'I know who did this! And I swear to God, they are going to regret this..for ever!'
Treyton fisted his hands.

'Who are you talking about?'
Officer Dane raised his eyebrows.

'Huber!'
Treyton ground his teeth furiously.

'Huber?'
Dane frowned.
'But, David Huber is still in prison..'

'He is, but his brother isn't!'
Treyton told him how he had found out just this morning how Steven Huber was trying to get bail for David. And how he had come to Treyton to talk.
'I should have met him! Instead, I threatened him if he so much as set foot in the building.'

'But, the footage shows all this happened after eight this morning. When did Huber come to you?'

The officer wanted to know the details, and Treyton quickly provided them.
It turned out, that Steven had been there a couple of hours later. So, if he had taken Erisha, he had to have come to Treyton after doing so. And Treyton had missed the chance to find out if he was out for revenge.

'I want to know his whereabouts immediately!'
Treyton demanded.

'I'll get right on it!'
With that, the officer took his men, who had been gathering clues, and left, leaving Treyton worried and tense.

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

A noise caused Erisha to wake up from unconsciousness.

And she regretted it, the minute she did. She felt as if her head had been put through a blender. Groaning, she raised her hand to touch it, and was surprised to find she couldn't lift it. She tried the other one, with the same result.
Erisha looked down to see both her hands tied on a chair's armrests and her eyes widened. The realisation that a tape was covering her mouth came at the same time.
What the hell?

Her eyes snapped upwards, and she looked around. It wasn't too dark thankfully, a small bulb burning on one wall, and she was able to see where she was.
It was a storeroom, with boxes and boxes covering it from floor to ceiling.

Oh, God! Where am I? And why?

Erisha craned her neck, ignoring the headache she could now feel with a vengeance, to see a door at the far end of the room.
She struggled with the ties on her hands, but except for bruising herself, she didn't achieve much.

How long have I been in here?

She noticed that there were no windows, so she couldn't see what time of day it was.
But, she remembered clearly that she was brought here in the morning.
Because, that's when she had gone to Treyton's to leave her things..

Treyton! Oh, God! He must be so worried..does he even know I'm missing? What if he hasn't come home yet, and hasn't discovered anything? But..who would want to kidnap me like this? I'm not even a famous personality like Treyton..maybe someone with a grudge against him?

Erisha had only questions in her head, with no answers.
She moved her legs, and discovered her ankles also tied to the chair legs.
She tried to make some noise, but ofcourse, with the tape, she couldn't. She tried shaking the chair with her pelvis, but to no avail.

Damn! How do I get out of here? How to let Treyton know where I am? How to find out who did this? God, help me!

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

'I swear I didn't do this!'
Steven Huber looked nervous, and rightly so, because he was being held by the collar by Treyton Elrod, whose eyes were blazing with fury.

'Don't you dare lie to me! I swear I will..'
Treyton applied pressure to Steven's neck.

'Please, believe me! I have nothing to do with Erisha's disappearance! I didn't even know she was seeing you..'
Steven choked out, trying to breathe.

'Let me handle him, Herr Elrod!'
Officer Dane said from behind him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
Exasperated, and giving him a death glare, Treyton pushed Steven away, sending him staggering backwards.

Treyton had hurried over, as soon as Officer Dane had located Steven Huber. He had wanted to be there hands on to find out the truth.
But, Huber was not complying, and he felt extremely agitated.
Because, it had now been two days since Erisha went missing. He had had to handle KK as well, who had gone frantic at the news.
Trying to remain strong in front of the old man, Treyton had assured him, that he would find Erisha, come hell or high water.

But, alone, he was going crazy.
He knew he loved her, but was now realising the depth of it.
Knowing she was in danger was giving him anxiety of the highest order, and he was ready to grab any trails leading to her.

And now, Huber was not cooperating, swearing that he hadn't done anything. He even had an alibi, and witnesses to prove that he was somewhere else at the time of the kidnapping.
Which left Treyton plain frustrated.
Who the hell took her? And WHY?

'Herr Elrod!'
Officer Dane now turned to him.
'He's telling the truth! He was with his lawyer trying to get bail for his brother. And, the lawyer was the one who advised him to go to talk to you, so maybe things could be handled outside of the court. The lawyer also confirmed it.'

Treyton heard the words, but his mind was already on other prospects. He was clueless as to who else would have something against him. It was true, that he had stepped on several toes in his line of work, but no one except Huber had dared to cross him, ever.
And, as far as Erisha was concerned, she was a responsible citizen of this country, and ran a legitimate business. She had never ever mentioned having any enemies.
Just because she doesn't know, doesn't mean she can't have any.
But, so bad as to have her kidnapped..
What am I going to do??

Leaving the officer investigating further, Treyton left for his office.
Going home was not very appealing, when all he could think about was Erisha, and how she had decided to move in with him.
He had lain awake both nights, restless and agitated. He had taken out Erisha's scarf from her bag, and had inhaled her scent. It had given him comfort somehow, which was funny, because he had never in his life needed it. He had been a loner, through and through.
And now, to have someone who he cared about so much, it still seemed novel to him.

The only thing that kept him pumped up, was what he was going to do to her kidnapper, once he got his hands on them.
With renewed anger, Treyton had just entered his office foyer, when he almost crashed into someone coming from inside.

'I'm so sorry..you?'
Treyton stopped to apologise, since he hadn't really been paying attention, but he raised his eyebrows in surprise when he saw who it was he had almost crashed into.

'Hi! How are you doing?'
Marissa smiled at him cheerfully, as she fixed the scarf around her neck, that had gotten askew with the jostle.

'What are you doing here?'
Treyton asked her, although he wasn't really interested in the answer.

