7:00 A.M.After 3 Months in New York…There is no comparison to sleep when you are held closely by someone like a protective shield, feeling their warmth like a soft, comfortable blanket and being cuddled with a giant teddy bear even though its structure might not be one.That’s what I like to call the best sleep.Even though it was 7 in the morning, the room was still dark due to the curtains concealing the daylight that encircled the entire city. I knew it was time for me to get up. I slowly unwrapped the arm that was encircling my stomach, but it only tightened around it.“Don’t move and get back to sleep.” He murmured sleepily in my ears.“I need to. I have got work to get too, and so do you.” I told him softly.“All right. But I am going to sleep for a few more minutes.” He said.“Okay,” I said as I kissed his cheeks and steadily rose from the bed to brush my teeth. When I was finished, I made my way towards the kitchen to fix us some breakfast. It was nothing fancy, just scrambl
7:00 P.M.Today has been a good day. Any normal day is a good day for me, and it becomes incredible when you have close friends visiting you after a long time. Delicious food, chatting at the table, and a peaceful and chirpy environment is what one needs in their life.“I had no idea you could speak so much. When I first saw you, you were so still on that floor that I assumed you were dead.” Willy stated on the table when our conversation turned to that fateful night of my and Willy’s kidnapping.“What was I supposed to do then?” I scowled at him.“I don’t know, maybe punch the guy.” He said it as if it was the most obvious thing on the planet.“Are you sure? What did you do when they kidnapped you?” Willy had always teased me about my actions that night, so I asked him.“Nothing much.” He muttered slowly.“Come again?” I asked him, even though I had just heard him for the first time.“Fine, I didn’t do much. But I didn’t make it easy for them to take me.” He defended himself.“Shouti
Present“Michael, what are you doing here?” To say Nathan was taken aback would be an understatement.“As in New York or here with Ivy?” Leave it to Mike; he won’t leave any chance to play verbal games with our parents.“You exactly know what I mean.” Nathan glared at his son.Yes, Mike is Nathan’s son and Willy’s brother. The one who was always there for his brother when he needed it the most. The one who was as close to a perfect son as one could hope for. The one who is smart, sensitive, logical, and amazing all at the same time. The one whom I have known for two years, as well as the one who has been my boyfriend for a year and with whom I have been living for the past two months.“I work in New York, and as to why I am here with Ivy? Well, I live here. How did you come across our address?” He asked them in return with a cynical smile on his face.“We have contacts, and Ivy, when were you going to tell me about Michael is staying here with you?” This time it was my Dad who was cur
Nathan muttered, “Unbelievable.”“Come on, Martin, join the party.” Mike invited him and others to join him. They sat comfortably on the floor because there wasn’t enough seating.“Well, dad, you are already familiar with Martin and Billy. This is Gabriel, my former boss who works alongside Martin’s team, and Billy, the tech guy who reports to Gabriel. His other team was unable to arrive. And the other people you see are Jonathan Broadway Club crew members.” Nathan cut Mike off as he was about to introduce others.“How do you know him?”“Really, Dad. You still couldn’t figure anything out.” Willy was annoyed. His dad and Jim were really stupid.“You were right, Mike. These two showed up here at the exact time you predicted.” Paul Martin, the cop on our case when we got abducted, stated.“Is anyone going to explain to us anything here?” Nathan asked us in frustration.“After you tell us, why did you show up here?” Mike asked them.“Because we discovered that the advance money which Cap
Present“That’s about it? And you start dating while manoeuvring against us?” Jim, perplexed, asked.“Yes, we started dating right then and there. However, as Mike previously stated, he has abandoned the idea of conspiring against you two.” This time it was me who answered him.“Then he came up with the plan to kidnap you and William out of nowhere?” Nathan’s sarcasm was prominent. “And Michael, I can’t believe you told Ivanka and William the truth about your father. I specifically warned you not to reveal it to anyone.”“You really expected me to listen to you? You were against the idea of me finding my dad. Nathan, you don’t own me. The only thing we have in common is your wife and Willy. That’s all there is to it. Whereas the kidnapping ploy is considered, this happened when you used your cheap trick to blackmail John.” Mike locked his gaze on Nathan.“That doesn’t explain how you know Jonathan,” Nathan exclaimed.“Jake Martin is a member of my crew and also the brother of Paul Mar
Four Months Later.....“You like it?” Mike asked me. He was hugging me from behind. He rested his face on my shoulder, and I rested my hands on his, which was on my stomach.“I love it,” I said with a smile on my face.We finally purchased and moved into our own home. We found this flat seven months ago; it was the same one where Mike and I reconnected after two months of me being kidnapped. Fortunately for us, this property had been on the market for quite some time. It was a bit pricey, but it was definitely an excellent investment, especially since we want to start a family.He did, in fact, propose to me. We had not dated for a long time, but we were both certain that this was what we wanted for our future. He asked me to marry him last month. However, it was not romantic in the way that most people would expect, but it was special to me.Flashback to One Month Ago...I was sitting on the couch, waiting for Mike to return home. It was 2 a.m., but there was still no sign of him. I
