Tempted by the Tycoon's Proposal

‘I’m afraid not, sir, but...well, no one asked.’

Of course they hadn’t. Why would they? He raked his hands through his hair, took a steadying breath—think, think...

‘Did anyone see which way they went?’

Her frown deepened, her head shaking. ‘But I’m sure they will be back very soon. The storm is picking up and—’

‘Cameras? Do you have cameras out front?’

‘Well, yes...’

‘Can you check the footage, tell me which way they headed?’

‘Of course, sir. I’ll ask Security right away, but I don’t think you should be—’

‘Thank you,’ he said over her. He wasn’t interested in her advice. No one, no storm, would stop him looking for them.

He looked to the glass, to the wind whipping through the trees, the snowfall starting to build and adding to the thick layer already down. Despite the staff’s best efforts, even the path out front, the drive to it too, were no longer visible between the high banks of snow.

He started to pace. He couldn’t take this much longer. He needed to get out there, start looking. What if the worst were to happen? What if it already had?

‘Sir?’

His eyes shot to the desk, to the woman looking up at him, apprehensive now. ‘They headed towards the lake.’

‘The lake?’ he choked out.

‘Yes, sir.’

The lake was through the woods, down a steep bank. It would be slippery, iced over... He was already striding for it.

‘Sir, you shouldn’t. You—’

He wasn’t listening. Instinct fired in his blood, drove his limbs, his mind... He couldn’t go through this again—he couldn’t.

* * *

As they cleared the bank and the woods the snowstorm really made itself known, the trees no longer sparing them the worst of it.

‘It’s lucky we left when we did!’ she yelled over the wind at Lily, whose hand was clutched in hers.

Lily nodded but said nothing. It was hard to talk with the snow lashing against their faces, biting into the band of skin left exposed between their hats and scarves, their eyes struggling to stay open.

She tugged Lily closer and leaned forward against it, her head bowed.

‘Sophia!’

Jack?

She lifted her head, blinking as she tried to focus. There was a shape in the distance, coming towards them. The closer they trudged, the more she could see. It was him. And...and he wasn’t even wearing a coat. She cursed inwardly—what on earth?

A sense of foreboding had the icy chill spreading on the inside now, her skin breaking out in a fevered sweat.

‘Lily!’ His yell was harsh, choked even. Oh, no...

‘What’s Daddy doing?’ Lily shouted up at her.

‘I’ve no idea. Come on.’