Edward
"It's quiet," he said.
I stared at him.
"That's it?"
"What else do you want to know?" Michael shrugged. "He said your father isn't doing anything especially important right now. We've caused such a circus that apparently all he's been doing is dealing with the fallout."
I said nothing.
"In short, we're safe," he went on. "We've buried him under enough trouble to keep him occupied for at least a month. Happy now?"
I leaned forward slightly.
"A little."
Michael smirked.
"Honestly, if I hadn't told you the other day that I happen to have a spy in your father's close circle, you'd still be sitting here imagining all the terrible things your old man might do." He pointed the folder at me. "You should be grateful I've got so many connections."
"Grateful? I would be grateful if you would stop stealing my paperwork to dry your shirt."
Michael rolled his eyes, continuing to fan himself with the folder, without the slightest intention of giving it back.
"Judging by the fact that you're not bouncing off the ceiling and look thoroughly miserable, I'm guessing there still isn't any good news," Michael said. "Fluffy hasn't contacted you yet."
"No, he hasn't," I replied gloomily. "And I wouldn't be surprised if the reason for that was this entire spectacle you created. All those headlines. All those bloggers screaming across the internet about a potential deal… What if they refuse after all?"
"You are twisting my words."
Michael stretched out a hand and wagged a finger at me.
"I said they'd call today. So far, nobody has stopped you from accusing me, which means the day isn't over yet." He shrugged. "Let's wait. There are still plenty of hours left." Then he grinned. "Besides, do you even realise that the entire country is waiting for their decision right now?"
He paused.
"Actually, perhaps more than the country. Who knows? The hybrid topic is popular these days. This isn't something they can ignore. They can't just refuse a hand that's been extended to them." Michael was smiling in a thoroughly ominous manner. "Not one that's been offered this publicly."
I looked at him.
He returned the look without a trace of concern.
"All right," he said. "Let's say I overdid it a little. Just a little. Next time, I'll try to be more restrained. I won't create so much noise. But it'll work," he continued. "That's the important part. We become co-owners, you do what you do best, you prove you're actually a decent guy, you reopen the bar, you give that blond fox of yours his dream back, and suddenly you're the hero. Sounds good to me."
Before I could answer, the door to my office flew open.
James rushed inside, clutching his mobile phone.
"Sir!" He practically shouted the word.
His voice shook even more than usual as he hurried towards my desk.
"Sir, there's a call!"
The poor man's whiskers were trembling so violently that they looked in danger of falling off altogether.
"It's Kazuo."
He thrust the phone towards me, practically forcing it into my hand.
"There, you see?" he said. "I told you they'd agree. Fluffy is calling right now to tell you he's accepted."
I raised a hand to silence him and pressed the phone to my ear.
"Hello?"
There was no immediate answer.
For a second, I heard nothing except Kazuo's harsh breathing, as if he were struggling for air.
Then: "Ed… E-Edward?" He was stammering badly. "Fuck, thank God! It's you!"
I straightened in my chair, every muscle tightening.
Something was wrong.
"Luka," Kazuo said, sounding as though he were running. "Luka... he's gone."
"What?!"
I shot to my feet so quickly that the chair rolled backwards.
"What do you mean, gone?"
"I... I can't… I can't find him anywhere!"
A cold shiver ran through my body.
"I sent him home early. He should be there, but..." Another breathless sound came through the phone. "The house is empty. His phone's there. All his stuff is there. Everything's there." His voice broke. "But he isn't, and the door... it wasn't locked"
I stepped away from my desk, headed for the office door.
Michael and James were watching me with complete confusion.
"Maybe he went to a shop," I said. "I don't know… To buy something?" I was desperately trying to find a single reasonable explanation.
"I went to the nearest 24-hour store, but no one there had seen him! I've got a bad feeling about this."
I reached the door.
"He wouldn't go anywhere without his phone, not after everything that's happened. He doesn't do that anymore. Something happened." Another sharp breath. "Something definitely happened!"
"Where are you right now?" I asked, repeatedly stabbing the lift button. "Where are you?" I repeated.
"I... I..." Kazuo sounded completely lost. "I'm at the bar. Well, near it. I'm checking the area around it. Fuck, I..." He took a shaky breath.
"Understood."
The lift still hadn't arrived.
"Have you called the police?"
"You think I'm an idiot and called you first?" Kazuo snapped. "Of course, I fucking called the police." His voice rose. "Those morons told me to wait forty-eight hours. Forty-eight fucking hours!!"
I clenched my jaw.
"Do you have any idea what could happen to him in forty-eight hours?" His breathing turned ragged again. "Those idiots aren't going to go looking for a hybrid anyway."
I didn't answer.
"I didn't have any other choice except calling you."
There was a brief pause.
"We need to find him."
"I know," I said.
My heart was hammering so hard that it drowned out half of what was happening around me.
"I'll be there soon."
I ended the call.
The lift could go to hell.
I abandoned it and ran for the stairs instead.
I took the steps two at a time. My head was filled with noise. My heart pounded wildly from fear.
Behind me, Michael and James were running after me, shouting something.
I barely heard a word.
The only thing in my head was him.
Luka… Please…
Please be all right.