Irresistible Boss Succumbing to Your Touch (Maria Anita) novel Chapter 3

Flavian’s POV

I had never made such a long journey. No matter how fast I drove, it felt like I would never reach that town. When I finally arrived at the town's entrance, I stopped, got out of the car, and called Cam again.

"So, Cam?" I asked anxiously.

"No sign of her, Flavian. There's no movement at Rita's house. Everything's dark, as if she's already gone to bed," Cam informed me.

"Has Breno arrived?"

"Yes, they've been here for a while. He suggested we meet somewhere else, said one of the police officers who came with him will keep watch here."

"That's a good idea. I'm at the town entrance..."

Cam suggested we go to his house, and I thought it was a good idea to set up our command center there. Within minutes, I arrived in front of a large house on a quiet street. Cam was already waiting for us, and beside him were Orlando and Olivia, who seemed to have been crying a lot, but even so, she had prepared a loaded table with enough snacks to feed an army, and several bottles of coffee, which were very well received by my team.

"Flavian, eat something, you need to be on your feet to rescue Manu," Olivia insisted for the third time. I wasn't hungry, but she was right. I accepted the plate of chicken pie she was offering me.

As we ate, we exchanged information. Cam was dictating a list of Calvin's properties. He thought that if Calvin was involved in Manu's kidnapping, she would certainly be at one of his properties.

"The problem is we'll need warrants to enter these properties," the detective, Breno's boss, reminded us.

"I think it's better to keep watch and see which one has movement, that's where Manu will be," I said.

"So should we split up?" Breno asked.

"I think the best thing is to keep an eye on Rita, she'll lead us to where Manuela is," Cam suggested.

"But what if Calvin acted without Rita knowing?" Orlando spoke for the first time since we arrived. I looked at him alarmed, as I hadn't considered that possibility.

"But, Dad, why would Calvin act without talking to Rita? I know he and Rita agreed that Manu would marry him, but for him to kidnap Manu? I don't think he would go that far," Cam questioned his father.

"Yes, he would, son. And he would do even worse." Orlando sighed.

"Orlando, what else don't we know?" It was obvious there was something he hadn't told us. He looked at me, appearing even sadder.

"My first wife was Calvin's girlfriend, and Manu is her spitting image, isn't she?!" Orlando anticipated Cam's question as he was opening his mouth. "They dated, and she ended it when she discovered what kind of person he was. Then we started seeing each other, fell in love, and got married. But Calvin never accepted the breakup. He tried to get back with her many times and even attempted to take her from the church entrance on our wedding day. He only failed because she saw him from afar and got scared, so she asked the car she was in to turn around and entered through the back of the church. Imagine that scene - the bride entering through the back door, not walking down the aisle." Orlando laughed at the memory.

"My father, Olivia, myself, two absolutely trustworthy lawyers, along with an accountant and a judge from the neighboring town who is Olivia's uncle," Cam explained, and I thought it was a good solution. "The addition or removal of board members also requires approval."

"That was clever. But what if Rita gets furious and takes it out on Manu?" That was too sensitive a point.

"That's why I want to negotiate with her, offer money in exchange for Manu," Cam's idea was good.

"It's a good idea, but on the other hand, it will alert them that we're looking for Manu," Breno reminded us.

"I think we should lock Rita up and give her a beating," Olivia said, and I almost laughed.

"We can't arrest her without evidence," I said. "But I would like to do that too. Let's see how things unfold, if we don't get anywhere, you can go ahead with your plan, Cam. But you know she's going to ask for a lot, don't you?"

"As far as I'm concerned, she can have everything, I just want my sister safe," Cam replied, and my admiration for him grew. He was as detached from money as his sister was.

The hours passed slowly. The other detective had sent some of his officers to sweep the town and surrounding areas. But as they kept reporting back saying they hadn't found anything yet, I grew more desperate.

Dawn broke and we still knew nothing, not even a leaf seemed to have moved in that town. No sign of this Calvin guy, and so far Rita had only left her house to go to church. I was already thinking the worst, and that's when the worst thought occurred to me - what if they had done something to Manu on the way here?