"Bella Livingston," Boris began with a nod of acknowledgment, his tone measured. "Nineteen years old, daughter of Richard and Isabella Livingston. Only child. Introverted by nature. Spends the majority of her time with her friend Lily and Lily's boyfriend, a boy named Tony."
Reid, though anxious, retained his composed demeanour. "I'm aware of the basics, Boris. Skip the generic details. Tell me what you found beneath the surface."
Boris cleared his throat, the gravity of his findings making the atmosphere denser. "She recently started studying at a university in California. Good academic performance. Privately, she hasn't been involved in any official relationships. A few blind dates, mostly arranged by friends, and nothing noteworthy until recently. She refused any association or relationship."
Reid, his patience waning, cut through Boris's words with a steely edge. "Enough with the surface-level observations. Tell me what's hidden. What have you discovered about her intimate life? Her secrets?"
Boris hesitated, the weight of the unspoken revelations lingering in the air. "There's an aspect of her life that stands out," he finally admitted, his voice low. "Bella Livingston is pregnant. Approximately fifteen to sixteen weeks. From the doctor’s calculations, she got pregnant around her birthday on 21st of May. Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer on who the father is. I found that she spent her birthday in a nightclub; do you want to proceed and try to obtain the CCTV to try to identify who the father might be?"
Reid's eyes flashed with a mix of surprise and contemplation. The revelation struck a chord that resonated with a buried vulnerability, an aspect of himself he seldom allowed to surface.
"Pregnant," he echoed, the word hanging in the air like an unspoken truth. "No need for CCTV. Leave it as it is."
Boris, sensing the gravity of the situation, nodded with a subtle understanding. As Reid Carter, a man accustomed to control, faced the unravelling strands of Bella's life, he steeled himself for the revelations that awaited.
Continue," Reid's voice was clipped, a sense of urgency colouring his tone as Boris took a moment to gather the weight of his revelation.
"It appears, Mr. Carter, that Bella made a visit to the local police station several weeks ago," Boris began, his voice measured. "She reported having a stalker, someone who'd been sending her a red rose every day with a card, ominously bearing the word 'soon.' The police, regrettably, did not take her seriously, saying that is just a crush of someone."
Reid's jaw tensed at the mention of the stalker, a surge of concern emanating from the pit of his stomach. The cryptic word 'soon' took on an unsettling significance, a shadow looming over Bella's recent history.
Boris pressed on; his tone tinged with a hint of apprehension. "This pattern of the stalker abruptly stopped when Bella left for summer break," he continued. "But it seems that two days ago, she ran away from home. Reports from the Livingston staff indicate a heated argument, apparently centered around Bella's pregnancy, and her parents' apparent refusal to accept it."
Reid leaned back, a whirlwind of emotions churning within. Bella's plight, her struggles with a stalker, and the revelation of her family's rejection all collided in his mind, creating a tempest of concern. Plus, he recalled his own threats and rejection from the last time he met her. He felt his heart squeezing, which made him uncomfortable.
"Find out everything about this stalker," Reid ordered, his voice a firm command. "I want every detail, every lead, no stone unturned. I need to know who's been haunting her."
Boris nodded in understanding; the gravity of the situation was not lost on him. "Consider it done, sir," he replied, ready to delve deeper into the shadows encircling Bella's life.
Reid leaned against his desk, his fingers rhythmically tapping the smooth surface, as he glanced at Boris Ivanov, his trusted head of security.
"Boris, we don't have time to dance around this. I need you to find Bella Livingston, and I need it done fast. I don't care what methods you have to employ."
"Understood, Mr. Carter. I'll use all available means to locate her." Boris nodded.
"No restrictions, Boris. I mean any means necessary. Legal or not. We can't afford to waste time." Reid replied sharply.
"Mr. Carter, you know I have my ways. I'll find her, one way or another. But I must warn you, this might cross some lines."
"I don't care about lines right now, Boris.”
"I'll get on it right away, sir."
"And Boris, keep this off the record. I don't want any unnecessary attention on her. Just find her and let me know." Reid closed.
