Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion >>
As Max expected, he did not get an answer, but that was fine. He stepped on the accelerator and overtook Eustace’s car. As he was driving a hot rod, it was impossible for Eustace to catch up with him.
In the abandoned warehouse, Danika finally succeeded in cutting the ropes, but she kept quiet about it. Instead, she calmly addressed the abductors, “Sir, can’t you take off the blindfold since I’m already tied up? You should at least let me see where I am.”
The leader of the group looked solemn. He stared squarely at her for a long time, as he was always cautious. “You’d better behave. Don’t pull any tricks. We can kill you if we want to.”
“It’s the blindfold-it’s uncomfortable,” she whined.
“Gus, it doesn’t matter. Let’s take it off.” Then, the dirty one named Pip came up to her and took off her blindfold. She scanned the three men, but their faces were hidden under sunglasses and masks. Apart from their height and body shape, she could not pick up other details.
With a few quick scans, she could tell that the three were amateur-probably some street gangsters. Their client must be dim-witted for hiring amateurs and taking on the high risk of doing so.
Suddenly, a text arrived on Gus’ phone. He read the message and smiled. “The money’s in.” After that, he started coordinating his men. “Pip, I’ll take the video. Drew, stand guard at the door.”
“Heh heh. I can’t wait.” Pip walked over to Danika while taking off his jacket.
At that second, a ruthless look crept into Danika’s eyes. She clutched her penknife tightly when Pip walked toward her. Once he was close enough, she could strike him down.
Her plan was interrupted when Drew, who was keeping guard at the door, shouted, “Gus! There are cars.” Before Gus and Pip could react, a red sports car crashed through the warehouse, followed by a black Rolls -Royce Phantom. Max and Eustace emerged from their respective cars with murderous looks in their eyes, scanning the three men in front of them.
“Who are you?” Gus beckoned to Pip and Drew as he placed a knife on Danika’s neck, holding her hostage. He glared warily at the two intruders.
Speechless, Danika thought, “Why are they here?” She could have ambushed the three men, but with a knife on her neck, she lost the chance to make a move.
Max stared at the men, amused. “Of all people, you chose to assault my dear Danika. Do you want to go to hell?”
“Free her,” Eustace demanded calmly, but he was burning with anger inside.
The three men knew that Max and Eustace were here for Danika. So, Gus pressed the blade harder against her neck to threaten the two. “Gentlemen, we are after money, not her life.”
“How much do you want? Give me a number.” Money was no object to Eustace. The abductors exchanged glances once they realized that Eustace must be loaded. Greed got the better of them. If they could extort a sizeable amount from him, they could live their lives free of worry. Since an offer had been made, they might as well take the money and free her.
“How about this? Since the client paid us three million, we will release her if you could offer six million,” Gus suggested.
Six million?
Eustace’s face darkened upon hearing the number. Considering Danika’s background, she was definitely worth more than six million. The three men were too ignorant.
“Sure.” He nodded. Danika was dumbfounded by his generous gesture and declared, “Eustace, you don’t have to save me. Just go.” Without Max and Eustace’s interruption, she would have already defeated the three men.
“Dr. Zellweger!” Her stubbornness enraged him. “You’re still sidelining me, even now?”
At this critical moment, he was flabbergasted by her lack of urgency in the face of the abductors.
Ignoring her, he asked for an account number from Gus and transferred six million to them on the spot. ” The money’s transferred. Let her go.”
“Okay. But we need to be sure that we’re safe before we can let her go.” Then, the three men dragged her out, with Max and Eustace trailing closely behind. In comparison, Max seemed calmer than Eustace. He admired Danika, but that was all. He was more interested in observing Eustace’s response than saving her.
Suddenly, Eustace whispered in his ear, “I’ll count from three, and we’ll take them down.”
Max, looking unbothered, didn’t reply.
“The project in eastside is yours,” Eustace whispered again.
Finally, Max cracked a wide smile. “Deal.” Max thought it was a worthwhile rescue attempt-bagging a deal and saving Danika.
“Three, two…” Eustace and Max were prepared to strike, but their jaws dropped to the floor as they watched
Danika in action. Fast and agile, she had the men groaning on the floor in a few seconds. Max and Eustace gaped at her skill.
Once she defeated the three men, she stepped on one of their faces and turned around to address Max and Eustace. “I told you I didn’t need your help.”
They were too shocked to speak, and “savage” was the first word to appear in their minds.
Yes, savage.
They had never seen a woman this skilled in martial arts.
Danika shifted her attention to her abductors. “Call your client.”
In an odd display of loyalty, the man stayed silent and still. She smirked at his defiance and flashed a knife in her hands. Without hesitation, she slashed his arm.
“Ouch!” The man yelped. She bent over and hissed like a demon, “Make. The. Call. Or you can guess where I am making the next cut.”
“I will! I’ll make the call.” Gus nodded furiously, panting heavily in pain. She nodded in satisfaction. Knowing that they were amateurs, it was no surprise that they’d rat out their clients.
Once the call was connected, they heard a female voice trembling with anticipation and glee. “Is the job done? Send me the video.”
There was no reply to that question. Danika was not in a rush to say anything, either. Instead, she flashed a half-smile at Eustace, who was standing not far away.
The client sounded annoyed when she didn’t get an answer. “Is the job done or not? I won’t let you off the hook if you don’t do your job after getting paid.”
Danika picked up the phone from the floor and said with a smile, “Miss Lawrence, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.”
A gust of wind rattled the frame of the warehouse. The woman at the other end of the line went quiet before hurriedly disguising her voice and cooking up an excuse. “What Miss Lawrence? I think you got the wrong person.” Her lie was too obvious.
After the call ended, Danika remained calm and unaffected, for she had grasped the mastermind’s identity. She dusted her palms and gave Gus one more kick, after which he passed out. Next, she glanced at Eustace. ‘I’ll hand them over to you. I think you’ll know what to do with them. By the way, you should get your money bac. I don’t want your favor.” After all, he paid an astounding six million for her release.
She was beaming while talking to him, but he could sense the iciness in her tone.
He was associated with Faye, who coordinated the abduction…
“I didn’t know a thing about this,” he clarified, to which she shrugged. “Whatever. I don’t care.”
“Dr. Zellweger…”
“Also, Mr. Quincey, please relay my message to Miss Lawrence,” she took a last look at him with a smile.” Tell her I will make her pay for this.”
“Dani-*
“Max, care to give me a ride back to the city?” she asked. Max nodded. “My pleasure.”
He witnessed an awesome show today. After an entire day of running around for her release, Eustace seemed to have made himself an enemy of Danika instead of earning her gratitude.
“Did I unexpectedly benefit from this?” Max wondered.
Noticing that Danika had gotten into his car, he quickly got into the driver’s seat. Still, it was not exhilarating enough if he left abruptly. He looked at Eustace and deliberately announced, “Goodbye, Mr. Quincey. I’ll drive Danika home. You should stay and wrap things up.”