring her back p>
A chill of my spine rose, my chest tightened, and my breathing became heavy. “Call the factory.” I whispered, my tone lower and colder than usual, with the unquestionable pressure of Alpha. “Find out where she last appeared, right away p>
“Now.” Beta Sawyer turned and left without hesitation.
The door slammed, but I was still standing there, my fists clenched and my knuckles turned white.
When Beta Sawyer returned, his expression had darkened considerably. “The factory claims she left around 1 PM. She should have been back hours ago p>
My jaw tightened as Soren began pacing restlessly inside me.
Something was wrong—I could feel it in my bones.
I immediately canceled the video conference and summoned Leonard, the VP responsible for the factory operations, to accompany us. I also ordered the factory staff to review security footage and search the surrounding areas.
Amara insisted on joining us when she heard the news. Her persistent infatuation was the last thing I needed right now, but I had no time to argue.
As Beta Sawyer and I exited the hotel lobby, I was checking the time when suddenly Beta Sawyer stepped forward defensively. I looked up to see what had triggered his protective stance.
There, storming toward us like a furious hurricane, was Alpha Xavier.
Our gazes locked in the dim evening light, the tension crackling like electricity between us.
“Where is my wife?” he demanded, every muscle in his body coiled tight with rage. He looked ready to launch himself at me.
“She’s gone missing,” I replied evenly.
I maintained my composure, standing slightly taller than him, looking down at him with what I knew was cool detachment. My eyes, which many had described as resembling almond-shaped flower petals, regarded him with the same interest I might show a stray dog—calm indifference.
“What the hell do you mean ’missing’?” Xavier’s fists clenched so tightly I could hear his knuckles crack.
Sawyer, clearly worried that Xavier’s explosive temper might erupt into violence right there in the hotel entrance, quickly stepped between us again. “Alpha Xavier, allow me to explain. Cecilia applied for the Chief Secretary position at our company and is currently serving as our CEO’s secretary. This morning she went to inspect one of our factory branches. She hasn’t returned yet, and we can’t reach her phone. We’re heading to the factory now to look for her. That’s the situation p>
I watched Xavier’s face contort as he processed this information.I could practically see the blood vessels bulging at his temples.
The driver pulled up with my car, and Beta Sawyer opened the door for me. Without acknowledging Xavier further, I slid into the backseat.
As we pulled away from the hotel, Xavier’s car followed close behind us.
Beta Sawyer glanced in the rearview mirror. “How did he track her down? We covered our tracks thoroughly p>
“If someone is determined to find someone, they always will,” I replied dismissively, more concerned with Cecilia’s whereabouts than Xavier’s detective skills. “What exactly did she discover yesterday p>
Only then did Beta Sawyer fill me in on what Cecilia had uncovered the previous night.
My blood ran cold. “Why didn’t you tell me this detail this morning?” I snapped. “If there’s something corrupt happening there and she exposed it, do you think they’d just let her walk away p>
“I—” Beta Sawyer looked genuinely alarmed now. “It couldn’t be that serious, could it? She was just using the inspection as cover to investigate. They wouldn’t have known her true purpose. Even if they did, they wouldn’t dare detain someone from Silver Peak Pack p>
“What if word had already gotten out? Or what if she discovered something and confronted them directly instead of backing off?” I could picture her doing exactly that—she had the nerve of a true Luna.
Judging by her boldness at poker, she absolutely had the courage to confront them.
I rubbed my temples in frustration. “Send word immediately. If we don’t have news of Cecilia within the hour, the entire management team of both the branch company and factory will be removed from their positions p>
“But Beta Sawyer looked shocked. “What reason will we give? They’ll claim it’s unjustified p>
“No reason needed,” I said coldly. “If they dare to touch someone under my protection right under my nose, they’ve shown they don’t respect me. That’s reason enough p>
“But we don’t have proof that something happened to Cecilia at the factory,” Beta Sawyer protested weakly.
“I trust my instincts,” I replied firmly.
And right now, we had no other options.
Cecilia’s pov
“Mmph I tried to speak, but my mouth was sealed with duct tape.
My hands were tied behind the chair, my eyes covered by what felt like a blindfold. The darkness was complete, but I could hear waves crashing nearby and smell the unmistakable scent of rotting wood and salt.
This afternoon, at the factory, Thomas had told me that the couple was waiting for me at a nearby restaurant. Like a stupid idealist, I actually believed his words.
I thought to myself: It’s in broad daylight, and it’s in public places, and people come and go, what can happen? I just wanted to see how they would play the lies and whether they could really fool the headquarters’ review.
I never walked to that restaurant. They led me through a deep alley, and then—the darkness suddenly fell like falling into an abyss.
When I woke up again, I was trapped here, not knowing where it was, but only knowing to stay away from the light.
After a while, the door finally creaked and was pushed open. A ray of cold light quietly penetrated, reflecting the shadow and smile on the man’s face – the smile, with cruelty and contempt, was like a beast who discovered its prey.
It was Him!
I would recognize that face anywhere.