Chapter 271: Smile for the Camera

"Hey, cutie."

Goosebumps emerged on her skin when she heard his voice. Steadily, she moved her hands and wrapped her arms around herself. One hand went to her shoulder and the other touched her hip. This was her only protection now. A low laugh came from the man who held the gun. What kind of sickening person would find amusement in this?

The stranger before her crawled across the cramped space, a rope in hand.

She kicked the floor and slid away. He smelled like tobacco and alcohol.

"Aw, don't be like that, cutie. I won't hurt you."

"Maybe not…" Eve said shakily. "But I would hurt you if you try to touch me."

"You think that will be a good idea?" He mocked, cackling under his breath.

The man on the seat folded an arm over the backrest. He rested his chin over it and wiggled his eyebrows. "I surely wouldn't stop her. It would be mildly entertaining."

The stranger glared in his direction. "Aren't we on the same side?"

"I have one job and one job only. You're in no position for me to listen to you."

Eve silently thanked the man for his intervention. As long as they kept talking, things would be fine—even just for a meantime. Her hand on her hip tapped the side of her thigh. For some reason, the kidnappers didn't take her phone. 

It should have been the first thing they did when they opened the door.

Pulling up her legs and bending at the knees, the butt of the phone slipped out of her pocket. Her thumb brushed over the fingerprint reader and it led her to her home screen. She scrunched her face and hoped her expression looked remorseful. Her eyelids fidgeted as she tried to see where to tap next.

"Aw, look at her. Like a scared little lamb."

Eve flashed her eyes open. 

The two males stared back. Their wicked expressions made her heart pound. Had they seen what she was trying to do? The stranger with the rope attempted to get close to her once more. 

Her instincts kicked in. She hit the corner that connected the backseat and the side of the car. It was the farthest she could go. 

"He's not lying, you know. We just need you to be tied." The other person winked. His other arm hung over the backrest, letting the gun dangle from his finger."Can't have you try to escape now."

"Don't touch me!" Eve yelled when the stranger tried to grab her foot.

Her phone clattered to the floor.

"Ah, trying to contact someone? Lines are jammed in this van. Nice of you to try though."

Eve felt her last string of hope snap. She was clearly outnumbered. Nanzie was outnumbered and so was her security team. Had the news picked up the kidnapping yet? Ambryan or Avery should have heard about it now. There was no way they could hide it with that grand of a scale.

"Now, be a good girl—" they coaxed her.

She didn't have any of it. When the stranger tried to grab her foot again, she kicked him in the chest and pushed him back with all the strength she had. Maybe she didn't have a chance with the phone but an escape could still be possible if her legs were untied.

If the other person saw it as entertainment then, she'd use it to her advantage.

"Why you…" the stranger growled, exposing his stained teeth from years of smoking.

"Useless," his companion muttered with a shake of his head. "Move. I'll do it."

"No, I'll do it! This was our agreement!"

"Your foot fetish has me doubting you."

"I can control myself long enough to tie her!"

Eve wished she could block her hearing. She'd rather not hear any of this. Her hazel eyes flickered to her phone screen. The signal really wasn't available. She couldn't see it before because it was displayed at the top bar. 

Moving on to her next idea, she tried checking the view from the windows.

There should be a clue about where they were. Then, maybe she could map out a route.

A thud vibrated under her. She whirled her head out of impulse. A rough hand covered her eyes. Her arm sprung to shove it away. Solid muscle dug into her bones. Except, it wasn't enough to stop her. She repeated the motion, refusing to give up if no one was stopping her.

"You're feisty. I like you."

Eve stiffened at his voice.

This wasn't the stranger who tried to tie her…

"Oho, have you recognized me already? How sweet." His breath brushed the tip of her ear. She shivered involuntarily. "I think you and I will have lots of fun together."

Just then, the vehicle lurched to a stop.

"Oh, we're here already?" The same voice teased. "The fun should be starting soon then."

The trunk door of the van opened. Two men in similar outfits assessed the situation. One of them glared at the rope, holding out his hand to take it. The other spotted the mobile phone and snatched it away. 

