Chapter 1: The Kidnapping

Chapter 1: The Kidnapping

In a cozy mansion at the heart of Queens, New York, a man who seemed to be in his mid-thirties took quick strides into a tastefully furnished living room. He had an athletic body and a handsome face, but his expression remained impassive. He exuded an air of authority and the butler at the entrance bowed his head to his master in respect.

Behind him was another woman who wore her bright blonde hair in curly waves around her delicate, innocent face. She was younger, in her mid twenties and wore a bright light pink dress that barely reached her mid-thighs.

Turning to face her, the man motioned for the young woman to sit. "Hold on, let me call her." 

"Alright sir," She beamed at him, hoping to get at least a polite smile in return, but his expression remained impassive.

“I’ll wait here.” Her smile faltered a bit, and she went and settled on one of the sofas closest to the entrance door. Scanning through the ornately decorated living room, she looked impressed. "You have a very beautiful house." She turned to look at him, but the man didn't hear her. He was long gone from the living room and into the hallway.

Thinking out loud, the lady said to herself, "He seems to have a lot more money than I expected.” A cunning smirk formed on the woman’s face as her eyes scanned the posh rugs, the Chinese tapestry, and the crystal chandeliers. “Seems like everything is falling into place."

"Haley!" The man called out, slowly approaching the hallway.

He waited a little bit for a response. When none came, he walked into the hallway, his eyes scanning the area keenly.

 "Have you seen my daughter?" He asked with a worried look on his face when his butler came to stand beside him.

"No, sir." The elderly man responded. "But I think she is in her room."

Arthur gave him no response before he continued on his way. Calling out to his daughter again. "Hayley?"

He went from room to room, checking the wardrobes and under the bed. He seemed to be losing his patience as it had been ten minutes already.

She wasn't in her bedroom, nor was she in any of the eight rooms in the house. He wasn't the only one worried and searching. His butler was really worried too and joined in the search.

"How can my daughter go missing in minutes?" Arthur was displeased to know that his butler didn’t know the whereabouts of his little girl. "She was downstairs when I left. I didn't stay any longer than two minutes outside and she's missing?"

Unfortunately, his butler, Gerald, hung his head in shame, having no idea where the little devil could’ve run off to.

Right then, a familiar giggle made him turn around, his heart thrashing in his chest with worry. He saw a tiny, beautiful girl with light blonde hair running in his direction. Her face was aglow with laughter and a smile.

"I pranked you again," she said, hugging her father. She wrapped her little fingers around his legs, and he lifted her into the air. 

"Don't do that again to Daddy, do you hear me? Except you want me to die prematurely." He embraced her tightly, and only let go when she wanted to get down. "I love you so much, baby." He placed a kiss to her chubby cheeks.

She laughed again, louder than she did the first time. Seemingly satisfied by the worry her father wore when he thought she was missing.

"We have a visitor and she is here specifically for you." Arthur told her wearily, unable to find a better way of breaking the news.

"Who is she?" Her expression changed instantly, and the smile on her face vanished.

"She's a surprise," He said, cajoling his daughter into following him to the living room.

"I hope it's not another babysitter," the girl responded as they got to the door, peering into the living room.

"You guessed correctly."

Arthur walked into the living room, his daughter by his side, her tiny fingers wrapped around one of his.

"Hayley, this is Jenny. She's your babysitter." He hunkered down next to his daughter so he could be on the same level as her. "She's sweet, she's kind, she's patient and she'll give you everything you need."

"Hi, Haley."Jenny stood when she saw Hayley and Arthur come into the living room, her smile sickly sweet as she walked closer to the little girl. 

But Hayley gave her one look and her expression changed from curious to annoyed in the blink of an eyes.

"I don't like her." Without caring to take another look at her, the bratty little girl turned and headed for her bedroom.

"You don't like anyone, Hayley.” Arthur sighed in exasperation as he chased after his daughter. “This lady is highly recommended and that's why I hired her."

"She's not going to watch me dad, I don't like her!" Tears were welling up in her eyes as she angrily tried to escape to her room but thanks to her father being taller and bigger than her, he was in front of her in an instant, blocking her escape route.

Her father was exhausted by this time and gave a frustrated sigh. "Honey, you know Daddy has to go and work, right? I can't stay and watch you myself, I'm very busy. I need her to keep her eyes on you while I'm at work, so I know that you’re safe while I’m away."

"I cannot stay with her, Daddy. I don't like her." Hayley looked up at her father with tearful eyes, her chubby cheeks puffed up and red from defiance.

"You'll have to like her, baby. I'm tired of bringing different people every day." Her father hunkered down in front of her once again. “Please…do this for Daddy?”

Hayley burst out crying despite her father’s best efforts at negotiation. "I don't like her!" She said, pulling on her hair in displeasure.

