Chapter 60
"The first person I met was my best friend, who looked at me with a huge smile.
"Chloé, do you know if Gérard is still at the company?" I got straight to the point.
"I don't know, my dear," she frowned. "Weren't you supposed to go to the doctor today? Didn't he come with you?"
I bit my lip because I hadn't told my friend about Gérard's words about starting a family.
"In fact, I told him that I was... and he thought it was a joke," I said sadly.
"What?" Chloé exclaimed. "Are you pregnant or not?"
"I am, I confirmed it today at the doctor's," I handed her the ultrasound. "Now I have to tell him it's not a joke, the problem is that he's not answering his cell phone."
"Oh, dear," she sighed, rolling her eyes. "I'll check in his office, don't worry, I'm sure he's just swamped with work, I'll pass you your phone when I have news."
I turned to his secretary; I had to find him and give him the news as soon as possible.
"Hello Veronica, is Mr. Durand in his office?"
"Hello Juliette, yes, Mr. Durand is indeed in his office, he asked me not to disturb him."
"Do you think I can go see him?"
"Let me call him on his phone, I'll get back to you."
Minutes passed, and he didn't answer Veronica's phone either, and the feeling that something serious had happened to him was growing in my chest, choking me.
"No answer, Juliette, go and knock on his door."
Knock, knock.
"Mr. Durand, may I come in?"
After several seconds of trying, there was no response.
"That's strange, there's no one here, yet I've never seen Mr. Durand leave his office, and when he leaves through the back door of the company, he always lets me know."
She entered the office with an emergency key while I sat there, feeling a bit dizzy.
"There's really no one here; I even checked the bathrooms and nothing," the secretary said, coming out, muttering.
"What happened, Veronica? Why the long face?" I asked, concerned.
"It's just that Mr. Durand is nowhere to be found in his office."
"What? Didn't you say he was at work?"
"Yes, he came very early this morning; he always says goodbye to me when he leaves, but I've already thoroughly checked the office, and there's no one."
"That's strange. Do you think something happened to him?"
"I don't know. I'll call his personal assistant," she said, tapping on her cell phone. "Luc, please come to the boss's office."
\---
Chloé's POV
I met Julie, and she broke the news to me that Gérard wasn't in his office. She seemed a bit shaken and worried about herself and her baby.
"Hi, good to see you," someone greeted me from behind.
"Mr. Vincent Durand, hello."
"Didn't we agree you could call me by my first name?" he said, and I felt my cheeks flush.
"Yes, but we're at work today; it still wouldn't be appropriate. You're my superior."
"If it makes you uncomfortable, I respect your decision, but you seem a bit off. Are you feeling unwell?"
"I'm worried. Do you know where his cousin is?"
"He's supposed to be in his office right now. By the way, has Juliette returned from the doctor? What did she have?"
"She 's pregnant."
"What? And why wasn't I informed?"
"It's a long story," I sighed. "The fact is, Juliette's worried and even felt ill when her secretary went into the office and saw she wasn't there."
"That's strange. Why would Gérard leave without letting anyone know?"
"Exactly."
Suddenly, we saw Luc and headed over to him. He surely must know where his boss was.
"Miss Chloé, did you send for me?"
Luc's POV
"Yes, Luc. It's just that we don't know where Mr. Durand is. Do you know anything? Did he tell you where he would be?"
"He only told me he would be in his office. He sent me to deliver some documents to his associates, and I just returned to the company."
I looked at Juliette, and she was still pale. It wasn't good for her or the baby.
I decided to let her rest, even though she insisted she was fine. I didn't want to take any risks.
Vincent decided to call security. They informed us that the only person who had come to see Gérard today was Alice. There was no doubt something fishy was going on.
We checked the security cameras, and indeed, we saw some men taking Gérard to the back of the company, with Alice accompanying them.
"My cousin is in danger with that lunatic. How could I have ever dated her?" he seemed frustrated.
"Now's not the time to assign blame. We need to find him before it's too late," Luc said.
"I've already called the police. A search alert has been issued. Should we tell Juliette?"
"I don't know. I'm afraid it might worry her too much and harm the baby," I hesitated.
"I think it's better to tell her the truth," he said, and I nodded, resigned.
\---
Juliette's POV
I was waiting for Chloé's call, and nothing. I was desperate when suddenly, my phone rang.
I was very nervous. Chloé was trying to explain what was happening, but I couldn't understand clearly.
"Chloé Petit, speak louder, please."
"Apparently, Alice and Damien have kidnapped Gérard."
"What?! This can't be true!"
"Sweetheart, please calm down. Vincent is already in charge of his search with the police. You need to stay calm for your baby."
"Chloé, what am I going to do if something bad happens to him?" I started crying.
"Juliette, please calm down. Everything will be fine. That harpy Alice won't get away with it, I promise."
I was very anxious, but Chloé was right; I had to stay calm for the sake of our baby.
\---
Gérard ’s POV
I woke up with a terrible migraine. I was very confused, and my whole body hurt. The last thing I remembered was a strong dizziness, and then everything went dark.
"Where am I? Why can't I move?"
"Dear Gérard, you're finally awake."
I jolted awake and realized I was tied to a chair, hands and feet bound.
I was in a dimly lit room, but unmistakably the person in front of me was Alice Bonnet.
"Let me go, Alice!"
"My love, don't get angry. You should be happy to see me," she said in a soothing voice.
"I told you to let me go! You'd better, Alice, let me go, or you'll regret it for the rest of your life, you crazy woman!"
"If I were you, I wouldn't risk being threatening, unless you want something bad to happen to your beloved Juliette and the bastard she's carrying in her belly.”