**Third person**“She sometimes leaves work very late,” Amelia continued. “We could ask them to wait for her just outside the premises. Then we could kidnap her and ask her questions.”Karen let out a wry chuckle. “Let her be for now. Doing all that right now won't solve anything.”“Or we could call the delivery company and make sure they tell us who sent the package,” Amelia insisted curtly.Then she shrugged and added, “And she's been disrespectful to me lately."Karen’s brow raised in amusement. “Really? What did she do?”“Uh…she,” Amelia stuttered; she wasn't expecting Karen to ask for the details. “She's been making eyes and glaring at me,” Amelia managed.“Well, glare at her back,” Karen shot.Amelia blinked in disbelief. “Ma'am?”“Stop the car,” Karen ordered the driver, and the car immediately screeched to a halt.Then she turned to Amelia. “You should get off now.”"But it'll be difficult for me to get a cab from h-" Amelia's words trailed off as she met Karen's icy gaze."O
**Third person**Karen's mind drifted off to her relationship with her sister, Ashley, and how similar this Valerie girl was to her.They always wanted to help, were always convinced they could fix everything, and believed themselves to be incredibly intelligent.Back then, Ashley always pretended to be a saint; she'd acted so innocently... And she even fooled James into liking her.Karen rolled her eyes.And that must be why Val thinks she could handle a project like this in one week.Then Karen turned to look at Amelia, who had been staring at her the entire time, waiting for an answer.”There's no plan. I simply wait for her to fail and then fire her for being incompetent."Valerie was certainly not worth making plans for; Karen could easily make her disappear forever if she wanted to.“Wow, that's brilliant, ma'am,” Amelia chirped, a satisfied grin plastering on her face as she spoke.Val spent the rest of the day working on the project, her mind occasionally filled with thoughts
**Valerie**I cleared my throat, trying to hide my surprise. “Uh, yeah.”My heart raced. Lucas was the investor?“Well, I've been working. I just decided to cool off a bit by coming here,” I quickly added. "Oh, okay, then, I could help if you need anything,” she offered.“Sure, thank you.”With that, I hung up, and then I saw Matt walking towards me. “Any problem?” He asked, taking the seat beside me.I sighed. “Well, the presentation I told you about... I just realized that the investor I'll be pitching to is someone I don't like.”“Someone you don't like?” Matthew cocked a questioning eyebrow at me but didn't say anything more.“Well, I kind of encountered him before, and we started on the wrong foot,” I explained, my fingers playing with my brush.His jaw clenched visibly, and his brows furrowed.“Val? Did he do something bad to you?”“No, no. I was the one who answered his call,” I blurted out without thinking. Shit… How could I have said that?Even though I don't owe Matt any
**Third person** Valerie smiled, pretending to be unfazed. "I've done extensive research on the target demographic, and I believe that our product will resonate with them on a deep level,” she replied confidently. “Plus, I've analyzed the numbers, and I'm certain that we can increase sales by at least 20% within the first quarter." Lucas snorted. "That sounds like a lot of buzzwords. Can you give me some actual numbers?" "Of course, Mr. Stone.” Val shifted her focus back to the slides before she continued. “According to my research, our target demographic is most active on social media between the hours of 7pm and 10pm. By targeting our ads during this time period, I believe we can increase our reach by at least 30%." Then her eyes returned to Lucas, who seemed to have an impressed look on his face, and she felt her stomach swell with satisfaction. Lucas raised an eyebrow. "I'll give you credit, Miss Thorne. You've done your homework. But what’s the biggest potential setback
**Third person**"Good day, ma'am," Val greeted, her eyes quickly scanning the office while Karen stood by the window, backing Valerie.The office was dramatically different from what she remembered; everything, from the paintings to the furniture, was white. It was Karen's signature color, and she had an eye for detail.This office had once belonged to one of Adam's friends, and for a fleeting moment, Val wondered why she hadn't seen him around. “I heard you did well with the project?” Karen asked, then glanced at Valerie briefly before returning her eyes to the window.“Yes, ma'am,” Valerie replied, unsure of where the conversation was leading. “That's great, then." Karen nodded, then spun around to face Val. "I'd like you to work on something for me too.”Val looked up at Karen, stunned.“Why?” Karen raised a brow at Valerie's facial expression. “You don't want to?”“N-no, ma'am,” Val stuttered. Then Karen's lips curled into a sly smile. “Okay good. You can go for now; I'll let
**Third person**“I want you to teach someone a lesson,” Amelia spoke into the receiver.The man let out a shrill laugh. “You already know how it works.” “Send a picture and where I can find this person,” he instructed.“Sure, I'm sending it now.”Amelia hung up, and she immediately sent a picture of Val to the man, along with the address of the rooftop bar.A sinister grin spread across the man's face as he examined the picture. "Come, boys, look at this," he called out.Three burly men, bare-chested and reeking of cigarettes, who were lounged on a worn-out sofa, hurried over. Their eyes lit up with desire as they ogled the photo.