Chapter 55
Blake yanked Vespera out of the chair and dragged her toward the stairs. She followed without resistance. His phone buzzed persistently in his pocket. Dominic and Gerard had most likely already realized something was wrong—and maybe even pinpointed who was behind it. Perhaps they were closing in.
Blake led her up the creaking steps. At the top of the stairs, he flicked the light switch, but the room remained dark. Cursing under his breath, he searched for his phone. With a frustrated grunt, he declined the incoming call and switched on the flashlight.
Meanwhile, Vespera kept her eyes trained on the second floor. The corridor stretched ahead, a long, narrow passage with windows on either side. The old double-hung windows were mostly intact, except for one, where the glass had shattered. From the angle of the entrance below and the breeze that filtered in through the broken window, she knew it faced the sea. It was her only chance to escape.
She deliberately stumbled, her body tilting toward the side of the hallway where the window was broken. Noticing this, Blake swiftly guided her toward the nearest room. Since he had untied her, she hadn’t resisted. Even when he had been distracted by his phone, she hadn’t attempted to flee. It seemed she had made her choice—trading her body for her life.
A surge of satisfaction swelled in Blake’s chest. He was sure he had her figured out. But just as he let his guard down and reached for the door, Vespera suddenly yanked the rope from around her neck and bolted toward the window. In one swift motion, she flung it open and leaped out. Her movements were fluid and precise—like a trained operative.
Blake stood frozen, his mouth agape, watching her disappear into the darkness. A moment later, a loud splash echoed from below. Snapping out of his daze, Blake rushed to the window and looked down. It was pitch black. Had she really jumped into the ocean?
His phone buzzed again in his pocket. After several seconds of ringing, he answered.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Nicholson! I was driving and my phone slipped under the seat… What? What did you say? Everyone’s getting fired if we don’t find her? This… this… Mr. Reid can’t do that! I had no idea what was happening; this is completely unfair!”
Blake stole one more glance at the dark waters, his face hardening. Following Dominic’s instructions, Gerard remained silent and ended the call abruptly. Blake stared at the disconnected call for a moment before quickly dialing Nancy. As soon as she picked up, he jumped straight to the point.
“I’ve been at this branch for years. Why the hell is Mr. Reid making such a big deal over a secretary? It makes me wonder—what exactly is Ms. Gildon to him? Why is he so fixated on her?”
Nancy gripped the steering wheel tighter.
“Ms. Acosta, we don’t know the full situation yet. We haven’t even arrived, and he’s already making these impossible demands. And what if… what if Ms. Gildon really is gone?”
“Where are we supposed to find her? We’re not the police! This is ridiculous. He’s acting like a madman—ready to burn everything down over a woman. Does he expect us to go down with him?”
Blake knew exactly how to provoke Nancy—he deliberately played on the complicated history between her and Dominic, knowing it would push her buttons.
“Enough. We’ll discuss it when we meet at the factory,” Nancy retorted.
“Ms. Acosta! Mr. Reid Senior sent you personally; I suggest you call him right now and get him to step in before Mr. Reid goes too far!”
“Shut up! It’s not your place to come between father and son! I’ll handle this. Keep your mouth shut and stay out of it!”
Fuming, Nancy hung up and tossed her phone onto the passenger seat. Blake smirked as he glanced at his phone. Nancy was already on edge—he could practically feel her about to explode. He didn’t need to say another word; she would unravel on her own. His eyes flickered back to the dark, rolling waves below. “Sweetheart, you’re the one who decided to throw it all away. Don’t blame me for that.”
Dominic had arrived at the factory. Blake followed closely behind. In the meeting room of the administrative building, factory staff and several company representatives who had rushed over after hearing the news were gathered. The room buzzed with animated discussions, creating a chaotic and heated atmosphere. But the moment Dominic entered, the entire room fell silent.