Chapter 154

If any other projects ran into trouble, the cash flow could be severed, plunging the company into crisis.

As Santino left the office, he glanced through the documents. They were identical to the ones he'd submitted two days ago, with no significant changes.

Yet this time, they were approved.

What did that mean? Had Clifford not read them carefully? Or was this something else?

It didn't matter. The signature was his.

A flicker of triumph lit Santino's eyes as he walked away.

Ziven knocked and entered, using the pretense of delivering a file to give his report. "Mr. Lambert... we still haven't found her."

Neither had Killian's team. It was as if the two women had vanished off the face of the earth.

Clifford continued to scan the document in his hand. "Then keep looking."

"Yes, but... we've searched all the likely places. I don't know where to look next," Ziven admitted, ashamed of his failure.

Clifford's hands stilled. He closed the file and looked up.

"Ziven, you need to use your brain."

"Ah... yes, of course. I'll think of something."

"My point," Clifford said, his voice sharp with impatience, "is that what you see isn't always the truth. Understand?"

Ziven was baffled. "Sir, forgive my ignorance... could you please elaborate?"

Clifford slammed the file on the desk. The sound wasn't loud, but it made Ziven jump.

He leaned back, his gaze pinning his assistant in place. Ziven felt sweat bead on his forehead.

After a long moment, Clifford spoke. "Have you ever heard the saying, 'The most dangerous place is the safest place'? You keep searching in the direction they disappeared what do you expect to find?"

Understanding dawned on Ziven's face. "I see! I'll get right on it!"

Clifford yanked at his tie, then pulled it off completely and tossed it in a drawer.

As soon as he was out of the office, Ziven began rearranging his teams to search the city center. His own assumptions had led him astray, pushing the search further and further into the suburbs. It never occurred to him that someone on the run would hide in plain sight. It made no sense.

But he didn't dare question the order. After days of dead ends, he had to admit that Clifford's theory might just be right.

...

When Latisha woke up, she was in a bed. She stared at the white ceiling for a moment, and then the memories of what had happened came rushing back. She sat up abruptly.

It was dark outside. Santino hadn't tied her up. Her first instinct was to run―get out, find someone, and save Nikita.

She threw back the covers and saw she was wearing only a large, thin T-shirt that was practically see-through. Even if she dared to go outside like this, she'd freeze to death.

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She got out of bed and searched the apartment for clothes. It was a two-bedroom, but the other bedroom was locked there nothing in the living room of the bathroom. Santino had take all her clothes.

She was about to check the balcony when she heard the sound of the front door

opening.