11:36 P.M.Everything went black. The world around me was deafeningly quiet. The only sensations I had were the hands-on my waist. It was from the person who picked me up and loaded me onto something that resembled a seat. I struggled to move because someone tightly clasped together both of my hands. Something that felt like a thick rope held my hands in place. I couldn’t even move my feet, as they were confined to each other. I tried shaking my head sideways but stopped when I came to realize that even a slight movement would cause me to crash down from where I was lying.Then I heard a sudden thud and the sound of moving feet. After a few countable steps, it came to a halt. I tried to refine my listening skills, but I couldn’t hear a single voice or sound after a few minutes. After what seemed like an eternity, I could finally hear whispering. Then there was a sudden roar of an engine, and something moved. I could feel the movement, which made me believe I was lying down in the car
12:05 A.M.It felt like a gazillion years had passed when I heard the same creaking noise from the door again. That’s when I became aware of the presence of another person in the room. He must have arrived before me because I didn’t hear anyone entering after he left me here.“Who is it? Who the hell is this? Let me go. Why the hell am I tied up here?” It was a man who was frantically asking questions.“Have patience. We will tell you everything, but only when the time comes. I’m going to remove your blindfold right now.” In a gruff voice, the kidnapper told the new man.“You fucking come one step near me, and you won’t see the next morning.” The new man forewarned him.“You really think I am an idiot, Buddy. I am not going to harm you… Yet.” After a dramatic pause, he said the word yet. “You are an asset to us, and remember that even if I don’t see the day next morning, I have other friends who will. So, hurting me won’t help you.” The self-assured abductor informed him.The new man
Four Months Later.....“You like it?” Mike asked me. He was hugging me from behind. He rested his face on my shoulder, and I rested my hands on his, which was on my stomach.“I love it,” I said with a smile on my face.We finally purchased and moved into our own home. We found this flat seven months ago; it was the same one where Mike and I reconnected after two months of me being kidnapped. Fortunately for us, this property had been on the market for quite some time. It was a bit pricey, but it was definitely an excellent investment, especially since we want to start a family.He did, in fact, propose to me. We had not dated for a long time, but we were both certain that this was what we wanted for our future. He asked me to marry him last month. However, it was not romantic in the way that most people would expect, but it was special to me.Flashback to One Month Ago...I was sitting on the couch, waiting for Mike to return home. It was 2 a.m., but there was still no sign of him. I
Present“That’s about it? And you start dating while manoeuvring against us?” Jim, perplexed, asked.“Yes, we started dating right then and there. However, as Mike previously stated, he has abandoned the idea of conspiring against you two.” This time it was me who answered him.“Then he came up with the plan to kidnap you and William out of nowhere?” Nathan’s sarcasm was prominent. “And Michael, I can’t believe you told Ivanka and William the truth about your father. I specifically warned you not to reveal it to anyone.”“You really expected me to listen to you? You were against the idea of me finding my dad. Nathan, you don’t own me. The only thing we have in common is your wife and Willy. That’s all there is to it. Whereas the kidnapping ploy is considered, this happened when you used your cheap trick to blackmail John.” Mike locked his gaze on Nathan.“That doesn’t explain how you know Jonathan,” Nathan exclaimed.“Jake Martin is a member of my crew and also the brother of Paul Mar
Nathan muttered, “Unbelievable.”“Come on, Martin, join the party.” Mike invited him and others to join him. They sat comfortably on the floor because there wasn’t enough seating.“Well, dad, you are already familiar with Martin and Billy. This is Gabriel, my former boss who works alongside Martin’s team, and Billy, the tech guy who reports to Gabriel. His other team was unable to arrive. And the other people you see are Jonathan Broadway Club crew members.” Nathan cut Mike off as he was about to introduce others.“How do you know him?”“Really, Dad. You still couldn’t figure anything out.” Willy was annoyed. His dad and Jim were really stupid.“You were right, Mike. These two showed up here at the exact time you predicted.” Paul Martin, the cop on our case when we got abducted, stated.“Is anyone going to explain to us anything here?” Nathan asked us in frustration.“After you tell us, why did you show up here?” Mike asked them.“Because we discovered that the advance money which Cap
