Pregnant by Mr. Rockstar

Chapter 5: Stefanie Meyer

My hands were trembling as I tried to continue with my tasks. Mr. Simmons and I looked for Tiffa for over two hours, and yet we couldn't find her. When it became apparent that the search would take more time, we enlisted the help of the other staff.

Unfortunately, we couldn't just leave our work. Someone had to prepare and cook the food. Mr. Simmons convinced me to go back and resume our shift. We had nothing left to do except wait for any good news. Our colleagues would call our attention once they saw my daughter.

As night descended, my anxiety ratcheted up. The concert would be starting soon, and that meant less chance of finding Tiffa. For all I knew, someone from the early concert-goers had already taken her. What did it say about me as a mother when I could simply go back to work as if nothing had happened?

I should've continued looking for her.

That thought was the final straw, and I whirled around to talk to Mr. Simmons. He was already staring at me with a grim look.

"Go. I apologize for keeping you here. I thought the distraction would do you good and stop you from worrying. I didn't realize we wouldn't be able to find Tiffa for this long," He said.

I exhaled slowly, keeping myself in check. "There's nothing to apologize. I'm sorry for the trouble, sir."

I quickly removed the apron I was wearing and went out of the kitchen. Outside, plenty of staff were busy with the concert preparation, each one walking with purposeful strides. It only made me feel like a deer caught in the headlights, shocked, confused and had no idea where to go next.

Each question I asked was met with shaking heads. They knew about the missing child. They were keeping their eyes open for any clue on her whereabouts. It was just that no one had seen her since after lunch.

Had I given Tiffa food already? Goodness, she was probably starving right now.

I wiped the fresh tears in my eyes before they could roll down my cheeks. I need to find her. I would find her.

The venue was like a maze with winding hallways. Each section had rooms marked with various signs, most of them private. I was tempted to barge in all of them. Perhaps the reason why no one had found her was because she was in one of those rooms. No one would think of searching for them, especially if they were off-limits.

One by one, I took a peek inside them. Several had staff who were tinkering with musical equipment. Others had employees preparing the costumes and garments for the performance. I asked them if they'd seen my daughter, and I was given the same answer every time, 'No.'

I was slowly losing hope, and I was already thinking of calling the police or flagging the management for help when I ended up in a less crowded area. Only a few staff were walking in and out of this section, and all the rooms that I could see were marked 'private.''

"If I still don't find Tiffa after this, I'm calling Miss Lydia," I said to myself and walked forward.

I didn't know which room to open first, so I picked one at random. Not a single sound could be heard from any of them, so the rooms must be sound-proofed.

Knocking on the door, I braced myself. I wish for the best. A brief moment passed before the knob turned, and a man with brunette hair and forest-green eyes stepped out. I didn't even have a chance to glance inside since he blocked the view with his body and used it to push me further away from the door.

"We didn't order anything," he said in a brusque manner.

I took that chance to observe him before answering. He looked familiar to me, but I couldn't fully grasp the memory.

"I'm sorry. I- I'm not here to deliver anything," I stuttered.

"Then leave." The man turned around and opened the door, and I had to grab his arm to stop him from getting inside again.

"Wait! I'm looking for my daughter. Have you seen a kid around this height," I explained quickly while leveling my palm to show him Tiffa's height. "With blonde hair and blue eyes? She's about six years old. Her name is Tiffany."

The man just stared at me for a few seconds, and then he started cursing. He sighed as he scrubbed his hands over his face.

"Wait here," he said, then he went inside the room.

It didn't take long before the door opened again, this time with the man holding my daughter in tow.

"Mommy!" Tiffa exclaimed, and she ran towards me.

I couldn't stop the tears anymore. I hugged her with everything I'd got and kissed her head repeatedly. "I was so worried about you. Where have you been? I told you to stay put!"

My stern tone made Tiffa cry, although I didn't mean to scold her yet. I was worried sick, and my emotions simply poured out of me.

"I'm sorry. I won't do it again. I'm really sorry, Mommy..." Tiffa kept apologizing as she cried, and I embraced her all the while.

A scuffling sound came from the room, and I realized that the door was still open. Someone rushed towards us, but the man stopped him before he could reach us.

"Stay inside," he snapped.

"Did someone come to fetch her already?" The other man asked.

"Yes, now get your ass back in the room."

"But I want to say goodbye to Tiffa."

"Don't- Wait... s**t, Keelan!"

That name sent a shiver down my spine, and I looked up just in time to see Keelan wrestling his way through the man. They grappled for a while before he took the upper hand and opened the door fully. Our eyes met, and his blue orbs widened in shock.

"You..." Keelan whispered.

The man growled, and he gripped Keelan's shoulder in an attempt to push him back. "Get inside, Keelan."

Keelan didn't listen. His eyes were fixed on me, searching my face for... something, and then his gaze bounced to Tiffa wrapped in my arms.

"Is she your daughter?" He asked.

Tiffa wiggled out of my embrace and wiped her tears with the sleeves of her sweatshirt. She looked up at Keelan and gave him a watery smile. "Thank you for bringing back Mommy, and for playing with me while she's gone."

Keelan gave Tiffa a megawatt smile and ruffled her hair. "I told you, my little teapot, you'll see Mommy again."

His words made my blood boil, and I pulled Tiffa behind my back. I glared at him, my teeth bared. She's not 'his' little teapot or anything at all. He didn't deserve to be in her life... in our lives.

"We'll take our leave," I snapped and started dragging Tiffa away from them. Tiffa kept asking me why we had to leave right away, her voice only interrupted by the intermittent turn of her head to look back at Keelan.

There were pounding footsteps echoing through the empty hallway, and then Keelan's voice boomed as he called after us.

"Why are you mad at me?!" He shouted.

"If you're waiting for a 'thank you,' just stop. You won't have it," I screamed back.

"That's not what I meant. Wait, Stefanie!"

My name on his lips sounded so wrong. Where did he even get it? I thought he didn't recognize me.

However, the implications of that statement simply made me hate him more. All these years, and he only now had the audacity to notice us. Damn him to hell.

I heard another set of footsteps, and then his friend was there beside him, trying to pull him back into their room. Keelan had no choice but to watch us leave.

Like what he had been doing always. That's what he was good at. If he was not pushing us away, he was just looking at us at a distance as we try to survive.

I tightened my grip around Tiffa's arm. I would never let him get anywhere near her again. He lost that right when he sent me that message. He would only get his hands on her... over my dead f*****g body.