Chapter 1

R POV

Monday morning. 8am. I'm late for work. I manage to roll out of bed and stumble in to the bathroom, lucky for me I have the ensuite in the flat. Sharing a bathroom with two other females is something I'd rather not deal with. I force a brush through my bedraggled blonde hair and slap on some powder, I never really have time for makeup in the morning and never really need it anyway, lash extensions and eyebrow tints exist for a reason. Teeth brushed, body washed, time for clothes. Being a receptionist for Mitchel and sons car repair shop means that a simple pencil skirt and blouse will suffice. The high heels are just an added accessory I enjoy wearing.

I go to the kitchen to grab anything I can that will be a half decent breakfast. An orange from Alice's new fruit basket will do the job. As I'm about to walk out the flat, orange in one hand handbag in the other I see Bella appear from her room.

'Not at work yet?' I ask her.

'Just on my way now, did you want a lift to work? I've got a team building meeting at the branch on the other side of town so I'm heading your way'

' oh sounds fun' I reply sarcastically ' go for it, I'll get Mitch to drop me off when I clock off.'

Usually I wouldn't agree to a lift, I rather enjoy driving my Audi Q2 to work, makes me feel like I've actually been successful in my life but considering rent is due I could do with saving some fuel.

We hop in to her slightly run down Ford Focus that's parked just in front of my car just outside our flat building. Usually I would park in the car park underneath the flats but one of the other tenants in the building decided to have family stay and take up all of the free spaces. Joy.

We listen to the same old songs on the radio as we head down to the south of the city towards my work. 15 minutes later and we're outside the slightly run down garage I go to everyday. The smell of petrol and oil hits as soon as you walk in, one of my favourite smells. I've always enjoyed cars ever since I was little. My dad was a mechanic and fixed up old cars at home to sell on. He used to let me help out with them and let me drive a few to and from the garage and drive way. Even though as I grew up I started enjoying makeup and boys I still had a love for cars. Unfortunately I never learnt enough to be able to work as a full time mechanic, plus the boys would make a joke about females working on cars all the time, but I knew enough to fix the odd breakdown. As I enter the building I go out back, put my bag down and grab myself a coffee. Fruit and caffeine, clearly a healthy start to my day.

'Glad you decided to show up' Mitch the owner says playfully as he grabs himself a coffee.

' You know me Mitch, always persistent with my punctuation.'

I grab my healthy breakfast and sit down at my desk at the front of the shop. Being a female in a male industry isn't too bad as long as you can handle the banter from the guys and the occasional sexist customer. You could see Mitch almost laugh the day I came in for my interview but I instantly wiped the smile off his face with my car knowledge and the job was easily mine. As long as you're confident and can take a few friendly insults it's a pretty good place to work. On the agenda today was booking people in for standard MOT's , letting the guys know what customers will be turning up and what time so they can have the cars ready and out front, dealing with the usual prissy princesses who just wanted their car washed and shutting down any male customer that attempted to flirt. My desk was simple, computer in the middle, draws of paperwork and stationary underneath and a cabinet full of the customers car keys. Not the most thrilling work days but still enjoyable.

5pm slowly creeps round and it's time for me to head home. Sitting down for most of the day can be very tiring. I wait around for Mitch to finish cleaning up the workshop and locking up the building. Bella's still at work and Alice rides her bicycle around the city so I was left with getting a lift with my boss. He's always happy to help, Alice says it's because he has a crush on me but I don't believe it, he's just a nice guy. After a short car ride with small talk about how the day went we arrive outside my apartment building.

'Thanks for the lift, promise I'll be on time tomorrow!' I politely lie.

' no worries, see you tomorrow.'

I walk up to the building and punch in the code to open the door. The building isn't the most secure, there's a code to open the main door and then a key to open your own apartment. Not much cctv, no security guards and I'm pretty sure the fire exit door is always open but it was all me and the girls could comfortably afford. We decided to live together after Bella finished college and me and Alice were bored with hometown life. We three have known each other since we were kids. Me and Bella were neighbours and Alice moved to our town when we were in our early teens. As different as we all are we get along and have stuck by each other through thick and thin. When Bella finished college she decided she didn't want to go back to small hometown life and wanted to stay in the city so me and Alice packed our bags and joined her in our adventure to city life. 1 year down and Bella managed to get a job at a bank, even though her degree could definitely get her a better job we needed money to pay rent so it'll do for now. Alice works in a little coffee shop a few blocks away, it suits her and her 'hipster' vibe. We didn't have the most luxurious lives or jobs but it was comfortable and we were happy.

I wrestle with my key and front door of our apartment, damn thing always jams. After pushing my way in I throw my bag down and slouch on the sofa. Having no effort to cook any dinner I decide to flick on the tv with hopes that one of the other girls will make something for everyone. My eyes close in an attempt to relax after a long day and the background noise of the Tv starts to soothe me. My eyes droop more and I fall asleep.

'Buzz buzz buzz buzz!'

The vibrating of my phone partially wakes me up. Laying on the sofa I press the green phone button to answer the call from my phone starts laying next to my head.

'Hello?' I mumble still half asleep.

' Rosalie, its Alice, would you be able to come pick me up from work?'

' I thought you rode your bike in?' I attempt to say whilst yawning.

' The shop next door has building work going on and some idiot left nails lying about on the sidewalk and my wheel popped and I have no effort to push my bike home.'

' okay, gimme 5 minutes'

'Thank you!'

I push myself up from the sofa, run my fingers through my hair so my neighbours don't think I'm a mess and proceed to put on my black vans, I have no effort to do errands in high heels. I find my car keys in the key bowl, Alice loved making the flat organised with decorative bowls and other storage, and start to head downstairs. Naturally the lift was never in use so I had to endure walking up and down 12 flights of stairs everyday. Green carpet with any and every stain on them lined the stairwell floor with some old fashioned wallpaper and lamps on the walls. It wasn't insanely run down but it could definitely do with a makeover. As I exit the building I walk down the sidewalk a few paces and press the unlock button on my car keys. At this point I would open my car door and get in but I couldn't because my car was gone. No where to be seen.

Panic sets in. I'm sure my car was out front? I'm sure I left it here. It was there this morning. Wasn't it? I walk down the street in the opposite direction to make sure I haven't walked the wrong way. Nope, still not there. On the other side of the road? Not there either. Maybe Bella had moved it and her and Alice are playing a prank? Yeah, that's Possible. Or maybe I did park it in the car park. I run down the ramp in to the underground car park. No Audi. Still full of annoying neighbours cars, but no Audi.

I grab my phone and call Alice.

'This isn't funny.'

' I'm sorry to disturb your slumber but I don't think you realise how heavy this bike actually is to push-'

' Not that! Now where is it?'

' My bike? Well it's with me-'

' Not your bike! My car, where is it.'

' Well it's wherever you parked it last.'

' This isn't funny Alice where have you and Bella moved my car!'

' we haven't moved your car? I've been at work all day.'

' Well someone has because it's not here!'

' what do you mean it's not there!?'

' It's gone Alice!...I think is been stolen…'

'Shit.'