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Chapter 25

Abby

What do I do? Oliver doesn't want anyone to find me but there's someone here. And I know it's not Oliver. He would have announced himself, said something, done something to not freak me out. This is someone who doesn't know I'm here. I have to hide. That's all there is to it. As long as I'm not found, we're fine.

Frantically I look around, a good hiding place isn't as easy to find when you're pressed for time. I know I can fit under Oliver's big desk. I slide out of the chair and get to the floor making myself as small as possible under the desk while I pull the chair in. At least the front side of the desk is solid wood to hide me. And if no one comes around to use the computer I'm fine.

I can hear the footsteps on the stairs and I know they're coming up. Shit! Who got a key? Why didn't Oliver tell me if someone else had one or they were coming back early. Crap! The footsteps reach the top of the stairs and move steadily towards the office. This really does just keep getting worse.

I can hear humming get louder and louder until I can see legs. Long tan legs and black high heels. Female, the person is female and in the room right in front of me. She isn't looking around for me. She's snooping around though. That still isn't going to be good if she finds me. Then she talks and panic sets in.

"What have you been up to Ollie." I can see her lean over the desk to look at the computer. I left my search up. "Oh bedroom furniture, doing a little shopping now that that slut is out of the picture. Good, we will have a new bed for us. That's good Ollie." Avery says and it's in this breathy not really with it voice.

"We need to fix things, Ollie. I'm the one that's supposed to have you now. It's my turn! Why are you still not coming to me?" Avery asks herself getting no response. "Let's buy this one!"

I can see her pressing keys on the keyboard and giggle at what she's done. It's then I hear the front door open and close and Oliver voice along with the guys. At least they're back but Avery is standing over me. I don't know if she's going to make her presence known or hide like I did. Please don't find me!

The voices get closer, louder. They're arguing. I hear Oliver's bedroom door slam. Then I hear glass shattering from the bedroom and Dylan pounding on his door. Oliver is home but so is the rest of the group.

"Oliver open this fucking door!" Dylan yells, "What are breaking now Ollie!?"

"Fuck off, Dylan! Leave me alone! I've already lost everything else. Just let me think about Abby alone and in peace." Oliver yells back. I can see this isn't good news for Avery as she cracks her fists on the keyboard.

The noise must have gotten Dylan's attention. The next thing I know I can hear a quick intake of breath and Avery trying to talk her way out of being here. I'm stuck though. Avery is still standing here and one move from me, she's going to know I'm here.

"Dylan! I didn't expect you here. What a nice surprise!" Avery cooes at her brother.

"What the fuck are you doing here, Avery?" Dylan says angry at his sister. "I know Ollie changed the locks, so how did you get in?"

"He gave me a key, of course. Did you forget we're together now?" Avery sits on the edge of the desk swinging her legs which are just inches from my face.

"Did you forget he told you it wasn't going to happen?" Dylan walks around and I can see his face. Shit! If I can see him then I know he can see me. No one can know I'm here. "He told you very clearly that it wasn't gonna happen so don't try to bullshit me. Why are you here?"

I stare up at Dylan watching to see if he notices. Her swinging legs get Dylan's attention and he looks down. Well so much for hiding. I can tell right away that he's seen me. He takes a long breath and releases it slowly. His eyes meet mine and I barely shake my head. He just stares at me for a moment before his eyes go back to Avery.

"This is a really bad idea, Avery. You need to leave, and don't break in here again!" Dylan says grabbing her arm and tugging her off the desk.

"I'm ordering our bedroom furniture. I think Ollie has the right idea. He had the page up for me to look at see? I'm only finishing the job." Avery says pointing to the screen.

"Out Avery! Ollie is hurt and drunk and you little sister are only going to make him worse." Dylan says pulling her out of the room.

I can hear them arguing down the stairs then I hear the front door open and close. I'm not moving. What if he didn't see me? I stay put. I'll wait for Oliver to come find me. This was stupid! Why we thought we could get away with no one knowing I'm here was stupid. It was just a matter of time. Of course his friends weren't going to let Oliver slide into isolation. They're his friends, family. They love him.

