Alexander's POV

Eight hours and forty-five minutes. That's how long it's been since Louisa stormed out of here, and I haven't heard from her since. The time is close to striking nine, it's getting dark and I can't get through to Louisa.

I paced up and down the office, each step I took my terror and worry mounted upon me. There was an uneasiness in my heart. I feared the worst.

Maggie was ordered to keep me updated by the hour. Yet every time I got her phone call, it was to tell me that she wasn't home. It felt like I was being picked on by a needle, each stab consumed me and I yearned to find Louisa and get her home safe.

My shaky fingers dial Jason's number to get a update. After two rings he finally picks up.

"Anything?" I hastily let out, not allowing him to greet me over the phone.

"Nothing." He sighed. "Rose and I are on the case, don't worry. We will find Louisa."

Disappointment consumed me. I let out a mumble and hung up the phone. Next person to pester was Lily. She picks up in an instant.

"I'm sorry." She lets out in a low tone.

A heavy sigh escapes my mouth. My shoulders slump and feel heavy. The beat of my heart got faster as it hammered in my chest.

"We need to go to the police." I suggested, that was the only option that peered into my head.

"We can't. You can only file a missing person's report if they've been missing for twenty-four hours. It's only been-"

"Eight hours and fifty minutes!" I jab at Lily. It's only been five minutes since I last checked, yet it feels like an eternity.

Every hour, minute and second has been torture. I should have never let her leave. Why did I not run after her?

"Look, just keep me posted." I say in calmer tone.

After hanging up, I slump myself onto the couch. I was in a predicament, if I left to go look for Louisa, there was the thought that she would come back to the office. I didn't want her to think I wasn't here.

In my mind, I repeat over what happened before she stormed out. She muttered I hate you. I knew she didn't mean it. I saw it on her face. The instant regret that washed over her, the guilt that weighed down on her. I wanted to reassure her that I wasn't hurt by her words, and that I knew she didn't mean it.

But when she pushed me away, it felt like a piece of my heart was pulled by a string, and snapped in half. It was pathetic what happened, I wasn't man enough to stop her from leaving.

A knock brings my mind back to the present day. I leap from the sofa, a glimmer of hope made me believe it was Louisa, but there was no reason she would have knocked.

When I opened the door, I saw Lucinda on the other side. I didn't bother to hide my disappointment.

"What do you want?" I mumbled.

"Oh! Nice to see you too." She sarcastically says as she scoffs.

I sigh heavily whilst rolling my eyes. "I don't have time for this, why are you here?"

"Well, after Louisa walked in on us-"

"She didn't walk in on shit!" I snapped. "You come to our office unannounced, you had no right!"

The way she seemed calm; it sparked my temper. Anger was building up inside me like molten lava. I was like a volcano, about to erupt if anymore bullshit comes out of her mouth.

"If you let me finish." She continued. "I was going to say, I've been thinking about it all day, hoping Louisa didn't get the wrong impression. When I got to your house, the security guard told me you were still at the office. When I got here, I saw these on the floor."

The last set of words captured me, and I turn to look at Lucinda's extended hand. I see the contents in the palm of her hand. My eyes widened in terror, that leaves my mouth hanging open. A sudden coldness hits the core of my stomach.

It was Louisa's initials necklace and her engagement ring. I stumble to get them out of Lucinda's hand. I latch onto the dainty pieces of jewellery. Now panic was surging through me. Why were they on the floor.

I return to the sofa, slumping back down. Clutching on to Louisa's possessions. I am deep in thought, when I don't realise that Lucinda is sitting next to me.

"What's happened?" She asks, bucking her head to meet my eyes.

I back away, leaning against the sofa, looking up far into the distance. I was blinded by fear, I needed Louisa, I wanted to make sure she was okay.

"I don't know. After you left, we argued. She said something she didn't mean and she left. And now she's not answering her phone." Sadness etched onto my voice.

Louisa is my world. If anything has happened, I don't know how I would live with myself.