“Ahh, exactly what I need for a good rest tonight. My balls are blue as fuck!” One of them announced, and the rest let out wild laughs that echoed through the room."Let's go, then," the leader declared, his voice thick with anticipation.The men quickly pulled on their cigarette-stained shirts and exited the grimy apartment.Meanwhile, at the rooftop bar,
**Valerie**As we headed out, two of my colleagues followed Mr. Denver's car.Soon enough, Tessa flagged down a cab, and she and David got in. They were going in the opposite direction from me.“Byeee, I'll see you on Monday,” Tessa exclaimed. “And get a cab; it's already late.” “Yeah, bye.” I waved my hand too.After Tess left, that's when I realized how dark and lonely the street looked. *But I heard that she was a total firecracker. I heard she once threw a stapler at Adam during a meeting*Adam is really an asshole for spreading rumors like this.I pulled out my phone to let Matthew know that I was already on my way home.As I brought the phone to my ear, someone bumped into me from behind, causing it to slip from my fingers and shatter on the ground.Facepalming in frustration, I turned to my back.There was a shabby-looking man standing behind me, and he didn't even make any attempt to apologize for hitting me.I parted my lips to say something to him, but the words died in my
**Third person**“Get your filthy hands off her now!” A deep voice roared.Valerie’s eyes flew open. The voice sounded very familiar.The scar-faced thug sucked on his teeth and then turned in the direction of the man. “This is none of your business, get out of here while we're being nice,” he shouted.Lucas clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. “I won't repeat myself.” His eyes blazed with fury. “Let. the. lady. go,” he pronounced each word slowly through gritted teeth.The thugs laughed. Everything seemed funny to them tonight.“Take care of that cunt,” the leader commanded the three men.The men stepped forward, fists clenched in fighting stances.Lucas scoffed, ran a hand through his hair, and rolled up the sleeves.The first man threw a punch at him, but Lucas dodged it and grabbed his wrists. He screamed as Lucas twisted it, then followed with a precise kick to the gut and a punch to the jaw.At that moment, the second thug tried to get him off guard from behind.
**Third person** Valerie dragged her heavy eyes open. She blinked a couple of times to clear her vision. The smell of drugs and antiseptic and hospital filled her nose. Beside her, Lucas sat with his eyes closed. Almost immediately she jumped up on the bed. “Let me go,” she shouted, startling Lucas. He climbed the bed and pulled her into his arms. “It's okay, you're safe now,” he whispered softly, planting kiss after kiss on her hair and forehead. Valerie relaxed into his embrace, her racing heart finally calm. A tear slipped from his eyes and he wiped it. He'd thought he'd lost her. “I'm sorry I couldn't keep you safe. I should have anticipated it, I should—” “It's not your fault,” she cut him off gently. “It's not.” Tears trailed down her own cheeks and she sniffed. “What happened to Matthew?” A muscle ticked in Lucas's jaw, he felt Matt had an easy fate after everything he did. "Dead." Valerie let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, her body shaking with relieve
**Third person**“Let's move, slowly,” Matt murmured in Valerie's ears, his hot breath fanning against her skin. His eyes were still locked onto Lucas—who was practically shooting daggers at Matt with his eyes."Matthew, please," Valerie whispered back, her voice trembling. "You don't have to do this. You can still let me go."Matt's jaw tightened, his chest heaving with desperation and anger. "Do you really think I'm stupid?" he hissed. "You want me to let you go? I should just allow you to run into his arms?" He questioned in a mocking tone.“Drop your weapon and surrender,” the police announced again but neither Valerie nor Matt paid any attention. “Best believe that if I do that, then I'll shoot you from behind before you get to him,” Matt added. The chilling sensation in his voice sent a shiver down Valerie's spine.“Man to man,” Lucas began, his voice almost a growl. “What would it take for you to let her go? Anything at all… name it. Even if you don't want to spend a single da
**Third person**It took Matthew half the time it would normally take to get to the bunker. He parked his car at a safe distance before running over to the location. And with each step he took, his mind raced, his heart pounded with anxiety. He couldn't afford to lose her now that he was so close. They'd literally be leaving the country today. Valerie please be there, please be there, Matt murmured, his legs moving faster.A half-relieved sigh left his lips when he reached the entrance and saw that the door was still locked—She was still here. His trembling fingers sifted through his bunch of keys, his breath gaspy and he wiped the sweat on his forehead with the back of his palm.Matt unlocked the door and then pushed it open forcefully. His eyes blazing with anger and anxiety found Valerie immediately. She was curled up at a corner, her cheeks stained with tears and her hands and feet shaking."What have you done??!" he growled, his voice venomous.She frowned in confusion, even th
**Third person**Matt seemed to ponder for a moment before he exhaled deeply. Then he moved over to the table and picked up a small knife. He began cutting the ropes. His jaw clenched at the red mark the ropes left on her skin, a pang of guilt coursing through him. He'd done this to her, he thought. “Do you need me to get you anything from the store?”Finally untied, Valerie examined her free hands and legs, a sense of relief and determination washing over her. “No, thanks.”