5.Chapter 5 Kidnapping

Bailey bit back the words that were about to spill out. She reminded herself that Ash, as the owner of Dream Couture, was likely to rub shoulders with high-society people.

Shaking her head, she chided herself, "No way, you're not that kind of person."

Ash chuckled, playfully pinching Bailey's cheek. "You know me too well. Otherwise, you might've fallen for Samantha's drama."

Afraid of offending her friend, Bailey quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Jewel. I shouldn't have doubted you."

"It's fine," Ash interrupted gently. "We've been friends for years. But from now on, don't call me Jewel anymore, okay?"

Before Bailey could wrap her head around this, the Turner family's butler approached with a slight bow. "Miss Turner, Mr. Franklin Turner requests your presence."

"Okay," Ash replied and had someone look after Bailey.

Even after Ash walked away, Bailey was still floored - the bombshell that Jewel was actually the Turner family's young lady left her head spinning.

Meanwhile, outside the hotel, the Moreno family's earlier scene had left them feeling embarrassed, with sharp gazes cutting into them from all sides. Heads hung low, they tried to enter the venue but were stopped by security.

Lorelei, already fuming, lost it. "What do you mean we can't enter? We're on the guest list!"

The man who had escorted Ash inside earlier came out, a slight smirk on his face. "You offended our young lady. That's why you're not welcome at today's party."

He summoned more security to surround them, instructing, "If they try to force their way in, throw them out on the spot."

Red-faced, the Morenos hightailed it out of there. Dexter slunk back to their car while Samantha looked on with green eyes as Ash waltzed into the grand hall, admirers in tow.

In a fit of frustration, Samantha stomped her foot, losing her balance. With a cry of pain, she tumbled over, her 590-thousand-dollar dress tearing on the rough pavement. Her anger towards Ash intensified as she realized her chance to show off was ruined before it even began.

*****

As the party reached its peak, Franklin took the stage to speak. Just as he wrapped up introducing Ash and she started heading for the stage, the lights suddenly went out.

Chaos broke out in the darkness. Screams and shouts filled the air as people stumbled around in a panic.

Ash, pushed around by the scared crowd, tried to make her way to her grandfather. Out of nowhere, a strong hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her away.

Before she could react, she was being led through the darkness by someone who seemed to know the hotel inside and out.

When the lights flickered back on, the ballroom was a mess. Franklin, shaken up by the commotion, had been taken upstairs to rest.

Brooke was the first to notice Ash was missing. "Where's Ash?" she asked, her voice shaky.

They looked everywhere, but Ash was nowhere to be found. Caspian grumbled, "She's probably never dealt with anything like this before. Who knows where she's hiding?"

"Shut up," Josh snapped, smacking Caspian's head. "Keep looking. If your grandpa finds out about this, you're in hot water." He added as he turned to Lachlan, "Get someone to show the guests out."

Brooke stood off to the side, on the verge of tears. "My dear Ash," she whispered, "I've only just found you. Are you leaving me again?"

Ash tensed up, her mind in overdrive. "Who are you? What's this about?" she asked, fighting to keep her voice level.

The man sneered. "You know damn well. The Turner family's princess must be worth a pretty penny. Play nice, and you won't get hurt."

His words set off alarm bells—how did he know she was the Turner family's young lady when it wasn't public knowledge? This reeked of an inside job. Ash let out a chilly laugh that caught her captor off guard.

"What's so funny?" he snarled, pressing the knife closer.

"How much did she pay you?" Ash asked coolly.

"Mind your own business!" the man spat.

Ash raised her hands in apparent surrender. As the man eased up, she turned to face him. "I'll triple your pay to let me walk," she offered, her voice low and tempting.

The man scoffed. "Cut the crap! You just returned to the Turner family. Where would you get that kind of cash?"

"We're in the middle of nowhere," Ash pointed out, her voice taking on a sultry edge. "If I'm bluffing, you two can easily take me down. Right?"

Her half-smirk and tempting gaze set the man's pulse racing. He grinned sleazily, lowering his knife.

In that split second, Ash pounced. Quick as a flash, she grabbed the weapon and held it to his throat. "Pull over. Now!" she ordered, her voice icy and firm.