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Mum patted Meagan's hand, "You must make time for yourself... and your hubby, of course."
Next thing I knew, Papa had overruled everyone's orders and instead requested nearly every dish on the menu. As a consequence, the waiter had to set up a couple of additional serving trays to accommodate all the food. "Papa, I hope you never change. This is why I love dining out with you... and for the entertaining conversation, too," I tactfully added.
While twirling her spaghetti around a spoon, Meagan inquired, "So, I've been swamped with the babies... have you secured a job yet? Last I knew, you were scheduling pre-interviews."
I dabbed my lips with a napkin before elaborating, "It's my nerves. You see, the sensation of confinement still triggers me, and being alone in an enclosed space with men who are strangers is not very comforting. In fact, most accounting firms I've come across have male interviewers."
"Oh, my gosh. I get it. As you know, my anxiety was awful after my accident and rehab," Meagan empathized.
"Oh, I heard about that." Mum chimed in, furrowing her brow with concern. “Amy used to keep me updated on your progress.”
Three bottles of wine were emptied in no time, and most plates were clean. My friends' expressions signaled they were full until I pondered aloud, "Papa, do you think their tiramisu might be as delectable as Mum's?"
Papa flashed me a broad grin as he signaled the waiter, "Time to find out!" he exclaimed excitedly.
Mum shook her head and laughed, "That's why you're the best Papa in the world!" Her words were met with unanimous agreement from all of us. For that moment, I felt fortunate to have such a loving family — my true friends who mattered more than anyone else ever could.
Suddenly, Meagan turned her attention to my parents and me, her face mirroring curiosity. "Amy," she started gently, "I've been so consumed by my own life that I never learned why you couldn't attend our housewarming party. I mean, I know you were kidnapped, and I’m so sorry. But can you give a brief rundown of what happened? Just the nitty-gritty."
I glanced over to Papa, my eyes seeking his approval, and he nodded. "Go ahead," he said reassuringly. "These women have a right to know the truth—as do the men they're married to."
With a deep sigh, Meagan lamented to my father, "The FBI is keeping all of us in the dark as if we're suspects or something."
"I completely understand. They haven't shared much information with us either," Papa admitted.
"Alright, it's my turn," I started, taking a quick sip of wine. "I fully intended to attend the party. Thankfully, I had already sent my gift, the pots and pans, with Ariel." Ariel blew a kiss in response and continued listening. "That morning, around ten, Mum called to tell me that Papa had been hospitalized due to heart issues. At the time, we didn't know the severity. Naturally, I booked a flight to Vail right away, planning to contact Mitch and you, Meagan, to explain the situation, but I never got the chance. Upon arriving in Vail, I requested an Uber to take me to the hospital. As I hopped in the car and we drove off, the driver diverted onto a side road. At first, I feared he was going to sexually assault me."
"Oh, God!" Meagan gasped.
I held up my hand. "No, he didn't. Instead, he pressed a rag over my face. It had ether or something similar on it and I passed out. The next thing I knew, I was at what I now know was Mitch's chalet, tied up and gagged.
"He hit you too!" Mum chimed in, tossing her napkin on the table.
"Yes, he forced me to hold the sign, but I fought him. Then after taking some photos, he left in a hurry, and eventually, the police arrived to rescue me.”
"You saw his face then. Are you sure it was a man?" Meagan asked, holding her breath.
"Yes, but I think he was wearing a disguise when he picked me up and later put on a ski mask. He threw the mask on the floor when he left. It had a toupee inside.
Suddenly, Ariel pushed back her chair and came around the table to wrap her arms around me. "Thanks for sharing that. I know it was tough, sweetie.” I nodded, taking another bite of my dessert. "I have an idea. Why don't I ask Guy if Rosedale Tech can hire you? I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you worked remotely under the circumstances."
"Oh, would you? That would be amazing." We all clapped and celebrated as Papa ordered a bottle of Champagne.
"No need to worry about driving, Mr. Russo," Ariel reassured us. "I'll call our security detail to have them drive all of us home. You can leave your car here. Someone will gladly drive it back to the apartment for you tomorrow."
Chapter Two
Mitch
As I briskly towel dried my hair, drops of water splattered against my bathroom floor tiles like bullets hitting a target. The steam from the hot shower still lingered in the air, clouding the mirror like a smokescreen. I spun around to flick on the TV, hoping to catch the morning news and check the weather for the day. But my eyes widened in alarm as I glimpsed the time displayed on the screen. "Hell's bells!" I exclaimed, realizing that today was a Monday, which meant an earlier start to our workweek.
I scrambled to throw on my clothes, my mind racing with thoughts of Amy's parents and their treatment of me after her graduation. Being with her for the ceremony had been a blast. I could still see her sparkling eyes as she proudly accepted her diploma in her cap and gown. But that feeling was short-lived.
I chucked the remote at my bed, my frustration boiling over. The last two nights, I'd been tossing and turning, stewing over her parents' audacity. When I'd flown to Vail through a freaking snowstorm to help out, Elana had barely given me the time of day. And to top it off, both her parents had made it crystal clear that they didn't want me around for the post-ceremony celebrations. It was enough to make a guy see red. I mean, I was a damn part owner in a multi-million-dollar company!
"Couldn't they see that I could help their daughter if they'd let me?" I muttered to myself, seething with anger. It was unfair, especially considering all the blood, sweat, and tears I'd poured into getting to where I was. I was ambitious, driven, and successful, and damn it, I wanted to explore a relationship with Amy.
I yanked my wrinkled pants and shirt on, my fingers fumbling with my tie as I tried to compose myself. The guys at work would see right through me if I let my emotions get the best of me. I had a reputation for being impulsive and hot-headed, and I didn't want to give them any more ammunition. With a deep breath, I nodded to my security guard Mike and headed out – determined to keep a lid on my temper.
