Page 109 of The Billionaire's Virgin

“I know it’s stupid, but I wanted to stay here… just in case Sofia comes here with Jenna.”

Jennifer raised her eyebrows. “You think Sofia would really bring Jenna here?”

“I can’t pretend to understand how that woman’s mind works,” I said. “But what if she wants to talk to me face to face? What if she thinks that Jenna is the only way I will grant her an audience?”

“You think that’s plausible?”

“I don’t know what’s plausible at this point,” I said, in frustration. “I’m just shooting in the dark here. I feel completely and utterly helpless, and I don’t know what to do.”

Jennifer came up to me and hugged me hard. “They’re going to find her.”

“What if they don’t?” I asked, voicing my greatest fear.

“Don’t even go there,” Jennifer said. “It’s only been an hour and a half. They’ve issued an AMBER alert, and you’ve informed the news outlets. You’ve done as much as you can do at this point.”

I started pacing around my apartment. I wanted to do something… anything, but I couldn’t seem to think straight. Was this what it meant to be out of your mind with worry? Because finally, I was able to fully understand the phrase and everything that it implied.

“Can you excuse me for a second?” I asked Jennifer.

“Of course,” she replied. “I’ll be here.”

I walked into my bedroom and tried Taylor for the third time in the last half an hour. This time she picked up, and I could hear the desperation in her voice.

“Did they find her?” she gasped.

I bit my lip. “No,” I said, trying hard to keep my voice from shaking. “No… not yet.”

“It can’t be taking this long to find her,” Taylor said, and I heard the tears in her voice. “It’s been too long. It’s been hours… four or five at least, right?”

“It hasn’t even been two hours since you reported that she was taken, Taylor,” I said gently.

“What? That can’t be right.”

“Time might move a little slower… for us.”

“Oh God,” Taylor sobbed. “How could I have let this happen?”

“Taylor… where are you?”

“I’m near the park,” she replied. “I’m scouring the area. Maybe I’ll catch sight of Jenna in the crowd. She has to be in this vicinity, right?”

“Taylor,” I said again. “Come home.”

“No,” she replied forcefully. “I’m not coming home… not until Jenna is found.”

“You can’t find her alone.”

“I can certainly try.”

“I need you here,” I said. “With me.”

There was a long moment of silence. “Jenna needs me more,” Taylor replied. “I have to keep looking for her.”

I sighed. I understood the guilt she was feeling, and I tried not to add on more. I knew that would be too much for her to bear.

“Reed?”

“Yes?”