My body jerked in alarm when I realized what I did. I absent-mindedly agreed to take help from Michael. Oh goodness, what have I done?

Sleep flew away from my senses and my body came to alert. I was dizzy but I was conscious enough to see what was happening around.

I committed a big mistake by allowing Michael to help me. "For god sake, Eloise, he works for Rick. What were you thinking?" My mind scolded me back. Daniel will be so angry with me. First, I came out of the house without a bodyguard, and now I was sitting with Michael, almost unconscious. Why this didn't strike me before? What if he won't take me home? Panic suddenly hit me with full force.

Alarmed and worried, I tried to find my phone. I moved my hand slowly to look for the phone. A calming sigh escaped my lips when I felt my phone clutched in my hand. I managed to put the phone on my lap and saw a few calls of Daniel already on the phone. I had no idea that my phone rang. He must be home and must be searching for me.

In urgency, I tried to press my finger on the screen in order to call Daniel. Soon the call connected but before Daniel could pick the call up, the phone was snatched away from me.

"What the fuck you think you're doing?" Michael shouted, making me flinch but I didn't back away.

"Hey, what are you doing? Give my phone back." I almost lunged onto him. But he threw my phone in the backseat and held my wrist tightly.

"Be in your limits. I guess the drug was mild as you seem to be still in your senses." He snapped.

I gasped. "You spiked my drink?"

He laughed nastily and jerked my wrist away. "Why do you think you're feeling dizzy? Of course, it's me and you know who else helped me? The one who called you out. Your friend, Claire Wilson."

I felt like my soul was sucked out of my body. My eyes were drooping but I struggled to keep them open. I felt betrayed. What have I ever done to her that she stooped so low to harm me? Hot tears started to run out of my eyes as I cursed myself for my stubbornness and my anger issues. I always make the worst decisions.

I'm sorry, Daniel. I always fail you. I'm a fool. You have always tried your best to keep me safe but it's me who is a blockhead. I know I failed you but I'll not fail you in one thing... You always say that I'm strong then I'll not back down without giving a fight.

My body was weak and shaking because of the effect of the drug but I managed to sit diagonally. Determined to fight for myself, I tried to reach for my phone in the backseat.

"Struggle all you want but you won't be able to do anything." The bastard driving the car spoke nonchalantly.

"Why are you doing this to me? We are over years ago. What do you want from me now?" I cried.

"Don't give importance to yourself, Eloise. I'm doing this for someone who agreed to give me money in exchange for you." He chuckled.

"Who?" I asked in fear. Don't tell me it's...

"Rick who else?"

No, no, no, no...

"How can you be so heartless? Don't you a little bit of shame?" I punched his arm.

"Shut up and let me drive." He yelled and again jerked me back. My head hit the car door and I winced in pain. I cried at my own helplessness.

"I don't exactly know what's your deal with Rick but he is furious with you and with that boyfriend of yours. I don't know what he did to Rick but now, he wants revenge and I'm helping him. I too want my revenge on Daniel for insulting me at the party." He banged one of his hands on the steering wheel.

The impact of the hit was so hard that I couldn't sit straight. My vision started to become more blur.

In a few minutes, he stopped the car, and before I could register where he brought me, he yanked me out of the car dragged me to an elevator. We were in a parking lot. I struggled with all my strength, kicked him in his leg. I was screaming the hardest I could but no one was there to hear me. I again kicked him, he groaned and in a swift motion, he lifted me on his shoulder and stepped in the elevator.

Light-headed and weak, I still gave him slow hits on his back but they were of no use. The elevator opened and he took me to a room and dropped me on a couch.

"Welcome, Darling."

A wicked voice of Rick rang in my ears. I opened my eyes to locate him and found him sitting on a single seat couch. He stood up and walked to Michael.

"Well done, Michael. Does anyone saw you?" Rick asked him.

"Nope! I was careful and no CCTV coverage too. Now, My money," Michael said monotonously.

"It'll be transferred to your account. Wait in the bar on the ground floor till then I'll look after her."

Micheal left without uttering a word, leaving me alone with this sick bastard.

Rick approached me and trailed his finger on my arm. I jerked back but he caught my wrist.

"I finally have you, Eloise."

No, no, no... It can't happen. Daniel, please help me.

__________________________________________

"Eloi, I'm home."

I exclaimed loudly as I entered the penthouse. I removed the tie and suit jacket, threw them on the center table, and slumped on the couch. I frowned when Eloise didn't come down from the room. She must be sleeping.

I went to the room and found it empty, I even knocked on the bathroom door but it was also empty. I again went downstairs and searched for her in the kitchen but no result.

She told me she was home but now she wasn't. I called her phone but she didn't pick up. I tried a few more times but she didn't pick up a single time. She never goes out without informing me but maybe she must have gone to meet Trish so I called her.

"Hey, Trish, is Eloise with you?" I asked.

"No, why, isn't she home?" She asked.

"Actually, no. I just came back and found the penthouse empty. She isn't even picking up her phone. Umm...is Evan home?"

"Yes, he is. Here, talk to him..." She gave the phone to Evan, he told me he left her after the event.

"Goddammit! Where is she? Do you know anyone she could go to meet?" I asked. Uneasiness started to fill inside me.

"At this time? No. Besides, she always informs whenever she goes out." He spoke, he too sounded worried.

"Where must have she gone?" I panicked.

"I'll call a few people in case she is with them and don't worry we'll find her. I'm coming over there." He hung up the call.

