Page 32 of Jack Frost, CEO

The doubts swirling in my mind make my stomach turn. How could I have been so stupid? So short-sighted? I never should have gotten mixed up with anything to do with Antony—especially his daughter.

I head straight to the bar and order three fingers, neat. I sip the burning liquid and stare out over the mountains, while replaying the past week in my head, trying to see where I could have been mistaken and how I could have missed the signs.

“It’s a bit early to hit the hard stuff, right?” Marcus walks up, and I do my best to try to grin. Based on the look on his face, I’ve failed.

“No. It’s the right time to be honest. Look, I’m sorry but I think I’ll have to reschedule today. Something’s come up, and I cannot give this deal the attention it and you deserve.”

Marcus gives me a skeptical look. “Where is Maisie, Jack?”

I swallow another swig of whiskey before clenching my jaw.

“Jack. I’m going to ask you again. Where is Maisie?”

I shove a hand through my hair and sigh. “It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

“Oh, that’s it. Come on, you stubborn ass.” Marcus drags me over to a corner table. “Spill.”

His tone leaves no room for refusal, and I’m just buzzed enough to obey. So I start with Gio, Antony, and me. Then, move on to Monica and even add in the details of Maisie’s parentage.

Marcus is silent for a few minutes until I look up and see the pity in his gaze. “Jack, if you believe half the shit you just said, then there’s no hope for you. Anyone with eyes can see that girl is head over heels for you. Now, I’m going to tell you what I saw. I was on my way to the restaurant to get my lovely wife a coffee when I spotted Maisie in the lobby. I was about to approach her when a man walked up and yanked her into the corner by the coat check.”

As Marcus recounts the story, complete with the vile threats Antony flung at Maisie, I have to fight to keep myself from throwing up.

“Jack, she was crying when he left. I was coming to find you when I saw you’d already found her. I know now that you have apparently screwed the pooch in a big way.” He sighs. “I’m not saying it’s all your fault. Extenuating circumstances colored your view of what happened, but I must ask you again, Jack. Where is Maisie?”

“I don’t know.” It’s all I can whisper. “I told her to leave, that I didn’t care what it cost, and that I never wanted to see her again.”

“Jack, you have to find her. Listen. There’s a blizzard coming. You won’t be able to do anything until tomorrow. They will have grounded the flights. Let’s pack up here and you can stay at the resort.” Marcus shakes me by the shoulders. “But first you have to find Maisie.”

I can feel the blood drain from my face. A blizzard’s coming, and I told her to leave. What if she tries to drive?

I lurch out of the chair and run to the valet. Then I drive as fast as the weather permits, not even bothering to kill the engine.

I burst into the cabin, calling her name. Silence greets me. I take the stairs two at a time, flinging open the door to her room. Everything she owns is still here, tucked away in the drawers. I can still smell her perfume lingering in the air from this morning. I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial her number, praying as the call connects. I hear a ringing in the room and look over to see her cell resting on the bedside table.

“Fuck. Fuck.” I run my hands through my hair. “Where are you, Princess?”

I hear a noise and hurry down the stairs, stopping abruptly when I see Marcus standing at the bottom. “Is she here?” he demands.

“No. Everything she owns is, though. Even her phone.” I run my fingers through my hair again, cursing myself a fool for ever comparing Maisie and Monica. If I find her, I swear I will spend the rest of my life apologizing.

“Shit. Okay, here’s what we are going to do. We’re going to find Antony at the resort and kick his ass.”

“We can’t do that, Marcus, and you know it. No matter how much he deserves it. You heard the venom he threw at her. Then I compounded it. And now she’s running. I can’t blame her. If we’re being honest, I wasn’t very nice. The whole situation just reminded me of Monica, and when I think about that woman, I lose it.”

“I get it. We all have triggers, but right now, we have more important things to worry about, like saving your marriage and fixing this before you lose her forever. Maisie not having her phone makes it trickier. Does she have any friends? Anyone she may have told where she was going?”

“No. She—” I stop. “Stella.”

“Stella?”

“We have to go to New York. Now.” I turn to the front door, but Marcus catches my arm.

“Hate to tell you, but you’re not going anywhere tonight with this blizzard coming on. They’re going to be grounding all the flights soon. Let’s pack you up, and you can head out first thing tomorrow when the airports open again.”

Marcus’s tone is coaxing, and while I know he’s correct and that the logical thing to do is to wait until the weather clears and I can safely fly back to my office, I want to find Maisie now. I don’t want to wait until tomorrow to get down on my knees and beg her for forgiveness. I pick up the nearest ceramic Santa and throw it into the wall with as much force as I can muster, and I have to admit I feel marginally better.

“Fine. Let’s do it your way. I’ll start packing.” I head straight to Maisie’s room and fold her belongings into her suitcase. I see her older clothes mixed in with her newer pieces, and I can’t help but wince when I remember what that asshole of a father said to her.

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