A Sinister Alliance
In the dimly lit corner of an upscale lounge, Sophia
stirred her martini, watching the golden liquid swirl around the glass. Across
from her, Jayson leaned back in his seat, a smug grin playing on his lips. The
private booth shielded them from prying eyes, but the tension between them was
palpable.
"So," Sophia began, her voice cool, calculated. "How
is our dear Mandy holding up?"
Jayson smirked, taking a slow sip of his whiskey.
"She's… adjusting."
Sophia scoffed. "Meaning?"
Jayson's smirk widened. "Meaning she's still
fighting, but that's what makes it fun." His fingers tapped against his glass.
"She's stubborn, but she'll break soon enough."
Sophia exhaled in amusement, shaking her head. "You
always did have a twisted way of handling things."
Jayson leaned forward, his eyes darkening. "And you always had a taste for revenge. That's why
we work so well together."
Sophia's lips curled into a wicked smile. "Mandy has
no idea what's coming for her. First, I made sure Nathan fell for her. Now,
you'll be the one to remind her that she doesn't belong in his world."
Jayson tilted his head. "You still want her gone?"
Sophia's nails dug into the stem of her glass. "More
than ever. She took everything that should have been mine." Her voice was sharp, venomous. "Nathan, the influence, the
admiration. She parades around my
life like she earned it."
Jayson chuckled darkly. "Relax, sweetheart. You'll
get what you want. Once I'm done, she'll beg to disappear."
Sophia lifted her glass, locking eyes with him.
"Then let's toast to that."
Jayson clinked his glass against hers, his grin
widening.
"To Mandy's downfall."
A Year Ago…
On a cold evening in Abuja, Sophia first met Jayson
Anderson after a series of online exchanges. At a private bar inside an
exclusive venue—its low lighting perfumed by expensive cigars and aged
whiskey—Sophia sat alone, scanning the room. It wasn't long before Jayson
arrived, exuding confidence in an impeccably tailored suit. He slid into the
seat across from her with a knowing smirk.
"You're even more stunning in person," he said, his
voice smooth yet laced with amusement.
Sophia arched an eyebrow. "Flattery won't get you
anywhere, Jayson. Let's get to the point."
"Straight to business—I like that." He signaled for
a drink and leaned back, studying her. "So, why would a woman like you want to
talk to a man like me?"
Taking a measured sip of her martini, she replied, "Because
we have a common enemy."
"Mandy?" he echoed.
She nodded. "I've watched her climb her way up,
taking things never meant for her. And now, she's taken Nathan." Leaning
forward, her voice dropped to a confidential tone, "But you already knew that,
didn't you?"
Jayson's smirk wavered for just a moment before
returning, harder now. "Mandy and I… have unfinished business. She thinks she
can erase me from her life, but she's wrong. And now, she's acting like I never
existed."
Seeing the flicker of resentment in his eyes, Sophia
pressed, "Then we can help each other. I want Mandy out of Nathan's life for
good. You want her back."
Jayson smirked. "And if she refuses?"
Sophia's expression turned cold. "Then we destroy
her."
Jayson leaned in, intrigued. "You're ruthless. I
like it."
Sophia picked up her glass, swirling the liquid
inside. "I get what I want, Jayson. Always."
Their eyes met, two dangerous minds intertwining
over a mutual goal. The partnership was sealed without a handshake—just a
silent understanding between two people willing to do whatever it took to win.
And so, the game began.
BACK TO THE PRESENT....
A Dangerous Game
As their glasses met with a soft clink, Sophia
leaned back, studying Jayson carefully.
"You really think you can break her?" she asked,
amusement laced in her voice.
Jayson smirked, swirling the amber liquid in his
glass. "I don't think, Sophia. I know." He took a sip before setting the glass down with deliberate ease.
"Mandy was mine before Nathan ever laid eyes on her. And trust me, I know
exactly how to get inside her head."
Sophia arched a brow, intrigued. "And how do you
plan on doing that?"
Jayson's smirk deepened. "By reminding her of what
we had—what she lost. I'll make her
doubt Nathan, make her question everything she feels for him. By the time I'm
done, she won't know who to trust anymore."
Sophia tapped her nails against the table.
"Interesting. And what do you get
out of all this?"
Jayson chuckled. "Isn't it obvious? Mandy back in my
arms, where she belongs." His expression darkened slightly. "And Nathan? Well,
he'll learn that not everything he touches turns to gold."
Sophia took another sip of her martini, her lips
curving into a sly smile. "I like the way you think, Jayson."
Jayson leaned in slightly, his voice lower, more
dangerous. "And I like a woman who knows what she wants."
Sophia smirked but didn't take the bait. "Then let's
not waste time. The next step is crucial."
