DRAMA NOVEL ONLINE Chapter My CEO 275
275 Wedding Day
275 Wedding Day
(Winona)
I stand in front of the mirror, watching as Lisa adjusts the delicate lace on my wedding dress.
Cass isn't here. I know something's wrong, but I've told them all that her flight has been delayed and she should be here by the end of the day. I wish that were true.
I try to smile as Anne walks over, handing me a glass of champagne. "You're getting married," she says softly, her eyes gleaming with happiness. "You should be smiling."
"Thanks, Anne, I'm very happy," I lie, lifting the glass to my lips and taking a small sip, trying to settle the nervous flutter in my chest.
The kids are running around the room, Bobby has come up to visit, so I know Jayden and his groomsmen are down there waiting.
Bobby is chasing Sarah and Abby with a bubble gun, meant to be for them to make bubbles for us to walk through once the service is done.
Cass. I should've told Jayden, and I will, but I need to know more.
I've tried to keep myself from losing it, but it's getting harder. There were no flights from Cancun last night or this morning. I left a message for Gus.
I even contacted the local police, and they said Cass reported her bag stolen on Thursday night.
Her passport, ID, everything. Her phone. But how can that be? I got a message from her since then. I've sent the local police to her hotel, but they haven't found her yet. And Gabriel? No one knows where he is. I need to go and tell Jayden. Right now.
"Winona, breathe," Lisa's voice pulls me from my spiral She's standing in front of me, her hands resting on my shoulders, concern etched across her face. "You're tense. You're pale. What's going on?" "I'm fine," I say automatically. "Just... pre-wedding jitters."
She narrows her eyes. "What's really going on?"
Before I can answer, my phone rings. My heart lurches in my chest as I see Cass's name flash on the screen. Finally. Relief floods through me, and I nearly drop the phone in my haste to answer it.
"I need to get this, Lisa. I'm okay. I promise. Just worried about Henry.
Lisa squeezes my hand and I head to the bathroom to connect the call.
"Cass?" I say. "Where the hell have you been?"
But the voice on the other end isn't Cass.
"Listen carefully," a man's voice says; cold and detached. "If you want your sister alive, you'll do exactly as I say."
My blood runs cold. "Who the hell are you?"
+25 BONUS
275 Wedding Day
"You're going to bring one million dollars to Cancun, Alone. No cops. No one else. If you do anything to make us suspicious, she's dead. Do you understand?"
I try to swallow, but my throat feels like it's closing up. ... I don't have that kind of cash laying around."
"You'll find it," he says, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather. "Cash, jewelry, whatever you need to do. You have until tonight."
My heart races, my hands shaking as I struggle to keep my voice steady. "I need proof that she's alive before you get anything from me."
"Bring it to Cancun and then you'll get proof. We'll contact you there."
"Okay."
"Don't try anything smart. We will kill her. Tell no one. Be here by tonight."
I lower the phone, my hands shaking. How the hell am I supposed to get a million dollars? Mentally I'm calculating my jewelry collection, cash in the home safe and work safe. My expendable cash in my bank. It's not having it that's the problem, it's accessing that much cash on a weekend.
"Winona?" Lisa's voice through the door snaps me out of my thoughts. "You okay? You've been in there for a while. Bobby has headed back downstairs. It's time."
"Yeah.." I come out and force a smile.
Lisa studies me for a second, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "If you're having doubts, you absolutely don't have to go through with this."
"I'm not. I just need some time alone first."
I can't leave without saying something.
"Abby," I call, my voice trembling slightly as I kneel down in front of her. "Come here, sweetie."
She runs over, her face bright and full of joy, completely unaware of the storm raging inside me. I pull her into a tight hug, squeezing her tightly.
"I love you so much," I whisper, my voice cracking. "You, Bobby, Sarah... you're everything to me.". We haven't told the kids about Henry yet. We'd hoped to after the service.
Abby giggles, pulling back to look at me. "Mommy, why are you crying? I thought you wanted to marry Daddy."
"I do, Abby. More than anything in this world. No matter what happens you tell him I said that, won't you?"
She nods. "Silly mommy, you can tell him soon."
I pull Sarah into a hug next, kissing her forehead. "Tell Bobby that I love him too, okay? You two coming into our lives has made us into a proper family. Never forget that." She looks up at me with wide eyes, confused but nodding. "Okay."
I realize I may never get to tell Henry again that I love him. He's stabilized overnight but he isn't out of the woods by any means. Isolation in a sterile environment is still in force. 275 Wedding Day
+25 BONUS
I stand up, my chest tightening as I realize what I have to do. "Listen, guys," I say, my voice wavering. "1 need some time alone before the wedding. Head down without me. I'll catch up." Lisa looks over, her brows furrowed. "You sure?"
"I'm sure," I say, nodding. "I just need some time to think about life. It's been a lot, you know?"
Anne gives me a soft smile, ushering the kids out of the room. Lisa follows them.
1 yank off my wedding outfit and lay it on the bed, pulling on a tracksuit and sneakers. I grab my purse but, short of scaling down the balcony, I wonder how I'm going to sneak out of here..
With one last glance at my dress, I slip out the door, down the hall and use my electronic room key to open the stairwell door.
I know there's a gym and a lower-level parking lot. I go to turn off my phone to avoid the barrage of incomings I know I'll get. But before I do, I write down Gus's number using the notepad and pen in my purse.
I'm not stupid enough to tackle this alone, I'll get another phone and text the new number to Cass's phone and to Gus.
But right now, I'm heading to Cancun alone and once I hear Cass is okay, then the gloves are off.
As I am about to turn off my phone, a message comes through. It's from Gus
Helicopter waiting at Brennan helipad
He knows? I don't know how, but I know I'm not alone. I text him a thumbs up and turn off my phone. I hail a taxi and head to collect everything valuable I can gather up before I go. Be smart, Cass, we're coming.
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