Missing

Pedro's POV

All I actually wanted to do was go home and retire into my comfy bed and sleep through the weekend but instead I was in a taxi headed towards Hydela Industries. My head was banging and my back was sore from sleeping on hard cheap motel beds for a whole week. A look in the rear-view mirror and I cringed at my tired image. My bloodshot eyes, a clear indication that I needed a nap. Not just any kind of nap. Uninterrupted hours of sleep.

The flight back to New York had been quick and I was almost happy that I would be in the office in no time and the quicker I concluded there, the quicker I visit my bed but that happiness was cut short when the traffic had suddenly become so bad, we were stuck at a place for an hour. It had begun to crawl again but at this point, I would have alighted and trekked the rest of the way, if my legs weren't as heavy as lead.

Shanice had wanted to send my car to the airport and I had stopped her. At the moment I wished I had allowed her. The taxi was considerably small and I had to squeeze my already aching legs in-between the front seat and the back where I was seated. The driver, a rusty middle aged man who was either dumb or had no interest in saying a word, kept nodding to an insanely boring music that I didn't even understand. The air was polluted both in the taxi and out on the street so I was stuck in the mist of pungent odor.

I could have cried with relief when we pulled up of the building. I threw the dollar notes at the driver and got out of the car, stretched my frozen legs and began to walk into the building. Shanice was at the door to recieve me. She was dressed in a yellow short dress and a pair of black heels. Her hair was held up in a loose ponytail and she had a huge grin on her face. I was too tired to make any facial expressions.

"Good afternoon sir. How was your journey?" She asked getting my suitcase from my weary hands

"Uncomfortable" I simply said and walked into the elevator. She followed, filling the machinery with her strawberry scent.

She was silent for a while, which I was grateful for and then she began speaking again. I could have screamed.

"Everything was well taken care of while you were away. The designs have been sent to the engineers and it's most likely that we are going to meet the deadline. A new firm has shown interest in partnering with Hydela and we have a long list of investors all interested in........"

"Shanice, please"

My ears were saved till we got to the tenth floor and got out of the elevator, and then the greetings began pouring in.

"Good day sir"

"How was your trip sir?"

"Welcome back sir"

"Good afternoon sir"

I simply nodded to each one and walked to my office wearily. I plopped into my waiting seat and took my aching head in my hands.

"Are....you okay?" Shanice who had followed me in, asked.

"Yes Shanice, just get me some aspirin and then you can update me on everything that needs my immediate attention. I wouldn't want to be here too long"

She left immediately to get the aspirin while I still had my head in my palms. I blinked severally to clear my clouding eyes.

"Here's the aspirin" Shanice said startling me a bit because I didn't hear her re-enter.

I took the tablets in my hand and threw them in my mouth before emptying the plastic bottle of water into my dry throat. A few seconds passed and I could feel the aspirin already doing it's work.

"Okay Shanice, let's get this over with" I said looking at the papers she had placed in front of me.

"Like I was saying....."

"Stuff that needs my immediate attention Shanice. Every other thing can wait till tomorrow"

That seemed to disorganize her little speech and she didn't say anything for a few seconds.

"There are two investors who are dying to speak to you, if you like, I can arrange a zoom meeting with them immediately " she said afterwards.

"I look like I walked through a hurricane, I can't have any sort of meeting looking like this. Next"

"The indian investor called. He would like to terminate his contract"

"And why is that?"

"He didn't say"

"Terminate it then"

"But sir, he's our highest investor"

"You said there are lots of people waiting to invest in Hydela, right? Losing an old one won't kill us. Terminate it"

She looked hesitant before nodding and writing something on the pad she was holding.

"And then I need you to sign on Marco's termination letter" she said producing a termination letter from the pile on my desk.

My eyes shot up at the mention of his name. With the week that I've had, he had barely come to my mind but each time he did come, I felt a sudden desire to see those beautiful green orbs. And as she said his name, the feeling returned and I just wanted to see him.

Termination letter?

"Why is there a termination letter for Marco?" I asked trying hard to keep my voice as calm and nonchalant as possible.

"He hasn't shown up at work since you left and that's a full week" she replied in a self satisfied voice like a child reporting the miscreant behavior of another who was about to face punishment.

I ignored her tone, too curious about why Marco hadn't come to work. I was surprised by how worried I became and all of a sudden, all my own problems were forgotten. Marco became the first on the list. Even the headache disappeared.

Did something happen to him?

Or did he suddenly decide to quit?

If he did, then why?

"why hasn't he?" I asked still trying to keep my voice calm.

"I don't know. He took a few hours off on the day you left and since then didn't come back"

"And have you tried to reach out to him, to know why he hasn't shown up yet?"

"No...I haven't" she stuttered finally realizing that she had fucked up and the hard look on my face was enough to tell her that I was pissed.

"And why haven't you?" I said in a low growl.

"I ... I thought....I thought he just decided..."

"You thought!" I didn't realize I had yelled till I saw her shrink and take a few steps back, "you thought an employee of this company just decided to leave work in the middle of the day and never returned without a good reason. You never tried to find out why or if he had encountered any danger out there. What if he is missing and the company gets sued? The first thing that comes to your mind is to sign a termination letter. Of course you fucking thought!"

I was so pissed and worried, I felt my muscles get tense.

What if something bad had happened to him?

"I'm sorry.....I"

"Pray to the dear lord Shanice, pray to the dear lord that he is okay or else..." I let the sentence hang in the air, my brain too hazed to think of any proper threat. I knew I was no longer speaking like just a concerned boss but l didn't care what anyone thought at the moment.

I needed to find Marco.

"Leave my office"

"Sir..."

"Leave my fucking office now!"

She bolted out of the door and in the comfort of the silent office, I began to think.

What could have happened?

Maybe his friends would know.

I picked up the office telephone and called the only one I could recall his name; Kristen.

He walked into my office shaking. The frown on my face, the obvious cause.

"You....called me sir" he said standing so close to the doors as if ready to run if necessary.

"Yes, why is Marco not in the office?" I asked too impatient to beat about the bush.

"I beg your pardon?" He asked and I wanted to slap the confused look off his face.

"You heard me, where is Marco?"

"I dunno sir"

"Aren't you supposed to be his friend?" I asked disappointed

"Yes, I am but he hasn't answered nor returned any of our calls. No one knows what happened"

I felt my throat dry up at the sound of that.

"You can go" I said with little difficulty.

He left the room and once again I was alone.

Was he sick?

Calling was no longer an option. I have to go look for him myself.

What about his address?

I switched on my computer and logged in. I went to employees details and typed in Marco Alvarez. His details popped up on the screen.

25 Holloway Avenue.

I switched off the computer and grabbed my jacket. In less than five minutes, I was in my black Porsche and punching the address on the navigation system.

Please be safe.

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

Please vote and comment.

Xoxo.