Eleanor's POV
The days following Alexander's repeated reassurances were fraught with tension. He was often away, his explanations vague and unsatisfying. Determined to uncover what he was hiding, I decided to take matters into my own hands. One evening, when Alexander was out handling business, I made my way to his office.
The room was dimly lit, the heavy curtains drawn. I carefully opened the door and stepped inside, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. I knew I shouldn't be doing this, but the gnawing suspicion was too much to bear. I started with the desk, sifting through papers and documents, looking for anything that might explain Alexander's recent behaviour.
After what felt like hours, I found a folder marked "Confidential." My hands trembled as I opened it, revealing a series of correspondences and reports. The names and details were unfamiliar, but one thing was clear: Alexander was involved in a secretive and dangerous alliance with another family. My mind raced as I tried to make sense of the information. Why would he keep this from me?
Before I could delve deeper, I heard a noise behind me. I turned, my heart leaping into my throat, but it was too late. A cloth was pressed against my face, and the world went black.
---
I woke up in a dimly lit room, my hands bound and my head throbbing. Panic surged through me as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. The room was small and bare, with a single door and no windows. The only sound was the distant murmur of voices.
I struggled against my bindings, but they were too tight. Footsteps approached, and the door creaked open. A man entered, his face obscured by shadows.
"Who are you? What do you want?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady despite the fear that gripped me.
The man stepped forward, revealing a cold, calculating expression. "You're Eleanor Sterling," he said, his voice low and menacing. "We have business with your husband."
"Alexander will come for me," I said, trying to sound confident.
The man smirked. "Oh, I'm counting on it."
---
Alexander's POV
I returned to the estate to find it eerily quiet. My heart sank as I realized something was wrong. I called out for Eleanor, but there was no response. Panic set in as I searched the house, my mind racing with possibilities. When I reached my office and saw the open folder on my desk, my blood ran cold.
"Marcus!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the empty halls.
He appeared almost immediately, his expression grave. "What's wrong?"
"Eleanor's gone," I said my voice tight with fear and anger. "She's been taken."
Marcus's eyes widened. "We will find her. I'll mobilize our men."
I nodded, trying to keep my emotions in check. "Do it. And find out who's behind this. I want answers."
As Marcus left to organize the search, my phone rang. The number was unknown, but I answered immediately.
"Alexander Sterling," the voice on the other end said, a hint of amusement in his tone. "We have your wife."
My grip tightened on the phone. "Who are you, and what do you want?"
"All in good time, Mr. Sterling," the voice replied. "For now, just know that she's safe. For the moment."
"If you harm her—" I began, but the voice cut me off.
"You're in no position to make threats, Sterling. We'll be in touch with our demands soon. You have seventy-two hours to comply."
The line went dead, leaving me standing there, seething with rage. I would find Eleanor, and I would make whoever took her pay dearly.
---
Eleanor's POV
Time seemed to stretch endlessly in the dimly lit room. My mind raced with thoughts of Alexander and what he might be doing to find me. The door opened again, and this time, a different man entered. He was tall and imposing, with an air of authority that sent a chill down my spine.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice trembling despite my efforts to remain calm.
"My name is Wales," he said, his voice smooth and controlled. "And you, Eleanor, are a very valuable piece in a very dangerous game."
"What do you want from me?" I demanded, trying to keep my fear at bay.
"It's not about what we want from you," Wales replied, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "It's about what we want from your husband. You're leverage, my dear. Pure and simple."
---
Alexander's POV
Marcus returned with a grim expression. "We've got leads, but nothing concrete yet. We're monitoring all possible contacts and locations."
I nodded, my mind racing. "We have now less than seventy-two hours. Let's not waste any time."
As we coordinated the search, my thoughts kept drifting back to Eleanor, imagining what she must be going through. The thought of her in danger was almost too much to bear.
---
Eleanor's POV
Hours passed, and Wales returned, this time with a phone in hand. "It's time for you to speak with your husband," he said, holding the phone out to me.
I took it, my hands trembling. "Alexander?"
"Eleanor, are you alright?" His voice was filled with worry.
"I'm okay," I said, trying to sound brave. "They haven't hurt me."
"Listen to me, Eleanor. I'm going to get you out of there. Just hang on."
Wales took the phone back, his expression smug. "You have ummm sixty-two hours, Sterling. If you don't meet our demands, she dies."
The call ended, and I was left alone with my thoughts, the weight of Wales's threat hanging heavily over me.
---
Alexander's POV
As I ended the call, a sense of urgency washed over me. We had seventy-two hours to save Eleanor, and failure was not an option. I turned to Marcus, my resolve hardening.
"We need to move fast. Get everything ready. We're going to save her, no matter what it takes."
As we prepared for the rescue mission, the clock continued to tick, each passing second bringing us closer to the deadline. The tension was palpable, a constant reminder of the stakes.