"What's a guy gotta do to get some privacy around her?" Eve heard the man beside her say. 

"Get out of the vehicle."

"Okay, okay. Sheesh. No need to be rude."

Eve squinted. The sky appeared blinding after being kept in the dark. Brick walls loomed on either side of the alley way. Her ears didn't pick up the sound of traffic which meant they were in a secluded area. Nothing else offered her a hint as to their specific location. 

Maybe if she could get to the opening of the alleway then, maybe she'd recognize the place.

"Well, well, well…" a female voice spoke away from her line of sight. 

Light blonde hair glistened under the setting sun. Large cat-eye sunglasses framed a pair of amber eyes. Even with a top hat on her head and a thick scarf around her neck, Eve recognized her instantly. Her hands clenched into fists. 

Then, the woman took off her sunglasses. "Isn't this a lovely sight?"

"Jane…" Eve glared, her nostrils flaring. "I should have known it was you."

"Not so smart after all, huh?" Jane teased. She lifted a gloved hand and gripped Eve's chin, leaning down and pulling the latter closer. "Hm. Not a scratch on your pretty face. They had taken care of you well."

"Why are you doing this?" Eve breathed out.

Jane released her chin and pulled back. She signaled one of the henchmen to tie Eve's wrists. A mouthful of scolding lingered at the tip of her tongue. Their job was simple but couldn't they execute it properly? Who would leave the victim untied?

The henchman nodded and reached for Eve's wrists.

She resisted him, yanking her hands back.

"Can't we talk this out, Jane?" Eve pleaded. It was a false cry but the vulnerable act should work. It amazed her how her brain hadn't completely broken down. She would have completely lost it if it weren't for the adrenaline in her veins.

"You're in the way that's why," Jane sneered. 

"Because you're crazily obsessed with my boyfriend?"

She turned her head to the side and snorted, acting indifferent. "You know he's only with you because you remind him of someone. It's that red hair of yours if you were wondering."

"And you just know him so well, don't you?" Eve shot back with an eye roll. The henchman used this opportunity to wrap the around her wrists at least once—and succeeded at it.

Jane shifted her attention back on Eve, resisting the temptation to wipe off the latter's smug expression "Better than you, at least. We'll see if he still thinks of you in the same way after realizing your true colors."

"Talking to yourself now?"

A smirk stretched on her lips. "Oh, no. Not me. But a certain someone who has a profile in an illegal x-rated website, selling her body for a living. The two of you seemed to share the same name too. Do you know each other? Now that I think about it, you kind of look alike."

Eve instantly understood what she meant. Disgust didn't begin to describe how she felt. Bile foamed in her mouth, aching to spit out. "You're a bitch."

Jane switched her smirk to a full smile. "Coming from you that has little effect." 

Then, she turned to another henchman. "Ready for the camera, Norman?"

"Always, Miss."

"No…" Eve saw her life before her eyes. 

She had dreamt of being a ballerina since she was a child. Everyday, she'd go to the ballet studio after school and practice until her feet bled. Then, her family hit rock bottom and she had to give up a performing arts school in favor of a business major. 

Things were starting to become well again until her mother fainted one day.

When her mother died, relatives came to give their aid but her father ran away with the money.

Only Eve was left to fend for herself and her little sisters. The Summer Family lended her enough to finish her college degree. They had taken her and the twins under their wing. For that, she could never be able to express her gratitude.

They didn't go through all that trouble just for her to fall like this.

She didn't go through all of that just to let some psychotic spoiled brat get in the way.

Fuelled with newfound determination, Eve kicked the nearest henchman and hopped off the vehicle. She dashed for the opening. If what Jane said was true, they needed her alive. An injury would only be a hindrance to their plans. 

The small view of the street ahead showed closed shops.

"What are you waiting for? Get her!" Jane barked.

Two henchmen immediately ran after Eve. The others fell on the ground as the backdoors to the buildings opened. People flocked out and twisted the culprits' arms behind their backs, locking their wrists in handcuffs and confiscating their weapons.

Jane only had enough time to blink in utter horror.

"Smile for the camera, sweetie!" Someone told her.