Chapter 19: Step Down
“Have I ever told you that you’re the prettiest lady I’ve seen?” Liam confessed and Isabelle smiled.
“Shit!” Liam cursed as the car stopped, he tried to ignite the car and he cursed even more when he failed.
“What’s wrong?”
Nothing much, must be the engine acting up, I just got this car serviced for hell’s sake” He muttered as he got out angrily.
He opened the bonnet, touching some parts. Isabelle came to stand beside him, she didn’t like the lonely part they were in.
“I could give my driver a call and tell him to come get us, this place seems dangerous” She suggested and Liam nodded, typing furiously on his phone.
A black van appeared from a corner and Isabelle went to stand beside the road, waving at the car to stop.
The car stopped in front of her and two masked guys came out immediately, she was about to step back when a guy was pointed at her face and her eyes widened with horror.
“Please don’t kill me, please” She whimpered, falling to her knees.
“Shut the hell up and get into the van!” One screamed as the other dragged Liam roughly.
She was shoved into the van with Liam who had a worrisome look that didn’t reach his eyes. He tried to comfort Isabelle who was crying profusely.
The van drove roughly, swaying and raising dust as it raced through a dusty road. It stopped and they were forced inside.
Liam resisted, trying to fight back and one used his gun to hit his head, making Liam pass out as he was taken to a different room.
Isabelle was thrown into a dark small room without windows. She checked her pockets and cursed when she didn’t find her phone, remembering that she had left it in Liam’s car.
She sniffed, wishing she had brought Alessandro with her, her thoughts were in disarray and she tried to think of a way out.
Just when she was getting her thoughts together, the door cranked open revealing a vile-looking man who smirked deviously.
“Pleasure to meet the beautiful Isabelle, I’m a big fan” He admitted.
“Who are you and what do you want from me?” She fired and he frowned.
“You have very bad manners, I’m Beau, I don’t want anything from you, what I want is from your father” He answered with a grin.
“Then stop being a coward and go get it from him” She spat and got a resounding slap, she could’ve sworn she saw stars moving as the slap stung her cheek.
“Politics is about keeping a low profile, I can strike anytime I wish. Now you would talk to your father and tell him not to run for the primary election in the party and also make it known that he wouldn’t be running for the presidency” He instructed, calling the president.
“Hello, Mr. President, your daughter would love to give you some advice”
Roberto was in his office with Ann, making out when his phone rang. Ann clung to him, not wanting to get distracted.
“Ann, I have to take this call” He pleaded in between kisses and she frowned heavily.
“Hello?… Isabelle, who are you and what do you want… Never, I’ll never do such, you can go to hell for all I care… no!” He disagreed, frowning and Ann held his shoulder, he pushed her hands away, shaking his head angrily.
“Let’s discuss this, how much do you need, I’ll pay you triple of what you were paid… Hello? Hello?!” He shouted, dropping the phone angrily.
“What’s wrong?” She asked curiously.
“Isabelle has been kidnapped and they’re demanding I step down from the primary election in the party” He sighed, scratching his head.
“What! That’s absurd, you can’t do that”
“I know but what would I do? He has threatened to send her hands to me if I don’t comply. I’m so confused, what should I do?”
“How was she kidnapped, doesn’t she have a guard? She’s always bringing trouble, can’t we send her back to her aunt?” Ann suggested.
“Ann! Focus on the matter on the ground, I’ll call her guard now” Roberto grabbed his phone and called Alessandro who picked up immediately.
“Hello sir” Alessandro called.
“Where the hell are you, where is Isabelle..?” Roberto yelled.
“Sir, she left almost an hour ago, with a guy, she had instructed me not to follow her..”
“Are you insane?! How dare you leave her side, wasn’t that your job? being by her side always, get your ass to the presidential palace now!”
ALESSANDRO
“I’m sorry Elena, I have to go now” He pleaded and she looked at him with surprise.
“Why? Is anything wrong?” She fidgeted.
“Nope, I just have to leave, we’ll see some other time. Thanks a lot” He got into the car and sped off to the presidential palace, racing to Roberto’s office.
He knocked and the door flung open instantly.
“Where the fuck is Isabelle?!” Roberto thundered and fear gripped him.
