The more Jack thought about it, the more it felt like a carefully curated advertisement rather than a glimpse into reality.“I think you are right, young master, but there is no harm in trying,” Blade muttered, slumping back on the plush couch in his living room.It was as if Jack stole a glance at Jasmine as he looked in the direction she had walked with Amanda a while ago.There was no doubt he had a pang of affection twisting in his gut, but he couldn't help but shrug his shoulders.Jack really wanted Amanda to be a female role model, someone who could share the joys and tribulations of raising a child. He was assured there was no way Jasmine would give in to what he wanted, but then a thought flashed through his mind, and he knew there should be a way out.“Why not? Let's try out this online dating shit? I may be lucky. What do you think?” he asked Blade.“That could potentially lead to a disastrous outcome, young master." They are all fake. Every profile on that app seems like th
“Where is Aunt Jasmine? Why isn't she here with us yet, Daddy?” Amanda, who was dressed in a Versace gown, inquired of her father, Jack, as she entered the sitting room from her room after her personal aide dressed her up.Jack had provided Jasmine with sufficient funds to choose the most suitable outfits for his daughter. So, it was one of the clothes that Amanda had on and it fit her perfectly which made her look like a billion dollars.“Don't worry, she will join us there. I will simply send her the address of where we are on our way out. Maybe something caught her attention on her way, or she needs to attend to something—who knows? Besides, it's the weekend, and she may decide to do one or two things for herself,” Jack quickly replied. His energy didn't match that of little Amanda’s that late afternoon, so the best he could do was to answer her carefully.Not satisfied with her father’s reply, Amanda asked, “Why not call her to confirm, Daddy, rather than guessing?”“Ok, then, I w
The next day, after Amanda's birthday, Jack was with Blade in their usual relaxation space chatting away with some gist.Meanwhile, Amanda was in her room, taking her siesta.Just then, a call came on Jack's phone, and he picked it up. “Hello, who am I speaking to?” Jack inquired, as it was a new number.“I am Brenda from the Rehabilitation Center in New York.”“Okay, so how can I help you?”“Your ex-wife, Nancy, is missing, and your attention is required here now.”“Ex-wife is missing?” Jack retorted quickly, trying to connect the dots to what he had just heard. “So, if she is missing at your rehabilitation center where she is being treated, how does that concern me?”“I think we will resolve this better when you get here,” the lady at the other end responded.“Okay, then, I will be there soon.”As soon as Jack got off the phone, Blade asked him what the problem was, noticing how worried Jack had looked while taking the call.Jack explained what the caller had said to him and stood u
On a sunny afternoon, the next day after Jack was held hostage, a car was seen pulling up right in front of the rehabilitation center.The next thing, Nancy and Joshua were brought out of the car and made to stand still in one spot, both looking like criminals held hostage. They were both apprehended and brought to the rehabilitation center, based on their appearance.The little drama that played out attracted everyone there, including the chief rehabilitation officer- Mr Thomas, the health workers, and every other person around. Everyone was visibly shocked by what they had seen and muttered among themselves. They couldn't figure out exactly what was happening.However, Mr Thomas and the health workers could recognize Nancy at a glance but didn't know who the man, who happened to be Joshua, was.In no time, a convoy of exotic cars, arranged in a straight line, was seen driving in. The people outside were gobsmacked by the procession of luxury cars. Everyone who saw it was overwhelmed
The moment Jack and Blade got back, Jasmine was at home with Amanda.“Daddy!” Amanda ran and hugged her dad the moment she saw him.Jack lifted her up with both hands, then went and sat on one of the seats in the living room, making Amanda sit on his lap.“Daddy, where have you been since yesterday? Uncle Blade told me you went on a business trip when I asked him about your whereabouts.”To avoid more questions, Jack just replied, “Yes, I was on a business trip, but I am back now for you.”“I am happy you are back, Daddy,” Amanda replied in her tiny voice. She then leaned forward and pecked her father. “I miss you, dad.”“I miss you too, my dear.” Jack replied After what seemed like a flash, he said, “You know what? I need to take a shower, eat, and then come to have some nice time with you, okay?”Jack needed to take a bath very quick, as he had refused to bathe or even eat while he was held back at the rehabilitation center. So after he taken a bath. He was already famished, so he
After Jasmine and Amanda left, Jack and his right-hand man, Blade, continued their conversation about how they felt everything would gradually go well with Jasmine.As they went on and on, the clatter of cups and chatter was a stark contrast to the silent imagination building in Jack's mind.He was overwhelmed with fantasies about what life would be like after Jasmine became a full family member as the love of his life, and a mother to Amanda.He could now see that he had loved Jasmine, but he had held himself back all this while.“Why is Jasmine not yet back with Amanda? It's been a while since they left, and they are meant to be back by now,” Blade asked, bringing Jack out of his imagination.Acknowledging what Blade had said, Jack took his phone, dialed Jasmine's contact number, and placed it on his right ear. It said, “The person you are trying to call is switched off at the moment. Please try again later.”Jack was shocked. It wasn't clear to him why Jasmine would turn off her ph
“First of all, you need to put off any contact with the police you might have engaged with. I know you must have reported the case already,” the man at the end of the call said with a firm voice.“Secondly, you will come with two billion dollars to get them out of here. Come with cash; there will be no need for transfers." It was obvious this man meant business with Jack, leaving no room for negotiation or even bargaining.“See, I need to make this easy for you to understand, the earlier you make the money available, the better for you. The longer you wait, the fewer opportunities you have to capture them alive. I hope my points are very clear,” he questioned Jack.“Yes, it is,” Jack hastily replied with a shaky voice. He couldn't wait to get off the phone so he could take quick steps to get Jasmine and Amanda out of where they were.“Note that if, by any means, after I send you the contact information for the place we are, you think you can play some foul games with us, then you must
After much conviction from Blade, Jack decided to give what Blade had suggested a try.Jack understood that Blade's concern was not the money, but the clear instructions in two chilling words: "Come alone."His own life was also at risk.When he thought about it, he felt a knot of dread form in his stomach.This should be a twisted game that someone, somewhere, must be playing—a game with Jasmine's life and his daughter as the prize. Fear mingled with a simmering rage within him. He wouldn't let anyone behind this to win. He would save Amanda and Jasmine, no matter the cost.Just then, Jack’s phone buzzed, a harsh sound that cut through the tense silence. He answered, his face hardening as he listened. When he hung up, his gaze met that of Blade, a grim determination mirroring Jack's own.After he was done with the call, he said to Blade, "They've contacted me," his voice steady despite the tremor in his hand. "They want the money, and they want me to deliver it now."Adrenaline flood