Since She Met Lucian

"What you're doing is illegal, sir!" Amelia protested. She scanned the place where the strange men took her but wouldn't go forward for fear of what she'd find in the dark. She stubbornly sat down on the ground, signaling to the men that she was going to stay put.

This didn't do much as the men easily lifted her and pushed her inside the abandoned house.

"Ah!" Amelia screamed when the door clicked and swung open. The whole place was dead silent.

Amelia knelt on the floor. She didn't dare move, fearing what would happen next.

"Are you Amelia?" A voice came out of the darkness. It was loud and reverberated in the room, making it sound weird and frightful for Amelia.

Despite her nerves, Amelia answered, "Yes. Who are you?"

She helplessly tried to make out figures in the darkness, searching for the man whose voice she was hearing. Amelia's heart was thumping loudly, but she tried her best to appear calm.

"It doesn't matter who I am. All you need to know is that I'm here to help you." Amelia could tell that the voice was coming from a man, but that was all she could tell about the person she was talking to. His voice sounded mysterious and cold.

"Help me?" Amelia asked, looking around in confusion. But whoever abducted her seemed like he had no intention of revealing himself. Only a stretch of darkness laid in front of her. "Stop playing mysterious and show yourself!" Amelia snapped.

A million possibilities of what might happen ran in her head. The threat to her safety had never felt more real. She could feel herself sweating bullets.

"Don't be afraid. I promise that we won't hurt you. I just want to ask you a few questions," the man assured her. His voice sounded gentler but it didn't do anything to quell Amelia's fears. On the contrary, the darkness and silence that enveloped the area made her more and more scared.

"I don't even know who you are. Why should I answer your questions?" Amelia was scared, but she wouldn't easily give her captors what they wanted.

The man laughed. "You're very stubborn." The amusement died down in his voice when he continued, "Do you really want Zhan Group to survive the crisis?"

"Of course!" she answered without thinking. If anything, it was what she wanted the most.

"Are you really willing to give up Lucian for that cause?" The mysterious man asked the question she was least willing to answer herself.

Saying that she was willing to give up Lucian would be a lie. But saying that she was not willing to do so would not do Zhan Group any good.

"That's a question I will not answer," she retorted.

It seemed to Amelia that the man smiled just then. He continued, "As far as I know, Lucian doesn't want to accept any help from An Group, even if you're willing to trade him for it."

he'd made up his

accept An Group's offer, then Zhan Group would be a lost cause.

you?" Amelia couldn't help but

for a long time, after which he said, "Being too smart won't do you much good. Let's stop beating around the bush. If

patience in his voice

Lucian. Aren't those enough?" The memory of the harsh things she said to Lucian came back

they won't make him change his mind, let alone marry Miss An,"

me. I can't make him think what you want him to think," Amelia said. She may have mixed feelings for Lucian, and it was undeniable

An family doesn't have a wife nor a girlfriend. If you want

you think that?" Amelia answered in

lot in the years she'd known him. She regarded him as a brother. If there was any love between

don't give me your final

either from An Group or Zhan Group. "Do you work for An Group?

didn't want to consider that the man worked for Lucian's family. Although thinking about how Fannie tried to commit suicide in Zhan Group to lure her out, she wouldn't easily dismiss the possibility of him

decision, Zhan Group will go bankrupt within the week." The mysterious man's voice relaxed a bit. Amelia thought he even sounded delighted at the mention of Zhan

the abandoned house creaked open. Amelia saw two men carrying flashlights come in. It was the strange men who abducted

and followed the men outside. Getting into the car, she weighed the pros and cons of letting these men take her home. If she told them her address,

downtown when Amelia asked to be dropped off in

be staying here tonight, Miss

any of their concern. She got out of the car but turned back before she could reach the hotel door. Amelia shouted at the dark man, "You better stop doing this. If you or your boss has anything to say to me, don't come scaring and abducting me in

her voice

A taxi drove by every now and then but everywhere else, the city looked asleep. It was only the hotel that looked like it was still open for business.

please forgive my offences tonight,"

was a gesture Amelia

on the car and marched towards the hotel. She heard the

lobby's marbled floor under the crystal chandeliers made her heart beat

on the counter and asked weakly, "How much is

sorry, Miss. All of our basic rooms have been booked for the night.

room left?"

All the other rooms have been booked already," the lady answered