"Sir. We have news."
"The video clip has been thoroughly analyzed, and we can confirm with absolute certainty that it is authentic. Furthermore, we’ve run the software multiple times to ensure accuracy, and it has confirmed beyond a doubt that the woman in the video is indeed Miss Serena. Other than appearing slightly healthier than her previous self, it is unmistakably her."
"And were you able to trace the phone?"
"Unfortunately, no. The sender employed advanced methods to obscure their identity, bouncing signals between various locations and using software to change IP addresses multiple times. However, despite these challenges, we believe we may be closing in on a lead."
Sidney Price leaned back in his chair and breathed a sigh of relief. Over the past year, he’d almost lost all hope of seeing her. And now, finally, even though she was still in that man’s clutches, he had hope to save her.
He looked up at the man in front of him and sighed," What lead are you talking about? This video only proves that she is alive. We have no way to..."
Sidney paused as he glanced at the frozen screen again and narrowed his eyes. Meanwhile the investigator grinned. He’d known that nothing would escape this man.
"Would you like me to zoom in for you, sir?"
Sidney didn’t respond immediately, his gaze fixated on the frozen screen, his mind working furiously.
"Yes," Sidney finally said, voice steady but intense. "Zoom in on the background. Right there, behind her."
The investigator tapped a few keys on his laptop, zooming in on the faint details behind Serena in the video. Slowly, the image sharpened to show the outside scene of a window.
Sidney’s eyes locked onto the vehicle. The car’s make and model were somewhat discernible. The software was designed to enhance and analyze images, but even so, it had a limit.
"We’ll need to get a closer look at the license plate. Can the software read it, or at least get us a clearer view?"
The software is equipped with a license plate recognition module. It should be able to extract the plate number if the resolution is turned high enough. But it might take time. A few days at least for the software to recognise and reconstruct."
Sidney sighed. Why was it that every time they took a step forward, they were forced to take two steps back? He shook his head impatiently. "Just do it as fast as you can. I’m unwilling to wait anymore.
As the investigator left to begin the enhancement process, Sidney opened a small drawer on the side of his desk and retrieved a picture frame. Inside was a photograph of him and a younger Serena, their happiness together.
"What happened to us, Serena? Why did we get separated? I know we disagreed on things but don’t you think of me at all? Not once in all these months, hmm? A single phone call would have been enough... Was it so easy to forget my love for you? I don’t know what spell that man had cast on you, but how can you be blind to his treachery for so long?"
His musings were interrupted with the arrival of the butler, who knocked and came inside, carrying a small box," Sir, this is the jewellery you requested."
Sidney sighed and gestured for the butler to open the box and then nodded in approval at the set of stringed diamonds set. "It is perfect. Have the box ready to be taken in the evening, Eddie."
"Yes, master." As the butler closed the lid, he could not help but glance at the picture in Sidney’s hand and then at the necklace.
"Has Miss Serena returned?" Eddie asked with a hint of hope.
Sidney’s expression darkened slightly. "Not yet, Eddie. But she will soon."
Eddie’s eyes twinkled with curiosity. "Then I will await her arrival. But... this necklace... You’ve never commissioned any jewelry for anyone other than Miss Serena. Are there other ’interests’ you have?"
Sidney sighed, a touch of exasperation evident in his gaze. There were few downsides to having a childhood caretaker as your butler, but Eddie’s nosiness was the biggest one of them. "Eddie, this is a gift. And before you jump to conclusions, it is specifically for a newly married lady, so I am not entertaining any other designs. Would you like to know who the recipient is?"
Eddie’s eyes widened in mock horror as he shook his head. "As if I would dare to question you, master!"
Sidney chuckled at Eddie’s reaction. "Very well then, carry on."
Sidney sighed. There were a few cons to having your childhood caretaker become your butler. Like this one where he could be nosy without fear." Eddie, that is a gift. And before you get any ideas, it is specificaly for a newly married lady, so I am not having any designs on anyone. Do you want to know who I am gifting this to?"
Eddie primly shook his head and looked horrified," As if I would dare to question you master!"
Sidney laughed at that and watched the butler hurriedly leave. Carefully, he tenderly kissed the forehead of the girl in the picture and placed it back in the drawer, locking it. Soon, Serena would be back with him where she belonged. And then, he would teach those who dared to stand against him a proper lesson. Beginning with... Aiden Hawk.
As tender as his expression had been a minute ago, it was now just as cold and unforgiving. Aiden Hawk was a thorn in his side that he needed to get rid of. But due to the mess with Serena in the last year, he had not been able to tackle him. The end result? Aiden had increasingly suppressed his company across various industries, demonstrating the ineffectiveness of Sidney’s directors in the face of his rival.
Tonight, with his return to this country, he would congratulate Aiden on his marriage and lay down the challenge.