The dim glow of the city bathed the streets in golden hues as Christopher leaned back in his chair, drumming his fingers against the polished wood of the club's private VIP lounge table. The music thumped through the walls, a steady bass that pulsed in rhythm with the chatter around him. This wasn't his usual scene, but tonight wasn't about pleasure...it was about business.
He wouldn't want his students to catch a glimpse of him and it was just about business.
While he waited, his mind wandered to the blonde-haired girl who had been evading his mind for a long time. He just needed a few months until he would tell her about his constant approach to her. Few months until his visit to the university ends.
The school had a strict rule of no Student and professor relationship. He knew that and that was why he hadn't made his intentions known to Claire. Another problem would be her accepting him or reciprocating the feeling. He thought about how he always appeared wherever she was because he wanted her to think about him.
He glanced at his watch. Ethan was late.
Christopher had little patience for delays, but this meeting was important. Ethan was a useful contact, someone with access to people Christopher usually had no business dealing with. Their arrangement was simple; Ethan kept an ear to the ground, and in return, Christopher helped him when necessary. He wasn't exactly fond of the guy, but he knew better than to ignore valuable connections.
The moment Ethan slipped into the booth across from him, Christopher could tell something was off. His eyes darted around, scanning the club like he was expecting trouble.
"You're late," Christopher noted, swirling the whiskey in his glass.
Ethan exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. Got caught up in something." He ran a hand through his hair, looking distracted. "Some girl."
Christopher raised an eyebrow. "Didn't realize you were the type to get sidetracked that easily."
Ethan huffed a laugh but didn't meet his gaze. "Not like that. She was... I don't know, familiar. Thought I'd seen her before." He looked up, finally meeting Christopher's steady stare. "Turns out I was right."
Christopher didn't reply, just lifted his glass to his lips, waiting.
Ethan leaned in. "Claire. Claire Mitchell"
The name hit Christopher like a slow-moving punch, unexpected yet calculated in its impact. He set his drink down carefully. "What about her?"
Ethan shrugged, but his expression was guarded. "She used to be my sister until her Mother got divorced. Who would have thought she'd Turn out to be a beauty."
"Where is she?" Christopher asked
"You know her?" Ethan asked with a questioning look.
One look from Christopher didn't need to remind him to talk or he was going to get punched.
"Chill, she left"
A slow, creeping tension crawled up Christopher's spine. "Left? With who? Was she alone?"
Ethan hesitated. "Calm down, Mr Miller. She was sitting with a girl when I saw her but she left the club alone; she was searching for someone. I'm guessing the same girl." He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face.
Christopher's fingers tightened around his glass.
There were things he tried to ignore, things he pretended didn't bother him. Claire Mitchell was supposed to be one of them. But now, the image of her wandering around in this club and maybe with some unknown man planted itself in his mind, and he found himself caring more than he should.
Ethan must have noticed his shift in demeanor because he smirked slightly. "Didn't know you had a thing for her."
Christopher's gaze snapped to his. "I don't." The words were sharp, cutting, but even he wasn't convinced.
Ethan studied him for a bit before shrugging. "Alright, whatever you say. But if you're interested, you might want to check on your girl."
Christopher didn't reply. He didn't need to. The decision had already been made.
Meanwhile, Chloe Wakes Up
Chloe groaned as she peeled her eyes open, her head throbbing with the force of a thousand regrets. The club's neon lights still danced behind her eyelids, and the taste of tequila clung to her tongue like a bad memory.
She pushed herself upright, blinking against the dim light of the hotel room-wait.
Hotel room?
Her heart lurched as she glanced around. The sheets were tangled, and her dress was wrinkled, but nothing seemed out of place. Her purse sat on the nightstand, her phone buzzing violently beside it.
She snatched it up, blinking at the caller ID. Xavier.
"Hello?" Her voice was hoarse.
"Where the hell are you?" Xavier's voice, usually lazy and amused, was sharp with worry.
Chloe winced, rubbing her temple. "I... I don't know. A hotel, I think? Why are you yelling?"
"Where's Claire?"
Chloe stilled. The haze of alcohol lifted just enough for a sinking feeling to settle in her gut. "She..." Her stomach twisted. The last thing she remembered was Claire sitting beside her at the bar, rolling her eyes as Chloe flirted with a bartender. Then...nothing.
She shot up, nearly tripping over her own feet. "She was with me. She..."
Panic clawed up her throat. Claire wasn't here.
"Oh my God," she whispered.
Xavier cursed on the other end of the line. "I'm coming to get you. Stay there. Share your location."
Chloe barely heard him. Her hands were shaking. Claire was gone.
*******************
The moment Christopher stepped out of the club, the cool night air did little to settle the unease curling in his chest. Ethan's words replayed in his mind.
She left alone.
Christopher wasn't impulsive. He didn't react to things without calculating every possible outcome. But something about this felt off.
As he reached his car, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen...Xavier.
His brow furrowed. Xavier wasn't someone who called without reason.
"Yeah?" Christopher answered.
"Claire's missing."
"What do mean 'missing'? Someone said she went out to look for Chloe."
Christopher went still.
Xavier's voice was rushed, frantic in a way that was unusual for him. "Chloe just woke up at some random hotel, and she doesn't remember what happened. Claire was with her, but now she's gone. I don't..." He exhaled harshly. I've been trying to reach her on her phone but it keeps going straight to voice mail."
Christopher's grip tightened on the phone.
Claire. Gone. How did Chloe get to a hotel?.
He already knew she had left alone, but the club was still bursting with people, drunk and sobered people. Now, she wasn't answering her phone, and Chloe had no memory of what happened.
His jaw clenched. "Did Chloe say anything about who Claire might be with?"
"No, but I'm getting to her now. Meet me at the hotel."
Christopher was already getting into his car. "Send me the location."
As he pulled into traffic, his mind was already working through the next steps.
He wasn't the hero type. He didn't chase after people who weren't his problem. But as much as he wanted to deny it, Claire was different.
And if something had happened to her...
Nothing should happen to her.
He wasn't going to take it if anything happened to her.
If anything should happen to her...
Someone was going to pay.