"I'll do my best, Mr. Carter."
As the door clicked shut, Reid was left alone in the cavernous office, surrounded by the trappings of his power and success. But at that moment, none of it seemed to matter. His thoughts were consumed by Bella's tear-streaked face, her desperation, and her secrets that now seemed to entwine with his thoughts.
He paced the room, his typically controlled demeanour riddled with agitation. The image of Bella's tear-filled eyes haunted him, tugging at the edges of his conscience. He tried to rationalize his reaction, reminding himself that he'd never allowed himself again to be swayed by emotions. But Bella Livingston seemed to penetrate the fortress he'd built around his heart.
The unsettling realization gnawed at him—despite her attempt at deception, she'd somehow managed to stir something within him. An unexpected empathy, a nagging sense of responsibility, unsettled him. He loathed the vulnerability she seemed to evoke, a sensation he'd vehemently guarded against for years.
Reid sank into the plush leather chair behind his desk, the weight of the situation bearing down on him. The looming uncertainty of Bella's whereabouts was a grating reminder of his lack of control. It was a feeling he detested, an uncharacteristic disquiet unsettling his usually composed demeanour.
He ran a hand through his hair, his jaw clenching in frustration. The turmoil within was a stark contrast to the steely facade he presented to the world. He'd always prided himself on his iron-clad control, refusing to succumb to sentimentality or vulnerability.
A surge of conflicting emotions coursed through him—anxiety, frustration, and an unfamiliar sense of concern. He tried to push it aside, to revert to the detached stance that had served him well over the years. But there was an inexplicable pull, an uncharted territory he found himself navigating against his will.
He chastised himself for allowing this situation to affect him. Bella Livingston was a puzzle, a mystery he'd unintentionally found himself drawn into, and it rankled him.
While sitting in his chair, another thought kept creeping in—an unsettling realization that gnawed at him. He couldn't shake the disquiet that echoed through his mind.
He remembered Bella's tearful eyes, the tremor in her voice as she tried to explain her pregnancy. A flood of conflicting thoughts battled within him. He knew he couldn't have children. It was a fact, a verdict handed down by a specialist years ago. Yet, the timing, the intimate moments they shared, the fact that he was her first—it all aligned too closely with the timeline of her pregnancy.
In a rare moment of uncertainty, Reid's hand reached for his phone. His fingers tapped against the screen with a sense of urgency as he dialed a familiar number, a number he hadn't called in a long while. Each ring seemed to reverberate in the tension-filled silence of the office.
The call connected, and a voice, once so familiar, crackled through the line.
"Dr. Matthews speaking."
The name brought a rush of memories flooding back, memories of consultations, of hopes dashed against the firm wall of reality. Reid took a deep breath, trying to steady his voice as he addressed the doctor.
"Dr. Matthews, it's Reid Carter. I need your help. I know we haven't spoken in years, but I need to clarify something."
There was a brief pause at the other end, then a warm, reassuring tone replied.
"Of course, Reid. What can I help you with?"
Reid hesitated, struggling to articulate his thoughts. The words felt foreign on his tongue, but he plunged ahead, desperate for answers.
"I was told years ago that I couldn't have children. But I need confirmation on this. Is there a possibility... a chance, however remote, that I was misinformed?"
The silence stretched, filled with tension and an unsettling sense of anticipation. Reid's heart pounded in his chest, waiting for the response that would either ease his mind or shatter the fragile hope that was now building within him.
Dr. Matthews took a deep breath before replying, his tone measured yet compassionate.
"Reid, these matters are sensitive. I remember our discussions. The tests were conclusive, but as with any medical diagnosis, there can be rare exceptions. If you're seeking absolute certainty, we'd need to conduct a thorough examination."
Reid's mind raced with a flurry of emotions—hope mingled with doubt, fear intertwined with a glimmer of possibility. He nodded to himself, even though Dr. Matthews couldn't see the action.
"Understood. I need clarity on this, Doctor. Please arrange the necessary appointments and tests. This is urgent."
The line went silent, leaving Reid alone with the weight of his thoughts.