Page 64 of The Damaged Billionaire

“You are such a good father. It is so good to see you support your child today,” a woman says from beside me, and I look at her and smile, except the smile was already there, and I didn’t even know it.

I keep filming until he is off the stage, and I turn off the camera. I watch him for a beat as he joins the group of kids again. A few of them give him high fives before he looks my way again. I give him a nod, one he returns, and I wonder if we now have a truce or if I need to make my life bomb proof ASAP.

* * *

I stand out in the sun at the front of the school again, my head buried in my phone.

“C’mon, pick up, Willow,” I murmur to myself as her phone rings yet again.

“Hey,” a voice says from the side, and I see Josh standing there awkwardly.

“Hey, punk,” I say. “Good work up there.”

“Where’s Willow?” he asks, looking a little upset.

“I have no idea. I have been trying to call her, but she isn’t answering,” I tell him, my stomach feeling like lead. I wasn’t too worried before. But now I am. She was meant to be here two hours ago and is not picking up my calls or text messages. This is not like her at all.

“She said she would be here,” Josh says, and I can tell he is really disappointed.

“She must have gotten caught up with something,” I offer, not wanting him to worry. Meanwhile, my insides are churning, and I am barely keeping it together in front of him.

“Do you know where Saide is?” I ask Josh, because maybe the two of them are out doing something.

“She went to Connecticut for the day,” Josh says, taking a few slow steps toward me.

“Maybe something happened with Saide and Willow had to help her out?” I remember Willow telling me Saide’s married boyfriend lives in Connecticut, so maybe Willow went to support her with something.

“Can I call Saide?” Josh asks, and I nod. I don’t admit my concern out loud, but I have a feeling he knows. I watch as he pulls out his own cell and calls Saide. I frown as I listen to his end of the conversation. It appears Saide is on her way back from Connecticut already, with no idea where Willow is, and has been calling her all day herself. A sinking feeling overtakes my body, and I swallow harshly. What the fuck is going on?

“Let’s go, kid,” I say to Josh as I pace toward my car.

“Where are we going?” he asks, trailing me just as quickly.

“Tell Saide we will meet her at home. Something is not right.” Josh relays the message before he pockets his phone. My car is right at the curb. A few of the dads stand around, admiring it. Like most men, I enjoy cars and have a healthy collection. This one is my sports car, good for zipping around the traffic and getting to Willow quickly. Josh looks impressed as we both get into the car, and I roar the engine and speed from the school to the looks of horror from who I assume are the PTA ladies who stand and stare at us from the sidewalk. And I think I see a small smile on Josh’s lips.

“Willow! Willow!” I yell the moment we walk into the house.

“She isn’t here. Her car is gone, though,” Saide says, running down the stairs, looking concerned.

“Let me call her again,” I murmur, grabbing my phone.

“She still isn’t answering,” Josh says, lowering his phone, constantly calling her too. His eyes almost plead with me, like I have all the answers.

“Let me call Beth; she might have talked to her.” I kick myself for not thinking of it before. They are friends, so maybe Beth has her doing something. I rush and punch in her number as I start to pace. The need to move, talk, do something festers at my skin.

“Beth, have you seen Willow?” I bark out before she even has time to answer my call. My hands are already in my hair, pulling it, needing the pain.

“Nice to hear from you too, Tenn,” she smarts, and I try hard not to yell. I am on the edge.

“Willow is missing, Beth. I’m at her house with her sister, and we haven’t seen her since this morning. She didn’t turn up to meet me today when she was supposed to. I am worried,” I say, pacing the small kitchen, seeing Josh continue to call her phone like he is possessed and Saide texting everyone they know. The feeling in the room has thickened.

“Sorry, no, Tenn, I haven’t seen her. I last spoke to her a few days ago before you left for Singapore.” I can hear her walking now. “Let me ask Harrison.” I pause, hearing their low murmur before she comes back to the phone.

“No, he hasn’t spoken to her either. He is calling your brothers,” she says, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

“Something doesn’t feel right. This is not like her at all. She would not have missed the meeting this afternoon,” I state, my pace purposeful as I ruin Willow's floor with my trail.

“Let me call the police headquarters. Text me the details of her car. Maybe they have something on file; they can at least see if it was involved in any accident,” Beth offers. Accident. God, no. We have just come full circle. She can’t be hurt… what if she is lying in a ditch somewhere?

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