The Billionaire's Intern (Maya Thompson) novel Chapter 29

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Chapter 20 Missing 2

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Chapter 20: Missing-2

Maya’s desk.

Empty.

The chair was perfectly tucked in. No coffee cup. No open notebook. No sign of her ever being there.

His brows pulled together. “Ms. Thompson called in sick today?” he asked, trying to sound casual.

Trina blinked. “No. Not that I know of.”

Harper straightened, worry flashing across her features. “She’s still not here?”

James turned slightly. “Not that I can see.”

Harper’s brows furrowed. “That’s… really not like her.”

Trina shook her head. “Did she say anything to you?”

“No.” Harper pulled out her phone. “I’ve been calling her all morning,” Harper said, worry creeping

into her voice as she glanced at her phone. “She hasn’t answered. Hasn’t even read my messages.”

James frowned.

That wasn’t like Maya. At all.

“If she was sick, she’d have said something,” Harper added. “This internship means everything to her. Even if she were dying…” she caught herself, knocking twice on the desk “she’d drag herself here just to show up.”

Trina reached for her desk phone. “I’ll call HR. See if we can get in touch with her emergency

contact. Maybe someone at home knows something.”

James lifted a hand. “Don’t… not yet.”

Both women looked at him.

His voice was calm, but firm. “It’s only been an hour. We don’t want to cause unnecessary panic. If we call her emergency contact… we risk upsetting someone who might already be anxious.”

Trina looked hesitant. “Mr. Horton, if something-”

“I know,” he said quietly. “But we all know her emergency contact is likely her younger brother. I’d rather not cause panic unless we’re sure.”

Harper nodded slowly. “So what do we do?”

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Chapter 20 Missing 2

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James’s jaw flexed slightly, thoughts already moving faster than his voice. “Keep trying her phone. If she comes in, or calls back, inform me immediately. I’ll let security know to flag her ID the second she badges in, or tries to enter the building. No need to escalate until we’re sure.”

Trina and Harper exchanged a glance, then nodded.

Harper nodded slowly. “Okay… but please keep us posted?”

James gave a tight nod. “I will.”

As James turned to leave, a strange coldness crept into his chest.

8:45 a.m.

Damien’s office was quiet when James returned, the soft click of his shoes muffled by

the

imported carpet.

The door was ajar.

Inside, Damien sat behind his massive desk, sleeves rolled up, laptop open. A high-level video conference with the European branches had just ended. The last window closed with a soft chime as James stepped in.

Something wasn’t right.

He didn’t understand the feeling that surged through him. It was hot. Unwelcome. Sharp.

Worry.

He looked at James. “Find her.”

James nodded, already reaching for his phone. “I’ll contact building security. Traffic cameras. Work my way backwards from her last known location.”

“Send someone to her apartment.”

James was already one step ahead. “I’ll go.”

Damien’s gaze flicked to him. “Take security if needed. Get information from the building. Cameras. Neighbors. I want to know where she is.”

His voice dropped lower. “And who she was last seen with.”

Damien’s voice was quiet. Dangerous.

“If anything’s wrong,” he said, “I want to know who, where, and why.”

James nodded once and turned to leave.

Behind him, Damien’s fists curled against the edge of the desk.

He didn’t understand the storm unraveling inside him.

Something sharp clawed at his chest – ugly, relentless.

This wasn’t protocol. This was personal.

But he knew this: If something happened to her… someone would

pay.

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