He Waited She Wilted (Ottilie and Yorath) novel Chapter 23

Ottilie couldn't bring herself to tell Yves that he had actually been dragged into this mess because of her. She just smiled in response.

"We're friends. You don't have to be so formal with me."

Beep, beep.

The G-Wagon parked by the curb suddenly honked its horn.

Jevon's car slowly pulled away from the side of the road.

The rear window was rolled down halfway, revealing an arm sporting a Patek Philippe watch resting on the edge.

Ottilie merely glanced at it before lowering her head to continue chatting with Yves.

Inside the car.

The veins on Yorath's forehead throbbed violently, his gaze cutting like a blade through his thick eyelashes.

Driving in the front, Jevon caught one look in the rearview mirror and didn't dare take a second.

Late that night.

At 1:20 AM.

Yorath received a phone call from the kidnappers.

"Mr. Fordham, we have your woman. Release 'Echoes of Antiquity' within the next hour, or she's dead meat."

Leaning back against his headboard, Yorath asked calmly, "My woman?"

"This bitch, Ottilie Sewell. Come on, say something so he can hear you."

The kidnapper shoved the phone toward Ottilie's face.

Ottilie turned her head away, refusing to make a sound.

She had been snatched right out of her bedroom while fast asleep.

When she woke up, she was in this abandoned warehouse. Three men had her surrounded.

The kidnappers were so confident in their physical advantage that they hadn't even bothered tying her up.

Since Ottilie wouldn't speak, the kidnapper didn't force it. He just held up his phone and started recording a video of her.

"Mr. Fordham, this one's stubborn as hell. I'm sending you a video to prove she's here."

"Suit yourself."

The line went dead again.

The kidnappers stared at each other in disbelief. A few seconds later, all three began hurling strings of obscenities at Yorath's name.

After cursing for a few minutes, they stepped outside to make another phone call.

When they returned, they handed the phone to Ottilie. "Look, lady, we're not bad guys. We just want the movie released. Call Yorath back, say something sweet, and don't make us hurt you. Got it?"

Ottilie nodded.

She dialed Yorath's number. When the line connected, she said softly, "Yorath."

The other end remained silent, save for the sound of very faint breathing.

The kidnappers enthusiastically mouthed and gestured for her to beg for help, to say something emotional.

But they had no idea she was practically a mute when it mattered. After that single name, she didn't utter another syllable.

Furious, the kidnapper grabbed the phone and roared into it: "Mr. Fordham, this woman is signed to your company! If she actually dies, the cops are gonna investigate, and you'll be swimming in trouble..."