Chapter 361 Kidnapped
“Don’t tell her that I was the one who recommended her, though. Anastasia and I haven’t exactly been on amicable terms lately,” Aliona said to fortify her cover.
“Very well. I’m going to need the client’s name and the address where you’re scheduled to meet her.”
Aliona immediately called Riley for the address. When Felicia had the name and address in hand, she called the given contact number for confirmation.
The person who answered the call was a girl who made it clear that she wanted a highly personal arrangement wherein the designer would meet her someplace outside the company building. The various kinds of businesses available on the market were locked in grueling competition at the moment, and with the client’s budget being five million, Felicia did not want to let this deal fall through.
As such, she hurried over to Anastasia’s office and found the girl daydreaming after losing her drive to work. Having heard about the client and the budget she was given, Anastasia agreed and stood up behind her desk. She then announced, “I’ll be going, then.”
She figured she could use some fresh air and a change of environment.
Felicia nodded. “I’ve already made arrangements with the girl regarding the time and location. Why don’t you bring Grace with you? Also, be safe on the road!”
“Got it,” Anastasia replied. She had always been the most enthusiastic when it came to her work.
Once Anastasia left the office, Aliona turned back to Felicia’s office and asked if Anastasia had already gone out.
Upon hearing that Anastasia was about to drive out of the parking lot, Aliona quickly and happily gave Riley a call. Meanwhile, Anastasia was unaware of the danger that lay waiting for her. Aliona was sure that she could get rid of the infuriating girl by the end of the day, thereby making room for herself to slide into Elliot’s life to comfort him while he grieved Anastasia’s untimely death, winning him over with her kindness.
While this was happening, Anastasia and Grace headed out of the company building. During the drive, Anastasia called up the supposed client and confirmed that they were meeting up at a cafe to puruse the details of the order.
Along the way, she and Grace kept up a humorous repartee to pass time, and indeed, it wasn’t long before the navigation satellite told them that they were drawing close to the cafe. Anastasia parked her car in the area next to the cafe.
There was only one lot available, and Anastasia had to back into it. As she did so, she did not notice the men in the black vans on either side of her car.
This was all a ploy by Riley; he had arranged for his men to fill up most of the parking lots, leaving only this particular space.
Anastasia and Grace had only just grabbed their purses and went out of the car when the doors to the backseat of the van opened up. Without warning, the girls were each dragged into the black van closest to them. The men who did this moved so quickly that they did not spare either girl the chance to cry for help.
Soon, the kidnappers pulled out of the parking lot with one van leading the other. Two burly men held Anastasia down in the backseat while they hastily worked to bind her wrists and ankles. Following that, they stuffed a rag into her mouth to keep her from struggling or protesting in any way she could think of.
Fear and shock lit up in her eyes. She was supposed to be meeting a client, and she couldn’t understand how she had been ambushed on purpose, thereafter kidnapping her. What about Grace? What will happen to her? At the same time, she thought about her son. If something happens to me, who’s going to take care of Jared?
This made her struggle violently, but at that moment, the man next to her took out a syringe and injected something into her arm. The effects of the drug kicked in and washed over her almost immediately, rendering her weak. Eventually, she felt her conscious mind slipping into the darkness.
When the two vans had driven away, a black SUV tailed after them, and inside were Elliot’s bodyguards. They had been following one of Riley’s subordinates, and never did they think they would come across a kidnapping incident. More to the point, the dashcam in the car had managed to capture a full view of the kidnappers and their victims. Right now, the bodyguard in the passenger seat was reviewing the footage. He paused as he zoomed in on the woman’s face.
“It’s Miss Tillman!” he exclaimed.
“Quick, get President Presgrave on the line.”
Elliot had only just returned to Presgrave Corporation when his phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the caller ID and answered the call before greeting perfunctorily, “Hello?”
“President Presgrave, we were following Riley’s subordinates and ran into them kidnapping Miss Tillman and her assistant.”
Having just stepped through the doorway of his office, Elliot’s gut twisted when he heard this. “What?”
“Yes. We are sure that the kidnappers have taken Miss Tillman and her assistant. We are now following one of the two vans.”
“Very well. Keep a close eye on the cars, and if she’s in even the slightest bit of danger, then you must do what you can to save her,” Elliot ordered as his gaze grew frighteningly calm, though he might go berserk with worry at any given moment.
Why did Riley kidnap Anastasia? Is it because she’s the woman I’m in love with?
He didn’t have time to dwell on whatever twisted reasoning Riley might have behind such an operation. Without another word, he rallied Rey and eight of his bodyguards before they hurriedly followed the direction in which the kidnappers were moving.