I called Jimmy in case she called him but no, she didn't. She went out alone and no one knows where. I paced back and forth in the living room and even called her mom, thinking maybe she had gone to clear things up but she wasn't there either.

Suddenly, I received a call from Eloise, a sigh of relief left my mouth but before I could pick up, the call ended. I called her again but the phone was turned off. Fuck! What is happening? I became more worried.

I couldn't wait for more, I ran to the parking lot and was about to sit in the car when I found one of my cars wasn't there. She had taken the car. I took out my phone and tracked the car and found the location at Club Neo Lit. What the hell was Eloise doing in the club? How could she be so irresponsible? I would set her mind straight once I meet her.

I called Evan and informed him about the information. I didn't think twice and drove to the place. Evan met me there. We searched for her in the club but couldn't find her. I ran to the parking lot and found the car standing there.

"Shit! Where is she?" I ran my hands through my hair. "And what was she doing here? Who she came to meet? Why she didn't inform me or anyone?" Many questions were arising in my mind.

And the most dreading question which shook me to the core was..."What if something happened to her? What if she is in some kind of danger?"

"Fuck! How can Eloise be so irresponsible?" Evan cursed. "God, where is she? I even called some of the people but she is nowhere."

My mind wasn't working. Unsettling thoughts were swirling in there. I called her again but again no result. I needed to find her... but how?

Then an idea struck in my mind and I called the person who I was sure could help me.

"Hey, Daniel. How are you?"

"Princess... I...I need your help." I didn't know why I stuttered maybe because I was restless.

"Hey, what happened? Is everything alright?" Her worried voice rang in my ears.

"No, nothing is alright! Eloise is missing and I...I don't know where is she. Her car is outside a club but she isn't here. I'm worried. Her phone too is turned off." I closed my eyes in frustration. My heart had started to beat at an alarming rate.

"What? ...Yes, Xavier, It's Daniel, he's saying that Eloise is missing." She worriedly said to Xavier.

"Ariana listen to me." I gained back her attention to tell her what I called her for. "I want you to track her phone immediately."

"Oh, Yes... Stay on the line, let me grab my laptop...just a sec."

I waited for her to do the work. I have full trust in her. She can never disappoint in this matter. She's a pro hacker. She could even trace the location of the turned-off phone.

"Her phone is switched off right now... But it was last on near...Hashington hotel."

"Fuck! I should have known." I cursed not caring about the consequences. I didn't need to ask her about the current location of the phone.

"Thank you, thank you so much, Princess."

"Don't thank me, Daniel...Hello, Daniel? It's Xavier, listen I'm on my way to Hashington's hotel and I'll inform to Sean too. Don't worry he'll not be able to do anything to her. We have your back."

I know they are always with me.

"Xavier... Listen, call the police. Tonight, I'll finish this matter once and for all."

"Okay." He hung the call.

"Where is she?" Evan asked.

"Hashington." I gritted my teeth. "Let's go."

We both sat in our cars and pulled off into the street. I drove fastest I could, not caring about the traffic rules. Eloise's well-being was my main concern.

I was fuming in anger. I was angry at Eloise for going out without a bodyguard, for not caring about her own safety, for being so irresponsible. I didn't expect this from her.

I was angry at Rick. How dare he do this after my warning? I guess he took me lightly but he didn't know by doing this he called for his death. If he dares lay a hand on Eloise, he'll be dead. I'll kill him with my own hands.

Though anger was bubbling inside me, fear was also there, fear of something happening to my love. I know she's strong and she definitely won't give up easily but still, there was uneasiness inside me.

Tonight he'll see my wrath.

I stopped the car in front of the hotel of that bastard, Rick, and dashed inside. Evan was following me. Not caring about the curious glares of the people and the staff, I kept running. Suddenly, my eyes fell on Micheal walking out of a door. When his eyes met mine he got shocked as his eyes went wide. I frowned when he took a step back and then one more. Then I realized he was trying to run away.

He's involved, he knows where Eloise is. Damn!

He started running away. I cursed and ran after him. Before he could run any far I caught him and gave him a punch in his face.

"Where is Eloise?" I shouted.

"What are you talking about? How would I know where she is?" He snapped back.

"I know you're involved so just tell me where is she before I beat you to death." I roared.

"Leave me! I don't know anything." He shouted, struggling to pull away from my grip.

"You don't know? You don't know?" I pushed him away and landed one more punch on his jaw. He groaned and tried to hit me but I held his wrist and twisted it making him wince. The security of the hotel came and interfered in between trying to hold me. I yanked myself away from them and gave them a deathly glare.

"If anyone dares touch me again, I'll beat you all to death." I roared. My rage was out of control. They all backed away in fear.

Michael tried to run again but Evan caught him started beating him. "Tell me where is she?" He roared but Michael didn't speak. I approached him and pushed him on the floor. He groaned in pain, blood was coming out of his nose.

"If you want to live then tell me where is she?" I growled again.

"Speak up." Evan kicked his stomach. Michael started coughing and lay almost unconscious on the floor. He had received a good beating. He deserved it. I jerked him up through his collars and asked him again. He was struggling to breathe. If he dares to refuse to open his mouth this time I'll take law in my hand but it wasn't needed as he opened his filthy mouth.

"T...top floor. Rick...suite."

I pushed him back on the floor and stood up. I ordered Evan to deal with him until the police arrive. I then went inside the elevator and punched the button for the top floor.

Hang in there, Eloise. I'm coming to save you.

________________________________________