"Abby! Abby you can come out!" Dylan says as he comes into the office.

"Get out of my house Dylan! I told you I want to be alone!" Oliver booms from behind Dylan in the hall.

Oliver

Damn it! This is not working. How did I get stuck with the friends that won't let me be upset? Dylan has been following me around all day. He won't even let me take a break for myself. Maybe I over did the drunk routine. Now I'm hoping I didn't make this harder than it needs to be.

I continued with the drunken stupor at the studio. As planned they canceled my filming today so I can get it together for tomorrow. Mason headed over to Melanie's in hopes of news from Abby, while Dylan decided it was best to babysit me. He argued with me the entire way home about the way I'm handling this and it was all I could do to not tell him the truth.

When we got to the house and I saw Avery's car outside the gates, parked half hidden but not very well from keeping me from seeing it. I was furious that she didn't get the clue. I hope if we made enough noise she would leave and Abby was hidden from her. The last thing I want is to put my girl in danger. When I saw Avery in my office I knew Abby was stuck. The computer was opened up and Avery was standing over it.

Where are you Abby?

I slammed and banged around searching my room for my girl. Not finding her I toss a lamp at the window. She isn't in here, I hope she's found a good hiding place. When I hear Dylan kick out Avery then come back up calling for Abby, I know she's been seen. I have to do something to keep her a secret. So I play stupid. Hauling the mattress to the glass French doors I push the king sized plush at the glass, shattering both doors and tossing the mattress over the edge of the balcony. I follow the same course with the box spring then I start destroying the frame.

When the door to my room is busted open I see Dylan glaring accusingly at me. His eyes search the room seeing all the damage I've done. I really hope I was able to stop him from finding Abby. Dylan storms into the room and grabbing me by my collar shoves me against the wall.

"What the fuck is wrong with you? What are you doing Oliver?" He yells in my face.

"I don't know Dylan let's think about this for a minute. My parents are cheating on each other and lying about it. My best friends sister is a psycho who is working with my girlfriends, sorry ex girlfriends, crazy ex who's wanting to fuck me and my family out of our fortune. On top of all that I've lost the only girl I'm ever gonna love. So let's ask the easier question and tell me what the fuck is right with me. That's the shorter fucking list." I roar at him. The anger over this situation isn't acting. It's very much real.

"Abby isn't gone." Dylan says quietly. My eyes widen at him. He found her? "Avery was in your office Ollie. Abby was hiding under your desk."

I push him back and storm down the hall to my office and search, pulling the chair out, throwing the closet door open. I really do want to find her right now. Dylan comes in and stands in the doorway. He doesn't try to help me but let's me tear the office apart looking for her. She's not here though. She ran, it's all I can think about. Abby ran when she got the chance. I bolt downstairs and go straight for the garage. The Lexus is gone.

"Damn it!" I yell this time I really am pissed.

Dylan

We've spent the last two hours trying to find Abby. Oliver didn't tell me what really happened but it's pretty clear he knew Abby was there and Avery spooked her. Or I did when I saw her. I explained it to Ollie over and over. Abby was hiding under his desk, Avery was in there ordering furniture and when I saw Abby, I got Avery out of there. Oliver isn't trusting me to tell me anything.

"She was here?" Mason asks as we lift weights. We had to get Oliver's mind off Abby and his energy productive before he destroys the rest of the house. "Was she here the whole time, Oliver?"

"This isn't helping me find her! She was here and thanks to Avery and you, she isn't!" Oliver continues punching the bag. "She was safe! Now I have no idea where she is! Damn it!" He yells slamming his fist hard into the bag.

This is real. This is Oliver's real freak out. What happened before, him getting drunk that was acting. I can see the difference now. I can see how this is killing him. There's still something he isn't telling us though. We're still not getting the full story. Until he trust us, we can't help him.

"We know she was safe and close enough to get in here. We know she's got your car. Let's just call the cops about a stolen car. They'll pick her up, you get her back, end of drama." Mason says pulling his phone out to make the call.

