One Night With Mr Braxton

Emma gripped the steering wheel like her life depended on it. And it actually did. If there was one thing capable of killing her, it was the thought of her designs burning to ashes, months of hard work vanishing into thin air.

She needed to save her work, and fast!

Her phone rang non-stop, every single call received a text behind, all of which she knew came from her husband. Her very worried husband. A screeching sound filled the air and it took a moment before Emma realized that her tires were giving out.

” Oh shit!” She cussed, forcing the car to a halt and stepping out. Her tires were ruptured, all four of them. How she didn’t notice it from before was a mystery. Impatient, Emma looked around in search of something. Anything that would get her out of the situation.

The hairs on her body stood and she felt a presence loom over her. A rising dread course through her veins but before she could turn around, the sting of a needle pierced her throat. The more she felt its liquid contents seep into her, the more her sight blurred until she was knocked unconscious.

*****

Later that evening, Jason found his way to the Steele house, having traced Emma’ whereabouts to be there. He parked his car outside the open gates and alighted. If he was unsure, seeing the widely opened gates solidified his hunch that Emma might be inside the house.

His assumptions washed down the drains when he searched the entire house and found it empty. He felt a sense of Emma’s presence but he couldn’t place his hands upon what actually took place. Jason stood in front of the last room there was to search and with a push, the door opened. Apparently, someone was upset and decided to turn an otherwise beautiful room upside down.

Jason noticed the pattern immediately and with a look to the side, he sighted a slightly opened door. His expectations were met when he saw the designs- shoe designs- kept haphazardly on the floor and one old piece carefully singled out. Surely Emma had been inside, he could feel it and her hair band confirmed the assumptions that brought him to the next question;

Where did she go?

He went out of the house with a prodding feeling. Where on earth did she go and why would she leave so quickly? The doors being left uncharacteristically open now posed a new dimension to the event. Jason got to the car, ready to dial Asher when his call came in.

” Where are you?”

” About leaving the Steele house, something’s off.”

” Forget about that. Just focus on Rebecca’s case.” He ordered.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

” What’s going on? Did something happen over there?”

” Nothing. Unless you focus on the murder at hand, there will be.”

Two beeps signaled the end of the call and Jason felt confused. How exactly could he explain his friend’s sudden behaviour? Did Emma already return? Jason dialed his wife and she picked almost immediately.

” Baby?” Bianca’s uncertain voice pulled at his heartstrings, ” Are you okay?”

” I’m fine, sweetie. Are you at the house?”

” Yes, why?”

” Where is Asher? Has she returned?”

” In his study. Who?”

” Emma.”

” Asher said she went to her mother’s.” A brief pause, ” Wait a second, she isn’t at her mother’s is she?”

” I have to go. I love you.” He said, having confirmed his thoughts.

” Wait-” The call left Jason more confused than ever. He called Emma’s line again, this time, it was switched off. Something told him things were about to get messy and he resolved to continue his search, with or without Asher’s express consent.

Meanwhile, Bianca stormed Asher’s office with a displeased look.

” Where is Emma?” Asher looked up from his file, ” You told me she was at her moms’ and that’s bullshit. I can’t believe I didn’t pick up on that. Is she alright?”

” Yes.” Her eyes narrowed.

” What’s going on with you both? What are you not telling me?”

” I don’t have time for this.” He returned his focus on the matter at hand and Bianca knew better than to continue.

Asher got a letter, detailing pictures of Emma with a note that warned against informing anyone on the situation. Just before Jason called, he’d received a call instructing to get him off their trail or Emma paid the repercussions. What bothered him the most was the fact that he got another threat which solidified their claims – her sleeping picture.

All attempts at reaching out to them proved futile and it sent him crazy knowing they could reach him whenever and he was yet to crack their location or identity. While waiting for their next message, he busied himself sorting out the source of Rebecca’s murder and found a video from that night. He studied the feed that held a drunk Rebecca walking out of the club with a man that felt too familiar.

Asher placed a call to one of his men, ” Find out the Identity of this man, immediately!”

******

Jason traced Emma’s car to where it was abandoned. He immediately called Asher with the information.

” I found Emma’s car.” Asher held in a breath,

” Where?”

” On the road, parked and abandoned with her belongings.” He hissed, shutting the door. ” Something’s not right. I’m sending my location to the boys, to help get the video feed.”

Asher closed his eyes, unprepared for the reality of his wife being in danger, ” Return home. I’ll handle this myself.”

” She was taken! Hold on!” Jason exclaimed as he watched the video. Someone wiped off the camera feeds but he was able to hack into it in minutes- a feat directly credited to his outstanding skills.

A minute later, Asher watched the gut-wrenching video of his wife getting drugged and carried away by unknown men.

” I am on top of the situation. If you care about her safety, please let things be.” Jason was shocked at the plea in his friend’s voice.

” You knew?” It wasn’t a question, but a fact. ” What didn’t you tell me?”

” Just drop it.” Asher spoke firmly, ” It’s not a request.”

He dropped the call, leaving Jason stupefied while he went through the horror of watching his wife get abducted. Her life was at their mercy and the least he could do was buy her enough time until he figured out her location and busted her out of the place safely in his arms. For now, he had to play by their rules and he would be damned if he let anything ruin her chances of survival.

Not even a caring friend.

Asher stood in front of his window. His phone lit up at the sound of an unread message. His eyes glanced through its content and narrowed at a picture that linked Cole and the suspect behind Rebecca’s death together. Matter of fact, the idiot dined with the suspect he now knew to be Kaden. Not just once, but on many occasions, one of which was very recent.

” Drown his company. You have till midnight.”

******

Emma awakened on the floor. The cold tiles seeped into her light clothes, causing a light tremor and shiver. Her eyes adjusted to the lighting and it didn’t take long before she realized something wasn’t right. Her mind woke up and the memories of her kidnap came in first. Her eyes widened and she tried to get up. Only then did she feel the pain from her bound arms.

” Let me out of here!” she screamed with a hoarse voice, ” Who is out there?!”

A deafening silence that drove her mad ensued.

” Let me go! Somebody! Anybody!”

The tail-end of her screams were muffled with a sob. Tears spilled over her face as the took in her nightmare turned into reality. She was a prisoner, yet again a kidnap victim. Just when she believed she was alone, she heard footsteps from outside her room-cage. Some people were headed-standing in front of her door. A dangle of keys and clicking sounds opened the door to her personal hell and revealed the devil she didn’t know.

Her mouth fell ajar on seeing the man, holding up a charming smile and tucked in a suit. ” K-Kaden?”

” Nice to know you didn’t completely forget me.” He walked into the room and his aura imposed his presence, ” Good thing we meet again, only that this time, I’m neither willing nor interested in offering my apologies.”

” K-Kaden… What’s going on? How are you here? Let me go!” Emma couldn’t arrange her thoughts.

” And why would I do that?” He squatted to her level, ” I’ll be quick with things. Do what you are told and nobody gets hurt. If you are a good girl, maybe you get a better room.” He tutted, looking around the scantily furnished room.

” Why? Why are you doing this? Is it because I denied you? I’m sorry, we can always talk things out.” Emma felt desperate, ” Please, let me go. I’ll give you anything, just let me go.”

Nothing prepared her for the lightning slap that sent her to the floor, ” Let’s get this straight, shall we?” His face held an evil glint that ignited a fear so raw she could taste it. ” You are under my mercy and do not get to question me. Don’t even think about escaping or doing anything stupid because it will only get you killed. I suggest to remove every unrealistic hopes of leaving, and embrace your new reality.”