Jayson nodded, his gaze gleaming with anticipation.
"Don't worry, sweetheart. By the time we're done, Mandy Morgan will have no
choice but to fall—whether into my
arms or into ruin, that's up to her."
They clinked their glasses one final time, sealing
their dangerous pact. The game had only just begun.
A Hollow Attempt
Nathan sat behind his desk at De
Globes, his eyes dark with exhaustion. Papers were
scattered across the polished wood, but he hadn't looked at them in hours. His
mind was elsewhere—trapped in the torment of Mandy's disappearance. He had
barely slept, barely eaten. Every second that passed without news of her felt
like a knife twisting deeper into his chest.
The door to his office opened without a knock.
Nathan barely looked up, assuming it was Hazel or security with an update. But
instead, the familiar scent of expensive perfume filled the room—Sophia.
She walked in gracefully, her designer heels
clicking softly against the marble floor. Dressed in an elegant white blouse
and a fitted skirt, she looked every bit the sophisticated woman she had always
been. But Nathan didn't care.
"Nathan…" she said gently, approaching his desk. "I
heard what happened. I can't even begin to imagine what you're going through."
Nathan exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Sophia, I
don't have time for this." His voice was low, weary.
She ignored his dismissal and moved closer, perching
herself lightly on the edge of his desk. "You need to take care of yourself,"
she urged, her eyes scanning his tired face. "You look exhausted."
Nathan finally lifted his gaze, his sharp blue eyes
locking onto hers. "Of course I'm exhausted, Sophia. The woman I love has been
taken, and I have no idea where she is or what's happening to her." His voice
was edged with raw emotion.
Sophia flinched but quickly masked it with sympathy.
"I know… and that's why I'm here. You don't have to go through this alone."
Nathan let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head.
"Alone?" He stood up, his towering frame making Sophia instinctively step back.
"You don't understand, do you? The only person I need—the only person I want—is
Mandy. No one else."
Sophia swallowed, composing herself. "Nathan, I
just—"
"Stop." His voice was cold now, final. "I appreciate
the concern, but you and I both know you're not here because you care about my
well-being. You're here because Mandy isn't." He took a step forward, closing
the distance between them. "But hear me loud and clear, Sophia—you will never take her place."
For a split second, something flashed in Sophia's
eyes. Anger. Resentment. But she masked it with a soft sigh. "I only wanted to
help, Nathan."
He turned away from her, already done with the
conversation. "If you really wanted to help, you'd leave."
Her jaw clenched, but she didn't argue. Instead, she
reached out, placing a hand on his desk. "I hope you find her," she murmured
before walking out, her heels echoing in the empty silence.
As the door shut behind her, Nathan slumped back
into his chair, his hands running through his hair. His heart ached, his mind
racing.
He wouldn't stop until he found Mandy. No matter what it took.
Sophia's Plan
Sophia paced the dimly lit hotel suite, her heels
clicking against the marble floor as she clenched her phone tightly in her
hand. She had just finished speaking with one of her contacts—an expert at
making people disappear. Everything was in motion.
Jayson sat on the leather couch, sipping a glass of
whiskey, watching her with amusement. "You seem tense," he commented, swirling
the amber liquid in his glass. "Getting second thoughts?"
Sophia stopped pacing and shot him a sharp look.
"Don't be ridiculous. I just want to make sure nothing goes wrong." She walked
over to him, placing her hands on her hips. "Nathan has resources, Jayson. If
we keep Mandy in the same place for too long, he'll find her."
Jayson smirked, leaning back. "And that's why you
need me, isn't it?" His voice dripped with arrogance. "You want me to move her
somewhere he'll never be able to reach her."
Sophia nodded, lowering her voice. "Not just
anywhere. Another country.
Somewhere Nathan's power and influence won't be enough." She paused before
adding, "The longer she's out of the picture, the more desperate he'll become.
And desperation leads to mistakes."
Jayson chuckled, finishing his drink. "You want to
break him."
"I want him to suffer," Sophia corrected, her eyes gleaming with malice. "Nathan thinks he
can toss me aside for some nobody? He needs to understand what happens when he
underestimates me."
Jayson tilted his head. "And Mandy? What happens to
her once we move her?"
Sophia's lips curled into a smirk. "That depends… on
how much she's willing to beg for her life."
Jayson raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "I have a place
in mind—far away, heavily guarded. No one will find her unless I want them to."
Sophia exhaled in satisfaction. "Good. Arrange
everything. I want her out of the country by the end of the week."
Jayson grinned, standing up and adjusting his suit.
"Consider it done."
As he walked past her, Sophia called out, "And
Jayson—make sure Nathan hears nothing until it's too late."
