Chapter 15: Missing Child
1274words
The sunlight streaming through the windows cast a warm, golden hue over the room. It was already late afternoon. I sat in the conference hall with some new investors while Gabriel presented our new product.
'What do you think, Miss Guzman?" one of the investors asked as Gabriel finished his presentation.
Just then, my phone rang. 'Excuse me, gentlemen," I said, standing up and stepping away to take the call.
It was Razi's driver.
'Yes?"
'Ma'am, Razi isn't at school," he reported.
'What kind of joke is this, Edward?"
'I'm not sure, ma'am. I drove her to school this morning and watched her go in, but her teacher says she didn't attend class today," he explained, his voice laced with worry.
'I'm on my way," I said, ending the call and taking a deep breath.
'Gabriel, we need to leave," I said, returning to the meeting.
'What happened?" Gabriel asked, concern in his voice.
'Is something wrong, Miss Guzman?" one of the investors inquired.
'You can relay your thoughts on the product to my assistant. I have to go." I was already heading out before I finished speaking.
Gabriel and I entered the elevator. My hand trembled as I tried to press the button, so Gabriel stepped in to help.
'You need to stay calm, ma'am. What's wrong?"
'Razi is missing," I said, the words heavy on my lips.
Gabriel took my hand and gently squeezed it. 'She's going to be fine," he assured me.
In less than 45 minutes, Gabriel drove into the school compound. Edward rushed over as soon as he saw us. I jumped out of the car, slamming the door behind me.
'Who is her teacher? Where is my daughter?" I demanded.
'I'm her teacher, ma'am," a woman said, stepping forward.
'Where is my child?" I grabbed her by the collar before Gabriel pulled me back.
'I don't know, ma'am. She didn't come to class this morning," the teacher stammered.
'She was complaining of a stomachache yesterday, so I thought you kept her home. I have no idea what happened."
'What are you saying? What happened to my daughter?" I shouted, my voice trembling.
'Please take us to the principal," Gabriel interjected.
We met with the female principal, who allowed us to review the school's CCTV footage. The video showed Razi entering the school, but then she mysteriously vanished.
'This doesn't make any sense!" I cried, beads of sweat forming on my forehead. 'How can she just disappear?"
'Come on, ma'am, we need to go," Gabriel urged.
'We can't leave. I want my daughter back," I sobbed.
Gabriel gently pulled me out of the principal's office.
'It's clear she didn't go to class. We need to explore other ways to find her."
'No one is going to hurt my daughter. I will make sure of that," I whispered through clenched teeth. 'Take me to Reyes Legacy Jewels."
As soon as I got into the car, Gabriel drove off.
'This isn't the way to Reyes Legacy Jewels. Where are you taking me?" I snapped.
'I'm taking you home, ma'am."
'Stop this nonsense. I need to find my daughter. Take me to Reyes Legacy Jewels now!"
'You need some rest."
His calm demeanor only fueled my frustration.
'You don't need to worry about Razi. I will find her," he said.
'If you don't, I will kill you," I muttered.
He smiled. 'Let me bring her back first, and then you can decide what to do with me."
'Argh! You are so annoying!" I clenched my fists in frustration.
We soon arrived at my mansion.
'Can I ask you something?" Gabriel asked as we parked.
I nodded.
'Do you trust me?" he asked, looking at me through the rearview mirror.
'What's that supposed to mean?"
'Just answer the question."
'I don't trust you. So what?"
'Can you be honest with me? We don't have time to waste."
'What makes you think I'm not being honest?" I retorted.
He raised an eyebrow.
'If I didn't trust you, you would be dead by now," I replied.
'Fair enough. I just want you to know that I will bring Razi back safely, okay? So, don't even think about taking another car to Reyes Legacy Jewels."
I gasped. 'Don't tell me you can read minds."
'I don't need to read minds to know what you are thinking. I know you. But if you try it, I will quit for good," he warned.
'You need to stop threatening to quit. The day I sign your resignation letter, you will be the one who is shocked. Now go find my daughter."
I stepped out of the car, and he sped off.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky became a canvas of pink, orange, and purple hues, blending together like an artist's masterpiece.
I closed the curtains and paced the living room, anxiety gnawing at me. It was getting late, and there was still no sign of Gabriel or Razi. He wasn't answering my calls. My thoughts raced as I tried to make sense of everything.
'Scarlett?" my stepmother called, stepping into the room with a cup in her hand.
I frowned at her.
'Miss Guzman, I brought you your favorite black coffee. It might help you relax," she said, offering the cup.
I swatted it out of her hand, sending it crashing to the floor.
'Don't try to make things worse!" I yelled, my anger boiling over.
'Don't you realize you are a bad omen? Since you set foot in my house, everything has been going wrong. If anything happens to my daughter, I will kill you first. Now get lost!"
I collapsed onto the couch, my hands clenching together. She silently picked up the broken pieces before leaving.
A while later, the door creaked open, and Gabriel walked in. I jumped to my feet and rushed over to him.
'Where is my daughter?" I demanded. He stepped aside, and Razi appeared, her head hanging low.
'Razi?" I cried, dropping to my knees to hug her. 'Where have you been? Do you know how worried I was?"
'I'm sorry, Miss Scarlett," Razi sobbed.
I cupped her face, wiping away her tears. 'You don't need to be sorry. It's not your fault, okay? Mommy loves you so much." I kissed her forehead and hugged her again, stroking her hair.
'I ran away from school because I didn't want to be with you," she whispered, her words piercing my heart.
I pulled back, shocked. 'Why would you say that?" I asked softly, standing up.
'I don't like you, Miss Scarlett. And I know you hate me too. That's why you have always been mean to me. I wanted to go back to Mexico, to Miss Bernard," she said through her tears.
"How can you say such a thing?!" I snapped.
"I'm your mother, for crying out loud. There is no safer place for you in this world than with me. I only wanted you to have a better life, to never experience what I went through just trying to survive," I cried, tears streaming down my face.
"You need to calm down, Miss Guzman," my stepmother said, trying to hold me back.
"Let go of me!" I pushed her away. She staggered, and Gabriel quickly supported her.
"This is all your fault. And as for you, Razi, I'm taking you back to Miss Bernard, and you will never see me again," I declared, running upstairs.
I stormed into my room and locked the door. I rushed to my Bluetooth speaker, cranked up the volume to its highest, and collapsed onto the couch, crying my sorrows away.