"No, we can't." Oliver says running his hands through his hair as he paces away from us. Oliver is seriously frustrated.

"Why? We would find her a lot faster and she would be safe." Mason argues.

"No! We can't!" Oliver is getting more upset.

"Ollie they can find her!" Mason tries again. Each time their voices get louder, harsher.

"He'll kill her!" Oliver yells and I knew this is so much worse than we know. Oliver plops down on the weight bench. "If Abby is anywhere near me, he'll kill her." He mutters to himself.

"Who Oliver? Who's threatening Abby?" I ask knowing Oliver's been keeping this secret.

Oliver runs his hands over his face. Staring up at the ceiling, I can see his internal debate on what to do. He closes his eyes and spills his guts. "We had a plan. Abby was to stay hidden until I could get rid of him. Ethan, get rid of Ethan."

"What happened?" Mason says more calmly now we're getting some information.

"Ethan threatened Abby's life. If I didn't call things off, give him all my families money he would kill her. We faked her leaving to buy time. Abby disappears, I have time to find Ethan. She snuck back into the house after the press conference. She was supposed to stay in the house and keep out of sight." I can see just how worried Oliver is for her.

Fuck! This is bad.

"You don't think she's gonna come back?" I ask knowing the answer. Abby is gonna do what she has to to keep Ethan from Oliver.

Kate

The boys have been taking care of Ollie all day. Dylan says he's just trying to get Oliver out of his bad mood but I think there's more. The guy can't lie well. He never could so hearing his voice quiver when he told me this. I knew better. So when Quinn Jackson's name shows up on my caller ID, I have to wonder what they've gotten themselves into.

"Mr. Jackson, What's the occasion for this call?" I answer my phone knowing I'm not gonna like this.

"My dear Kate! How are you, darling? Oh how I've missed your beautiful voice." Quinn says with humor in his voice. I know he can't stand me.

"Cut the crap, Quinn. Why are you, of all people, calling me?" I look at Melanie across the room as she stops what she's doing to listen.

"I'm doing your brother a favor. Tell him I found something that belongs to him. If he wants it back, he needs to meet me at my office tonight at ten. Otherwise I'm keeping it." Quinn says so cryptic I don't get it.

"What did you take this time?" I snap at him. All the time growing up, Quinn would steal from Oliver. He's not a friend of mine, but theirs, the boys. They would constantly go back and forth this way. Some things just never change. I swear they never grow up.

"I didn't take anything, darling. Trust me when I say I have something Ollie wants back badly. I need you to tell him this. Please love, this is important." Quinn says getting under my skin with his pet names for me. I've never liked him but he's had his crush on me. I've only ever had eyes for Dylan. Always.

"Fine! Don't call me again. I mean it, Quinn. Have one of the boys deliver your message next time." I don't wait for a response and hang up on him.

I really dislike the games that guys play just to get your attention. I'm a grown woman, I'm direct, simple and take care of myself. I don't like the playground games that guys never seem to grow out of. If they really are interested just say something versus these stupid games. Quinn has played games with me for years. This not only annoyed me but pissed off Dylan so much so he broke Quinn's nose at one point. It served Quinn right.

"Quinn? As in Abby's old boss Quinn?" Melanie asks and it hit me, they know each other. Crap! I wasn't thinking about that!

Quickly I dial Oliver's phone. Of course the one time it's urgent he's not answering. As upset as he's been over Abby I guess I should have expected this. I then try Dylan he picks up immediately ready to blow me off. I can't let him. "Hey sweetheart, we're kinda in the middle of something. Can I call you back?"

"Get out of the middle of it and listen!" I get Dylan's attention by being completely rude. It works. "Quinn called me. He has something of Oliver's and wants to give it back."

"What would that asshole be doing with something... wait, Quinn as in Q Inc? Abby's old boss?" Dylan got it faster than I did.

"As in your old friend and mine. Tell Oliver he wants to get it back to him tonight. Ten at the Q office." I relay the message. I'm really hoping this is Abby.

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