Christian POV

Half an hour later we were going out the front door while I was carrying the two suitcases I put in the trunk of the car. Today we had gone to work on the Mustang. It was fortunate that in the Porshe we would not have fit. We got in the car and I drove in a hurry to New York as if by doing so Anastasia would appear faster.

Anastasia's parents stayed with Kate in the apartment while I went to mine.

And slowly the minutes began to pass, which turned into hours and in turn into days. Days without news, days when I didn't eat or sleep thinking about Anastasia and what happened to her. The kids would come and try to cheer me up, but that didn't happen.

My spirits lifted a little when the police told us they had located the kidnapping van. But it was all a dead end. They had abandoned it for days and completely clean, they couldn't find anything in it.

We were all waiting for a rescue. I was going to give what they asked for in exchange for being returned to me with a healthy and safe life. As the days went by the hopes of finding her were gradually disappearing.

A week had passed since the kidnapping and then I received a call to my cell phone from an unknown number. Everyone was there with me and staring at me waiting for my cell phone to answer.

After looking at it for what seemed like an eternity I stood up and decided to answer.

—Yes.

—If you want to see your girlfriend alive, you'll do exactly as I say, I'll call you back soon. —and he hung up.

—Who was that? —Elliot asked as he examined my face.

—From what he said I assume he was the kidnapper. —I said as I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated.

—And what did he say?

—Nothing, only that he would call again, and that if I wanted to see her alive I should do what he told me. —I said as I dropped on the sofa.

—Don't worry, Christian, everything will be all right, you'll see we'll find her. —Elliot said to me as he put a hand on my shoulder.

—I know, but when. —I said as he covered my face with my hands.

The next morning I left the apartment as usual and made my way to the museum as I did with Anastasia, through Central Park. I think this was the only thing that kept me from losing hope.

It was after 10:00 am when the phone rang, but it wasn't my cell phone, it was the office cell phone. I had not yet assumed the position of Director of Restorations. I had been given two weeks to pick up my things before I took the office. I was picking things up in the office when the sound had startled me. I sat in the chair behind the desk and when I saw the caller ID I could see that it was coming from the front desk.

—Hello.

—Excuse me, Mr. Grey, you're wanted here at the reception.

—I'm sorry but I don't feel like greeting anyone, tell them to call my office if they need to talk to me.

—She insists on talking to you in person.

She...just thinking that it could be Anastasia my heart started beating frantically.

—I'll be right there. —I said as I hung up the phone and left the office at full speed.

But already in the elevator I realized that it couldn't be her, and when I arrived at reception I confirmed it when I saw Elena waiting there.

—Can we talk?

For a moment I thought about saying no, but I didn't want her to make a scene in the museum. So I took her by the hand and guided her to the cafeteria where I used to have lunch with Anastasia. We sat down after I ordered a coffee and she just water and I decided to face her.

—What do you want?

—Good heavens Christian, you've changed, you've forgotten your manners.

—No, I haven't forgotten them, but with you I don't think I have any reason to use them.

—I just wanted to know how you were after I heard about your girlfriend's kidnapping.

And how did she find out about that? It's not that it's a secret, but only those who work in the museum and those who know us know it.

—And how did you find out. —I asked curiously.

—I heard it when someone commented on it in one of your clubs that I went to the other night.

Yes, she might have heard the comment. But how did she know it was one of my clubs? Not many people knew that, there are few people who know the names of my clubs. There was something strange here. That's where my phone rang, and it was Elliot. How timely.

—I'm sorry, I have to take this call. —I said as I stood up to leave the table, I needed to talk privately with him.

—Don't worry, take your call, I need to go to the bathroom. —she said as she got up from the table.

I sat down again and answered as she walked away on her way to the bathroom.

—Elliot, did something happen?

—No nothing, I was just calling to see if you wanted us to have lunch together, we haven't done that in a while.

—You are in your car?

—Yes, I'm near the museum, I'll pick you up.

—No, I need a favor and don't ask questions, I'll explain later.

