Chapter 25

Phoebe POV

This was the perfect venue for the party of the year.

As soon as we pulled up to the Fairmont Olympic Hotel I knew this was going to be a party nobody would forget for a long time.

"Look at this." I heard Ted, "this is Aunt Mia's doing 100%"

"Looks like I'm going to camouflage in with the plants." Mom muttered.

They had airbrushed all the flowers outside black with red glitter carefully applied.

The outside lights were dimmed and there were two spotlights either side of the entrance alongside two flames.

This was like something from an erotic novel.

"Masks on." I heard dad say as we pulled up by the entrance.

As we stepped out of the car there wasn't the usual flurry of flashing lights that follow the Grey's. There were only two photographers; one was from page 6 of the Seattle Times and the other was the official photographer for the evening.

Mom and Dad went first. Standing arm in arm. If you didn't know them then you would presume they were fine, but if you really looked you could see some stiffness in their hold.

Ted and Samantha followed, looking as cute as ever. The look of love in my brother's eyes is something I will strive to see in my husband's eyes when he looks at our children.

There photo call was done and now it was my turn. I am so nervous- I'm surprised my legs are holding me up, they are like jelly.

I step out to a few flashing lights. I pose for a few seconds and they then begin to smother me.; it feels like there are a thousand photographers here. I feel like I can't breathe. I feel mom at my side and dad at the other.

My rocks, anchoring me back to reality.

Of course they want a Grey family picture. Dad only gives them a few before he is leading us towards the entrance.

"Are you okay darling?" Mom questioned rubbing her hands up my arms.

"Yes, I'm fine. I don't know what came over me." There must be a chill in the air, I have goose-bumps over my arms. Something isn't right. I shake the feeling and grab a glass of water from a waitress.

"Well let's follow your father and brother in. I am looking forward to seeing the inside if the outside is anything to go by!" She linked her arm through mine and we headed in to the hall together.

It was breath taking.

The inside was truly dark and dangerous.

The walls had black drapes hanging from ceiling to floor with red lighting running through them. There are blood red roses all around the outside of the room.

Tables and chairs take up the first half of the room and a massive dance floor the other.

People are filtering around the room- all wearing masks and the most beautiful dresses and suits.

Mom has spotted Grandma and Grandpa and she heads over towards them- thus dragging me along with her.

Grandma is wearing a classy burgundy dress that just falls across and down her body perfectly. She is getting old now but she still looks fantastic. Grandpa looks just as smart in his tuxedo.

"Oh Ana, you're looking stunning tonight as always." Grandma kisses both of her cheeks and turns to me.

"Oh Phoebe look at you. You have taken my breath away." She kisses both my cheeks also and gave me a hug as well.

"Thanks Grandma. Hi Grandpa. You are looking very lovely too." I kiss him on both cheeks, "Has anyone seen Becki? I would like to monopolize the birthday girl for 5 minutes." I ask the group.

"I believe she is by the dancefloor in the corner," Grandma said pointing to the corner of the room. I follow her gaze and spot a few people milling around that area. I try to find Becki but I remember everyone has masks on and I have no idea what she is wearing.

"Can anyone enlighten me on what she is wearing?" I say with a smile, "I could end up talking to the complete wrong person."

"Of course! I keep forgetting everyone has masks on." Grandma laughs, "She's wearing the white and gold dress. See here? She's also got the white mask on with the feather on." Grandma is still pointing towards the corner.

Ah, found her. Woah. She looks insanely beautiful. The dress is predominantly white with gold dusting on the skirt and bodice. It was a tight sweetheart neckline and remained tight up until her waist. It then appeared to flow out from the waist down in a way that wasn't to puffy she couldn't move but had just the right amount of netting underneath to ensure everyone was looking her way. The gold dusting was solid around the bottom of the dress and then spread up sporadically throughout the skirt. The mask was also eye catching- a white mask with a massive gold feather coming from the corner. Simple but eye catching. Aunt Mia and Karl had truly outdone themselves.

I expected nothing less to be honest.

I headed over to her avoiding the dancefloor, I didn't want anyone to stop and talk to me from school right now. I was half way there when I felt someone grab my elbow and drag me towards the drapes.

I was about to scream blue murder until he spoke and settled my anger.

"Hey, baby. It's me, it's Luke. Calm down it's me." He was whispering in my ear. I turned around though just to make sure.

He looked edible. In the suit jacket that Caroline provided and the black mask made him even more attractive. I have never wanted him more. Of course I wasn't going to let him know that.

"Hello stranger." My voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Nice of you to finally find the time for your girlfriend."

"I'm sorry Phoebe. I have been so busy the last couple of days helping mom and dad out. I promise it won't happen again. Tonight is about us. You look so beautiful. Even with a mask on I could spot you straight away." He began trailing kisses down my neck. "And. I. Have. A. Surprise. For. You. Remember?" He spoke in between kisses.

Oh shit, the surprise. My nerve endings were on fire from just his kisses, if it was anything like Gran's fundraiser then I don't know how much I can take.

"Meet me outside on the ground on 15 minutes." And with that he was gone. 15 minutes? I would be with Becki for more than 15 minutes that is for sure, and Grandma would keep me all night if I went back to talk to her.

However, if I stood around here all day then someone from school would come and talk to me and I really was not in the right head space for that right now. All I could think of was vibrating plates.

