Hey there! 💕
You can also find my other books on Amazon KDP & Kindle Unlimited: The Bridge Between Us, Unnamed and Held, Unnamed and Undone.

--x--The Chapter Starts Here--x--

"CANDICE" A man screamed into the dark mansion, as if it were part of his daily routine. 

But today it was different. 

Not in him. He was the same rude man, shouting the moment he stepped into the hall.

It was different around him.

But today she didn't come running like the other days, to cut through the dark with her toothy smile.

Today, it was nothing but the echo of his voice in the large hall.

“Candice!!”

He shouted again, but with a softer tone.

Still no sign of her. This is so unusual. 

He’d never had to call her once, let alone twice.

She was always present near the door, waiting for him, as if his smell reached her before his vehicle.

A glint of worry crept into his otherwise impassive face.

He rushed towards the kitchen, again welcomed by the coldness, and no hint of her except some used utensils showing her existence.

“Maybe she is sleeping.” He murmurs to himself, as he jogged towards their shared room, crossing a huge portrait of a couple's marriage, the woman smiling, and man with a stoic expression.

The hint of her soft fragrance hit his nostrils as soon as he entered the room.

“Candy??” He called out again, when the room also welcomed him with darkness. 

He was surprised, plus worried now, this was so unusual of her.

“Candice!! If you are done playing, come out now.” He tried keeping his voice stern but the concern couldn’t be hidden.

Unknowingly his hand went towards her part of the bed, soothing the slight crinkled sheet.

“Maybe she is hiding in the bathroom” He went towards the bathroom, fingers crossed.

He slowly clutched the knob, opened the door. The creak sound felt much louder today. 

But, not here also.

“Where the hell is she? Is she seeking any revenge from me? Is she okay?”

“Where would she go? She doesn’t have any friends. No relatives. Her favourite spot is across another country.”

Not dwelling long in his own thoughts,  the man pulled out his phone from his pocket, calling someone.

“Ye.. Yes Sir” The other person spoke fumbling, picking up the call in one ring.

“Nick!! I have a job for you” The man in almost stoic voice
“Sure sir. Anything for you.” As if he had any other choice.

“You have to search for a woman. Wait, I will send her details.”

The man pulled away the phone from his ears, sending the photo of a woman, typed something, and hit the send button.
The person on the other end, opened his messaging app once his phone buzzed with a notification.

His eyes widened seeing the woman’s photo.

“Si.. Sir… I think there is a mistake. You sent madam’s photo.”

“I know what I did. My wife is missing. Find her as soon as possible.”

“Sir? Why don’t you try calling any of your relatives? Or friends maybe?”

“Did I ask you for your suggestion?” His voice cut like ice.

“Anyways she doesn’t have any relatives, and my friends or relatives know the consequence of even seeing her shadow without taking my permission, let alone taking her with them.”

“Yes… Yes sir.. You know better”

“Find her. You would get anything you want in return.”

“Yes sir. On it.”

“Within 6 hours.”

“Sir? If you think madam is hiding, I really need more time.”

“6 hours, it is.”

“Ohh ohkay sir… Sure.”

“And Sir, I was asking that…” The call was cut even before he could finish his sentence.

“Phew.. What an arrogant jerk… Glad his wife ran away… Shut up Nick, now you only have to find her.. Yeah, with fat money, ofcourse” The person on the other end of the call kept talking to himself.

Back at the mansion, the man sat at the foot of the bed.

His cold image slipped just slightly.

“Where are you, Candy?” he asked the air.

But the only reply was the slow, relentless ticking of the clock.

And the smell of her perfume was slowly fading away..