Christian POV

5 minutes before

I didn't want to be separated from Anastasia, but it was an important meeting with the entire museum board as we had been informed. I was sitting in a chair in the meeting room, but the meeting hadn't started yet, they were waiting for Taylor.

I had everything planned for lunch, but the meeting was sudden and now I would have to change the plans. I touched the pocket of my jacket where I had the little box and smiled inwardly. It didn't pass tonight, I couldn't go another day without asking Anastasia to be my wife.

So I took my cell phone and decided to send her a message.

"Are you mad at me? I promise to make it up to you when we're home, remember that I love you."

Several minutes had passed and she didn't answer, she always answered me quickly, but now she didn't, how strange. Is she really upset? I was going to send her another message when Taylor came in and asked us to turn off our cell phones, he didn't want interruptions. And as I stared at the screen on my cell phone, I pressed the off button. Anastasia would have to wait.

The meeting had been going on for almost two hours, I was anxious to get out of here and turn on the cell phone, Anastasia had surely tried to contact me but had not been able to.

—Last point of the meeting. —the director of the museum said as I looked away from the switched off cell phone and paid attention. —Taylor, you have the word.

—Thank you Campbell. I don't know if many of you know him, but I'm retiring next week. —wow that was new, I didn't know. —After several meetings between the directors, we have reached an agreement on who will be the new Director of Restorations... —Taylor continued talking but I was not listening to him. I was hanging on to my cell phone which I had turned on as soon as he had begun to speak. Nothing, no message came. Now I was worried. —Meet the new Director of Restorations, Christian Grey. —he said as he pointed at me.

Had I listened well, I was the new Director of Restorations. I stood up as everyone congratulated and applauded me. This was really surprising, I had been stunned. This was a cause for celebration and we would do it for everything big in my apartment tonight.

—Well that was it, we're done with the meeting, thank you all. —Campbell said as I quickly stood up looking for the way out.

Anastasia was still not sending any message, so I decided to call her, the phone went off. This was not right, something had happened.

As I went out into the big room and looked up from my cell phone, I met Mia and Ethan, both of whom looked frightened.

—What happened? —I asked with concern.

For a moment they both looked at each other without saying anything.

—Where is Anastasia? — I asked in despair.

—They kidnapped Anastasia. —Ethan answered me as I fell on my knees on the floor and covered my face with my hands.

And then my worst fears were confirmed. I knew it, I knew something had happened. Something terrible. First the accident and now this.

—We saw how everything happened, we already gave our statement to the police. —Ethan continued. —They want to talk to you. —he said as I looked up and looked at him. —You have to be a strong man. —he told me while he put a hand on my shoulder. —They'll find it, you'll see.

—I'll try. —I said to him as I got up from the ground and could see the policemen standing in the distance, apparently waiting for me to tell me what had happened.

—We found his cell phone in the wax, I don't think it's any good for anything else. —Mia said to me as she handed me the cell phone with the screen split in half.

As the police approached where I was Ethan and Mia told me how the kidnapping had happened while I listened in astonishment. First the accident and now this, something told me that the thing was much more serious than it seemed. What I didn't understand was why someone wanted to do this to her.

—You are Miss Stelle's boyfriend. —One of the detectives said as he stood in front of me.

—Yes, I am. —although that was going to change today.

—We'd like to ask you a few questions.

—You can ask anything.

—Do you know if Miss Stelle had any enemies?

—Not that I know of. —I answered while they were both looking at each other.

—And you?

—Not that I can remember. —I replied as I ran a hand over my head.

—Thank you, if you remember anything you know where to find us. Don't worry, for sure some camera saw something. We will keep you informed about the situation.

—Thank you.

Now I had to do something difficult. To inform Ana's parents. And it was something I didn't think I could do on the phone. So I took my car and without thinking I headed for Newark. I put my phone in speaker and on the way I called Kate. She answer at once.

—Hey, Christian, what's going on?

—How do you know something's going on?

—I didn't study journalism for fun. You never call me, which only means that something happened. What happened to Anastasia?

—The truth is, I don't know how to tell you.

—Don't just think about it.

—All right, here it goes. Anastasia was kidnapped.

—What! —she shouted in my ear. —How did that happen?

—She wasn't with me, I only know what Ethan and Mia told me. It was right in front of the museum.

—Oh God!

—Don't worry Kate, I'm on my way to Newark right now to tell Ana's parents, I just hope they find her soon.

—Me too.

—Tell Elliot about the situation, I'll see you when I get back to the apartment. —I said as I hung up and accelerated the car on the freeway.

I parked the car a block from the house and sat in the car for more than two hours thinking, I didn't know how I was going to explain to Anastasia's parents that their daughter had been kidnapped. I saw Anastasia's mother arrive first and then her father half an hour later.

I took a strong breath and filled myself with courage. I started the car and parked it in front of the house. I stepped out of the car and walked to the door where I knocked decisively.

Anastasia's mother opened the door for me and when she saw me standing there, she looked to the side looking for her daughter.

—Didn't Anastasia come with you? —she asked as I stared at her.

—No. I have to talk to you, but we'd better sit down.

—Come in then. —she said to me, opening the door with a worried face as I entered.—Franklin, we have a visitor. —she said as we sat in the living room and Franklin came out of the kitchen and accompanied us.

—What brings you here? Didn't Anastasia come with you? —he said as he sat next to Carla.

I couldn't go on giving it long, I had to tell them.

—That's what it's all about. Anastasia has been kidnapped.

—How. —exclaimed Franklin standing up as Anastasia's mother put her hands in her eyes and began to cry.

—Oh God my child, not again! —she said between sobs.

Franklin sat down again and hugged his wife as he leaned her head against his chest and continued to cry.

—When did this happen?

—At noon today, I was going to tell you on the phone, but I decided it was better to do it in person. So as soon as I finished talking to the police I drove here.

—How did it happen? —asked Carla, stopping sobbing for a moment.

And then I told her the same thing the boys had told me. And as I did, Anastasia's mother started crying again.

—We can't just stay here, we're going to New York. —said Franklin standing up. —I'm not going back until my daughter shows up, and we'll find a place to stay there.

—You can stay in my apartment or with Kate I'm sure she won't mind.

—Thank you, Christian. —said Carla as she got up from the sofa. —I'm going to prepare my suitcases quickly.