Semua Bab Mine to Protect: Bab 11 - Bab 17

Natalie burst through the revolving glass door, and the elderly security man jumped up from his seat and hobbled toward her. “The partners are waiting for you upstairs,” he said, his voice shaking.Natalie thanked the man, pressing the elevator up bottom repeatedly as if that would make it open faster. Glancing over her shoulder, Palmer stood a few paces away in his usual uniform of dark pants, black t-shirt and a black jacket. The combo highlighted his dark blond locks that needed a trimming as unruly curls brushed the nape of his neck. She stared back at the steel doors, her heart fluttering. Darn it, he was the reason why she was late to the crucial meeting. She didn’t get a wink of sleep, her mind tormenting her with thoughts of Palmer and what she desperately wanted him to do to her. Her body slightly trembled with need. She really didn’t need this right now. Her mind had to be on getting the partners to agree on her father’s company to buy the majority shares. The elevator doors

Natalie gasped awoke on a tough cement ground. Darkness surrounded her as she blinked away the grogginess from the sweet-smelling solvent that had rendered her unconscious. Lifting her hands, she hastily pulled off the bag wrapped around her head. Glancing around she took in the dimly light room. It was a dilapidated classroom and from the sizes of the broken chairs and desks scattered around the room it had been a primary school. The chalkboard was cracked, and dust particles floated around the room. The two windows were barricaded with wooden boards, the setting sun’s rays flowed through the spaces in between the boards casting long shadows across the room. The only door in the classroom had no handle. She was stuck inside. Harsh breaths left her mouth, her eyes squeezing shut as she rocked back and forth, her arms wrapped around her belly. How am I going to get out of here? Her father’s voice echoed in her head of him admonishing her of losing her bodyguards. She never took the da

Natalie stood up from where she was crouching down on the bucket. She took a water bottle and washed her hands. Pulling up her jeans, she slowly walked back to the spot where she’d made a makeshift bed with the blankets she had been given. She didn’t know what time it was, but she guessed early morning.She slid down to her bed and wrapped a blanket around herself. It was June in Angola and the temperature dropped in the night. The footsteps of the man patrolling outside her windows sounded and she turned her head to look at the barracked window. Had her father paid the ransom already? Were they really going to let her go? Palmer must be furious with her for not staying close to Mark. Why did he leave her bed so early in the morning, leaving her wondering what was happening between them? She gave her head a shake. This was not the time to think about her entanglement with Palmer. She needed to stay alive. Natalie bolted upright when she heard a grunt from the kidnapper that was outsi

Natalie sat at her large waterfall kitchen island, flipping through a fashion magazine. The television in the kitchen was on, but the sound was on mute. She flipped a page and took a sip of her strong coffee. She needed the caffeine, as she hadn’t slept last night. The thought of Palmer across the hall from her in her own apartment kept her tossing and turning in her king-sized bed. She had hoped that he’ll knock on her door, but she’d woken alone, sexually frustrated and mad at Palmer for being in her safe space. She had nowhere to run from him now. “Mm-hm General, I realize that you couldn’t stop the news from leaking out. I’ll talk to her father to get a press release out ASAP,” Palmer’s gravelly, calm voice pierced the stillness in the open-plan kitchen as he rounded the corner.“Okay, General. Thank you for the heads up. Goodbye.” Palmer placed his phone on the marble kitchen counter and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Natalie, your friends are coming up the elevator. Mark co