Jayson simply smirked before exiting the room,
leaving Sophia alone with her thoughts. She picked up her glass of wine, taking
a slow sip as she gazed out the window.
Soon, Mandy would be gone. And Nathan? He'd finally
learn what it meant to lose everything.
Nathan Follows Sophia
Nathan sat behind the wheel of his sleek black
Bentley, gripping the steering wheel tightly as he watched Sophia step out of
her car. His eyes followed her every move as she entered the upscale
restaurant. She was dressed impeccably, her confidence evident in the way she
walked—too confident.
Something wasn't right.
For days, Sophia had been acting strangely. She was
no longer hovering around him at work, no longer forcing herself into
conversations, yet she was always watching. Every time he caught her gaze, she had that smug look on her
face—like she knew something he didn't.
And Nathan hated not knowing.
That's why, when he saw her car pulling out of De Globes earlier that evening, he decided to
follow. He wasn't sure what he was looking for, but his gut told him she was hiding something.
Now, parked discreetly across the street, he waited.
Through the tinted glass of the restaurant's window,
he could see her sitting at a booth in the far corner. She wasn't alone. A man
sat across from her, leaning in slightly as they spoke. Nathan's jaw clenched
when he realized who it was.
Jayson Anderson.
The man who had kidnapped Mandy. The man who had
dared to touch her.
Nathan's blood boiled as he reached for the car door
handle, ready to storm inside and put an end to whatever scheme they were
planning. But just as he pushed the door open—
His phone rang.
He ignored it at first, his focus locked on Sophia
and Jayson. But when the caller ID flashed Unknown
Number, a sense of urgency gripped him.
Reluctantly, he answered. "Who is this?"
A gruff voice responded, "Mr. Hydes, this is Officer
Fred from the National State CID We have an update on the investigation
regarding Miss Morgan's disappearance. You need to come to the station
immediately."
Nathan froze. An update?
His grip on the phone tightened. He glanced back at
the restaurant. He didn't want to leave—he needed to know what Sophia and
Jayson were up to. But if the police had any new information on Mandy, he couldn't afford to waste time.
With a low curse, he slammed the car door shut and
sped off toward the station, leaving Sophia and Jayson behind.
For now.
Sophia pulled up to a secluded house on the
outskirts of town, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. The drive had
been tense—Nathan had been following her earlier, and she barely managed to
shake him off. He was getting too close.
As she stepped out of the car, she scanned her
surroundings before knocking on the heavy wooden door. Moments later, Jayson
opened it, his piercing gaze meeting hers with mild amusement.
"You're late," he said coolly, stepping aside to let
her in.
"I had to make sure I wasn't followed," Sophia
snapped, brushing past him into the dimly lit living room. "Nathan was on my
tail. I had to take a few detours to lose him."
Jayson smirked, closing the door behind her. "Hydes
is getting desperate."
Sophia spun around to face him. "Of course, he's
desperate! You took his precious Mandy, and now he's sniffing around for
answers. He's already suspicious of me."
Jayson leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Let
him be suspicious. He still doesn't know where she is."
Sophia huffed in frustration. "Not yet. But I'm
telling you, it's only a matter of time before he starts putting things
together. We need to move her—now—before
he finds this place."
Jayson's expression remained calm, unfazed by her
urgency. "Rushing would be a mistake. If we move her now, we risk exposing
ourselves. I have a plan, Sophia. Let me handle this."
Sophia narrowed her eyes. "You're too damn patient.
If you let your obsession blind you, Nathan will take her back before you even
get what you want."
Jayson chuckled darkly. "Who said I haven't already
gotten what I want?"
Sophia stiffened. "What do you mean?"
Jayson took a slow step toward her, his smirk
deepening. "Let's just say, by the time Hydes finds her… Mandy won't see him
the same way anymore."
Sophia studied him for a moment before shaking her
head. "You're playing a dangerous game, Jayson."
Jayson picked up a glass of whiskey from the table,
swirling the amber liquid. "Danger makes things interesting."
Sophia exhaled sharply. "Just don't underestimate
Nathan. If you make one wrong move, he'll destroy you."
Jayson's smirk didn't falter. "Let him try."
Jayson's Obsession with Mandy
Mandy sat curled up in the corner of the dimly lit
room, her wrists still sore from where Jayson had bound them earlier. She had
stopped fighting against the restraints hours ago, knowing it was pointless.
The sound of the door unlocking made her tense, her heart hammering in her
chest.
Jayson stepped inside, his eyes dark with obsession
as he gazed at her. He carried a tray of food, setting it down on the small
table beside her.
"You need to eat," he said, his voice eerily gentle.
"You've barely touched anything since you got here."
Mandy glared at him. "I'd rather starve than accept
anything from you."
Jayson sighed, crouching down to her level. He
reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, but Mandy flinched
away. A slow smirk formed on his lips.
