The Kidnap

The car stopped in front of a fancy hotel which exudes luxury and opulence, with exquisite decor and upscale amenities. 

The driver immediately got down from the car and came to my side to open the door for me. I came down from the car and cast a quick and curious glance around briefly before being guided inside. 

"Good evening, sir," I greeted the CEO after I had sat down. He simply replied with a smile. I subconsciously looked around the vicinity and noticed we were the only ones here excluding the man who brought me here. He just stood stoically at the door, and looking at how ravishing this place is, I'm guessing it's a VIP section.

I slowly breathed in and out and looked back at the CEO who was intently staring at me like he could see through me. He still had this sophisticated and powerful aura around him.

"What's your full name?" I jolted back to reality at his question.

"Ivory...Ivory Addams," I answered while consciously rubbing the back of my neck.

"How old are you?" he queried again and I quirked my eyebrows at him.

"I'm twenty two years old, sir." He nodded and gestured for the man standing at the door to come over. The man bent over and the CEO whispered in his ear, the man just nodded and left.

"My name is Don Marco Lucca but you can call me Marco, Ivory," he said and flashed me a grin. 

"Oh....uhm, I can't necessarily do that you're my boss and that'll be kinda disrespectful, sir," I retorted, letting out an awkward laugh.

"I don't really mind, young lady. It's Marco for you, alright?" I opened my mouth to say something but I clamped it shut and just nodded at him with a small smile.

"So, tell me, Ivory. Are you married? Well, from the look of things, I can't see a ring on your finger, so, I'm guessing the answer is no?" I quickly shook my head at his question, as I couldn't make out words to answer him.

Is this some sort of interrogation or something?

Whatever it is then I don't think I like it.

I looked at the waitress who just walked in with a tray of wine and two glasses. She set one before me and the other in front of Don Marco. She cocked the lid of the wine open and poured some into Don Marco's glass and she came to my side to pour some in my glass, I wanted to protest that I don't drink wine but I just waved it off and allowed her to do her job.

I wasn't going to drink it anyway. After the waitress was done, she took her tray, bowed a little and left.

I slowly glanced back at Don Marco who was now speaking in a hushed tone to the person on the other end of the phone call. He had a little scowl on his face, as if the person on the phone was telling him something unpleasant. I briefly studied his features, despite his swaying age, he still looked handsome. 

I quickly cleared my throat when his gaze landed back at me as he slowly tucked back the phone into his suit pocket.

"Right! I'm just gonna cut to the chase. Actually, the main reason I asked for this private conversation is because I have a proposal to make." He paused and looked pointly at me.

"I want to offer you something in exchange for something in return." He said with a serious expression laced on his face.

I adjusted on my sit a little. This situation is getting really, really uncomfortable for me. Maybe, I shouldn't have agreed to this private meeting with him in the first place.

"And, what is this offer all about?" I questioned, eager to know what he wanted from me. 

"I will be offering you ten million dollars, Ivory". My eyes almost popped out of their sockets at what I just heard.

Is he seriously joking with me right now? No, he must be joking. Yep, it's a real joke.

"I'm not joking here, young lady." He flashed me a small smile and brought out his phone and showed me the amount on his phone. "I could send it now if you'd agree to my demand."

Yeah, right. His demand. Nothing can ever be for free, it always comes with a price. What could his demand be?

"And, what's your offer? I asked, my heart pounding against my chest as I patiently waited for his reply. Please, demand something that I can easily do.

"Marry my son." I quickly looked at him in utter disbelieve and shock.

"I'm sorry. Marry your what?" I asked, still not sure if I heard him right.

"I want you to marry my son, Ivory. It's going to be a one year contracted marriage in which you'd leave him after one year had elapsed. It's as simple as that." He retorted stoically, while taking a sip from his glass.

How could he tell me to marry his son. No, I can't marry someone I do not even know. Just because he offered me a tempting ten million dollars, he now wants to make an outrageous demand.

I suddenly felt a rage of anger building up in my chest. He seriously wants me to get into a contracted marriage to a total stranger. 

All my life, I've always wished to get married to a man I love and he in return will love me wholeheartedly. I've always envisioned marrying for love and having kids with the one I love. 

And now he's demanding that I get into a loveless marriage with a stranger all in the name of money?

Well, I'll have to disappoint him because I ain't getting into any loveless marriage, be it contracted or not.

"I'm sorry Don Marco but I'll have to disappoint you on this one. I am not going to jeopardize my happiness for a year just because of your ten million dollars. I am not going to get married to your son, you can find someone else to do it." 

"Are you really sure about that?? You might want to rethink that, Ivory," he scoffed.

The nerve of this man. Why does the rich always think they can buy people with their money?

"I am certain about my answer. I am not interested in your offer neither am I interested in your demand, you can always find someone else to do it." With that being said, I stood up and adjusted myself to leave this place. My mood has actually been ruined.

"That's fine, Ivory. At least, I went the easy way first." I quickly looked back at him in confusion. What does he mean by that?

Before I could ask him what he meant, he signalled to the driver that brought me here and one other man that I didn't know. They both came forward and stood behind me.

"I'm sorry Ivory, but this has to be done." Before I could reply him, my nose and mouth were forcefully covered. I quickly began struggling and gasping for air, but their grip on me was too tight. Feeling extremely exhausted, I finally succumbed to darkness as my consciousness slipped away.