“I'll be back soon.” He gave her a warning look. “Don't try anything stupid.”She nodded vigorously. “I wouldn't dare.”Satisfied, Matthew turned around and headed out. Valerie had her timid and innocent mask on, until the moment Matthew was out of view.She squeezed her eyes shut and then began counting from one to fifty in her head, giving Matthew enough time to leave the premises. Even with her eyes closed, she could hear the locks click behind him.When she was done, she sprang to her feet, her eyes desperat
**Third person**Eighteen hours had passed since Valerie's disappearance.Lucas stood in the center of his living room, surrounded by computers and anxious faces. His team of experts, handpicked from the best in the business, worked tirelessly to track down any lead on his woman.But so far, neither his team nor the police have been able to come up with anything tangible. There was also no signal from the tracker in Valerie's necklace. Either her kidnapper knew that the necklace was bugged and got rid of it, or they were under water, in a bunker, or somewhere that'll block the signal.One thing for sure; he'd find Valerie and he'd find her soon. Even if it meant turning the planet upside down. She'd be found.News about her and disappearance was all over the media and there was a huge cash prize for whoever brought relevant information on her whereabouts. Lucas ran a palm across his exhausted face. Deep lines creased his forehead, and his jaw was set in a rigid clench. "Broaden the
**Third person** It was almost as if Valerie disappeared just when Elliot blinked. After dismissing the woman who'd come to talk to him, he looked up but he didn't find his boss. Damnit! He'd clenched his jaw and quickened his pace, his hand instinctively resting on the gun holstered at his hip as he rushed outside. Eyes scanned everywhere around but there was no trace of her. "Miss Thorne?" he called out, his mind racing. “Ashley?” He called louder. “Valerie?” There was no response. Immediately, he dialed her number… once, twice, thrice… until it was unreachable. He'd rushed over to some passersby to ask if they'd seen her… There was nothing. Shit! Just then, his phone started ringing. Elliot pulled the device out and stared at the screen, his throat suddenly feeling dry as he registered the caller ID—Mr. Stone. He took a deep breath and then pressed the answer button. ***************************** Valerie's eyes fluttered open, her gaze was blurry and unfocused. She tri
**Third person**Valerie's blood ran cold as she stared at the picture attached to the message. It was a picture of a small boy, no more than two years old. The fact that he was a spitting image of Lucas Stone had goosebumps erupting all over her skin—same blue eyes, jet-black hair, nose, lips, jawline…Val's heart rate increased. Her son was truly alive?“We’re heading to the hospital; Mr. Stone said we're meeting him there?” Elliot asked, his hands already on the ignition.Valerie nodded absent mindedly and he started the car.She felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins as she stuck her head outside the window. Breeze hit her face but it did nothing to calm her. She knew that she had to lose Elliot, and fast. As the car moved through the city, she spotted a convenience store up ahead and made a split-second decision. "I need to stop and get some water," she said suddenly.Elliot frowned and glanced at the bottle of water sitting in the middle of the car compartment.
**Third person**Valerie's smile broadened into a full-blown grin. "Oh, don't think it's unfair if justice isn't served for your lover's sister."Karen frowned, her eyes narrowing. "My lover? What do you mean?" What did this have to do with Victor, she hasn't even heard from him, Karen wondered.Valerie locked her eyes onto Karen's. "Victor, your bodyguard... the one you've been fucking.” She paused to study Karen's face—she didn't look so confident anymore. “But you killed his sister."Karen's face drained of blood, her eyes wide and her lips parting with shock. Valerie continued, "The young lady who took care of Nathaniel Scott."Dread coursed through Karen, her mind shifting back to the night Nathaniel was killed. He'd been with a woman, and when Adam killed Mr. Scott, the woman witnessed it. Karen had to silence her.A small smile found its way to Valerie's lips as she studied the horrified look on Karen's face. "So now, does it finally ring a bell?"Karen's eyes stung with tears
**Third person**Valerie woke up to a wet sensation on her clit. A shiver coursed through her spine, her nipples hardening.The sensation continued, and she was forced to open her eyes. She wiped her heavy eyes with the back of her palm and then looked down between her legs, where the source of the heat she was feeling came from. Lucas, with his head between her thighs, looked up, his tongue still whipping her sensitive clit. “Morning, babe,” he murmured. Valerie blinked a couple of times to clear her eyes. She arched her back and she cried out in pleasure when he slipped a finger inside her. “W-what are you doing?” She managed to ask between moans.He smiled and looked up at her again, with those dark, desire-filled eyes. Her cheeks flushed as she noticed her pussy juice rubbed all over his mouth and its surroundings. “I've always dreamed of waking you up like this,” she murmured, his voice rough.Lucas slipped another finger in her and began pumping, his tongue returning to her c