69

69

Isabella Miller—

Good girl.

I felt my thoughts calm as an ignition flashed all the way down my thighs, just from his hands on my shoulders and his faint Mexican accent. Tristan was able to evoke that effect on me.

It was just too much but I couldn't stop thinking about it all the way to the company.

"Dirty Isa," I scolded myself. "What makes you think that the officer would want you?"

I knew immediately that I was going to play my part perfectly. Maybe if I did, and Karl stepped out of his office in handcuffs, then I would get another 'good girl' praise from him.

Suddenly, that was all I wanted to hear.

Even when the car stopped at Darcel Group, I still couldn't concentrate and instead, I went through the front lobby and stepped into the elevator on autopilot.

It was like I knew what I was supposed to do without even thinking. I could do my work and complete it all with my eyes closed and mind elsewhere.

When I arrived at the second floor, there was a large office shared with my coworkers. All of us worked in the tech department and typed away on our laptops 24/7.

"Hey, Issa," one of them greeted as I walked in.

I waved back at her and mustered a greeting in reply.

I made my way to the back of the office and took out my seeds. I reached for my bag and took out the laptop, placing it on the table.

Tristan agreed that I would leave the company when it was 10:00 a.m. and take a leave. Then I would go over to Trevor Group and demand to see Karl.

I was anticipating and dreading the moment at the same time. I didn't know if I would be able to do it. What if I didn't play my part well and he saw right through me? If I failed, I knew that I wouldn't be able to go back to the station and report the failure to him.

"There's no room for mistakes," I said to myself. "I just have to get it right the first time."

I tried to concentrate on my work, thinking that I should at least go through some files and complete them before I moved on to my other cover agent work.

The recording tape that Tristan gave me was hidden in my skirt. All I had to do was click a button on it and everything that would happen in Karl's office would be recorded.

The plan was simple, really. All I had to do was get to his office and play my part well. I had to press his invisible buttons until I got a rise out of him. I knew he would remain calm and collected at first, but then I was going to push him until he lashed back and admitted that he kidnapped Clarissa in the first place. Until he revealed that it was all him, all along.

"And Tristan assured me that he will do that because I would appear helpless."

It was going to work. It had to.

I checked the time at intervals, waiting for the clock to strike 10. The time moved like a snail and I couldn't concentrate anyway, so finally, I pushed my chair away and stood up.

"Is everything alright, Isabella?" one of my coworkers asked, looking at me concerned.

I gave a friendly nod. "Of course, everything's fine."

"You've heard the news, haven't you?" the girl continued to ask.

"I wouldn't blame you if you feel so bad right now." She reached for her phone and showed me the newest update on social media.

"CEO Clarissa Devor kidnapped," the headline said.

I winced, biting my lower lip. It was all over the place now, and that reminder was just what I didn't need at the moment.

"I have to act fast and do all I can to get Clarissa out of that place."

"She was your best friend, wasn't she?" the girl asked me sympathetically.

I nodded softly.

"I don't know what I would do if my best friend got kidnapped. That must be why you can't concentrate. Shouldn't you take the day off?"

I saw an opportunity and decided I had to leave. If I went to the manager now and explained it to him, I was sure he would give me the day off.

"Yes, I will do that," I said, packing up.

Another of the workers turned to face me. "Go on, Isabella. We're standing by for you," she said.

I muttered my thanks as I stood up.

"Take care of yourself. I hope the CEO will be found very soon; otherwise, that will really spell doom for the company," she muttered to herself as I walked away.

"Doom, huh?" I thought, clenching my fists. "Not if I can help it."

Even as I walked down the hallways, I saw most of the staff talking about it. They all looked scared, saying that the CEO had been kidnapped.

It was only natural that they would be scared for their lives now, to think that whoever kidnapped her could come for them too, like they were that important.

And even if they were, it wouldn't even be possible because Karl was the one behind it and he did it out of spite.

I made my way out of Darcel Group.

I walked out of the building, my heart racing with anticipation.

I had to do this, for Clarissa's sake and for my own.

I brought out my phone and texted Tristan first. He had given me his number before I left the station.

"I'm on my way to Karl's company," I typed in and hit send.

I slipped the phone back into my pocket without waiting for a reply and hailed a taxi, heading to Trevor Group.

I rehearsed the plan a couple of times in my head.

I had to play my part perfectly, or risk everything falling apart.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I could do this. I had to do this.

As the taxi pulled up to Trevor Group, I steeled myself and got out. I walked into the building, my head held high.

My heels clicked on the marble floor, echoing through the lobby. I approached the reception desk, my heart pounding in my chest.

"I'm here to see Karl," I said, my voice steady.

The receptionist looked up at me, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "Do you have an appointment?" she asked, sounding polite enough, but I could see the hidden question in her eyes:

Who is this lady? They seemed to ask, and who did she think she was to just appear out of thin air and demand to see our CEO like he was a random person anyone could meet whenever they felt like.

I gave her a smile, fighting to appear confident. "No, I don't. But I'm sure he won't mind seeing me," I added.

This time, a frown formed on her face, and I saw that she was no doubt getting annoyed. "I'm sorry, but you can't see him without an appointment," she said stiffly and lowered her head back to her phone.

No... I thought. It couldn't be over so soon. I couldn't go back now... Not without getting what I wanted, and to that, I simply had to meet Karl first. «

"Please... It's urgent..." I said, gritting my teeth.

She looked up at me again, like I was an annoying fly that wouldn't stop buzzing. "Now, I do think that if it was as urgent as you make it out to be, then he would have given you an appointment. Or don't you think?" she said, like she was trying to point out an obvious detail.

"It's about Clarissa," I spat out finally. Her eyes widened in shock, and she quickly masked it.

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat and reached for the telephone by the side of the desk rather unwillingly. "I'll call him real quick and see if he will see you," she said.

I gave a grateful nod. "That would be nice." "Who are you, by the way?" she asked again as she typed in some numbers into the phone.

"Isabella Wilson," I said.

She gave a short nod and proceeded to call Karl's office. I found myself holding my breath as the phone rang. Now all I had to do was hope and pray that Karl would agree to meet with me.

Why would he agree to that? A voice in my head scoffed. After all, he barely even knew me. We met sometimes when he was dating Clarissa, and that was just about all our encounters. He knew nothing about me, save the fact that I was Clarissa's best friend. But yet, I felt myself hoping and praying to goodness because I needed this for the plan to work.

"He'll see you," the receptionist said at last, turning back to me. I heaved a sigh of relief.

"This way," she said, standing up.

I followed beside her, and we got into the elevator. It opened into a large hall, and soon, I found myself in front of a door. Karl's office. I clicked the tiny device hidden in my skirt before pushing the door open.