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Chapter 4 - Introductions

I follow the corridor from my bedroom towards a set of spiral stairs that I see ahead of me. The hallway is much like the room I was in, whitewash walls, hardwood floors, tasteful art pieces dot the walls here and there, a sideboard sits with a vase of fresh lilies to my left as I pass further down the hall. From the top of the stairs, I have a perfect view of the open plan space below. Like the rest of the house, the walls are white, however the furnishings look warm and inviting, a mixture of cream, gold, beige and a subtle hint of cobalt blue make up the many scatter cushions of a large corner sofa that dominates the space, with a large oak coffee table at it’s centre. A large TV, at least 75 inches is secured to the faraway wall. On the other side of the stairs, is a large open plan kitchen with a centre island and breakfast bar with 4 stools. The cupboards are the same cobalt blue, reminding me of the ocean with Oak counter tops. My eyes continue to stare intently at the kitchen island and my breath catches, as I watch Bryant and two other men, I don’t recognise sit around it, drinking coffee and talking quietly amongst themselves.

They haven’t noticed me yet, so I have the chance to observe them from afar. All three of them are beautiful men, you would have to be blind to not appreciate them. All three of them are easily over six feet tall, tanned, broad shoulders and back muscles that ripple when they move in a way that makes me lick my lips and imagine what it would feel like to run my nails down them. Jesus, what the hell is wrong with me? They kidnapped me and here I am drooling like some lovesick schoolgirl. Knowing that I can’t stay where I am, I clear my throat softly, three heads turn to settle their gaze on me, and then I make my way slowly down the staircase.

They are silent as I descend the staircase, but I feel their eyes on me as I keep mine cast down to the floor, my stomach churns and my legs feel like they won’t support me, making me grip the balustrade of the stairs tightly to balance myself, and I feel my palms begin to sweat. I reach the bottom of the staircase and walk towards the kitchen island, lifting my gaze to meet theirs, their expressions are unreadable, but I can tell they are taking in every move I make, like pythons ready to strike at any moment, these men feel dangerous without moving an inch.

I reach the kitchen and turn my gaze directly to Bryant and wait expectantly with an eyebrow raised in question. Yeh buddy you owe me a damn good explanation for the shit you just pulled. But to my surprise, it’s the man to Bryant’s left who speaks first.

‘Hi, I’m Chase. Coffee?’ he asks, casually. Without waiting for my answer, he pushes off from the kitchen island with his elbows and makes his way over to the coffee machine, reaching for a mug on the glass shelf above. I study him as he moves, he’s equally as handsome as Bryant, but he looks more like a surfer, long blonde bangs flops in front of his eyes and he carelessly flicks it away as he prepares my cup. Setting it in front of me with a smile and a wink, he moves to lean on the far wall, crossing his arms across his wide chest. Did he just wink at me?

Shaking my head, I bring the hot cup to my lips and take a sip. I almost moan in pleasure as the fresh, hot liquid moves down my throat. Gripping onto the cup tightly, I face Bryant again. His face doesn’t give anything away, but the muscles bunched in his shoulders and the vein throbbing in his neck tells me he is tense, nervous maybe?

Without preamble, I hiss at him harshly, ‘you have some fucking explaining to do.’

‘We don’t have to tell you anything,’ growls a voice to my right, making me jump. I’d forgotten about the third man in the room. Turning to face the man now, I take an involuntary step back. He’s build like Bryant and Chase but his face is cold, his expression grim, his hair is short and jet black matching his eyes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone with black eyes before. They remind me of a shark, cold and lifeless.

‘Take it easy, Michael,’ Bryant says, taking step forward to diffuse the situation.

‘Ivory, this is Michael. He and Chase are members of my team,’ he explains.

‘What does that have to do with me? What the hell am I doing here? And where is here?’ I ask, almost pleading now.

‘Come and take a seat and I’ll explain everything to you.'

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