'As a matter of fact, it was you I had come to see..'
Her expression was animated, as if she had some exciting news.

'Really? What about?'
Treyton asked for the formality, his attention wavering as a few people passed by, greeting him. He nodded to them, only listening to Marissa with half an ear.

'My boutique has gotten raving reviews after that fashion show in Paris, and I've been asked to conduct one here, in Vienna..'
Treyton have her a weird look, as if asking 'so what'.
'The thing is, I wanted you to be the guest of honour, and inaugurate the show!'
She paused now, waiting for his reaction.

'Oh, I see..well, I..'
Treyton began, but she stopped him.

'Please, please..don't decline yet..atleast think about it. It would mean so much for my boutique, if Treyton Elrod, Austria's most good-looking business tycoon, did the honours!'
She actually looked delighted at the thought.
'And, oh yeah!'
She moved a bit closer, brushing against his arm.
'You can always bring your friend..you know, the one who lives with you..'
She said in a lower tone, as if revealing a secret.

It was on the tip of Treyton's tongue, to tell her that Erisha had been missing for the past two days, but he stopped himself on time.
Why should I tell her? She's nothing but my ex...
'I'm not so sure we both are free..'

Marissa blinked, as if that was not the answer she had been expecting, before she smiled again.
'I'm sure you must be busy, since you live with her..must be a new feeling for you..you, Treyton Elrod, who has never let anyone so close to him..'
There was a hint of envy in her tone, and Treyton noticed it, before she shook her head, laughing.
'But..my show is in two days..and I have first hand information, that you are not busy..you know, your PA and I know each other from before..'
She winked, and Treyton stiffened.

Irma! I never expected such foolishness from her. I'll have to give her a piece of my mind..
'Alright! I have some business to attend to before then, so I'll see if I can..and Erisha, I'm sure she will be excited to attend. Plus, it will give me a chance to buy her some of your creations. They will look perfect on her..'
Treyton gave a smile, already imagining the scenario of a much more personal catwalk, in private, and didn't see the anger that flashed in the pair of eyes watching him closely.

Marissa gave him a flat smile, before composing herself.
'That's great! So, I'll really look forward to dressing her up in my clothes..that will be fun..'
Her tone suggested it would be anything but.
'I'll go now..and you, please pass on my message to your mistr..I mean..your girlfriend..'
She laughed as if she had just made a silly joke, but Treyton's eyes flared, and so she stopped to clear her throat.
'Okay, bye! See you then..'
With that, she went sashaying back outside.

Treyton stood there for a few seconds, thinking of what Marissa had almost said.
Mistress? Erisha?
Erisha had no wiles of a woman wanting just sex from him. She loved him, and genuinely cared for him. She had accepted his offer after all he had told her, which meant that was what she wanted too..wasn't it?
Treyton sighed.
What am I even thinking? My priority right now should be of finding her..not thinking of silly things..
I have to get her back..any how...

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

Erisha felt extremely helpless.

She had been here for two days, and she still didn't know why.
Neither did she know who had brought her here. No one had shown themselves yet.

A beefy, unkempt man had come on the day she had been brought here, scaring her badly.
But, he had said nothing, done nothing..atleast not to her.
He had, however, untied her, and pointing a gun to her head, had led her to another door in the room she was being kept in.
Heart thumping, pulse racing, Erisha had had no choice but to go in, her eyes widening when she had seen that it was a toilet that he had led her to.
The man had shut the door, gesturing for her to use it, and the first thing she had done was look around. But, to her disappointment, the toilet had been windowless, with not even an exhaust area.
She had relieved herself quickly, afraid the man would come in. But, thankfully, he had waited till she opened the door herself.
Erisha had tried looking closely at his face behind the huge beard, but he had not allowed it, immediately pointing the gun back to her head, till she was again seated on the chair.
He had tied her legs, then removed the tape from her mouth, causing her to protest, as it pulled her soft skin.
Erisha had instantly spoken.

'Why are you doing this? Who is doing this? Please..don't..'
She stopped, when the man shoved a plate of food in front of her, pointing the gun back to her head, all without speaking.
Not feeling hungry, but knowing she needed the energy to focus on how to get out of here, Erisha had eaten the sandwich on the plate, all while he had stood with the gun on her head.
She had been surprised that the sandwich was of a good quality, stuffed with chicken, mayonnaise and salad. She ate it all, even having the glass of water that accompanied it, before her hands were tied back to the chair, and the tape reapplied to her mouth.
The man had left as silently as he had come, and Erisha had been more bewildered than before.

A kidnapper who cares? Providing me with good food, letting me use the bathroom..I'm just not getting the purpose...

Erisha was still clueless now, because the same man had continued to tend to her needs for the past two days, coming at the same timings, allowing her to go to the bathroom, and letting her eat.
But today, she had been waiting to have her say when he removed the tape from her mouth.

'Please! Help me out of here!'
The man gave her a glare, before shoving the gun in front of her face.
But, Erisha was determined.
'Atleast, tell me why I am here! Who wants me out of the way..'
The man put the gun on her forehead, not too gently, and Erisha felt faint.
What if he pulls the trigger? No! No! I have to see Treyton..and Nanna..I can't just die like this..
'Please..I won't tell anyone..I promise..just help me..'
She tried once again, as the man pressed the gun more forcefully than before.

'Tch, tch, tch! As if I would trust you not to do that!'

The voice had Erisha's head snap towards it.
In her attempt to seek help from the obstinate mute man, she had not heard the door open, or seen someone enter.
But now, Erisha watched, as the man moved to the side, and the owner of the voice came forward.

And she came face to face with her kidnapper.

To be continued....