I decided to stand outside and wait for him; I needed to cool down anyway. Being flustered is not sexy or alluring at all.

I headed out to the grounds via the back entrance. Dodging Sawyer as I did, he is the last person I want out here witnessing the events that will unfold.

I hide behind a pillar to ensure he hasn't seen me leave. Luckily there is a commotion and he sprints off towards it- probably looking for me. Ah well you won't find me.

I walk down towards the ground a bit further and I see a bench in front of a lake. It's well enough hidden so the unsuspecting eye wouldn't see me here. But if you were looking for someone this is the place you would go. Perfect.

What on Earth has he got planned? He said it would be like before but I bet it is worse. I am coming up to the age now where I agreed to go into his 'room' and I'm sure he is going to start turning up the heat.

He wants me to go in there on my own free will- not feel forced or pressured and by showing me all these toys and giving me intense pleasure he is slowly persuading me that there is nothing to fear.

And it's working. My thoughts are running away with themselves, it must be close to ten minutes I have been sitting out here. 5 minutes to calm my nerves and cool down. Compose yourself Phoebe for goodness sake.

I hear someone approaching from behind. I know it's not Luke yet so I keep my head down. Hoping they won't recognise me from behind and that they'll just pass by. Please don't be Sawyer, please don't be dad.

A hand is placed over my mouth.

"Don't scream, you're coming with me." And then darkness.

Ana POV

After the commotion on the dancefloor I look to make sure everyone is okay. Christian is busy talking to someone- I don't know who. I can't recognise them with the mask on. Ted is sat at a table with Samantha playing with her toys and I can't seem to find Phoebe.

I look towards Becki and I don't see her there- I quickly scan the room with my eye, nowhere.

Maybe she's gone to the restroom- stop panicking Ana you silly woman.

I make my excuses to Grace and Carrick and go to check the bathroom. Opening the door to the ladies' room there is only three girls in there. All standing in front of the mirrors re-applying make-up.

Okay now I am slightly worried.

"Hi girls, have any of you seen Phoebe? I have something I need to tell her and it is quite urgent." I ask them. Phoebe will kill me for embarrassing her but I really don't care right now. She shouldn't have disappeared.

"And who are you? Why do you care?" One of the girls replied, sticking her nose up at me.

Oh hell no. Is she for real?

"Yeah, we know where she went. But we don't talk to people we don't know." Another one of them replied. I guess girls haven't changed over the years. They just appear to be worse and the private school education just fuels their sense of self-righteousness.

They were about to get a shock.

"I am her mother, Anastasia Grey. So you are going to tell me where she is or I will have all of you removed from the party and I will ensure that my daughter and her cousin, Rebecca have some elaborate story spread as to why you were removed from the party." I say in the most authorative voice I possess.

Okay, so I would never do that but they didn't need to know that.

The three of them looked shell shocked. The one who had said nothing from the moment I walked in here spoke first.

"I saw her head into the grounds through the back exit about ten minutes ago Mrs Grey."

See now that wasn't hard was it.

"Thank you girls. Enjoy the rest of your evening." I turned to walk out to the sounds of the poor girl being berated by her peers.

I couldn't see anyone outside. I checked behind each pillar. Nothing.

I was beginning to worry about her but there is no way I am alerting security or Christian at the moment. She might have just wondered off with a boy and Christian would be the last person I would want to interrupt that.

I head down the pathway towards a lake and there is no body in sight. I sit on a bench near the waterside gathering my thoughts. Where on Earth could she be.

A thousand scenarios are running through my head but before I could decide on my next course of actions something sparkling catches my eye.

I reach underneath the bench and grab the object. Lifting it to the light I can see it is a bracelet or an anklet. Hmm, maybe someone left it here- I'll have to hand it in at reception.

Wait. Phoebe has one exactly like this. We bought it for her 15th birthday and she hasn't taken it off since. This is Phoebe's. Fuck.

My mind was in overdrive. I was about to run back up to the party and alert every member of security there possibly is when I saw a man approaching me wearing the hotel uniform. Thank God.

"Please help, my daughter…"

"We have your daughter Mrs Grey." The man interrupted. "Now you can either choose to come with me and you will see her or you can stay here and never see her again. Your choice."

Without even thinking twice I follow the man towards the lake and hopefully to my daughter.

There is a van parked on the grounds just in front of a man made entrance in the bushes. This is Seattle, how on Earth did they create this un-noticed?

As I approach the van the magnitude of what I am doing hits me and my legs begin to shake. Phoebe where is she? Have they hurt her? Oh, my baby.

We reach the van and they open the back doors. Phoebe is lying on the floor unconscious. I leap in, what have they done?

"Phoebe, baby can you hear me?" she still has a pulse and she is still breathing. What have they done to her?

"Baby, it's mom. Everything is going to be fine- we're going to get out of here." I turn around to start to move her when I see a figure standing about 20 metres away. He shouts "Mrs Grey!" towards the van and starts to run.

With that the doors are closed and we are surrounded by darkness. No longer than two seconds later we wheel spin away to an unknown destination and an equally unknown future.

Hey all. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I believe there was some issue with viewing Chapter 23 (thanks for letting me know Christian618!) I have resolved that now so there should be no issues!

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