Chapter Thirty One; The Stand Off. The Chicago Police Department was known for their quick response and diligence. As soon as Stephany's call came through, the new subordinate almost dismissed it as a mistake. Fortunately, Corner, the seasoned head of the police department, was present. With twenty years of service under his belt, he knew that such calls were often the most serious, potentially signaling that someone was in grave danger but unable to speak. Corner immediately ordered the call to be traced. The team sprang into action, their experience and efficiency shining through. They tracked the phone's location and raced towards the address. Simultaneously, Chris arrived at Bradley's spare house, his heart pounding with fear for Stephany and with determination to save her. He was just about to scale the fence when he heard the commanding voice through the megaphone. "Freeze! Stop and come down or we'll shoot," Corner's authoritative voice boomed through the night.

Chapter Thirty three: The Exchange The tense air crackled with anticipation as Chris's words hung in the air, offering to exchange himself for the girls. “Why would you stop him, officer? Even if he died, it wouldn’t mean anything,” Charles, fear etched in his face, spoke urgently, his voice shaking. Connor, the head of the police department, stared in disbelief. “What kind of family is this?” he muttered, astonished at their readiness to sacrifice Chris. “But Bradley is a good man. Could there be a misunderstanding?” Eleanor, still clinging to the hope of Bradley becoming her son-in-law, questioned, confusion clouding her features. “No, ma’am,” Connor responded firmly. “The kidnapper has a gun to who I believe is Stephany’s head. But don’t panic, the negotiation team is on their way.” “What better negotiation than letting Chris go and save them? These ladies are from a rich family and have never suffered any hardship. But Chris is otherwise. Let him do one good deed, at least i

Chapter Forty Five; The Unveiling of PowerThe morning sun streamed through the windows of MTD Entertainment as Stephany nervously entered the sleek, modern lobby. She had come to apologize on behalf of the Preston family and to beg for the collaboration on their new star to be reinstated. She was unaware that her brother Henry had previously accused the company's president of misconduct, further complicating the situation.Stephany approached the front desk, her heart pounding. “Good morning, I have an appointment with the Vice President," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.The receptionist smiled warmly. "Of course, Ms. Preston. Please have a seat; he'll be with you shortly."After a few minutes that felt like an eternity, Stephany was escorted to a spacious, elegantly decorated office. The Vice President, stood to greet her."Ms. Preston, please have a seat," he said, gesturing to a comfortable chair. "What brings you here today?"Stephany took a deep breath. "I wanted t

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Cars and Husbands Stephany stood awkwardly between Chris and Greg, the tension palpable as the two men glared at each other. She glanced around the showroom, hoping for some sort of distraction. Her eyes landed on a familiar face – Natasha, a classmate from college. Natasha was standing side by side with her husband, a wealthy business tycoon known for his successful chain of luxury hotels."Natasha!" Stephany called out, waving her hand.Natasha noticed her and beamed, walking over with her husband. They moved with an air of elegance and confidence, clearly enjoying each other’s company."Stephany! It’s been ages!" Natasha exclaimed, hugging her. “Meet my husband, Alexander. He’s here to buy me a new car."Stephany smiled politely, though a pang of envy struck her. Natasha had landed herself a rich and supportive husband who was about to buy her a luxury car."Nice to meet you, Stephany," Alexander said warmly, shaking her hand. "And who are your friends

Chapter Thirty Nine: President Hunting After Stephany left the building, Natasha and her husband were escorted by a staff member to see the cars and pick the one they wanted. The salesperson had been instructed to give them a good discount, ensuring they had an excellent experience.Meanwhile, Greg gathered some of BMW’s senior staff to brief them once more about the impending visit from the president of MTD. He emphasized the importance of this meeting and how they should welcome him with the utmost respect. Neatly standing in a straight line, they wore broad smiles and awaited his arrival.But half an hour passed, and no one showed up. The staff began to shift uncomfortably, their smiles faltering as the minutes ticked by. Greg, growing increasingly impatient, retreated to his office and dialed MTD."Hello, we fixed an appointment to meet the president at 12 pm, but it’s already two-thirty and he’s not here. Is there a change of plans?" Greg asked, trying to keep his frustratio