Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Pinterest Telegram CHAPTER 024 ADRIANSPOV Seatedintheconferenceroom,Istaredatthescreeninfrontofme,analyzingthedemandchartforourlatestproductthathadjustbeenreleased.Thenumberswerentas highasIexpected.Theproducthadpulledinsomesolidcasharoundhalfa milliondollarsifIrecallcorrectlybutithadnotliveduptoexpectations.
Aroundme,theinvestorswhisperedamongstthemselves,theirvoiceshushedasifafraidtodrawmyattention.Theycouldalreadytellthatthereporthadputmeinafoulmood.
Besideme,Jamessighed,shaking hisheadashestudiedthefigures.Well,thatsashame.Iexpectedbigthingsfromthis.
Themarketdidntgoasexpected,butwevealready begunto workonthat,standingbeside thechartoneofmy employees,specificallythemaninchargeofthe advertisingsection,spokeup.
Hewalkedclosertomeandthenslidatabletacrossthetabletowardme.Wereworkingoncreatingnewpackaging andrunningseveralmoreadswiththehelpof big-timecelebrities.Werealsoplanningtogiveoutfreesamples.TheirreviewswillattractmorecustomersImsureof it.
Ibarelysparedthescreenaglancebefore pushing it aside.
Youresureofit..Isaid lookIdontcare how youdoit.Iwantthisfixed assoonaspossible.Iadded Aheavysilencefellovertheroom.Noone daredtospeak.Icouldfeeltheirhesitation,thewaytheirshoulderstensedundertheweightofmywords.
yessir.
Withoutanotherword,Istoodupandstrodeoutofthe conference room.MyfootstepsechoeddownthehallasImademywaytowardthebathroom.
Jameshurriedafter me,hisvoice cautious.Hey,areyouokay? Imfine,Irepliedflatly.
Clearly,thatwasalie Iwasinahorriblemood.
Todaywasthedaymymotherdied.Andeachyear,Ihatedthisdaymorethanthelast.EachnightonthisdayIalwayshadnightmares,dreamsofwitnessingwhathappenedtoher.
Jamesmusthavesenseditbecausehestoppedfollowingmeafterawhile.Hewatched me carefully,hislipspartingsherwantedtosaysomething,butheheldback.

Successfullyunlocked! Good,Iwasntinthemoodforconversation.
Ipushedopenthebathroomdoorand walkedtothesink,twistingthefaucet.Cold 1/3 CHAPTER024 waterranovermyhands,numbingthemslightlybefore Isplasheditonmyface.Theicychilldid littletowashawaythefrustrationboilinginsideme.
Grippingtheedgeofthesink,Istaredatmyreflectioninthemirror.Myjawwastense,myeyesshadowedfromrestlessnightsspentchasingghosts.
Eachyearthatpassed,theweightofmyunfulfilledpromisepressedheavieronmyshoulders.Ihadsworntomakethempaythepeoplewhotookmymotherfromme.Yet,despiteeverythingIdbuilt,despiteallmypower,Iwasstillnoclosertomygoal.
Ireachedintomypocketand pulledoutmyphone,mythumbswipingacrossthescreenuntilherpictureappeared.
Mymother.
ShewasthereasonIfought.ThereasonIrefusedtogiveup.ThereasonIneverletmyselffall.
Thentheytookherawayfromme.
Thephone vibratedinmy hand,pullingmefrommy thoughts.Forabriefsecond,IhopeditwasDanwithanupdate.
Icheckedthescreen.
Auselessmessage fromoneofmy investors.
Iclenchedmyjawandexhaledsharply beforedialingDansnumberinstead.Hepicked upalmostimmediately.
Boss.Hisvoicewassteady,butIcouldheartheedgeofuncertaintyinit.
Tellme youhavesomething.

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Silence.
Then,Notyet.
Myfingerscurledintoafist.Notyet?Mytonewascolderthanthewaterdrippingfrommychin.
Wereworkingonit,Dansaidquickly.Wevebeenscanningallstreetcameras,everyfeedwithinafivemileradiusofherlastknownlocation.Sofar,nothing.Butwerenotstopping.
I shutmyeyesforasecond,inhalingthroughmynose.Dan,Idontneedexcuses.Ineedresults.
Iknow, headmitted.Wereshiftingourapproach.Ifwecantfindherdirectly,weretrackingsomeoneelse.
I frowned.Who? Theguywhoshowedupforheratthecafé.Wesawhimleaving withher,soshemightbestayingwithhim.Ifwefindhim,wefindher.
Iconsideredthatforamoment,mygriponthephonetightening.Olivia wassmart, 2/3 CHAPTER024 andifshe hadevenanounceofcaution,shedbe keepingalow profile.Butpeoplealwayshadweakspots.Attachments.Someonetheytrustedenoughtorunto.
Howlong?Idemanded.
Danhesitated.Illupdateyousoon.
Iexhaledsharply.Idontwantanupdate.Iwantalocation.Donotcallmeuntil youhaveone.
Click.
Ishovedmyphonebackintomypocketandturnedtothemirroroncemore.

Mymothersfacehauntedmeinmy reflection,aghostofthe past thatrefusedtofade.
IhadswornonhergravethatIwouldmakethempay.
AndIwould.
Nomatterhowlongittook.
Asharpknocksoundedonthebathroom door,pullingmefrommythoughts.
Sir?Avoicecalledfromoutside.Mr.Jamesaskedmetoremindyouofyournextmeeting.
Iclenchedmyjaw,gripping thesinkharderbeforeexhalingandstraighteningup.Illbethereinfiveminutes.
Yes,sir.
Thefootstepsfadedaway,leaving mealoneonceagain.
Iturnedoffthefaucetandgrabbedapapertowel,dryingmyhands.Myemotionsdidn tmatterrightnow.Theweightofmypastdidntmatterrightnow.
Theonlythingthatmatteredwasfinding Olivia.
BecauseonceIdid,everythingwouldfallintoplace.
Andherhero,wellhedoesntknow themesshejustputhimselfin Shethoughtshecouldrun.Shethoughtshecouldhide.Butshewouldlearnsoon.enough.
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