The morning at De Globes had been just like any other—until it wasn't.
Mandy sat at her desk, trying to shake off the
lingering emotions from the auction. Seeing Jayson again had stirred something
in her, a whirlwind of memories she hadn't expected. But before she could
process it further, the door to her office suddenly swung open.
Her breath caught.
Jayson.
Dressed in a tailored charcoal suit, he stepped
inside, holding a bouquet of deep red roses. His signature smirk played at his
lips, the same one that once made her heart race.
"Mandy," he said smoothly, taking a step closer. "I
couldn't leave things the way they were last night."
Before she could respond, another presence made
itself known.
Nathan.
He had been sitting in the corner of her office,
flipping through a document, but at the sight of Jayson, his entire demeanor
shifted. The air grew heavy. His jaw tensed, his grip on the papers tightening
ever so slightly before he set them down with a deliberate thud.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Nathan's voice
was cold, controlled, but laced with unmistakable danger.
Jayson barely spared him a glance as he set the
flowers down on Mandy's desk. "Just visiting an old friend." His eyes locked onto
hers, warm yet piercing. "I thought you might like these."
Mandy's pulse quickened. She swallowed hard,
glancing at the bouquet, then at Nathan—who had already risen to his feet.
Nathan stepped forward, his towering presence
radiating dominance. "Take your flowers and get out."
Jayson chuckled. "Is that how you treat all your
guests, Hydes?" He turned to Mandy, his gaze softening. "You don't seem happy."
Mandy's throat tightened. "Jayson, this isn't—"
Nathan cut her off, his voice dangerously low. "She is happy. And she doesn't need you showing up
unannounced."
Jayson smirked, finally meeting Nathan's glare
head-on. "That's funny, because she hasn't said that herself." His eyes
flickered back to Mandy, searching. "Tell me, Mandy… is this really what you
want?"
Nathan's patience snapped. "You're done here." His
voice was sharp, final.
But Jayson only smiled, unshaken. "I'm not done
until she tells me to leave." He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping
into something softer. "Mandy, I meant what I said last night. I will win you back. No matter what."
Mandy's breath hitched.
Nathan took another step forward, positioning
himself between them. His tone turned lethal. "That's never going to happen."
Jayson held his ground, but his smirk faltered
slightly at Nathan's intensity. Still, he didn't back down. "We'll see about
that."
The tension between them was suffocating, the weight
of Mandy's silence only making it worse.
She felt like she was being pulled in two
directions.
Her past.
Her present.
And a decision she wasn't sure she was ready to
make.
A Public Declaration
The days following Jayson's unexpected visit had
been tense. Mandy could feel Nathan's emotions simmering beneath his usual
composed exterior. He had grown more protective, more possessive—watching her
closely as if afraid she might slip away.
And then came the night of the De Globes Annual Gala.
The ballroom was breathtaking—crystal chandeliers
casting golden light, the air filled with the soft hum of music and clinking
champagne glasses. Dressed in an elegant black gown, Mandy stood beside Nathan,
aware of how his arm rested firmly on her waist, silently claiming her.
But the moment she dreaded arrived.
Jayson.
He entered with his usual effortless confidence, his
eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on her. A slow smirk curved his lips
as he began making his way toward them.
Nathan stiffened beside her.
"Mandy," Jayson greeted smoothly, his eyes locking
onto hers. "You look stunning."
Before she could respond, Nathan turned to fully
face him. "I thought I made myself clear. Stay away from her."
Jayson chuckled, unfazed. "And I thought she could decide that for herself." His gaze
returned to Mandy, softer now. "Tell me, Mandy. Are you really happy?"
Mandy felt her chest tighten. "Jayson, this isn't
the time or place—"
But Nathan didn't let her finish.
"I won't let this go on any longer," he declared,
his voice commanding enough that nearby guests turned to watch. Then, before
Mandy could react, Nathan turned to her, his eyes filled with an intensity she
had never seen before.
"I love you, Mandy."
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Mandy's heart stopped.
Nathan continued, his grip tightening around her
waist. "I've loved you for a long time. And I won't stand here and let someone
from your past try to take you away from me." His voice was firm, unwavering.
"You are mine. And I won't lose you."
A stunned silence followed.
Mandy's mind spun, but deep down, she knew the
truth—she loved him too. She had fought it, denied it, but standing here, with
the entire room watching, she couldn't hide anymore.
"I love you too, Nathan," she finally confessed, her
voice trembling but sure.
The crowd erupted into murmurs, but all Mandy could
focus on was Nathan—the way his expression softened, relief flashing in his
dark eyes before he pulled her close, claiming her lips in a deep, possessive
kiss.
But just as Mandy thought it was over, she caught
sight of Jayson.
He didn't look shocked.
He looked determined.
And in that moment, she knew—this wasn't the end.
Jayson wasn't giving up.
