One evening, as the waning light filtered weakly through grimy windows, the door creaked open again.
The tall man returned, flanked by two others.
"This is your last chance," he said, voice low and threatening. "Tell your editor to stop digging. Stop exposing. Or this will be your end."
Adeline met his gaze defiantly. "You won't break me."
He stepped closer. "Maybe not today. But you won't get away forever."
With that, he turned and left, the door shutting with a heavy finality.
The kidnappers tightened her bonds, but in her heart, a fire was lit—no matter how dark it got, she would fight.
Because no one was coming for her , she was alone .
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(Derick Browns office)
Derick Brown sat behind his large mahogany desk, the dim light of the late afternoon casting long shadows across his sharp features. His dark eyes scanned the latest news on his tablet, though his mind wasn't on the headlines. Instead, a cold, calculating thought gnawed at him.
He tapped a button on his desk, summoning his secretary, a poised woman named Melissa, who entered the room quietly, clutching a file.
"Yes, Mr. Brown?" she asked, her tone respectful but confident.
Derick leaned forward, steepling his fingers. "Melissa, prepare my car. I'm heading to the outskirts of town. I need to check on my property there."
Aria nodded, making quick notes on her tablet. "Right away, sir. Do you want security to accompany you?"
He paused, then shook his head slowly. "No. I want this to be as discreet as possible. No unnecessary attention. Just you arrange for the driver to be ready in thirty minutes."
Melissa's brow furrowed slightly. "Understood. Should I inform anyone else?"
"Not yet," Derick said coldly. "If I need to involve anyone else, I'll let you know."
There was a brief silence as Aria closed her file. "Is everything alright, sir?
Derick's gaze hardened. "There are complications. Things I want to oversee personally."
Melissa nodded, sensing the weight behind his words. "I'll have everything ready."
He stood up, adjusting the cufflinks on his sleeves. The office felt suddenly too confined, the walls closing in on him. The edge of town offered solitude—control. A place where decisions could be made away from prying eyes.
As Aria exited to make the arrangements, Derick's mind raced.
He glanced once more at the city skyline through the floor-to-ceiling window. The sun was setting, painting the horizon in hues of orange and red—colors of warning, of change.
Derick Brown was ready.
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Adeline's heart pounded in her chest. Today she had decided to escape, they men watching had lost their guard on her , they drank and got a little tipsy,she decided to use the opportunity,"excuse me please can I use the bathroom?" Adeline said no matter how scared she was it was her only chance to escape... one of the men replied "ok " ..... Adeline was dragged from her seat as they headed to the toilet...he loosened the ropes around her wrist ... She entered the toilet, Adeline checked for things she could use to escape until she spotted the window it was slightly open leading to another part of the warehouse, she turned on the tap to reduce the noise she was going to make , she stepped on the toilet seat ...
The sharp scent of bleach stung Adeline's nose .. They were distracted. It was now or never.
Heart pounding, she pressed her fingers against the windowpane. It creaked as it gave way, dust puffing into her face. She paused—no footsteps yet.
Adeline gritted her teeth and hoisted herself up, shoulders scraping against the frame as she pushed her body through. Her shirt tore on a rusty edge, and her palms bled, but she didn't care. Freedom was on the other side.
She landed with a soft thud in a dark corridor. The walls were lined with rusted tools and broken crates, clearly part of the warehouse, but disconnected from where they were holding her. A second storage area maybe.
She crouched low and started moving, weaving between shelves and crates. Every sound felt deafening—her breath, her heartbeat, her soft footsteps on the cracked floor. Then—shouting.
"They're checking the bathroom!" someone barked.
Panic surged.
Not this time.
--each breath ragged and sharp as she darted through the dark warehouse ,Her hands were bruised from the struggle, and every nerve screamed for her to keep moving. The cold night air bit at her skin, but she barely noticed; survival was the only thing that mattered now.
Behind her, the footsteps echoed—harsh, relentless. The men sent by the Celebrity were closing in, their voices rough in the distance, fueled by anger and command.
Desperation guided her steps as she turned a corner and found herself at the entrance of a forest but instinct told her to risk it.
She glanced over her shoulder. The hunters were too close.
With no time to think, Adeline ran into the forest ... The bushes scrapping skin , she continued running while they shased behind her she spotted a road ..... She climbed on it there she saw a man standing .. she first thought it was one of the kidnappers but she had never seen him instead before so she stepped closer ....
He looked just as cold and calculating , but right now, she had nowhere else to go.
"Please," she gasped, collapsing near his feet, "Help me. They're after me."
Derick's sharp eyes narrowed, scanning her disheveled state. A slow, unreadable smile touched his lips.
"Well, well, Adeline," he said smoothly, "It seems fate has brought you right to my doorstep." he said to himself
---
Derick crouched down slowly, keeping his eyes locked on Adeline's frantic gaze. His presence was imposing, yet there was a strange calm in the way he moved, as if nothing could shake him—not even a desperate woman running for her life.
"You're hurt," he observed, noting the dirt smudged across her cheek and the trembling in her hands. "Who's after you?"
Adeline swallowed hard, fighting the lump in her throat. "The Celebrity I exposed… she sent people to... to get me. I don't know why. They're dangerous. I don't want to go back."
Derick's expression darkened. "So, you're caught in a game much bigger than you imagined."
He stood, towering over her, then held out a hand. "Come inside. You can't stay out here."He lead her to his car ... he drove for hours , no questions was asked through out the whole ride it was quiet oo quiet..they arrived at mansion ...they stepped out of the car
Adeline hesitated, but with nowhere else to turn, she grasped his hand. His grip was firm, almost protective, and she allowed him to help her to her feet.
As they walked toward the mansion, the shadows seemed to lengthen behind them, but for the first time in days, Adeline felt a flicker of hope. Maybe this was her chance to fight back.
Derick glanced at her once more. "You should know—once you step inside, there's no going back."
Adeline nodded, steeling herself. Whatever came next, she was ready.
---
Derick led Adeline through the grand entrance of the mansion, the heavy door closing behind them with a solid thud that felt like a shield against the chaos outside. The warmth of the dimly lit hallway wrapped around her, a stark contrast to the cold fear that had been her constant companion. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to breathe.
"Sit here," Derick said, guiding her to a large leather armchair by the fireplace. His voice was low but steady, commanding yet calm. "I'll get you something to clean up that wound."
Adeline nodded, her eyes darting around the room filled with expensive antiques and thick velvet curtains. It was clear this was a place of power, far removed from the dangerous streets she had just fled.
Derick disappeared into the shadows of the corridor, returning moments later with a small first aid kit. As he cleaned the scrape on her cheek, his touch was careful—almost gentle. Adeline caught herself staring at him, trying to decipher the man who had just saved her life.