Captives

**Colette**

I woke up slowly, my head pounding and my mouth dry as sand. Everything felt heavy-my eyelids, my arms, my thoughts. I tried to move and pain shot through my skull, making me groan.

Where was I?

The bed beneath me was soft. Too soft. Not the hard clinic bed I remembered. I forced my eyes open and immediately squeezed them shut again. Sunlight poured through huge windows, too bright after the darkness.

I tried again, blinking until my vision cleared. The room around me looked like something from a magazine. High ceilings with detailed molding. Cream-colored walls. Furniture that probably cost more than my entire apartment. Heavy curtains framed windows that showed a garden outside.

This wasn't the clinic. This wasn't a hospital.

Panic hit me hard and fast. I sat up too quickly and my stomach lurched. I pressed my hand against my mouth, breathing hard through my nose until the nausea passed.

What happened? I remembered getting ready for the procedure. The nurse leaving me alone. Then men in black suits bursting through the door. A cloth pressed to my face. The chemical smell.

They drugged me. Someone kidnapped me from a clinic.

I threw off the expensive blankets and stumbled out of bed. My legs shook but I made it to the door and grabbed the handle. Locked. Of course it was locked.

"No, no, no," I muttered, pulling harder. The door didn't budge.

I ran to the windows next, but they didn't open either. I was three stories up based on the view. Even if I broke the glass, jumping would probably kill me.

I was trapped.

My breathing came faster, my chest getting tight. This couldn't be happening. Who kidnaps someone from a clinic? Why me? What did they want?

The baby. The thought hit me like ice water. They knew about the baby.

I pressed both hands against my stomach. Was it still there? Had they already taken it while I was unconscious? I didn't feel different, but I had no idea what losing a pregnancy felt like.

The door clicked and I spun around. A middle-aged man in an expensive suit walked in carrying a tray of food. He looked like someone's butler from an old movie-perfectly groomed, expression neutral.

"Good, you're awake," he said calmly, like this was all completely normal. "You must be hungry."

"Where am I?" I demanded. "Why did you bring me here?"

He set the tray on a small table near the window. "Please, sit. Eat. Then we'll talk."

"I'm not sitting anywhere until you tell me what's going on!" My voice came out too loud, edging on hysterical. "You kidnapped me! That's illegal! I'll call the police-"

"Your phone was left at the clinic," he interrupted smoothly. "And I wouldn't recommend involving the police. This situation is delicate."

"Delicate?" I laughed but it sounded wrong. "You drugged me and dragged me out of a medical facility!"

"To save your baby's life," he said simply.

The words stopped me cold. "What?"

"Please. Sit. I'll explain everything." He gestured to a chair.

I didn't want to sit. I wanted to run, to scream, to wake up from this nightmare. But my legs were still shaky and I needed answers. I sank into the chair, keeping my distance from him.

The butler-or whatever he was-stood with his hands clasped behind his back. "My name is Victor. I work for a very powerful man. Three months ago, there was a mistake. A woman was supposed to meet my employer at a hotel, but due to a mix-up, you ended up in his room instead."

My blood ran cold. "The hotel. That night."

"Yes. My employer had no idea you weren't the arranged woman until much later. By then, the damage was done." He paused. "You're carrying his child."

"That's impossible. I was drugged-"

"Not by him. By someone else at the bar, we believe. My employer was also given something that night, though not as strong as what you received. It was an unfortunate series of events."

I stared at him. "Your boss wants the baby!?"

Victor's expression didn't change. "The situation is complicated. My employer takes responsibility for his child. He wants to ensure the baby is born healthy and cared for."

"By kidnapping me?" My voice shook. "By stopping my appointment?"

"You were about to terminate your pregnancy. We couldn't allow that."

"You have no right-" I started, but he held up a hand.

"Perhaps not. But it's done. You're here now, and you're going to stay here until the baby is born."

The casual way he said it made my skin crawl. "That's insane. You can't just keep me locked up for nine months!"

"Seven months," he corrected. "You're already ten weeks along."

"I'll scream. I'll tell everyone what you did."

"This estate is very private. Very secure. No one will hear you." He moved to the tray and lifted the cover, revealing eggs, toast, fruit. "Now please eat. You need to keep your strength up for the baby."

I wanted to throw the food at his face. I wanted to break something. But mostly I just wanted to cry. This couldn't be real. Things like this didn't happen to normal people.

"My family will look for me," I said, grasping for anything. "My roommate-"

"Your roommate believes you went home to deal with a family emergency. Your family is currently dealing with bankruptcy proceedings and legal troubles. They're too distracted to notice you're not answering calls." He said it without emotion, just facts. "We've been monitoring the situation."

Of course they had. These people-whoever they were-had probably been watching me for weeks. Planning this.

"Who is he?" I asked quietly. "Your employer. The baby's father."

"That information isn't relevant. What matters is that he's wealthy enough to ensure this child has everything it needs. Including saving your family's failing company."

My head snapped up. "What?"

"Eat," Victor said again. "Then we'll discuss the terms."

He left before I could argue, the door locking behind him with a soft click. I sat there staring at the food, my mind spinning.

They knew about the company. About my family's money problems. And they were using it as leverage.

I should refuse. I should fight. But what choice did I have? I was locked in a room three stories up with no phone and no way out. They could keep me here by force if they wanted.

At least if I cooperated, maybe I could negotiate. Maybe I could find a way to escape.

My stomach growled despite everything. I hadn't eaten since yesterday. The baby needed food even if I wanted to refuse it.

I picked up the toast and took a small bite. It tasted like nothing.