Chapter 87 KIDNAPPED
Julian’s phone keeps buzzing in his pocket but he ignores it. His attention is still on the man in front of him; the foreign investor with a heavy accent and a firm handshake. The meeting has gone well. Numbers agreed. Terms settled. Expansion secured.
Everything is in place.
“Mr. Thorne,” the man says with a smile, “I have heard many things about you. Power. Influence. Control. Now that I have met you, I see… it is all true.”
Julian gives a small, confident nod.
“I’m glad the meeting met your expectations.”
“It exceeded them,” the man replies.
They shake hands again.
Julian walks them through the hallway himself, composed, calm, every step measured. Staff members step aside as they pass, heads lowering.
They reach the elevator, and the doors slide open. The man steps in.
“Looking forward to working with you,” the investor adds.
“As am I.” Julian replied. The doors close.
The moment they do, Julian pulls out his phone.
Seeing multiple missed calls from Anton.
Julian frowns slightly.
He taps to call back, but the phone rings again before the call could be sent.
It's Anton calling.
Julian answers, lifting the phone to his ear without a word.
He waits.
Anton speaks first.
“Eli’s been kidnapped.”
Julian stops walking.
“What?”
The word comes out low but sharp, controlled but just barely.
He starts moving again immediately. Fast. His steps echo through the hallway as he heads toward his office.
“What do you mean kidnapped?” Julian asks.
“I mean kidnapped,” Anton replies. “Taken. Snatched. Gone.”
Julian’s jaw tightens.
He reaches his office floor and walks past Ms. Carter’s desk.
Empty.
He pushes open his office door.
The couch he'd left Eli is empty.
“Where is he?” Julian mutters.
He walks further in.
Opens the bedroom door.
Empty.
His chest tightens. Then his gaze shifts to his desk and immediately notices that wasn’t how he left it.
His eyes narrow slightly.
“Eli…” he says under his breath.
He exhales sharply and runs a hand through his hair.
“Fuck.”
On the phone, Anton speaks again.
“I tried to follow them,” he says. “But they threw me off.”
Julian starts pacing back and forth, thinking fast. Calculating where he overlooked or missed.
“Confirm who took him,” Julian says. “I’ll check the security footage. See if he was being followed.”
Anton exhales. “He went to eat at a nearby restaurant. With that your smiley face secretary.”
Julian’s eyes darken. “Ms. Carter.”
“Yes,” Anton replies. “He wasn’t being followed before that. I think they spotted him there… then made the move.”
Julian stops pacing.
His hand tightens around the phone.
“How do you know he went out to eat?”
There's a brief pause.
Then—
“I’ve been following him around.”
Julian lets out a slow breath.
“You were a feral animal last night,” Anton continues casually. “Shouldn’t you have left him at home to rest after such an intense session?”
Julian closes his eyes briefly.
Then opens them.
“You fucking stalker.”
“It’s a pleasure,” Anton replies smoothly. “Do you have any tracker on him?”
Julian turns toward the couch.
His gaze lands on the empty space where Eli should be.
“Yes,” he says. “Our wedding ring. There’s a tracker in it.”
“Good,” Anton says quickly. “Connect—”
“Come over,” Julian cuts him off. “Be fast. I’ll be reviewing the security footage.”
He ends the call without waiting for a reply.
Julian walks out of his office and heads straight for the elevator.
His face is calm, too calm for the alarms going off in his head.
The elevator doors open and he steps in.
The ride down is silent and too slow for Julian's liking.
The moment the doors open again, he walks straight into the surveillance room.
The staff inside immediately stand.
“Sir.” They bow.
A chair is pulled out for him.
Julian sits.
“Footage,” he says. “From one hour ago. My office floor.”
“Yes, sir.”
Screens light up, frames switch, and Julian leans forward slightly. Focused, watching.
He sees himself walking in earlier, carrying Eli. Eli hiding his face.
Julian’s eyes flicker for just a second.
Then he keeps watching.
Time passes on screen.
Then Ms. Carter enters and soon she leaves with Eli.
Julian watches carefully.
Every movement, every detail.
“Switch.”
The frame switches and shows Eli and Ms. Carter inside the elevator, no one else rode with them. They come out on the ground floor and there's nothing suspicious yet.
They get to the parking lot and get into her car, and then drive off.
Nothing strange, no suspicious movement.
No car following.
No one watching.
Julian’s brows draw together. He rewinds, watches again, slower. Frame by frame. Still nothing.
He exhales through his nose.
“Again,” he says.
The footage rewinds. Play again.
Julian’s eyes track every person in the background.
Every shadow, every reflection. Nothing.
The door opens behind him.
Anton walks in.
Julian doesn’t turn.
He keeps watching for some time.
Then, he stands.
“Let’s go.”
Anton doesn’t argue.
They walk out together.
They enter the elevator, and ride down.
The tension between them is thick.
They step out into the parking lot, Anton’s car is already there.
They get into Anton's car.
Anton starts the engine, then glances at Julian.
“So,” he says lightly, “you finally want me around? No longer trying to kill me?”
“Shut up,” Julian replies.
Anton smirks slightly.
“Still angry?”
Julian doesn't answer.
“I said I’m sorry,” Anton continues. “And I am truly sorry. Just give me a chance to ask for his forgiveness.”
Julian stares ahead. “Start the car, Anton.”
The engine is already running, but Anton doesn’t move yet.
“Julian.”
“I’m no longer angry,” Julian says flatly.
Anton pauses… then looks at him.
“He told me,” Julian continues. “Before I could ask. He said you didn’t force him.”
Anton’s expression shifts slightly. “Really?” he asks. “He doesn’t think I forced him?”
“No.”
Julian’s voice is steady.
“He said he wanted it too. Said it was the heat of the moment.”
Anton exhales slowly, relief flickering across his face.
“He told me even though he thought I’d be mad, and that's because he loves his husband and doesn't keep secrets.” Julian adds.
Anton turns his head sharply. “Did he actually say he loves you?”
Julian finally looks at him. “Move the damn car.”
Anton chuckles.
“Alright.”
He shifts gears, and the car moves.
Fast.
Tires rolling out of the parking lot.
The air inside the car is tense again.
Anton grips the wheel. “So,” he says, tone dropping. “What’s the plan?”
Julian leans back slightly, his eyes dark.
“We track the ring,” he says. “Find where they took him.”
“Do you have any guess on who is playing this shitty game?”
Julian’s jaw tightens. “Desmond. Last night, at Mr Devon's party, Lovia handed me and Eli spiked drinks. Lovia pulled some trick to get me away from Eli so Desmond could mess with Eli.”
“Ahh, Desmond, that unfortunate lad. We'll get him.” Anton said, firing up the car. “We’re going for no negotiation?”
“No negotiation.” Julian replied.
Anton glances at him, a slow smile spreads across his face. “Good,” he says quietly.