“I don’t know, she went for lunch with a guy, I tried to follow her but he sped off before I could go take the car”
“You’re such an idiot, I employed you to keep her safe, and now you’re giving me silly excuses! Find her now!” Roberto commanded and with a bow, he left the office.
“Let’s continue what we started” Ann whispered and Roberto pushed her away.
“Are you insane? In a few hours, if I don’t find my daughter or step down, her hands would be sent to me, and all you’re concerned about is sex”
“Isabelle is my daughter and it’s high time you get it into your skull that your kids are illegitimate” Roberto scolded and Ann glared at him, her nostrils flaring with anger.
Furiously, she stomped out of the office, going to get her bag. She left the presidential palace for her house.
“Hello, Isabelle has been kidnapped, make a post about it, I’ll send you the full details now” Ann disclosed and hung up.
THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
“Is it true?” Mario asked, immediately her and Andrea entered the president’s office.
“What?” Roberto asked, absentmindedly.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
“It’s all over the internet that Isabelle has been kidnapped and you were asked to step down or else she would be butchered and sent to you. Is it true?” Andrea requested and Roberto cursed.
“It’s damn true, what do I do about it? I’ve instructed Alessandro to find her. I can’t step down” Roberto answered.
“You can’t but you’ve got to do something to make the public believe that she’s fine, they’re asking lots of questions. The media is in a turmoil”
“But who would leak his news? We didn’t even know so how would any blogger get to know?” Andrea wondered and Ann barged inside.
“I just saw the news, what are we gonna do about it?” She asked, panick written on her face.
“Who leaked it to that damned blog?” Roberto demanded furiously with looks that could strangle.
“I don’t know, how would I do such a thing that would ruin your chances of becoming the president? What would I get for doing it? I’m sure we have a spy in the office..”
“I’ve found her location, I’m heading there now, I’ll call for backup when I get there” Alessandro informed and hurried out before he could get stopped.
He entered his car, racing like a mad cheetah as he made his way past several cars on the highway, getting curses and insults from other drivers.
He stopped a short distance away from an old looking wooden house, the house looked big and he wondered where he’d start from and how he would enter without being noticed.
He walked around the house, peering at the house through the window. He noticed that all the guards wore black mask and was grateful that he had one in his car.
He saw a man talking to Isabelle who was crying uncontrollably, a part of her cheek had a red mark and he knew she had been slapped. He grew angry.
He went back to the car, wore his mask and knocked on the door confidently. The guards at the door cocked their guns immediately, aiming at him.
“Are you insane, how dare you point that at me” Alessandro demanded, feigning rage. They looked at him with shock and knelt down.
“We’re so sorry boss”
“Take me to her” He hissed and they led him to the room where she was, she was laying on the floor, her hands and legs bound.
“Untie her now, I’m taking her to another location”
“But sir…”
“Untie her now before they arrive” He ordered and the men began untying her. He dragged her up, making her scream with pain.
He took her to his car, the two men walking behind him.
“I’ll send you to the new location, the police are on our tail, you should get out of here fast” He instructed and they nodded, returning to the house to get their things and he sped off instantly.
Men were shocked when another car drove inside a few minutes later.
“Where is she? Get her to the car now!” Beau instructed and they looked at him with amazement.
“But.. but the boss just took her away”
“Which boss! Damn, she has escaped. How did they find this location? Get inside the car now, you’re dead meat if we won’t find her” Beau ranted as he drove after the car he had seen leaving.
“Please, don’t kill me” She pleaded and he removed the mask, making her gasp and feel relieved.
“Thank you so much, Alessandro. Thank you… You’re amazing” She muttered, tears close to her eyes.
She heard gunshots and looked back, she saw a black car with two guys firing bullets from the car.
“What are we going to do?” She asked and screamed when a bullet smashed the back window.
“I’ll do what I know how to do best, confuse them” He replied and stepped on the accelerator, increasing the car speed. The turned sharply to a highway, driving at the wrong side.
Beau turned his car and raced after Alessandro, he almost crashed into a trailer but was quick to turn, the guys couldn’t fire again as the car swung from side to side.
He followed the car to a dark rough part and was shocked when he saw the car empty.
“Search everywhere for them, shoot the bushes, they won’t be far” Beau commanded.