Chapter 16
The call ended with a sharp beep, but my mind was already miles away. Jeff‘ s rushed words still echoed in my ears. “She’s leaving for Paris tomorrow.” I set the phone down with a heavy sigh, staring blankly at the polished oak desk before me.
“What’s wrong, Niklaus?” my mother‘ s concerned voice broke through my thoughts. She stood at the doorway, her kind eyes searching my face for an answer.
“I need to go to Texas,” I said firmly,
picking up the phone again and dialing my
assistant.
“Mr. Blackwell,” came the familiar voice on
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the other end.
“Get the jet ready immediately,” I ordered. “I need to be in Texas tonight. No delays.”
“Yes, sir,” he replied promptly before I hung up.
“Texas?” my mother repeated as I turned back to her. “Why are you going to Texas?”
“Rosalyn is there, visiting her parents,” I explained, pacing the room now. “She‘ s leaving for Paris tomorrow, and I can‘ t–I won’t let her go. Not like this. I’m not giving up on her, Mother.”
My mother’s expression softened, though there was a hint of worry. “What about the business? There’s a meeting with the Rivers tomorrow morning.”
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“Hayden will handle it,” I said without
hesitation, already grabbing my coat. “He’s more than capable.”
“We‘ 11 help out too,” she assured me, her voice steady. “Take care, son.”
I nodded gratefully, but before I could leave, Cherry stepped into my path, her arms crossed. “Do you really want to go chasing after her like this?”
“I don’t care,” I said sharply, brushing past her. I didn’t have the time or patience for her cynicism right now.
The drive to the hangar was a blur of lights and the faint hum of the city outside my car window. My driver knew better than to make conversation, so the only sounds were the
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faint rumble of the engine and the storm
raging in my mind. The closer we got, the tighter the knot in my chest became. By the time we pulled up to the private hangar, my hands were clenched into fists, and my jaw ached from grinding my teeth.
The jet sat there waiting, sleek and ready, its lights glowing softly against the dark tarmac. My assistant met me at the steps, clipboard in hand.
“Everything‘ s prepared, sir. Weather conditions are clear, and we‘ re set to depart as soon as you‘ re ready.”
I nodded curtly, taking the stairs two at a time. The cool air inside the jet greeted me, and I sank into one of the plush leather seats.
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The stewardess approached, offering me a
drink, but I waved her off. My focus was entirely on getting to Texas, on seeing Rosalyn before it was too late.
As the engines roared to life, the weight of the situation pressed down on me. She was slipping through my fingers, and this might be my last chance to hold on. If she left for
Paris… what would that mean for us? For me?
The jet began to taxi down the runway, the vibrations beneath me growing stronger. I closed my eyes briefly, running a hand through my hair. Every mile that passed would bring me closer to her, but it felt like an eternity stretched before me. Would she
even want to see me?
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The plane lifted off the ground, and I stared out the window into the dark expanse of sky,
my
reflection staring back at me–grim, determined, and afraid. For the first time in years, I felt truly out of control.
But there was no turning back now. Definitely.
