Chapter 644
The sharp, acrid smell hit her like a punch. Elodie instinctively tried to struggle, but her limbs quickly went slack, robbed of all strength.
Her vision tunneled, darkness creeping in at the edges. She fixed her gaze on the corner just beyond, where the conference hall waited, but before she could take another breath, consciousness slipped away.
The bidding event was scheduled to start precisely at three o’clock.
The club sat right next to the hall, making it easy to move between the two.
Jarrod arrived at the venue just as Alexander rushed up, clearly in a hurry.
Alexander might have had his issues with Jarrod, but he knew how to play the part in public. His smile was flawless. “Mr. Silverstein, with all the talent at the Silverstein Group, do you really need to come here personally to bid?”
Was the company so short-staffed, or what?
Jarrod could see the edge in Alexander’s tone, but he didn’t take offense. His composure never wavered. “If VistaLink Technologies is treating this seriously, I’d be foolish not to.”
Alexander’s smile didn’t falter, but his tone was all polite formality. “Surely this contract isn’t such a big deal for the Silverstein Group, Mr. Silverstein. No need to be so modest.”
Jarrod glanced at his watch. It was already two forty.
He scanned the room, but there was no sign of Elodie. Only then did he ask, “Have you seen Elodie?”
Alexander frowned-time was running short. “Wasn’t she here earlier?”
If anyone was punctual, it was Elodie.
He pulled out his phone, intending to call her, and that’s when he noticed a missed call from her-twenty minutes ago.
He hadn’t even noticed.
Alexander hit redial.
The line rang and rang, but Elodie never picked up.
Worry crept into his voice. “You weren’t with Elodie before this, Mr. Silverstein?”
Jarrod’s brow furrowed. The earlier reception had been crowded, and Elodie had excused herself a few times for brief chats. Later, she’d said she was heading to the restroom.
That was probably the last time anyone saw her.
“Let’s look for her,” Jarrod said, already turning toward the club as he dialed her number again.
Alexander didn’t let his mind wander-after all, Elodie was an adult. But right now, she was the official representative for the bid. If she didn’t show up on time, their company would be disqualified.
Seeing Jarrod move quickly, Alexander hurried off in another direction to search.
But Jarrod’s call to Elodie didn’t connect.
His expression darkened.
Elodie was the last person to be unreliable. She always had everything under control, never late or careless about something this important.
Something wasn’t right.
As he reached the entrance to the hall, he nearly collided with Watts, who was just arriving.
Watts raised an eyebrow at Jarrod’s brisk pace. “Heading somewhere Mr. Silverstein? The event’s about to
aving now might notdook
great.”
There was an edge to his words, as always.
Jarrod paused for just a second, his gaze settling coldly on Watts’s easygoing face.
But only for a moment. He brushed past and continued on, pulling out his phone
to shoot a quick message to Andrea.
Watts watched him go, hands in his pockets.
A moment later, Alexander came rushing out.
Watts stepped in to block his path. “Mr. Sterling, is something wrong? Anything I
can help with? I know this place inside out.”
Alexander didn’t hesitate; by now, he
feared something hade
to Elodie. “We hadné
to find
Elodie, Mr. Aldridge. Let’s talk later.”
Watts’s expression turned serious, brows drawn tight. “Don’t worry, m it’s nothing. Still, I’ll get some people to help look.”
Jarrod made his way back to the club.
He scoured all six floors and called for the club manager.
“I need surveillance footage from 1:50 to 2:30 PM. Focus on Hall Two, all
elevators and stairwells, and every side and back entrance.”
His tone was icy. The manager, recognizing who he was dealing with, didn’t hesitate―he alerted his superiors and mobilized staff at once.
Jarrod’s instructions were clear and precise.
That would make the search much more efficient.
The footage showed Elodie leaving Hall Two and heading toward the restroom.
After that, she never came out.