"What about a treat to make up for my absence?” Arthur was down to desperation despite not liking that his daughter be given junk food. “I'll order your favorite fried chicken and sandwiches with coke before I leave. I have a meeting in about a few minutes. But don't worry, I'll be back soon. And when I get back, I'll listen to all your complaints. That is…if you behave well."

"Leave me alone!" She crossed her tiny arms over her chest and looked away with a frown.

Arthur pulled her frowning princess closer and planted a kiss on her forehead, rubbing her hair affectionately. "I won't be gone for too long, I promise."

Standing up, he left in a hurry. Not taking another glance at his daughter whose eyes were teary and her face moist.

Hayley ran after her father until she watched him walk out of the living room with her Uncle Gerald following him in a hurry.

"I'll take good care of you, dear," Jenny said aloud for Arthur to hear, before he left the house.

Hayley stood still, watching the door close before she finally turned to look at Jenny with an angry frown. "I don't like you," she finally said, when her father was out of earshot.

"Good to know. Because I don't like you, either." Jenny said; an evil smirk on her face. "Show me where your dad's safe is, will you? That's the only way for you to stay out of trouble."

"Why will I show you where my dad's safe is? I don't think he has one. Do you want to steal our money?" Hayley responded in her usual childish and playful nature.

However, it seemed like Jenny didn’t mean it in a playful manner. Because she immediately grabbed Hayley's hair and tried to pull her up.

"Let me go!" Hayley cried out, her face turning red with pain. "Leave me alone! Why are you hurting me?"

None of her father's staff were around at this time of the day, so it was just her and the evil nanny now. Hayley wished desperately that Gerald would’ve stayed, but since Daddy’s driver had called in sick this morning, he was the one who had to drive him to his office. So Hayley was all alone with this seemingly evil woman.

"Do you assume that someone would come to your rescue?" Jenny held Hayley with a punishing grip on her hair. "Too bad, it's just you and me, here. So you have to do as I say else I'll kill you!"

"What do you want from me?" Hayley was now scared for her life, her little form trembling in the face of such adversities. "Please let go of my hair! Please don’t hurt me!" 

Hayley’s shiny golden locks were in the grip of the evil woman and she yanked on her hair hard, making Hayley cry out in pain. “Mommy!”

“Your mommy is dead, little brat!” The woman spat at her. "I'll only let go of your hair if you show me your father's safe."

Jenny got increasingly angry when she saw how loud Hayley’s cries were getting, landing two slaps on her face so she would keep quiet.

"You want to play games with me? I'm not your babysitter, you little shit!” Her voice was filled with venom as she snapped at the little child without mercy, starting to get worried that her cries would draw attention from the neighbors. “Just so you know; I'm not like the others who you insulted and disrespected. What I want if your father’s riches, and if you don’t show me where his safe is, then I’ll hit you so hard that you’ll start to fucking bleed!"

Hayley was weak and had no strength left to reply after her throat had been scrubbed raw from crying so much.

"I..." she stuttered, trying to reason with this nasty woman. “I told you I do not know where my father's safe is."

"In that case, I'll do what I need to." Jenny looked back towards the door, and Hayley saw two hefty and huge men walk into her father's living room.

"Follow me," Jenny commanded the men, dragging Hayley by the arm towards her father’s office room. It was a place she wasn’t allowed to enter, since Daddy had important work there and he didn’t want her to disturb them.

"I don't want to!" Hayley thought of screaming but recalled that no one was home. She still didn't understand how these men came in. "Leave me alone," she pleaded. "My father will give you money if you don't hurt me."

"We won't need to hurt you if you just shut up and lead the way!" Jane said, scooping Hayley into her arms.

Hayley struggled to free herself, fighting against the woman’s grip and kicking the air. But she was no match for her strength. 

"Stay still you shitty brat!" Jenny tried using her palm to cover Hayley's mouth, scared that she might scream. But Hayley bit her palm aggressively, hard enough to make her bleed.

Jenny dropped Hayley, letting out a scream and nursing the open wound. And Hayley immediately ran for the door, anxiously making it out of the room as she slammed the door behind her.

Jenny and the two men ran after Hayley, in an attempt to corner her.

"Catch that girl!" Jenny thundered. She watched the men open the door and run in the direction that Hayley fled.

“Fucking hell!” Jenny cursed at the little brat. "If I couldn’t steal his money, then I’ll need to get the brat to get a ransom from her father!"

*

Arthur, who was in one of his many luxury cars, on the way to his office, got a notice from his secretary that the clients had already arrived and waiting for him in his office.

He checked the time and found out that he still had about ten minutes before he reached his office. Sighing at his own unprofessionalism, he reached for the seat beside him to take one last look at the presentation before he showed it to the clients…only to find it missing.

“Shit!” He muttered under his breath when he realized that he had left it at home while searching for Hayley.

"Turn this car around, we are going home now!" He said to Gerald, loosening his tie from his collar in frustration.

It seems to him that being a single father was way more fuss than he had initially hoped. Now, he only hoped that he could make it to office on time before the clients refused the contract.