Erisha hurried out of the shower, wrapping a towel around her body, as she heard her phone ring.

Finding her phone on the bed, where she had thrown it, she connected a client's call.
Walking to her closet while she talked, she put the phone between her shoulder and her ear, as she flung aside the hangers of clothes, to find her night clothes.
As she found them and took them out, some clothes fell out of the closet.
Rolling her eyes, while she listened to what piece her  client wanted exactly, she bent over to pick up the clothes.
Her hand touched something rough, and she looked down to see a black leather jacket.
Treyton's black leather jacket to be precise.
The one he had left behind, the night they had been in contact last. The one she had stuffed into her cupboard, so she wouldn't have to be reminded of her stupidity..

'I'll get back to you on that by tomorrow. Thankyou. Goodbye!'
Erisha cut the call, and picked up the jacket from the floor.
Walking to the bed, night clothes and all, she sat on the edge of it, with a towel still wrapped around her form.

Ever since their date almost ten days ago, Erisha had been berating herself for being a fool.
She had let things go too far, and it had been her fault.
But the date hadn't been her own plan in the first place.
Didn't see you complaining, when you were having a good time with him.
If he hadn't reminded her, she might have made the biggest mistake of her life that night.
So maybe I should thank Treyton..for stopping us when he did..
Instead, I literally threw him out of my house..

She looked down, and realised, that she had been stroking the leather lovingly, and stopped. She flung the jacket across the bed and got up scowling, throwing her towel, and putting on her silk shorts and shirt. Her movements were rough, as if trying to push thoughts of one man out of her head.

'Damn you, Treyton Elrod! I hate you..'
She said, angrily, as she tied her hair up, and left her room, banging the door behind her.

As soon as she entered her lounge, her eyes went straight to the spot by the door, where she and Treyton had almost..
Shaking her head, Erisha turned her head, and walked to her kitchen.
Stop it, Erisha! You were the one who screamed at him to never show his face again..and now you can't stop thinking about him.
If he was any how concerned, he would have contacted me by now..right?
Or maybe not..after the way I behaved with him..
I have to stop thinking about him..I have to...

***************************

She walked up to him, her hips swaying.
There was a single light on, which was now behind her, as she came closer. He saw her wearing a bright yellow dress, and something lit up inside him.
He saw her..smiling at him, and it made his pulse race.
Erisha!
He had known she had been lying, when she had told him she never wanted to see him again. She had come back to meet him, of her own will, and that's all that mattered.

As she came to stand right in front of him, he lifted his hand towards her, but it didn't move. He tried the next one, but that didn't move either. He looked back at Erisha looking down on him, and moved both hands at once, with the same result.
Frowning, he looked down to see that both his hands were tied on the armrests of the  chair he was sitting on.
As the realisation dawned, he moved his head, only to feel as if several hammers were knocking inside it, together at once.
He gave a groan, before looking back at Erisha, only to see her gone.
He turned his head to the left, then to the right, but she had disappeared.
He also noticed, that he was inside what seemed to be a store room, with boxes and old furniture.
Where am I? What the hell happened? And where did Erisha go? She was here..I know it..
Oh God!
Treyton groaned, as he remembered hiding behind some bushes near Steven Huber's house.
He had found the traitor! And had collected the proof himself. But on his way back, someone had hit him..
Yes!
That's how I'm here! I've been kidnapped!

A sound alerted him, and he realised someone was coming.
He looked towards what he noticed was a door. But on hearing the sound of men's voices, he shut his eyes and pretended to be still unconscious.

'Er ist immer noch draußen! He's still out! Du hast ihn hart umgehauen! You knocked him out hard!'
There was laughter followed by this, and Treyton fumed inside, wishing he was free to show them what he could do.

'Der große Treyton Elrod unserer gnade ausgeliefert! The great Treyton Elrod at our mercy!'
This was followed by more laughter, and Treyton wanted to smack their faces in.
But he was helpless, and he needed to know who had done this.
'Chef wird sich freuen! Boss will be pleased!'

Who the hell had dared to do this? What boss are they talking about?
Treyton could feel them coming closer, by the sound of their voices.

Just then, one of the men's phone rang.
It was answered immediately.
'Jawohl mein Herr! Wir haben ihn! Yes sir, we got him!'

'Ihr Idioten! You idiots!'
Treyton heard a voice reply. It was a muffled sound, so he couldn't tell who had spoken. He strained to hear more, but the man moved away to listen to whoever was on the other end.

Damn it!
Treyton opened one eye a crack, and saw two men huddled in a corner, nodding their heads, at whatever their 'boss' was saying. He wished he could hear what was going on.
You just wait! Whoever you are! You will wish you had never crossed me!

