Bought By The Billionaire novel Chapter 34

Adele stares at the ring for a moment, unblinking, before fury washes over her features. Her expression changes completely, her perfect features made ugly by rage. As she flushes red, then white, her complexion turns that odd shade of a woman wearing make-up the wrong shade for her skin colour.

“Is that from him?” she hisses. “Did he give you that?”

Nervous now at this further abrupt switch of tone, I babble a little. “Well, yes. We’re engaged. It’s not been made public yet. In fact, we were going to announce it tonight.” Beginning to feel afraid, I want to go. Standing, I say “It’s been nice to meet you, Adele, to finally have a chat. But I need to be going. I’ve got things to do.”

Quickly I stand to leave, then become aware that Adele is looking at someone over my shoulder. Turning, I find a man, no, two men, standing close to me. Too close.

One has something in a pocket, pointing at me. A knife? A gun?

“Don’t argue Elizabeth,” says Adele sweetly. “Just go with these gentlemen where they tell you, and you won’t get hurt.” She pauses. “Not for now anyway.”

My mouth dry, fear gnawing at me, I turn, looking around, wondering if I dare try to break away. This is a public place. Surely I can….

“Don’t even think about it Elizabeth,” says Adele. “No-one else here would see it as it happened and by the time they’d figured it out, it would be far too late for you.”

What can I do?

The security cameras? All they can see is a group of people. Nothing to indicate trouble to a security guard, even if anyone is actually monitoring them. And…… if Adele is not worrying about her face being seen on camera, she must surely have taken some precaution over cameras?

I am walked through the store, the two men flanking me. One of them holds me tight by the wrist, although to any passer-by, it will simply look as though he has linked arms with me.

The other mutters at me “Just look straight ahead. Don’t try to catch anyone’s eye. We’ve just been enjoying a nice afternoon stroll in the shops, and now we’re going to the car.”

Frightened now, I am wondering where Ross is. How long will it be before he comes looking for me?

What does Adele want? To hurt me? Kill me? Ransom me? Or simple revenge against my Master? Plain jealousy?

They march me out through a side door. A limousine is waiting outside, the windows darkened so that the occupants cannot be seen. One of the men with me opens the rear door, apparently smiling at me, but the smile stops at the mouth. His eyes are hard, like agates. “Do get in Elizabeth. Make yourself comfortable.”

I try to resist, to hesitate, anything to give Ross time to realise that I am late, to raise the alarm. What time is it? It must have been long enough now for him to be looking for me. The man behind me raises what looks to the outside world like a companionable hand to the elbow to guide me in, but I can see his other hand in his pocket, something pointing at me.

Can I drop something? Leave a sign to be found? No, they are watching me too closely. As slowly as I dare, I step into the back of the car, still with a man flanking me on either side. My breathing fast and shallow with fear, I try not to panic, to think clearly. What must I do?

My mobile is in my bag, still with me, but there is no way that I can call from it. Might Ross call me? Probably. Did I leave the ring-tone turned on? I can’t remember. If the phone rings, it is certain that it will be taken from me.