AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ethan, I tried calling, but she’s not picking up my calls either,” Amy says, her voice laced with worry. “What’s going on?”
I swallow hard, my throat constricting with the weight of unspoken truths and regrets. “I fucked up,” I admit, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. “She found out something I should have told her myself, and she...she left.”
There’s a beat of silence on the other end of the line, the weight of Amy’s unspoken questions hanging heavily in the air. “What did she find out?” she asks, her voice gentle yet insistent.
I run a hand through my hair, frustration and guilt warring within me. “It’s complicated, Amy,” I reply, my voice hoarse with emotion. “I don’t want to talk about it right now.”
Knowing my sister, she will berate me for not telling Jessy the truth before now, and I’m not in the mood for that.
Amy lets out a sigh, her concern palpable even through the phone. “Okay, Ethan,” she says, her voice tinged with disappointment. “But whatever it is, you need to fix it. Jessy means a lot to you, doesn’t she?”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, the truth of her statement ringing painfully true. “More than you know,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “I just hope she’s okay.”
There’s a heavy silence on the other end of the line, the weight of our unspoken fears and worries hanging heavily between us. “I hope so too, Ethan,” Amy says finally, her voice soft and understanding. “Just...let me know if you hear from her, okay?”
I nod, even though she can’t see me. “I will,” I promise, my voice thick with emotion. “Thanks, Amy.”
After disconnecting from the call, I feel an emptiness inside me, consumed by a sense of helplessness and longing as I wait for any sign of Jessy’s return.
All through the night, I barely slept, and the next morning, I get out of bed early, so I can arrive at the office earlier than usual with the hopes of seeing her.
When I get to my office, I hear a knock on my door, and for a second, I wish against hope that it will be Jessy on the other side of the door.
But my hopes are dashed when the door opens and Rachel walks in, her expression somber and grave. “Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Reid.”
“Good morning, Rachel. Is there a problem?” I greet her, trying to mask the tremor in my voice with forced cheerfulness.
“I’m afraid, Mr. Reid,” she says quietly, her voice tinged with regret, “Jessica submitted her resignation letter this morning.”
Her words hit me like a freight train, a wave of disbelief and despair crashing over me in an overwhelming torrent. “Her resignation?” I repeat, my voice cracking with emotion. “But... why?”
She offers me a sympathetic smile, her eyes filled with understanding. “I’m not entirely sure, Mr. Reid,” she admits. “I tried talking her out of it this morning after I was informed by HR, but it seems she’s made up her mind.”
A sense of numbness washes over me, my mind reeling with a whirlwind of emotions. I had hoped that last night’s misunderstanding could be resolved, that Jessy and I could find a way back to each other.
But now, faced with the reality of her resignation, it feels like all my hopes and dreams have come crashing down around me.
“Thank you, Rachel. I will handle it.”
As Rachel walks out, I reach for my phone to call John, my P.I. I remember Jessy’s friend, Chloe, but I don’t have a way to contact her, so I tell him to find me Chloe’s number and address.
Not long after, he sends me an email containing every detail about Chloe. Checking the time, I know she will be at work now, so I grabbed my coat and headed out.
As I stride into the diner, the clatter of dishes and chatter of patrons fade into the background. My heart races with a mix of anxiety and determination as I scan the room for Chloe.
Spotting her behind the counter, I make my way over, my steps heavy with anticipation. Chloe’s eyes meet mine, and I see a flicker of recognition before her expression shifts to one of concern.
“Ethan,” she greets me, her voice soft with sympathy. “What brings you here?”
I swallow hard, steeling myself for the conversation ahead. “I need to talk to you about Jessy,” I say, my words tinged with urgency.
Chloe’s brow furrows in concern. “Is everything okay?” she asks, her tone laced with worry.
I shake my head, unable to contain the turmoil within me. “I know she must have already filled you in on what happened. Please, I need to see her. She is not taking my calls, and I know you know where she is.”
Chloe shakes her head, her gaze apologetic. “I’m sorry, Ethan, but she made me promise that I wasn’t going to tell you.”
A surge of frustration and longing courses through me. “Chloe, I know you are loyal to your friend, but please, I really need to know where she is. If it makes it any better, please know that I haven’t been able to sleep since last night. I love her, and I need to make things right. Please…” I sound so desperate I can barely recognize my voice.
