As I saw Alexander Grayson's face in the window of the black sedan, I felt a surge of fear. He had found us, and I knew that he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
Max's eyes followed mine, and he saw the sedan too. His expression turned cold and hard, and he reached for his phone.
"We need to get out of here," he said. "Now."
But it was too late. The sedan pulled up beside us, and Alexander Grayson stepped out. He was smiling, but his eyes were cold and calculating.
"Rory," he said. "I've been looking for you."
I felt a surge of fear as he approached me. Max stepped forward, his eyes blazing with anger.
"Leave her alone, Grayson," he said. "She's not going anywhere with you."
Alexander Grayson laughed. "Oh, I think she will," he said. "You see, I have something that belongs to her. Something that she wants very badly."
I felt a surge of confusion. What could Alexander Grayson possibly have that I wanted?
But then, I saw it. A small, leather-bound book. My journal.
"How did you get that?" I demanded, feeling a surge of anger.
Alexander Grayson smiled. "I have my ways," he said. "And I'm willing to give it back to you. If you come with me."
I felt a surge of fear. I knew that I couldn't trust Alexander Grayson. But I also knew that I had to get my journal back.
Max's eyes were blazing with anger. "You're not going anywhere with him, Rory," he said. "We'll get your journal back, but you're not going to trade your freedom for it."
I nodded, feeling a sense of determination. I was not going to let Alexander Grayson win. I was going to fight back, and I was going to get my journal back.
But as I looked at Alexander Grayson, I knew that it wasn't going to be easy. He was a powerful and ruthless man, and he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the confrontation ahead. I was ready to fight, and I was ready to win.
"I'm not going anywhere with you, Grayson," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
Alexander Grayson's smile grew wider. "Oh, I think you will," he said. "You see, I have something else that you want. Something that you'll do anything to get."
I felt a surge of fear as he pulled out a small photograph. It was a picture of my sister, Emily.
"Where is she?" I demanded, feeling a surge of anger.
Alexander Grayson's smile grew wider. "Oh, she's safe," he said. "For now. But if you don't come with me, I'm afraid she'll be in grave danger."
I felt a surge of fear and anger. How could he do this to me? How could he use my sister as leverage?
Max's eyes were blazing with anger. "You're not going to hurt her," he said. "We'll protect her, no matter what it takes."
Alexander Grayson's smile grew wider. "Oh, I'm shaking in my boots," he said. "But I think you'll find that I'm not someone to be underestimated."
I felt a surge of fear as I realized that Alexander Grayson was not going to give up easily. He was going to fight to get what he wanted, no matter what it took.
But I was not going to back down. I was going to fight back, and I was going to protect my sister, no matter what it took.
"Let's go," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
Max's eyes narrowed. "Rory, no," he said. "We can't let him win."
But I knew that I had no choice. I had to protect my sister, no matter what it took.
"I'm sorry, Max," I said. "But I have to do this."
And with that, I turned and followed Alexander Grayson, leaving Max behind.
As I followed Alexander Grayson, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. I knew that I was walking into a trap, but I had no choice. I had to protect my sister.
We walked in silence, Alexander Grayson leading the way. I couldn't help but wonder where we were going, and what he had planned for me.
After a few minutes of walking, we arrived at a large, luxurious mansion. Alexander Grayson opened the door and gestured for me to enter.
I hesitated for a moment, but then I stepped inside. The mansion was opulent and extravagant, with marble floors and crystal chandeliers.
Alexander Grayson led me to a large, ornate room. My sister, Emily, was sitting on a couch, looking pale and scared.
"Emily!" I exclaimed, rushing over to her. "Are you okay?"
Emily nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I'm so sorry, Rory," she said. "I didn't mean to get you into this."
I hugged her tightly, trying to comfort her. "It's not your fault, Emily," I said. "We'll get through this together."
Alexander Grayson smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I'm glad to see that you're reunited," he said. "But now, it's time for us to discuss the terms of our agreement."
I felt a surge of fear as I realized what he was implying. He was going to use Emily as leverage to get what he wanted from me.
"What do you want from me?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
Alexander Grayson smiled again. "Oh, I think you know exactly what I want," he said. "I want you to work for me, Rory. I want you to use your skills to help me achieve my goals."
I felt a surge of anger and resentment. How could he ask me to do this? How could he use my sister as leverage against me?
But I knew that I had no choice. I had to protect Emily, no matter what it took.
"Okay," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'll do it. I'll work for you."
Alexander Grayson smiled, his eyes glinting with triumph. "Excellent," he said. "I knew you'd see things my way."
As he turned to leave, I felt a surge of despair. I had just sold my soul to the devil, and I didn't know if I would ever be able to escape.