Give him back...

Linda eagerly waited in their escape car outside the hotel counting down to Jeremy's appearance. Her heart kept tightening as the clock ticked and her mind began racing, 

"He's supposed to be here by now?", she anxiously turned to Jackie, "Something is wrong, I can feel it...we need to initiate Plan B".

Her face couldn't hide the horror she felt in her heart, her worst fear and nightmare were lingering upon her. After all that talk about protecting him, in contrast, she led him straight to the den of lions, "Hurry Jackie, we don't have time!", she cried in worry

"you don't think -", Jackie suddenly harboured the same amount of concern, "I will initiate Plan B right this second."

She called Kim to organise people to accompany Linda inside the hotel and handed Linda a bag with the new change of clothes. Linda didn't waste time and got to her new outfit in the car, 

"I can not believe he's making me save him, he really has a lot of making up to do", she said trying to distract her wandering mind, "and it's a good thing Jeremy didn't know about this plan. I guarantee you, he would never have approved." 

"Even Tony is supposed to be out by now..", Jackie watching the entrance, "I think we should go in now. Just delay until Kim's people arrive at the scene. I will be tracking and listening to every conversation", she turned to her friend with a smile, "We will get him out and make sure he makes it up to you. I will see to it myself.",

Linda could feel her tears welling up, but it wasn't time to cry, she refused to let fear trample on her hope. With determination, she nodded in now a brown suit and white stilettos, fitting perfectly into the role of Linda King, the CEO of Global Tech and the heir to the King's empire. She put on her cold expression and waited patiently for Jin Ae to create a diversion and within a few minutes, chaos broke again in the foyer, 

"And that's my cue", she sashayed to the foyer exulting confidence fit for a boss queen going to fetch what was hers. Thanks to Jin Ae who managed to capture the attention of the journalists by playing the role of a deranged aunt who was shouting and insulting Tony for dragging her nephew's name into the mud, Linda breezed through the hotel with no hurdles.

Soon she was running through the corridors like a maniac searching for a sign of her man but with no luck. She was suddenly overwhelmed with fear and a thousand thoughts began racing with millions of scenarios but each ended with Jeremy disappearing from the world. She could almost feel the sense of grief and pain of losing her only love. The more she thought about it, the more agitated she became, she had to find him - she couldn't possibly imagine life without him. While blindly running around the corridors, she was suddenly bumped by a man, 

"I managed to stall them. They're in the basement...I have already informed Casey", before she could fathom what was happening, the man disappeared just like he appeared. 

She instantly ran to the basement parking in her shoes to find them about to load Jeremy's unconscious body in one of the cars, 

Seeing him not moving sent her into panic mode, "Give him Back!", she growled alarming them to turn their attention to her in shock,

Tony chuckled, "Why the rush? I was going to send a formal invitation. Now you're ruining the surprise-"

"Tony...give me my fiance back-", she said more fiercely, now her expression even colder, 

"Then kill yourself", Toby said without batting an eye, "right now...end your whole pathetic life...and save me the trouble of ending it for you-".

At that moment, Tony's plans became more evident to her, Jeremy was bait for her. She was indeed the one he was after, and she couldn't help but scoff at his tragic plan driven by blind hatred, "My pathetic life you say. But right now...you are doing everything in your power to trap me, clearly I am worth something if you are willing to come up with this sad excuse of a plan. Truth is, you're the one who's looking pretty pathetic. Obsessing over your nephew just because he's better than you in every form -"

Tony's face darkened in fury and he clenched his fists ready to bite her, "You little..", He gritted his teeth in anger,

"What... Can dish it but can't take it?", Linda chuckled unbothered by his murderous intent.

He snatched the gun from one of his guards and pointed it at Jeremy, "I am going to kill him right now-"

She sighed, "We both know you will do no such thing because your sadistic nature won't let you give him an easy death. So give him back right now...while I am still asking nicely.".

"Is that way you went through my safes-"

"Good... You know it was me... Now imagine what would happen if all that information were to go public...you think your controversial love affair is bad-"

"So it was you who released the news... how did you do it-"

"It doesn't matter...right now give me my fiance.". She was not backing down despite being at a disadvantage, she was determined to save him no matter what.

Tony finally dropped the gun but with more determination, he chuckled, "Screw this. Of course I won't kill him, but you on the other hand, have just about pushed all my buttons.", he turned to his guards, "Push him into the car, and open fire on her"

And at his command, multiple gun triggers went on, "Any last words?", Tony asked as he disappeared behind his guards who were all pointing at her waiting for his permission.

For the first time, Linda flinched in fear, Tony was no longer wasting time with her. Her life began to flush right before her eyes, her grandparents with whom she was still angry, and her parents' unsolved murder. All the choices and decisions she made, every step she took, was leading her to that moment, where she stood unprotected in front of tens of guns pointing at her. If she had known, she would have at least agreed to share a cup of tea with her grandmother when she requested. She trembled in regret as she anticipated the first gunshot, 'Will I die at the first shot or fifth shot?', she wondered as she clenched her hands into fists as if hardening her skin for protection, useless efforts she knew wouldn't work, but still, she closed her eyes and readied herself.