The handing over ceremony, just below them...
After the slow dance and some mixed jam (courtesy of the DJ) the whole crowd was insane from excitement and turned the whole place upside down. It was a surprise the Chester family did not notice their eldest son was missing from the party that should have been held in his honor.
Kaycee was the only one to notice both of them were missing. He was scared and worried for Thelma and also for the billionaire. He tried searching the whole place quietly but could not find them anywhere. Kaycee's heart pondered where the two adults had gone despite heavy security.
“This was not part of the plan, this was not part of the darn plan!” He muttered in annoyance.
“Is everything okay Mr Wells?” Ivan Senior suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He noticed Kaycee looking a little distressed and patted his shoulder. "You look somewhat pale, are you alright?"
“We- we- yes sir, everything is great sir. I-I-I- I'm doing better than ever! How is the party? Are you enjoying yourself?” Kaycee tries to mask his concern, he is afraid of Ivan knowing his son is missing.
“Never better! I've not had this much fun in a long time-"
"That's great- so great-" Kaycee repeated his words, a common sign of nervousness.
"If only Orlando loosened up a little and enjoyed the party." "That boy's got a weird taste for fancy.” He chuckled and raised the glass of wine in his hand to the air to make a toast.
“Agreed! I suspect he's already done that.” Kaycee replied in a low tone while trying his best to maintain a composed demeanor.
“Ah- that reminds me, have you seen Orlando, I need to speak with him.” Ivan asked and Kaycee gulped.
Beads of sweat formed at the tip of his eyebrows and streamed down his temples. He quietly looked at the retired multi-billionaire and etched a nervous smile because his brain was trying to come up with something that might buy him some time to look for them.
“He must be somewhere in the hall sir, it's a big hall you know…” Kaycee's voice trailed to avoid giving out too much.
”Yes- you are right, it would be a heck of a job to search for him in this crowd. Well, he's not a baby, he can take care of himself. Just let him know I want to see him and it's important.”
“Definitely sir!” Kaycee replied and waited till Ivan senior was away. He took his crumbling heart and rushed to the kitchen to meet Emma.
“Emma I need your help, it's urgent-” Kaycee quickly said as he entered the kitchen but paused when he saw only waiters and no chef. “Where is Emma?” He asked one of the waiters.
“She is not on duty, sir.” One answered.
“Darn it!” Kaycee swore remembering he sent all the chefs home early, he had no choice but to deal with the situation by himself. So he desperately stomped out of the kitchen and stopped to think. His eyes still tried searching for them until they accidentally spotted the overhead cameras. “Why didn’t I think of that?” He muttered to himself with a small smile and went up to the head security system to have a look at all the cameras.
“Mr Kaycee, aren’t you supposed to be at the party?” Kris, the head of security at the Sweet Dreams Hotel asked the manager who looked a bit worried and panicked.
“Yes I know, but I need a little help.” Kaycee replied and moved closer to the screens viewing each camera shot. He carefully searched each screen to find the camera he was looking for.
“What’s the matter sir?” Kris ask.
“Can I have a look at the cameras in the hall? Especially the entrances and exits?” Kaycee requested.
“Well… yes sir, you are the manager and you have the right to access all footage from the hotel.”
"Great! But I don't need the courtesy. Give me the recordings of the last hour." He requested.
“Okay, sir.” Kris replied and went behind his PC to retrieve the recordings from that evening. He took out a flash drive and inserted it into another computer then played the video with a little speed. Kaycee and Kris watched each timeframe carefully while the rest of the team focused on the live feed. “Here is the recording that was taken an hour ago.” Kris paused on the exact timeframe needed.
“Play it.” Kaycee said and Kris obeyed, the first ten minutes were too long and not helpful. “Fast forward to the handing over speech. No, take it to the dance."
“Yes, sir.” Kris increased the speed of the video a little more and paused when Kaycee exclaimed.
“Wait!” Kaycee said and Kris clicked the remote. The footage paused on Thelma and Orlando dancing. "Play, but slowly." Kaycee said again. They watched as Orlando slowly twirled Thelma, it did not seem out of the ordinary, but as they watched they noticed Thelma and Orlando leaving the frame with each twirl he made Thelma do. 'so it was his idea?' Kaycee voiced within. Gradually, they continued to twirl until they were out of sight. “Do you have any cameras watching the corners leading to the lobby?”
“No, but we have coverage of the lobby and the elevator.”
“Show me.” Kaycee demanded.
Kris nodded and searched for camera A on the video list then played it. It gave a full view of Orlando leading Thelma by the hand into one of the elevators but she looked tense. “Give me a view of the cameras at Chester’s family lounge.”
“I apologize sir, but the cameras there aren't functioning.”
“How?” Kaycee asked in disbelief. “I thought I had all repairs done a week ago?”
“I d-d-don’t know sir… some-something-” Kris stuttered.
“Okay, that’s enough. You look ridiculous when you stutter." Kaycee let out a breath and closed his eyes then opened them again. "This is only the recording, right?"
"Yes sir."
"You haven't seen anyone walk out?"
"Not at all."
"Alright, get back to the live feed. I need you to keep an eye on the cameras watching the elevators, if any of them comes out alert me right away.”
“Yes sir.”
Kaycee then adjusted his tie and stepped out of the security room in hopes of getting to Orlando’s room in time. He knew a handful about the Chester family but as for Orlando, he was a different case. No one knows what goes on inside his mind and what he is capable of.
Kaycee swore never to forgive himself if anything happened to Thelma. Thinking about the danger she might be in, and her little girl waiting home alone sank through his form.
Kaycee walked into the hall adjusting the collar of his suit jacket. He was just about sneaking past everyone when someone emerged in front of him out of nowhere.
”Mr Wells! We have been looking everywhere for you.” Ruby spoke joyfully to her favorite manager.
“Me?” Kaycee asks in confusion.
“Yes, I need you to join us at the table.” She smiled. It was welcoming but now wasn’t the right time for a treat, there were too many things swirling through his mind.
“I really-” Kaycee started but she cut him short.
”You are coming that's all I know.” She answered for him.
“What about Mr Orlando?”
”Let him be, I am sure he is fooling around with his escort.” She smiles.
“I nee--”
”Are you refusing us?” Ruby left his arm and frowned.
“No, Mrs Chester.... I was-.”
“Join us Mr Wells, or do you have a problem with that?” She demanded strongly.
“No, Mrs Chester.” Kaycee surrendered and followed her, and though his mind prayed for Thelma's safety.
~~~~~~
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm sorry about the mix-up with the titles, i did not remember how I made the titles and I cannot edit them. Sorry about that fams