Present“Michael, what are you doing here?” To say Nathan was taken aback would be an understatement.“As in New York or here with Ivy?” Leave it to Mike; he won’t leave any chance to play verbal games with our parents.“You exactly know what I mean.” Nathan glared at his son.Yes, Mike is Nathan’s son and Willy’s brother. The one who was always there for his brother when he needed it the most. The one who was as close to a perfect son as one could hope for. The one who is smart, sensitive, logical, and amazing all at the same time. The one whom I have known for two years, as well as the one who has been my boyfriend for a year and with whom I have been living for the past two months.“I work in New York, and as to why I am here with Ivy? Well, I live here. How did you come across our address?” He asked them in return with a cynical smile on his face.“We have contacts, and Ivy, when were you going to tell me about Michael is staying here with you?” This time it was my Dad who was cur
7:00 P.M.Today has been a good day. Any normal day is a good day for me, and it becomes incredible when you have close friends visiting you after a long time. Delicious food, chatting at the table, and a peaceful and chirpy environment is what one needs in their life.“I had no idea you could speak so much. When I first saw you, you were so still on that floor that I assumed you were dead.” Willy stated on the table when our conversation turned to that fateful night of my and Willy’s kidnapping.“What was I supposed to do then?” I scowled at him.“I don’t know, maybe punch the guy.” He said it as if it was the most obvious thing on the planet.“Are you sure? What did you do when they kidnapped you?” Willy had always teased me about my actions that night, so I asked him.“Nothing much.” He muttered slowly.“Come again?” I asked him, even though I had just heard him for the first time.“Fine, I didn’t do much. But I didn’t make it easy for them to take me.” He defended himself.“Shouti
7:00 A.M.After 3 Months in New York…There is no comparison to sleep when you are held closely by someone like a protective shield, feeling their warmth like a soft, comfortable blanket and being cuddled with a giant teddy bear even though its structure might not be one.That’s what I like to call the best sleep.Even though it was 7 in the morning, the room was still dark due to the curtains concealing the daylight that encircled the entire city. I knew it was time for me to get up. I slowly unwrapped the arm that was encircling my stomach, but it only tightened around it.“Don’t move and get back to sleep.” He murmured sleepily in my ears.“I need to. I have got work to get too, and so do you.” I told him softly.“All right. But I am going to sleep for a few more minutes.” He said.“Okay,” I said as I kissed his cheeks and steadily rose from the bed to brush my teeth. When I was finished, I made my way towards the kitchen to fix us some breakfast. It was nothing fancy, just scrambl
5:00 A.M.Sleeping with hands and legs tied is not easy. Even though the Bossman was kind enough to provide us with the sleeping bag, he ensured that our movement was still restricted. We would need to crawl if we wanted to go somewhere.The whole night, both of us were fidgeting and tossing. So, it is safe to say that none of us slept the entire night.“Urg, that’s it. I just cannot sleep like this.” Willy groaned in frustration.“Me neither,” I told him glumly.“Why the hell can’t they release our hand?” He asked, obvious to the answers.“So that we don’t untie our legs and try to leave from here.” I rolled my eyes.“I know that, smarty-pants.” Willy closed his eyes and opened them again. He inhaled heavily and screamed to summon the guards.I sarcastically asked, “Can you get any louder?”“As a matter of fact, I can.” He cocked his head and smirked.Willy asked the guard to help him out of his sleeping bag and demanded food from him as soon as the guard entered, earning him a stare
3:35 A.M.When Jim saw an unfamiliar number on his cell, he quickly told the officer-in-charge. Jim picked up the phone after a signal from the respective officer and kept it on speaker. The Captain interrupted him before he could say anything.“Hello Doc, I believe you have read the case file and are well prepared to do this surgery.” The Captain got right to the point.“It is not as simple as you think...” The Captain cut Jim off before he could stall.“It seems that you do not love you, kids, as you pretend to.”Nathan asked, “Excuse me?”“You heard me loud and clear, so don’t pretend as you didn’t. Anyway, it’s now 3:37 A.M. I want you, doctors, to get ready to operate from 5:30 A.M., giving you over a hundred minutes. You will receive your advance in ten minutes, and after Jonathan is recovered, you will receive the pending price. All the preparation and formalities in consideration to the patient have been done. He’s been taken to the hospital, which is about a block away from y
3:10 A.M. Meanwhile, in lockup…..Willy and I were curled up in our sleeping bags, close to each other. It was reassuring to know that I wasn’t alone in this bed, cut off from the rest of the world. I had my eyes closed and was trying to sleep, but the fear was killing me. Not physically but psychologically.“Have you fallen asleep yet?” Willy inquired gently.“No, I just can’t sleep,” I explained.“Neither do I, and I doubt I’ll get any sleep before I get out of here. It’s creepy in here.” He shivered.“What did you expect? A VIP bed, a royal treatment?” It was a sarcastic statement rather than a question.“You know, for a mute, you are one hell of a sarcastic person.” He told me with a frown on his face.“I will take it as a compliment,” I told him with a blank look.“You’re weird, but so am I. I wish I had known you in different circumstances.”“Me too. That would have been fun.” I gave him a friendly smile.“Yes, it would have been. You know what? Once we are out of here, I am go