Free Web NovelChapter 170: Chapter 170 Something Isn’t Right
Author’s POV frёeωebɳovel.com
Sylvia stared at her computer screen, her wolf instincts prickling beneath her skin. Something was seriously off about John’s sudden radio silence. After a moment’s hesitation, she reached for her phone and sent a quick message to Henry, her assistant, asking him to check on John’s studio and see what might be happening there.
When Henry received the message, confusion flickered across his face. They had already cut ties with John and his company—why would Miss Frost want him to check on the man now? Wasn’t this just asking for trouble?
Still, Sylvia was his boss, and her instincts had proven eerily accurate in the past. If she thought something was worth investigating, he would trust her judgment.
"I understand, Miss Frost. I’ll get back to you ASAP with whatever I find," Henry texted back before heading out to John’s design studio.
The moment Henry approached the reception desk, the receptionist’s face went ice-cold. Before he could even introduce himself, she slammed the main door in his face, making it abundantly clear he wasn’t welcome.
Henry scratched his head, totally baffled. Even after they’d stopped working with John, the staff had always maintained basic professional courtesy toward Frostline employees. This hostile reception was completely out of left field.
"Hello?" he called through the door. "I just need to ask a couple questions. I won’t disturb your boss at all."
He tried reasoning with the receptionist, his tone measured and professional. "Could you please open the door so we can have a normal conversation?" frёewebηovel.cѳm
The receptionist’s face darkened like a storm cloud at the mention of her boss. "He’s not here," she snapped. "You should just get lost. I’ll be gone in a few days myself."
Henry’s confusion deepened. "Where has he gone? Can you give me anything about that?" he pressed.
The receptionist’s only response was to slam the inner door as well, effectively ending any possibility of communication.
Henry stood there, his wolf bristling at the blatant disrespect. As Sylvia Frost’s personal assistant and a member of the prestigious Frostfang Pack, he wasn’t accustomed to being treated like some unwanted intruder. There was clearly no point in persisting. If these people were determined to be assholes, he wouldn’t waste any more time trying to change their minds.
As he turned to leave, Henry noticed a small shop next door with its lights on. On a whim, he stepped inside and casually inquired about the neighboring business and why everything seemed so dead there lately.
The shopkeeper—a heavyset guy in a tank top fanning himself with a folded newspaper—was way more chatty than the receptionist had been.
"That place? Hell if I know what went down," the man drawled, leaning forward on his counter. "But their boss just up and disappeared a couple days ago. Haven’t seen him show his face at work at all."
The shopkeeper’s casual bombshell sent ice through Henry’s veins. John wasn’t the type to abandon his business, no matter what kind of shitstorm he might be having with clients.
"He’s been completely MIA this week?" Henry asked.
"Yep. And between you and me, all those fancy designer types inside are updating their resumes faster than teenagers switch dating apps. Place is gonna be a ghost town by next week."
"Got it. Thanks for the info."
Henry left with this gnawing feeling in his gut. This wasn’t just a business downturn; something was seriously wrong.
Meanwhile, Sylvia sat in her office, her mind racing with possibilities.
Her phone lit up with Morgana’s name flashing across the screen. With a slight smile, she answered.
"You’re not going to believe this," Morgana’s voice came through, sounding both amused and annoyed. "Helena just cornered me at Luxe Mall, demanding to know why you’re ’monopolizing’ Caesar’s time. The nerve of that woman!"
Sylvia rolled her eyes, leaning back in her chair. "Let me guess—Helena’s throwing another tantrum because Caesar isn’t dancing attendance on her?"
"Bingo! She actually suggested we should all have dinner together so she can ’strengthen her bond with Caesar’s mate.’ I nearly choked on my smoothie."
Sylvia couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her. "God, she’s relentless. What did you tell her?"
"That you and Caesar are extremely busy with pack business, which isn’t even a lie. But here’s the kicker—she thinks you’re deliberately keeping him away from her."
"That’s rich coming from the woman who’s been trying to sabotage our relationship from day one."
"Exactly!" Morgana agreed. "So... what’s the plan? Are we finally going to put Miss Blackwood in her place, or what?"
A mischievous smile curved Sylvia’s lips as an idea took shape. "Actually, I do have something in mind. Caesar’s been dealing with so much crap because of me—those nasty comments online, the business drama, everything. I want to give him a night off, just the two of us."
"And you need me to run interference with Helena," Morgana finished, catching on quickly.
"You know me too well," Sylvia laughed. "Could you tell her there’s an exclusive royal werewolf gala tonight? Something only the most elite wolves get invited to. Give her some ridiculous address on the outskirts of town."
Morgana’s wicked laugh came through the phone. "Oh my god, I love how your mind works! I’ll tell her it’s super exclusive—invitation only, formal attire required, the works. She’ll be driving around the industrial district in a ball gown!"
"You’re the best, Morg. I owe you one."
"Please, this is entertainment for me! Just promise me photos of whatever you’re cooking up for Caesar. That man’s face when he looks at you is better than any romance novel."
After ending the call with her friend, Sylvia returned her attention to the documents on her desk . The evening’s surprise for Caesar would have to wait a few more hours, but she was already mentally planning every detail.
When Henry returned to the office, the change in his boss was like night and day from the distracted woman he’d left earlier.
"Miss Frost, I’ve got the intel you requested," he announced, stepping into her office.
Sylvia looked up, her amber eyes sharp as a blade. "What’s the story?"
"You were right to trust your gut," Henry replied, still impressed by her intuition. "If you hadn’t sent me, I never would have known how bad things had gotten at that studio."
"So something’s definitely gone down at John’s workplace?"
Henry nodded solemnly. "Absolutely. No one has seen John for nearly three days now. His employees are already jumping ship, and the business appears to be completely falling apart."
"And what about John himself? Where is he?" Sylvia asked, unable to hide the worry creeping into her voice.
Henry shook his head apologetically. "I came up empty on that front. According to the shop owner next door, no one’s laid eyes on him. The studio is basically a ghost town."
"That’s really weird," Sylvia murmured, her expression growing serious. "John’s not the type to bail on his business, no matter what’s happening."
"That’s exactly what I was thinking," Henry agreed. "Everyone in the area backed up the same story—they haven’t seen him for days."
"I see. Keep your ear to the ground on this, Henry. I want updates if anything changes."
After Henry headed back to his desk, Sylvia pulled out her phone and began searching for recipes. A new idea had struck her—she would cook something special for Caesar tonight. Though she wasn’t exactly a kitchen goddess, the gesture would show him how much she appreciated his unwavering support through all the recent chaos.
As she scrolled through potential recipes, Caesar’s devastatingly handsome face filled her mind. His dark eyes, that strong jawline, the way his presence owned any room he walked into—she was mated to the most powerful werewolf in North America, maybe even the world.
The thought still made her wolf purr with satisfaction sometimes.
