C7 Chapter 7

DAMIEN

The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, dancing on my skin as I took a good look at myself in the mirror. I adjusted my suit, ensuring it sat right on my body. I was already frustrated, and the wedding ceremony hadn’t even started yet.

Truthfully, I wasn't sure I would be able to make it through the day. I sighed heavily as that thought crossed my mind. My gesture was followed by a brisk knock on the door. Before I could ask who it was, the door flew open, and Seedorf stepped in.

He was the last person I wanted to see right now, and I didn’t hesitate to show my displeasure.

“What the hell do you want?” I asked, firmly.

“Well, it’s my dear cousin’s big day. I came to congratulate him.” Seedorf said.

“Thanks for the congratulations. Now kindly get out.”

“You don’t have to so be cold all the time cuz.” I held my tongue. There was no need to waste my voice on Seedorf. He simply wasn’t worth it. I shot him a grimace look and turned away from the mirror.

“Are you all set?” Seedorf asked, and I rolled my eyes.

“Uncle Vic insisted I accompany you down the hall.” he continued, a smirk crossing his face. I shook my head.

Typical Seedorf acting like my father’s lap dog.

I glanced at the mirror one more time before stepping out of the room. Seedorf hurried behind me, struggling to match my fast steps. I could hear him grunt and that pleased me.

I was halfway down the stairs when my father stopped me. He had a proud look in his eyes as he patted my shoulder gently.

“My boy’s big day is finally here.” He exclaimed, and I wondered why the sudden sweetness then my eyes took in my environment and I immediately noticed the people stationed behind my father. Of course, he was trying to display his fake love for me because of his so-called business associate.

I felt my father’s hands move from my shoulders to my back as he leaned closer, his lips close to my ears.

“Remember to smile and don’t give the paparazzi the wrong impression.”

I nodded, forcing a smile as I followed him to the waiting limousine; the slick, silvery exterior was highlighted by the sunlight, adding a shine to it.

I took a minute to admire it, but that minute turned to a second the moment I heard the sound of cameras clicking.

“Mr. Antonio, how does it feel to be getting married yet again without fully divorcing your ex-wife?” A reporter shoved his microphone in my face.

“There have been rumors around about your ex-wife Chloe being pregnant. What is your take on that Mr Antonio?” Another reporter chimed in.

The feeling of their eyes on me was starting to feel like bullets. My guards were able to ward them off, and I immediately stepped into the limousine, positioning myself beside my dad and Seedorf.

The limousine pulled to a grand hall adorned with amber-colored flowers. I stepped out and made my way to the altar where I waited for Mellissa who would walk through the door at any moment from now. As I waited anticipation grew, and a visual display of her in a cream-colored gown clouded my mind.

Her maroon lipstick would be the only thing shining underneath the veil, just like the other woman I had married before.

Immediately those thoughts faded, and I was back to staring at the doorway that Melissa hadn’t walked past yet. Where the hell was she?

The whispers of the guests echoing through the hall grew faint. I searched desperately for Melissa, but she was nowhere to be found. My eyes moved around from the lineup of celebrities down to the paparazzi.

Then my gaze rested on the row where Seedorf and my smug father sat. My father threw me a questioning look which he stopped after a moment.

I tried to hide a smile but couldn’t help but smirk. I was beyond thrilled Mellisa was nowhere to be seen, but my happiness was short-lived when my father stood up.

“Where is the bride?” He asked Seedorf as he looked around the hall nervously. The sound of whispers rose. My father walked up to Melissa’s brother.

“Where’s she?” He questioned him.

“She was meant to here with my mother some minute ago, I don’t—“

“I hope your sister and mother are not trying to doublecross us boy—o.” My father said, stepping between us. “If they are, you’ll all regret it.”

“I think everyone needs to chill,” Seedorf said softly. “What we need to think of is how to locate the bride and her mom.”

“The hotel they are staying in is just across the street. We could check. Maybe they got caught up in something.” Melissa’s brother said.

We walked towards the exit, pushing through a crowd of guests. As we walked, cameras flashed in my direction, with microphones pointed my way.

“Mr Antonio. How does it feel to have your bride leave you at the altar?”

These fucking paparazzi’s!

I hurried out of the hall, paying less attention to the flashing cameras. Mellisa's brother led the way to the hotel.

Upon our arrival at the room, we realized the door was wide open and her mom was standing in the room, a surprised look on her face, and immediately she acknowledged our presence. She ran into Melissa’s brother's arms.

“Mellissa is gone! She ran away.” She cried.

“Mom, that can't be true, Missy would never just run and-“

“What do you mean, she ran away Bianca?” My dad asked in a raged tone, cutting Nicho off.

The two of them started to bicker and I ignored them, my eyes scanning the room; everything seemed intact, and then my eyes landed on the doorknob. It looked as though it had been damaged. I moved closer to inspect and then it clicked: Missy hadn’t run away, she was taken.

The smile that had been playing on my lips vanished as the realization set in. If Missy didn't make it to the altar because she got kidnapped, the wedding wouldn't have happened, and Father would probably think I had something to do with it and he might make Seedorf CEO just to punish me. I couldn't let that happen.

“I need to see the manager!” My voice thundered as I headed downstairs.

“Why?” my father asked.

“I don’t think Missy ran away. I think she was taken.” I informed him, and then I headed to the receptionist's desk.

“Where’s the manager?”

The sturdy receptionist looked at me.“Sir! Is there a problem?”

“My bride is missing. And the door of her hotel room has been damaged.”

“Sir. We are top-notch when it comes to our security. There must be a logical explanation for the door being damaged.”

“Where is your manager?” I pressed, “All I care about right now is seeing the security footage.” People in the lobby were glancing my way as I yelled.

“Get me the manager now,” I yelled once again.

The receptionist tried to calm me down, but after several failed attempts, she went to call the manager.

“Sir, we can assure you that we don’t joke with safety—“ The manager began to speak when he arrived.

“Cut the bullshit and take me to the security room,” I said loudly.

The manager didn’t say anything, he just nodded. Sweat dripped from his face as he led us to the security room.

When we got to the room, I took my position on one of the chairs and scrolled through the camera feeds.

My eyes moved slowly. I made sure I was able to pick every detail and not miss a thing.

As I continued to scroll, my eyes finally landed on the footage. It was a man coming out of the room carrying an extremely large duffel bag.

“Bingo!” I exclaimed as I paused the footage.

Melissa’s brother inched closer. He moved to where the mouse was and placed his hands on it. I stopped putting my attention on the others, and I placed it on him.

He zoomed the video I had paused, and immediately he pulled back quickly.

“Oh! This is bad.” He threw his hands over his head. “This is very bad.”

I stared at the zoomed video, and then back at him, trying to understand why he was being so paranoid.

“Nicho! I need you to calm down and elaborate things for us,” Melissa’s mother spoke up. “What did you pick up?”

“It’s him!” Nicho said dryly. “He’s back.”

“Who?” I asked, feeling a drop of curiosity within me.

“Ryan.” Immediately Nicho said those words. Melissa’s mother’s eyes grew in fear.

What the hell was going on?