THE KIDNAP
The night air was crisp as Mandy stepped out of De
Globes, the towering building gleaming under the city lights. The day had been
exhausting, filled with back-to-back meetings and endless paperwork. She longed
for a warm bath and the comfort of her bed.
As she walked toward the parking lot, a strange
sense of unease settled in her chest. The streets were quieter than usual,
shadows stretching along the pavement.
She pulled her coat tighter around her shoulders
and quickened her pace.
Then, she heard it.
Footsteps.
Mandy turned, but the street behind her was empty.
Her heart pounded as she forced herself to stay calm. She reached for her phone
inside her bag—
A hand clamped over her mouth.
Her scream was muffled as strong arms wrapped
around her, dragging her backward. Mandy kicked and struggled, but her attacker
was too strong. The scent of cologne filled her senses, one that was painfully
familiar.
Jayson.
"Shh… don't fight it, Mandy," his voice whispered
in her ear, eerily calm. "I told you, I wasn't giving up on you."
Panic surged through her veins as she thrashed
harder. "Let me go!" she tried to scream, but his grip tightened.
Before she could react, a black SUV screeched to a
stop beside them. The back door flew open, and Jayson shoved her inside. The
last thing she saw before darkness swallowed her was the cold, victorious glint
in his eyes.
Nathan's Desperation
Nathan paced his living room, glancing at the time.
11:47 PM.
Mandy should have been home an hour ago.
His gut twisted with unease as he dialed her number
again. Straight to voicemail.
Something wasn't right.
Grabbing his phone, he called Hazel.
"Nathan?" Hazel's groggy voice answered. "Why are
you calling so late?"
"Mandy isn't home," he said, his voice sharp with
worry. "She left De Globes an hour ago, but she never made it back."
Hazel was instantly alert. "Wait—what? Have you
checked with security?"
"I already did," Nathan snapped, running a
frustrated hand through his hair. "The security footage shows her walking out
of the building, but after that… nothing."
Hazel inhaled sharply. "You don't think—"
Nathan's jaw clenched. "I don't just think, Hazel.
I know. Someone took her."
A terrifying silence followed before Hazel
whispered, "Jayson."
Nathan's grip on his phone tightened until his
knuckles turned white.
"That bastard," he hissed. "I swear, if he's behind
this—"
He didn't finish his sentence. Instead, he turned
to his security team and barked out orders.
"I want every street camera checked. Every car that
left De Globes in the last hour tracked down. No one stops until we find her!"
His men scattered instantly, knowing better than to
question him when he was like this.
Nathan's blood boiled as he clenched his fists.
Jayson had made a grave mistake.
And when he found him—when he found Mandy—he would
make sure Jayson regretted ever touching her.
Held Captive
Mandy's head throbbed as she slowly regained
consciousness. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dimly lit room around
her. The air smelled of damp wood and something faintly metallic—rust, maybe.
She tried to move, but the cold bite of metal
against her wrists stopped her. Handcuffs.
Her heart pounded.
She was sitting on a wooden chair, her wrists bound
behind her. The room was unfamiliar, barren except for a single table and a
flickering bulb overhead. A warehouse, maybe?
Then she heard footsteps.
The door creaked open, and Jayson stepped inside.
He was calm—too calm. He walked toward her with the
same confidence he had at the auction, but now there was something darker in
his gaze.
Mandy swallowed hard. "Jayson," she forced out, her
voice hoarse. "What the hell is this?"
He exhaled, crouching down beside her chair. "I
didn't want to do this, Mandy," he said, brushing a strand of hair from her
face. She flinched.
"But you left me no choice."
She glared at him, fury rising. "You kidnapped me,
you psycho!"
Jayson smirked. "Kidnapping is such a harsh word."
He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I prefer to call it… taking back what's mine."
Mandy recoiled in disgust. "I was never yours,
Jayson. Not anymore."
His expression darkened, his grip tightening on the
arm of her chair. "That's where you're wrong, sweetheart. Nathan has poisoned
your mind, made you forget what we had. But don't worry—I'll remind you."
Mandy's pulse raced. She had to stay calm. She had
to find a way out.
But first—she had to buy herself time.
Nathan stood in his office, fists clenched as he
stared at the large screen before him. His security team had finally tracked
down traffic camera footage of a black SUV speeding away from De Globes.
The driver? Jayson Anderson.
Nathan's jaw tightened. His grip on the edge of the
desk was so tight his knuckles turned white.
Hazel stood beside him, her face pale with worry.
"That bastard really took her," she whispered. "Nathan, we have to—"
Hazel had flew into Lagos on hearing about Mandy's disappearance .
"I know,"
Nathan cut her off, his voice deadly calm. He turned to his security chief.
"How fast can we track them?"
"We're running plate numbers now," the man answered.
"We should have a location soon."
Nathan exhaled sharply, his patience razor-thin.
"Mandy doesn't have time," he muttered, pacing the
room like a caged predator.
