Daylight had refused to side with the figures darting through the woods, and as the frequency of cars on the road increased they began to separate, into groups of four. Two people in each group and three in the last, their running had slowed into a paced jog and they were no longer trying to conserve their oxygen. Too tired to care the sound of heavy panting moved as they did, disturbing the atmosphere.
"Okay we are at the outskirts, we are going to have to go in different directions, remember what I said to go?" Jessie asked, her hands on her knees her breathing went in and out of her body in short puffs.
"Yeah, we do. Grace and I will head to the Song hospital beside the park, it not very far from here." Alice, one of the younger girls spoke, they let them go to the closest branch because it was obvious from how haggard they looked that they wouldn't be able to continue on much longer.
"Melissa, second Grace and Faye you headed in the direction of the main Song hospital go there and ask for Paul directly. Make a scene do anything to get him to come down. Then make him go get Grace and Alice okay?" Then five nodded and began the run again.
"I chose you two to go the Kang building because you not from around here and it should be the easiest place to find. It's right in the middle of the city, a massive building, and it says Kang and co right on the building. Ask around to get there if you are confused okay?" Jessie said to the last group apart from hers and they nodded.
"And us?" Jocelyn asked. "Can't we just go with them to your boyfriend's office? It would be more effective if they are asking for him with you present."
Jessie shook her head, "that's the first place George would go to look for me."
"And you sent the girls there?!"
"They won't be looking for them there, trust me. He would never expect anyone else but me to go to Jason, I just feel like I would be walking into a trap going there." She stated, "there and my house."
"So? Where to now?"
"A place they will never expect."
********************************
As the familiar sound of the door bell resounded through Lenora's apartment her fingers froze and she picked up her laptop and set it on the table before her. Getting up she walked to the door and clicked on the camera hooked unto the wall.
Her eyes widened and she almost laughed when she saw who stood behind her closed door. "Why the hell is a hostage standing outside my house?"
"Oh save it, that high and mighty thing you've got going on. I need you help."
"My help? What could I possibly do for you? I watched you on the news just now why did you come here?" Lenora insisted.
"You're the only person I could come to... shockingly, and you are going to help me."
"I don't get you, why did you come back? Weren't you supposed to leave the country? What is keeping you here, you already lost what are you thinking?"
"Revenge, Jessie Marin ruined my life and Goerge was supposed to ruin hers but he lost her. How could I leave knowing that bitch is still alive?"
"Wow... you really have lost it. You ruined her life first, and now Karma catches up and your bitter?"
"Save the lecture it doesn't suit you, now get out of the way and let me in." Patricia huffed, pushing past Lenora and walking into her apartment.
"Get out before I call the cops, you and I don't have hat kind of relationship, I won't ruin my life for you." Without turning around and stepped away from the door and to let the trash out.
"Oh sweet naive Lenora, you think I am that helpless don't you?" Patricia asked her soft foot steps coming closer.
Lenora turned to face her, "you are that helpless, you wouldn't come here otherwise."
"You will help me Lenora but you would not like doing it" Patricia said, her eyes narrowing and her head raised high.
Jonathan blinked and turned to look at the petite woman standing beside him, "sorry I wasn't what did you want?"
She frowned and looked forward, clutching the files close to her bosom she avoided eye contact. "I know the proposal was problematic, I have been explaining it for days now but everyone zones out on me."
Jonathan sighed, hooking his index finger around his tie he loosened it. "Say it again, let me hear it it might not be bad."
"Stop patronizing me, I already presented it twice and you zoned out twice. Even if anyone does this you never do but now? Oh it's hopeless!"
"Now now, Silvia, it wasn't because of your proposal I promise"
"Hey! Hey! Karen get back here!" Loud screaming pulled their attention as the door to the elevator opened, Jonathan attention was once again stolen as he came face to face to the surly teenager.
"Karen!" He exclaimed.
"Are you getting off? I need to go down" she said totally ignoring her yelling sister and the concerned Jonathan.
"Bu-" before he could finish his sentence she walked around him and pressed the button, she looked away as the door closed and it was already too late by the time Krystal got to the door she was already gone.
"Silvia I'll talk with you later" Jonathan informed the other woman, his fingers wrapped around Krystal's upper arm "you, come with me."
"What was that?" Jonathan asked once they were in the safety of his office. Krystal looked everywhere but at him, unable to stop fidgeting she bit her nail. "You're not going to talk to me either? Until when are you going to keep this up?"
Her eyes shot to his for a brief moment before she looked away, disregarding him. "Krystal!" He yelled, a soft gasp escaped her lips, his loud voice illicting a shiver that ran down her spine and cause her to stiffen. "This has to stop, I get you are mad and emotional right now but treating me like I'm invisible isn't going to solve anything... it's not going to bring Jessie back."
"Of course it isn't, you didn't even have the ability to prevent this how can you fix it?"
Jonathan eyes darkened and his jaw tightened, "that's not fair Krystal I didn't know."
Her eyes remained on him as a stray tear rolled down her cheek, one which she didn't let run it full course cutting it short the moment it began it's descent. Blinking hard she bit her lip and lowered her head, "you're right, I'm sorry it's just... it's been hard."
"For both Karen and I, she still has nightmares and I don't know what to do. I know it wasn't our fault but I can't help but feel guilty about Jessie, who knows what that psychopath is doing to her right now. It's been more than a week, and she still hasn't been found, what if she is really dead?" Krsytal choked out through a sob and in an instant she was engulfed by Jonathan. His scent filling her nostrils, the scent calming her and the choked sobs that restricted her breathing easing up to let her breathe.
"It's not your fault, you did what you had to. If anything Jessie is the reason Karen was taken like that, don't blame yourself okay?" Jonathan whispered, rubbing slow circles around her back.
Pulling away slightly she met his eyes another gasp escaping her lips but this one was different. Her tortured heart beating a different rhythm and she struggled to control her senses. His gaze caressed her face leaving such contrasting sensations she was confused which to feel. She bit back the sound that pushed up her throat when his eyes lowered and settled on her parted lips, was he? Would she let him?
Why would she stop him?
As though asking for permission his gaze went back to her eyes, and she gave it to him as her eyes fluttered shut. It felt like ages, her stomach churning in anticipation, the feel of his lips on hers. She had an idea of what a kiss should be but the moment his lips met with hers she wasn't sure what she knew anymore.
The kiss wasn't anything dramatic or fiery but it lit her up, she couldn't explain nothing felt so new and so overwhelming even in the softness of his touch. She felt like she was reborn again underneath his touch and the moment his mouth moved aganist hers, her body defied the resistance and she let the moan out.
Jonathan hands lifted to cupped the side of her face, tilting her head he deepened the kiss, their mouths moving in sync with one another. What kept him from this? From her.
A sharp knock to the door broke them from each other and before he could dismiss whoever the newly unemployed person it was Silvia brown head poked in through the door. "About that proposal" her words cut short and her gaze darting from one to the other. Even with the space between them she could still make out their make out.
"Sorry for interrupting, I had no idea this was what that scene at the elevator was about." She said stepping back before her head poked back in almost immediately. "Although I have to say you guys just won my a hundred bucks, I always knew this would happen. Thanks for finally getting it on!"