Opposing Affair

Chapter 10: The Kidnapping

Cassie and I meet privately for brunch in a cozy corner of our favorite café, the midday sun streaming through the windows and creating patterns on the tablecloth. She stirs her coffee slowly, studying me with that perceptive look she’s always had.

“So,” she says casually, “what’s going on with you and Ramello?”

I nearly choke on my tea, hastily setting the cup down. “What makes you think something’s going on?”

“Come on, Julianna,” she presses, leaning forward. “I’ve seen how you two look at each other. And that fire in your eyes at the debate? It was personal.” Of course, I should’ve known that my best friend would have put the pieces together. “Besides he shows up one night at your office, feeding me bullshit about you two working on the education reform.”

I sigh and take a moment to compose myself before answering. I know that I am not going to be able to keep it to myself any longer. Cassie is smart, hence why she is my campaign manager. “We’ve been having an affair for months.”

Her eyes widen, and she puts down her coffee spoon. “b***h, are you serious? What about the campaign? Do anyone else know?”

“I know,” I reply, pushing my hair back and looking out the window. “Believe me, I’m aware of the risks. People are speculating and there were pictures of us from the masquerade ball.”

She studies me carefully, her concern evident. “Oh god! Are you in love with him?”

I hesitate, fiddling with my napkin. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” she repeats skeptically. “Julianna, your reaction at the debate says otherwise.”

I open my mouth to reply, but before I can, my phone buzzes urgently on the table. I glance down and see that it's Selah’s school calling. I frown as I quickly answer the phone.

“Hello?”

“Ms. Daniels, this is Principal Thomas. I’m calling because Selah never showed up to class this morning.”

A cold shock runs through me as I process the words. “What do you mean she didn’t show up? I dropped her off this morning and walked her in the door.”

“That’s what her teacher said too, but she didn’t make it to her first period.”

“I’ll be right there,” I say, standing up abruptly and signaling Cassie to follow.

We rush to the school, and I demand answers from the teachers and administrators, but no one has any information. The police arrives shortly after, pulling me aside for questioning.

“Senator Daniels, is there anyone you can think of who might want to hurt you or your daughter?”

My mind races through a hundred possibilities. “Come on, I'm a politician that's running for president, of course there may people.” I snap before taking a deep breath. “There have been threats—political rivals—but nothing like this.”

“You didn’t see anyone or anything suspicious when you dropped her off this morning.”

I shake my head. “No, I walked her to the door and told her I'll see her later. I can’t believe this is happening.” I begin to shake as tears are rising in my eyes. The police officers questions the teachers who told them the same thing they told me. This feels like a nightmare.

Cassie grabs my arm gently, her voice steady. “We’ll find her, okay?” She pulls me into a hug.

We mobilize every resource we have, reaching out to local authorities and activating our campaign team to spread the word. My mind is a haze of fear, and every passing minute feels like an eternity.

Suddenly, my phone rings again. It’s an unknown number. I answer, my voice shaking. “Hello?”

“Ms. Daniels,” a low voice says. “We have Selah.”

My breath catches, and my grip tightens on the phone. “Who is this?”

“Meet us at the warehouse on Harlow Street and find out. Come alone.”

Before I can respond, the line goes dead. I glance at Cassie, whose eyes widen with understanding.

“You can’t go alone,” she insists.

“I have to,” I reply firmly. “They won’t let her go if I don’t. I’m going to get my baby by any means necessary.”

I pull away from her grip, knowing the risk but unable to imagine a world without my daughter. The cold sweat of fear grips me, but I swallow it down. Selah needs me.

-

Ramello

The loud knocking jerks me awake. I groggily glance at the clock, still blurry-eyed. It’s barely dawn, and I stumble out of bed, pulling on a T shirt and some joggers before heading to the door. When I open it, I’m taken aback to see Cassie, worry etched across her face.

“Cassie?” I ask, my voice thick with sleep. “What’s going on?”

“Ramello, we need to talk,” she says urgently, stepping inside. “Selah is missing.”

Those words jolt me fully awake. “What?”

“Julianna dropped her off at school this morning, but she never made it to class,” Cassie explains, her tone rushed and strained. “The police are involved, and Julianna got a call from an unknown number. They said if she wants Selah back, she has to meet them alone.”

I can feel my pulse quicken, anger surging through my veins. “And Julianna agreed to go?”

“Yes, but I don’t trust that she’s safe. I’m afraid for both of them.”

My mind reels, and I rub my face to focus. “Did they give any other details? A location?”

Cassie nods. “A warehouse on Harlow Street.”

I pace the room, the air thick with tension. I grab my phone and dial Marcus immediately. “Marcus, I need you to dig up anything you can find about Selah Daniels’ disappearance. She was taken this morning, and the kidnapper is demanding a meeting at a warehouse on Harlow Street.”

“I’ll get on it right away,” Marcus replies. "What are you going to do in the meantime?"

"I'm getting to ready to help bring her home."

"Okay, I'll call you as soon as I know something."

I hang up, my jaw tight with rage as I look at Cassie. “We’ll get her back. I’m not letting them hurt Julianna or Selah.”

She watches me intently for a moment, her brow furrowing as if she’s reading my emotions. “You love her, don’t you?”

I stop pacing, my gaze meeting hers. I can’t deny it anymore, can’t pretend it’s just about the campaign. “Yes, I do,” I admit quietly. “More than anything.”

Cassie gives me a small nod of understanding. “Then make sure they both come back safely.”

I stand taller. “I will. We will find Selah, and I’ll make sure no one ever threatens her or Julianna again. I'll bet my life on that."