"You can hate me all you want, Mandy," he murmured.
"But you're mine now. Nathan will
never get to you. You'll never be with him."
Mandy's jaw clenched. "You're delusional if you
think I'll ever be yours."
Jayson's expression darkened. "Oh, but you were mine
once," he whispered, his fingers trailing down her arm. "I remember everything.
Every moment we spent together. The
nights in Abuja. The way you melted under my touch. Don't pretend it meant
nothing."
Mandy's stomach twisted with disgust. "That was the
past, Jayson. I was naive. I didn't know who you really were."
Jayson's grip on her chin tightened, forcing her to
look into his cold eyes. "And yet, you let Nathan take my place," he said
bitterly. "Did he touch you the way I did? Did he make you feel the way I did?"
Mandy yanked her face away, her breathing uneven.
"Nathan is ten times the man you'll ever be."
Something in Jayson snapped. His hands clenched into
fists before he suddenly grabbed her wrist, yanking her forward. Mandy gasped, struggling
against him, but he was stronger. His lips brushed against her cheek as he
whispered, "You'll forget about him soon enough."
Fear shot through Mandy's body like ice. She pushed
against him with all her strength, her voice shaking. "Let go of me, Jayson!"
He chuckled, holding her tighter. "Why fight it,
Mandy? You belonged to me first. And you will again."
Tears burned in Mandy's eyes, but she refused to let
them fall. "Nathan will find me," she said, her voice filled with defiance.
"And when he does, you'll regret ever touching me."
Jayson smirked, his thumb tracing her trembling
lips. "Let him try."
The door suddenly creaked open, and Sophia's voice
cut through the air.
"What the hell are you doing, Jayson?"
Jayson turned his head slightly but didn't release
Mandy. "Stay out of this, Sophia."
Sophia stepped into the room, arms crossed, her gaze
sharp. "Nathan is already on your trail. If you're reckless, we'll lose
everything."
Jayson exhaled in frustration before finally
loosening his grip on Mandy. She recoiled, pulling her knees to her chest as
Sophia shot her a cold glance.
"We need to move her—now," Sophia said firmly. "Before Nathan finds this place."
Jayson took one last lingering look at Mandy before
stepping away. "Fine. But she's coming with me."
Mandy's blood ran cold. Wherever Jayson planned to
take her, she knew one thing for sure—she had to escape.
MANDY'S ESCAPE PLAN…..
Mandy's heart pounded in her ears as she glanced
over her shoulder for the final time. The corridor was dimly lit, shadows
pooling around corners as she moved with frantic caution. Jayson's intense,
obsessive gaze had followed her through every moment of her captivity, and now,
as his fixation reached a dangerous crescendo, Mandy knew she had to act.
In a moment of desperate resolve, she slipped away
from the room where danger lurked. Every creak of the floorboards, every
whispered echo of her footsteps became a reminder of the risk she was taking.
Her escape was not merely a physical departure but a symbol of defiance—a fight
for her freedom against the oppressive obsession that had shadowed her every
move.
Outside, the cool night air greeted her like a
promise of a new beginning. Yet, even as she ran, the memory of Jayson's
relentless pursuit remained, a dark reminder of the peril that awaited her
should she falter. In that moment, with adrenaline surging and determination
burning within her, Mandy embarked on a perilous journey—a lone fight against a
force that threatened to engulf her entirely.
Mandy's escape led her into a maze of twisting
hallways and hidden doors. Every step was a battle against fear, her breath
coming in quick, shallow bursts as she navigated corridors dimly lit by
flickering lights. Behind her, the heavy thud of pursuit grew louder—a constant
reminder that Jayson's obsession was not something she could simply outrun
without consequence.
She paused in a narrow passage, her heart pounding,
listening for any sign of her pursuer. The silence that followed was eerie, as
if the building itself were holding its breath. With a deep, steadying exhale,
Mandy pressed onward, her resolve hardening with every moment that she evaded
capture.
Turning a corner, she stumbled upon a service exit.
The door, slightly ajar, offered a glimmer of hope—a way out of the
claustrophobic confines of her prison. As she pushed it open, a rush of cool
night air met her, carrying the scent of freedom. Yet, even in this moment of
liberation, the weight of her circumstances lingered. Each step away from the
oppressive building was a victory, but also a reminder of the danger that still
lurked in the shadows.
With resolve fueling her every move, Mandy ran into
the darkness of the night, knowing that her journey was only beginning. Her
escape was not just a physical act—it was a declaration of defiance against the
control that had held her captive. And as she disappeared into the unknown, the
relentless pursuit of Jayson's obsession left behind a trail of tension,
setting the stage for a desperate struggle for freedom that was far from over.