"Well, I saw him, but it was a long time ago. He was walking along the hallway…I don’t know where he is now, though," the maid replied.


    "Oh, I see. Don’t worry, I’ll ask around," I replied before waving to her.


    After searching the mansion in the ces that Little Hayden usually liked to hang out, I couldn’t find him anywhere. I decided to find Auntie to ask her, but she hasn’t seen him at all on that day. Running out of options, I went out into the garden apanied by the usual group of guards.


    "Have you seen Little Hayden?" I asked the guards.


    They shook their heads simultaneously before telling me that they would help me search the garden since it didn’t seem like he was in the mansion. By that time, I had a sinking feeling in my stomach like something had gone wrong. Where did Little Hayden go?


    I called out his name again and again until my throat stared to hurt. Seriously, if he was within earshot, he would havee running back to me a long time ago. I didn’t want to think of the worst but what if something happened to him?


    Why did it have to be so hot and humid today of all days? Where is Little Hayden?


    The guards helped split up to search for him but even after a while of searching, no one found him. By that time, I was very panicked. I picked up my phone and started calling Auntie to get her help.


    "I can’t find him. I can’t find him inside the mansion, and I can’t find him outside in the gardens either. Can you and the maids please help me search inside the mansion. Sorry, I don’t want to cause trouble to anyone but…I’m very worried. Please help me find him…please…" I pleaded as fear started taking over me.


    This was my fault. Why didn’t I pay attention to him? I should have kept him close to my side. How did I let this happen? What if something happens to him? What am I going to do?


    "Miss Malissa…" a guard’s low voice calling my name worriedly made me realize that I must have looked very shocked.


    My hands started feeling cold and my lips felt numb. I closed my eyes to focus on taking in deep breaths as I felt a panic attacking taking over me. I didn’t want to burden Hayden with this mess that I caused on top of all that he must be dealing with right now, but I didn’t have any other choice. I couldn’t think of any other option.


    My hands shook as I struggled to dial Hayden’s number on my phone. Finally, the line connected, and my panic took over as I hurriedly blurted whatever I coulde up with into the phone.


    "Hayden…I’m so sorry. I know you’re working…I didn’t want to disturb you…" I said hurriedly as my voice cracked here and there.


    "Calm down, Malissa. What is it?" Hayden said calmly.


    His calmness made me feel slightly better. It doesn’t matter if I cannot handle this as long as Hayden can handle it. Everything is going to be fine, right?


    "Umm…it’s Little Hayden. He’s gone, I can’t find him anywhere," I admitted guiltily.


    Yes, this is all my fault. I was so careless.


    "Get the maids and the guards to help you search for him. He’s probably somewhere in the mansion," Hayden replied, still very calm and collected.


    "Yeah, well, the thing is, I already did that. Everyone who was free helped to searched but we couldn’t find him. I also called out to him so many times in the garden, but I can’t find him. What should I do? I’m…" I began exining before I felt tears sting the back of my eyes and my chest tightened.


    I started to sob and had to stop speaking to collect myself before I burst out crying right there in the middle of the garden and right in front of the guards.


    "Calm down and don’t panic. He’s just a little dog, he’s probably inside the mansion somewhere. Tell the staff to keep looking. I’ll call in more guards to help. Don’t worry, we’ll find him. I’ll make sure that they find him no matter what, ok?" Hayden promised me reassuringly.


    "Ok…thank you. Thank you so much, Hayden," I thanked him as I clutched desperately to the phone in my hand.


    "Don’t worry, I’m almost done with work too. I’ll be back soon," Hayden said.


    "Alright. Thank you. I’ll call you when we find him," I replied.


    "Have you checked back in your room? Usually when dogs run off, they’ll return back to their owner so…" Hayden suggested.


    "I haven’t done that. I’ve been busy going around looking for him. I’ll go back and check," I replied before agreeing to his suggestion.


    After searching along with the guards for a while longer in the garden, I excused myself before heading back into the mansion to go check in my rooms and my art studio again. I prayed that Hayden was right and that I would find Little Hayden waiting there for me, but I highly doubted it. After dragging myself up the stairs to the second floor, I almost ran along the hallway back to my living room.


    "Little Hayden!" I called out as I approached my room.


    The door was ajar and to my utter disbelief, a furry brown head with pointed ears poked out from between the cracks to greet me.


    "Little Hayden…" I called his name as relief poured through my body in waves.


    Suddenly, the world was a brighter ce. I crouched down and scooped the little dog into my arms and hugged him tightly. I checked his body for injuries. I don’t know why I did that, but I just wanted to make sure that he was fine and that everything was fine.


    "Where did you run off to? You were gone for so long!" I asked.


    Little Hayden gazed into my face with round innocent eyes like he had no idea what I was making a big fuss about. It was easy for him to say. I bet he was having fun hiding out somewhere while all of us worried ourselves sick about him. I should keep a closer eye on him from now on. I’ll carry him around with me wherever I go to make sure that I don’t lose him ever again!


    --To be continued…