"Maybe she doesn't want to be found?" Lucinda suggests. I snap my head towards her, scowling at her stupid remark. She nods her head towards the jewellery in my hand.

I profusely shake my head. "No. She's not like that. She wouldn't do that."

Lucinda let's out a sigh, almost as if she insinuating that she's right. Did Louisa leave? Did she throw my tokens of love away? Shaking my head, I force these thoughts out of my head.

Her hand lands on to my lap, it felt like thorns. Her touch made me sick to the stomach. Shrugging her off, I can't bear to have her near me, its Louisa who I wanted.

A melodious tone of a phone ringing, ruptures the silence of the office. It's Lucinda's phone, I watch her closely fumbling for her phone. In a split second before she answers the phone, I capture the number displayed.

My brows furrow and I irk my head to the side. The number seemed oddly familiar. At first it doesn't click, but then a sudden thought enters my mind.

My shaky hands ferociously search for my own phone. I get to the number that sent the pictures of Louisa and Calum. A cold shiver stops me frozen.

The number that sent me the photos is the same that has just called Lucinda. I look over to her, she's deep in conversation, whispering.

That's all I needed. Anger within me boiled. I bolt over to Lucinda walking on sheer anger. Gritting down on my teeth, with my nose flaring like a raged bull. I snatch the phone from Lucinda, I don't bother to talk, I throw the phone to the other side of the room.

She starts to stutter, cursing at me.

"Where is she!" I shouted, grabbing hold of her arm, digging my nails into her.

"Get off!" She screeches, trying to wiggle her way out of my hold.

"Where is she!" I repeated in a louder tone. I was red with rage. I didn't care for the pain I caused on her arm.

"What the hell are you talking about?" She snaps back, still trying to wiggle out of my grasp.

My hold on her gets tighter, till she couldn't move her arm. "Don't play with me! Where is Louisa?"

"How would I know?" She innocently replies. The one thing I learnt from Lucinda, when she lied her eyes would be looking far into the distance, and that's what she was doing right now.

"Fine. You want to play dumb? You do that. I bet your father and brother would love to know their pathetic excuse of a daughter is back, wreaking havoc, purposely breaking two people apart." I bark back.

The mention of her father and brother enables her to look me in the eye. Her face drops with dread. I knew it, the mention of two people she feared the most, was going to get her attention.

After a few seconds of deliberation, she finally speaks. "Even if I tell you, it's too late!"

"What do you mean, it's too late? Tell me now!" I instantly snap back.

"I only know the place where she's being held now, but she's going to be taken elsewhere, if you go now, it might be too late."

"Where is she going to be taken?" I question sternly.

"I don't know." She stutters.

"I swear if you're lying-"

"I'm telling you the truth! I promise you that I don't know where she'll be taken. I only know where she is right now."

There's a sunken feeling in me. I had to get to Louisa before it was too late. When I demand for the address, Lucinda withers her head to her phone. I let her stumble over to her phone, she sends me the address and I barge over to the exit.

Just before I leave, I make a call to one of the night guards in the reception. As I'm waiting or him, I jot down a phone number.

The night guard finally makes an appearance, and I give him strict instructions.

"Don't let her leave this building." I instruct pointing at Lucinda.

Handing over the noted phone number. "Call this number and tell him Alexander has something for him in the office. I'm sure he'll be delighted to see his daughter."

I give a menacing smile to Lucinda, who is about to protest, but I soon ignore her and charge towards the exit, making my way to car.

A glimmer of hope is what I needed; I didn't care about anything else but Louisa. She was my priority. I had to get to her before she gets taken away. The timer is ticking away, it was like there was a bomb attached to me, if I didn't get to Louisa in time my whole world will erupt.

I need to find her.

***

A/N

So I decided to do this chapter in Alexander's POV. I wanted to show how he was feeling and what he's going through.

Who guessed Lucinda had a part in this meddling? This chapter was tense to write!

Share your thoughts and don't forget to vote!

Love _xxAMxx