—Tell me.

—You know the cafeteria across the MET.

—Yes.

—You remember Elena from London.

—The blonde who was crazy about you.

—For my money, yes, she's here with me, I need you to follow her without her noticing.

—What happened?

—I'll explain later, I can't continue talking, here she comes back, I'll see you later.

—Leave everything in my hands, brother. —he said to me before he cut the call just as she arrived and sat in front of me again.

—All right with the call? —she asked me as I inadvertently continued to look at the cell phone. I took my gaze away from it and directed it towards her.

—Yes, just a few problems that I have to deal with later. — I replied without emotion as I finished my coffee. —Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to work. —I said as I stood leaving on the table a bill to pay for coffee.

We left the cafeteria and when we were outside she stopped me with her hand.

—Can I call you one of these days. —she said as I looked at her seriously.

Maybe she thought we were going to go out again after everything she had done. Besides, the fact that the woman I love is missing doesn't mean that I'm going to go out with the first one that comes across me in front of me, let alone with her.

—I'm sorry, Elena, but I'm not in the mood for anything at the moment. —I replied while she smiled slightly and I took her hand away from mine.

The truth was that I wasn't going out with her again even if she was the last woman on earth.

—Excuse me, I have to go. —I said to her as I walked towards the museum without looking back.

Before crossing the street I noticed Elliot's car parked right next to me. The good thing about his car was that it had dark windows and they wouldn't see it. I smiled inwardly as I continued on my way. If she had anything to do with Anastasia's kidnapping I was going to make sure she paid dearly.

I didn't go out for lunch, the truth was that since Anastasia had disappeared I didn't feel like doing almost anything. Life had lost its meaning without her by my side. Around 2:00 pm I got a call from Elliot.

—Where are you. —I asked in despair.

—I followed her to a hotel near your apartment, she's been there for about an hour. —Elliot spoke to me strangely, I understood, but it was still a bit difficult.

—Are you eating? —I asked him curiously.

I could already imagine him sitting in the car devouring a hamburger, and that made me smile.

—Remember you didn't let me have lunch, I think I deserve these burgers. —then there were several.

—I didn't say anything.

—Chris, I have to leave you, she's leaving the hotel right now, I'll call you later.

—Good luck with the chase. —I said to him as I hung up the phone.

After what Elliot had told me that she was in a hotel near my apartment my suspicions became more certain. I didn't doubt for a moment that she had followed us someday, now I was more certain than before she had something to do with the kidnapping. But I knew she hadn't been able to do it alone, so she must have had an accomplice.

By the time I looked at the clock it was almost 6:00 pm. I didn't even know what time it was. Everyone had already left. I picked up my things and before I left I took a look at the office. I had already collected all the the things, I only had to move. I turned off the lights and left for Anastasia's apartment. I wasn't going back to mine until she showed up. Kate was already there when I arrived.

—Have you seen Elliot today. — she asked me as I closed the door behind me.

—I haven't seen him, but I talked to him on the phone.

—He said he was going to lunch with you and picked me up in the afternoon, but he never arrived. —she said as she sat on the sofa.

—I think that's my fault. —I answered her as she looked at me with her arms crossed and with an expression of fury in her gaze.

—What did you do this time? —she said as she stared at me.

—Don't look at me like that, it's something important.

—Oh yes.

—Yes, I sent him to follow Elena my ex, I think it has something to do with the kidnapping.

—Are you sure? How do you know?

—It was something she said. Can I ask you something? —she stared at me. —Do you know the name of my clubs?

—Only the ones we've been to, It's they're more?

—If you don't know them, it's impossible for her to know, unless she's been following us for a long time.

—What do you mean?

—Probably Elena, my ex, has been following us for a long time, which makes me wonder if she had anything to do with the fire at the club, and even more, if she was involved in Anastasia's accident.

—You think so. By chance that ex of yours is a psychopath.

—I'm beginning to think so, now we have to wait for Elliot to come back or call to confirm my suspicions.