'Chef ist verärgert! Boss is upset! He didn't want us to bring him here. We have to go meet him!'
The man who had spoken on the phone, told the other, and they both looked worried.
They turned their heads, probably to look at him, so Treyton shut his eyes again.

There was the sound of the door, as the men left, talking amongst themselves, their voices fading away.
Treyton opened his eyes, his gaze running around the closed room once again, wondering where he was.
What kind of a mess have I gotten myself into? I have to find a way to get out of here..but how?

***************************

'Thankyou, ma'am! Please, do come again!'
Erisha smiled at the customer, as she waved and left, before going back to sit behind her desk.

It had been a busy morning today, with some shipments coming in, and some deliveries being made. Erisha loved her work, and thoroughly enjoyed advising customers about the best piece for them. They in turn, always appreciated her help.
As Erisha got busy with some paperwork, her mind wandered.
David. He hadn't contacted her since the past three days, and that was a first since she had known him.
In fact, now that she thought of it, it had been since the day she had told him that she couldn't help him regarding Treyton Elrod anymore.
David had been angry at first, demanding her to do what she had been asked, but had cooled down to request, at her insistent refusal. To stop him from bothering her, Erisha had said that she would think about it.
But since the very next day, she had noticed, that he had been a bit off with her. And she couldn't afford to anger him..not with her...

Her cellphone rang, startling her out of her thoughts, and she was surprised to see Julian's number on the screen.

'Hi, Julian! How are you?'

'Hi, Erisha!'
Julian's voice sounded flat, and Erisha frowned.

'You okay? You sound upset..'

'Yeah..I'm fine..I..'
He paused.

'Julian! What is it? Is your dad okay? His heart..'

'Yeah, yeah! Dad's okay..he's great infact, thanks to Mr. El..'
He stopped, as if realising what he had been about to say, but Erisha picked up on his words.

'Mr. who?'
She paused, waiting for him to continue, but before he could get a word in, she spoke again.
'Were you about to say Elrod? Treyton! Are you saying Treyton Elrod was that mysterious friend of yours who funded your father's surgery?'
Erisha was shocked into disbelief.

'I'm not saying anything! You are the one saying everything..'

'But it's true, isn't it? Treyton Elrod paid for your father's surgery..'

'Yes..yes! He did! I know you don't have such a great opinion about him..and hate him..'

If only you knew how I feel about him..

'But, he's a great boss, and an even kinder person. He didn't even loan me the money..he just gave it away. He's like that..puts his money to good use..doing charity, helping the homeless too..'
Julian went on, and Erisha felt guilty of having thought the worst of him.

She had taunted him more than once of being just a money making machine, but Treyton had never denied it. In fact, Erisha had used that information to think the worst of him, in her head. She felt stupid now, wondering if he had had a good laugh over it.

'..don't know where..we are all worried..'

Julian had continued speaking, and she realised that she had missed what he was saying.
'What? Sorry, I missed that..who's worried?'

'Erisha! Are you not listening to me?'
Julian said with exasperation.

No! Too busy thinking about Treyton Elrod..
'Sorry..please continue..'

'I said, Mr. Elrod hasn't been into work for the past three days..'

'So? He's a busy man, must be off on some business trip or the other..'

'That's the thing..not even his personal assistant knows where he went..'

Erisha's heart jumped a bit.
'Oh, come on! Someone at the office probably does..you..'

'I said, no! No one has spoken to him, or seen him. He had an important meeting today, and he didn't show up for it. This is the first time that has ever happened..he never ever misses a meeting!'

Erisha felt a queasiness inside.
'I'm sure there's an explanation..'

'Actually, this was why I called you in the first place..'

Her heart skipped a beat.
'Me?'
She squeaked, then cleared her throat.
'What would I know?'
She tried to sound nonchalant.

'Because, I know you guys are like..I mean..I know he was interested in you..and that you told him about your grandfather..'

Erisha gasped.
What did he know?
'What did he say?'

'He told me once he knew you came here for your grandfather..that..'

'Oh, okay..'
Erisha sighed in relief.
'But why do you think I would know where he is?'

'Because, I..I thought you guys were an item..I mean..I..'

'Nonsense!'
Erisha felt herself flush.
'We are nothing! And I have no clue where your boss is! And Julian, I have to go..there's a customer waiting..'
Erisha fibbed, and Julian took the hint and said goodbye.

Erisha put her phone on her desk, and rubbed a hand over her temple.
What had Julian been talking about? Treyton, nowhere to be found? But how was that possible? He was no common man. He was Treyton Elrod, for God's sake.
The question was, where did he go??

To be continued...