Meanwhile, across the city, Aldrin adjusted the cuffs of his tailored suit as he stepped out of the towering glass building his father owned. He was flanked by his bodyguard and a maid carrying his briefcase.
"Do you really need to follow me to the car every time?" Aldrin groaned, his usual annoyance showing. "It's literally 20 steps away."
"It's protocol, Sir Aldrin," the bodyguard replied stoically.
"Protocol, shmrotocol," Aldrin muttered under his breath. As they approached the sleek black car waiting by the curb, another vehicle screeched to a stop in front of them.
Before Aldrin could react, masked men leapt out of the van. One grabbed the maid while another shoved the bodyguard aside. A third man pulled Aldrin toward the van, a gun pressed to his side.
"Hey! Hands off the suit! Do you know how much this costs?!" Aldrin yelled, struggling against their grip.
"Shut up and get in," one of the kidnappers hissed, shoving him into the van.
As the van sped away, Aldrin sat between two burly men, glaring at them. "This is so unnecessary. Just ask for a ransom note or something. I'll have my dad wire you the money."
"We don't want your money, rich boy," growled the man sitting across from him. "This is about your father's company."
"Oh, great," Aldrin said sarcastically. "Another corporate sabotage plot. Can we just skip to the part where I escape? You guys are so unoriginal."
One of the kidnappers scowled. "You talk too much."
"You think this is bad?" Aldrin shot back. "I've been kidnapped twice already. You're amateurs compared to those guys."
The leader pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Someone shut him up!"
Another kidnapper pulled out a small pill. "This will do the trick. It'll stop him from talking."
"No, no, wait!" Aldrin protested, leaning back as they tried to force the pill into his mouth. "You don't want to do this! I can help you negotiate better ransom terms!"
The van suddenly jolted as something hit the side. Gunfire erupted outside, and chaos ensued.
"What the—" one kidnapper yelled, but the bodyguard was already tearing the door open.
As the kidnappers fought to hold him off, Aldrin seized the opportunity. He scrambled out of the van and took off down the street.