A Cruel Call
Nathan paced the length of his office, his fists
clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms. The air around him felt
suffocating, heavy with unspoken rage. His phone vibrated in his hand.
An unknown number.
His gut twisted. He answered.
"Nathan," a voice drawled from the other end.
Jayson.
Nathan's entire body tensed, his blood turning to
ice.
"Where is she?" His voice was dangerously low,
lethal.
Jayson chuckled. "Now, now, let's not be so hostile.
I thought you might enjoy a little… entertainment."
Then, Nathan heard it.
A sharp intake of breath. A muffled whimper.
Mandy.
His grip tightened around the phone. "Mandy!" he
barked.
She let out a small cry, and then Jayson's voice
came again, sickeningly soft. "Shhh, sweetheart. Don't fight it."
Nathan heard the rustling of fabric, the faintest
sound of skin brushing against skin.
Rage like nothing he'd ever known erupted inside
him.
"You son of a bitch—"
"You should see her right now," Jayson continued,
taunting. "So beautiful, so vulnerable. I can see why you're so obsessed. But
let me remind you, Nathan—you're not the first to touch her."
Nathan's vision blurred with fury. His breath came
in sharp, ragged bursts. He could hear Mandy struggling.
Jayson was doing this on purpose.
"I'm going to kill you," Nathan swore, his voice
shaking. "With my bare hands."
Jayson only laughed. "Oh, I hope you try."
The call ended.
Nathan's hand trembled as he lowered the phone. His
pulse thundered in his ears. His body felt like a coiled spring, ready to snap.
Hazel rushed to him. "Nathan, what happened? Was
that Jayson?"
He didn't answer. He stormed toward the door.
"Nathan, stop!" Hazel grabbed his arm. "You can't
just rush into this. That's what he wants."
"I don't care," Nathan growled, his entire body
rigid with fury. "He's touching
her. Right now. I'm going to end him."
Hazel's eyes widened. "Nathan, think. He's baiting you! You can't act
impulsively—"
Nathan yanked his arm free, his expression dark and
unreadable. "Stay out of my way, Hazel."
Before she could protest again, he was gone.
Out the door.
A Broken Man
Nathan sat in his office, his elbows resting on his
desk, his head in his hands. Papers were scattered everywhere, documents left
unsigned. His laptop screen flickered with urgent emails, but he didn't care.
Not about work. Not about anything.
Not without Mandy.
It had been days since Jayson took her. Days of endless searching, following dead
leads, and coming up empty-handed. His security team had combed through every
possible location, yet Mandy was still nowhere to be found.
Nathan barely ate. He barely slept.
The lack of control was driving him insane.
Hazel had tried to reason with him, urging him to
rest, to think clearly. But how
could he? Every second wasted was another second Mandy spent in that monster's
grasp.
His phone rang, and he snatched it up immediately.
"Did you find her?" His voice was raw, hoarse.
The security chief hesitated. "No, sir. But we—"
Nathan didn't wait for the rest. He threw the phone
across the room, the crash echoing through his empty office. He squeezed his
eyes shut, his breathing ragged.
Images of Mandy flooded his mind.
Her laughter.
Her stubbornness.
The way she looked at him that night under the
fireworks.
Now, all he could hear was her muffled cries from
that damned phone call. The terror in her voice.
Nathan clenched his fists.
Jayson was playing with him. And he was losing.
A knock came at the door. Hazel stepped inside
hesitantly, her usual fire dimmed by concern.
"Nathan…" she said softly. "You need to pull
yourself together."
He didn't answer.
"I know this is killing you," she continued, walking
closer. "But you have to focus.
Falling apart won't help Mandy."
Nathan exhaled shakily, staring at the floor.
"She's scared, Hazel," he whispered. "And I can't—"
His voice broke, and he inhaled sharply, forcing the emotion back.
Hazel placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then let's
find her. Together."
Nathan lifted his head, his jaw tightening.
She was right.
Mandy needed him strong.
As the night deepened, Nathan straightened in his
chair, his eyes cold with renewed determination.
Jayson had made a mistake.
And Nathan was going to make him regret it.
The search wasn't over.
Not until Mandy was back in his arms.
Somewhere between the oppressive grip of captivity
and the approaching rescue, a silent battle was unfolding. The search, the
chase, the unspoken promises of vengeance and redemption—all converged in that
dark, rain-soaked night.
Nathan would soon confront Jayson, and Mandy's
fate, once held in the hands of a madman, would finally be rewritten. But even
as the sirens grew louder, a final, chilling thought echoed in Mandy's mind:
This was only the beginning of a war that would
shatter lives on both sides.
And as the warehouse door burst open, the collision
of past and present, of love twisted by obsession and a man's desperate need to
protect what he cherished, set the stage for a confrontation that would change
everything.
The night was far from over. In the chaotic
interplay of light and shadow, anger and hope, the battle of hearts was about
to reach its breaking point.