Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 699

Gwen's POV

When the elevator doors closed, I ran back inside the apartment, grabbed my purse, and pulled out my phone with the same reflex I use when a contract is on fire. I needed to solve, not feel. The school answered on the first ring.

"Good afternoon, administration." "This is Gwen Kensington," I said, no preamble. "I need to speak to the principal. Now." A brief pause. The kind where the world decides if you're important enough. I knew I was. "One moment." I heard the click. The waiting. Forced myself to breathe. In the background, children's voices. Footsteps.

A distant bell. Normal life. "Ms. Kensington?" the principal came on the line, voice controlled "I need today's security footage," I said immediately. "From the gate and the entrance area. I need the exact time Isabella Valemont usually arrives and the exact time you realized she hadn't entered." "Ma'am, that-" she started, slipping into bureaucracy. I cut in without raising my voice. "This is an emergency. You can handle this the bureaucratic way, or you can handle it the easy way for both of us. Isabella is missing.

Her father is on his way to the police right now." The word missing does something to people who love procedures. It changes their tone. "Oh my God," the principal said, real fear breaking through. "We... we'll pull the footage."

it's ready." "We'll send it as fast as possible."

do what I was good at. I dialed the building's front desk. "Concierge." "This is Gwen from apartment-" I gave the number and my name, hearing instant recognition. I hate being recognized. I love what it gives me. "I need today's security footage from the lobby and the

to him later," I said. "Right now, you pull the footage and send it to me.

the

I repeated, dictating the address like I was giving rescue coordinates. When I hung up, I paused for half a second. I knew Bella couldn't have

open. I searched for Paula's number. She still lived there. She was still a place Bella might think to go. She answered on the second ring. "Gwen?" "Is Bella with you?" I asked, skipping any warm-up. "What? No." I heard a door opening on her end. Footsteps. I closed my eyes for half a second. "Listen," I said carefully, choosing clarity over comfort. "She ran from Renee. From school. She tried to get back to her dad." Silence.

shop. The square. The entrance to the estate. Anywhere a child might think she can wait for her father. Can you do that?" "I'm going now," Paula said without hesitation. "Right now." "Call me if you see anything. Anything, Paula." "will." I hung up and opened the mental checklist of someone who doesn't have time to fall apart. Nick at the police station. Paula searching.

accusing him of violating the custody order," I said quickly, summarizing. "I need you to tell me exactly what he should say 'so this doesn't turn into a 'custody dispute' in the report." Cross took one measured breath. "Okay.