Husband With Benefits
Chapter 635: Missing

Chapter 635: Missing

Autumn sighed and rubbed her arms as she waited for Gabe to come. He’d texted her he’d be there at six, but it was already seven. She glanced at her phone, considering if she should call him. "Where are you, Gabe?" she murmured to herself. She paced back and forth, the unease growing stronger. "Maybe he got stuck in traffic... or something came up at work. But he would’ve texted, right?"

Finally, feeling a bit worried, she decided to call him. "Come on, Gabe, pick up," she muttered under her breath as she pressed the call button. His phone was unreachable. "Great, just great," she mumbled, frustration lacing her voice. Anxiety began to creep in, and she bit her lip, staring at the screen in frustration. "Why was his phone off? This wasn’t like him..."

As she started to worry about him, all sorts of unsavoury thoughts troubling her, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She almost jumped out of her skin then.

Turning quickly, she let out a deep breath as she saw Nora standing there, looking at her questioningly.

"What are you doing here? I thought you left an hour ago," Nora said, concern evident in her eyes.

Autumn let out a shaky breath. "I was supposed to meet Gabe, but he’s late. Maybe he got stuck in a meeting or traffic. I’ve been waiting for him."

Nora frowned, surprised. "Gabe is late? That is not like him. And he didn’t inform you he’d be late?"

"I know," Autumn replied, anxiety creeping back in. "His phone is unreachable, too."

Nora pulled out her own phone and dialed Gabe’s number, but it remained unavailable. "This is strange," she said, her brow furrowing. "Let’s wait a little longer and see if he shows up. Let me ask Demon..."

Immediately, she called Demetri who answered on the first ring," Yes, my kitten."

"Demetri, is Gabe with you?"

"Gabe? No. He is not. He must be with Autumn. What’s up? You need to ask him something?"

Nora shook her head," Nah. He was supposed to have picked Autumn up an hour ago but he hasn’t come until now and his phone is unreachable."

Nora didn’t have to say more as Demetri understood. Gabe had multiple enemies within and outside the industry so and he was never careless. Quietly, " I’ll ask the security and cameras."

While the two women waited, Nora dragged Autumn back into the now closed store.

A little while later, Demetri, Lucien, Seb and Ian arrived at the store, their expressions grim. Autumn’s heart sank further at the sight of their worried faces.

"Did you find him? Do you know where he is? Is he alright?"

Demetri shook his head, his jaw set tight. "Gabe left the office in the morning, but security lost track of him soon after."

"Lost track? How could that happen? Aren’t they always trailing him?"

Ian shook his head," Not Gabe. He is good at losing the security or anyone following. And he... used to do that in the past, when... anyways, due to his habit of going off grid for a few hours, the security detail was not yet worried, so they didn’t inform us."

Lucien placed his laptop, the screen already running, "Don’t worry, we’re already trying to trace his car from the security cameras all over the city. We’ll find him quickly."

Autumn felt her knees weaken as she realized that Gabe had been missing for several hours probably...

"Autumn, did Gabe tell you about any plans that he might have for the afternoon?"

Autumn shook her head. "As far as I know, he was supposed to be at the office and then come here to pick me up.."

She saw them exchange looks and wondered what could be. However, Lucien then said something that had her head snapping up," I’ve started to scan the surroundings around Elena’s house as well, in case she’s upto no good again."

The words had her reelig in shock. Elena Winthrope. The woman who had left them news of Arabelle being alive as a wedding present. Could it be that Gabe had reconsidered his decision. He’d taken the USB from her, assuring her that he would definitelty return it to Elena.

But what if instead of only returning the USB, he’d gone to see her? Nora seemed to have noticed her expression and placed a gentle hand on top of hers," Autumn, have you remembered something?"

Autumn turned stricken eyes towards Nora, her face pale as she nodded. She felt everyone turn to look at her, waiting for her to speak up, but there seemed to be a lump in her throat, not letting the words past.

With great difficulty, she spoke the name," Arabelle. His wife..."

She could actually feel them stiffen as they exchanged glances. "What about Arabelle? Autumn?" Demetri asked her softly.

Autumn shook her head, " Arabelle is alive. She did not die. Gabe discovered this yesterday."

"What do you mean, Autumn? Arabelle is alive? That is impossoble..." Ian denied but Autumn shook her head," Elena left a USB with us. It showed Arabelle in some kind of a hospital..."

As the entire story came tumbling out, about how Gabe had reassured her that he would never go back to Arabelle, she looked up to see the skeptical looks on their faces.

With great courage, Autumn bowed her head and asked," You guys, don’t think that he would have gone to her, right?"

However, as she watched the brothers keep quiet and avoid her gaze, she felt her heart shaking...and she clenched her hands, trying to pray in her heart that this was some misunderstanding, and it wasn’t true...but their expressions showed what she already knew- Arabelle was Gabe’s krypronite, his only weakness.

And then, as she watched, she heard Lucien curse vividly as he glanced at his brothers, turning the screen of his laptop towards them... where it showed Gabe’s car entering the ornate gates of Elena Winthrope’s mansion...

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m