Chapter 1

Jacqueline’s POV

I felt the rough palms pulling me up. I had bumped into something—a smooth pillar, I guess. Though, it was just a scratch on my arm. I was forced to sit down on a chair. It felt like a wooden chair. The bag over my face was pulled up.

I squinted my eyes when I saw the bright lightbulb, hung above the where I was seated. I looked away and scanned the place.

The room was wide; had pillars at a measured distance and the end of the room was dark as some of the bulbs weren’t on. There wasn’t any piece of furniture in sight, except the one I was sitting on.

Just as I was about to look forward, a puff of smoke blew right in my face. It caught me off-guard and caused me to cough. Even with the gag over my mouth, it was difficult to breathe.

“We’ve brought her, just like you asked.” A man said.

I raised my head a little and looked at the man in front of me. He was tall, probably in his early thirties. His facial expression was cold, unsettled as if he had lost something worth of value. He had no facial hair and took a puff at his lit cigarette. His earring glinted to the light he stood under. He had a white shirt and a pair of black trousers on.

The sleeves of his shirt were folded at his forearm, not too far from his wrist. The button close to his collar was undone, partially revealing his tattoo. He had a scar, close to his eye.

He crouched down in front of me and looked at me blankly. He flashed a glance at one of the men behind me and maintained his gaze on me.

“Come!” He said firmly, signalling him with a nod.

The bodyguard glanced at the other beside him and swallowed hard. He walked towards him.

“Stretch out your hand.” He said plainly, without making eye contact.

“Boss?” The bodyguard stammered.

He scowled at him. He stood straight and forcefully pulled the bodyguard’s arm and put out the cigarette on it.

“Ahh!” The bodyguard groaned in pain.

He smiled slyly as he removed it and tossed it across the room. The bodyguard looked at his arm and saw the scald caused by the lit cigarette. He grimaced in pain.

“This will teach you not to do something this stupid.” He said coldly.

The other wanted to say something but refrained from doing so. He didn’t want to suffer the same fate as the former. He hung his head once his eyes met his boss’.

“When I asked you to kidnap someone, you were supposed to do it right. Instead, you returned with this chubby teenager.” He scoffed.

“Who are you calling chubby?” I muffled annoyingly, with the gag still on.

He furrowed his brow surprisingly and rolled his eyes.

“Now, I see why you had her gagged.” He said plainly.

“Take it off.”

The bodyguard nodded and quickly lowered the gag.

“Give me—.”

“I’m not chubby. I’m slightly overweight. And who are you calling a teenager? I’m at least twenty-one, just say you know.” I said confidently, looking at him.

He didn’t argue nor did he get angry. He smiled at me. So demure yet dangerous.

“Confident, outspoken and bold. Not bad.” He said gleefully.

The bodyguards looked at each other and smiled faintly. I furrowed my brow confusingly.

“Get her into the wedding dress. There isn’t much time anymore. The priest will be here any moment.” He said as he put his hand in one of his pockets. He brought out a pack of cigarettes and took out a stick. He lit it with a lighter and discarded the pack back in his pocket.

“Wedding dress? What do you mean by that?” I inquired.

He glanced at me and stayed mute. He walked further into the room.

Did he just ignore me?

I stood up from the chair. Neither of the bodyguards stopped me nor said a word. I walked towards him and stood at a distance.

“You really like to play dumb, don’t you?” I said.

He stopped, though he didn’t turn round.

“You brought me here without my consent, had your bodyguards forcefully gagged me and had a black bag over my face. And now, you want me to wear a wedding dress? Is this some kind of a joke to you?” I vented my anger.

“Um, I wouldn’t talk to the boss like that if I were you.” One of the bodyguards warned, in a low tone.

I turned round and looked at him blankly.

“Or what?” I dared.

“Turn round.” He said steely.

“Huh?”

I slowly turned my head round and froze. My blood suddenly ran cold as I felt the gun placed on my forehead. I swallowed hard and began to sweat, despite the temperature being cold.