The Kidnapped Bride

"Offer?" Alice's eyebrows raised as she felt the man's words to be nothing but a bluff. Was he playing any kind of trick over her that she should fall for? "What a heartbroken man like you can offer me?"

"Um…. well… I thought since you are new here and don't have any knowledge about how things function, why don't I help you with exploring the new places and the culture? It will help you to grow better here…if you want to." 

Shawn dropped his offer without breaking his eye contact with the lady who was too taken aback by the sudden thing he told her. They met just a few minutes ago and he actually had the audacity to make her explore things in this state when he himself isn't in the right state of mind? 

A scoff left her lips and Alice folded her hands and kept them in front of her chest where she surveyed the man from top to bottom to find his look absolutely messed up. "A man like you…who was just now already finding comfort in the beer…can help me explore things?" 

In response, she received a confident nod from his side. She tried to insult him, but it seems like he didn't take offense to her words. 'He is seriously weird…' 

For the unknown reason, his offer was tempting since she knew very well that to get the edge over the business environment here, she must learn how everything functions. This wasn't a foreign place. She needs to learn everything from scratch and probably because she has an interest in the same, her father sent her instead of any of her brothers who are too rigid for the same. 

Her lips turned into a straight line when the offer revolved in her mind to consider. Will this be beneficial to her? Would she be able to get something out of this…from a guy who has nothing to offer to her and probably, she has no idea who actually is he. 

"You said that you have something to ask as well. What is that?" Alice asked. 

"Well… since I went through the things with my girl, I need some time out. You are someone who has the aura to actually turn anyone's unhappiness into happiness. It will help me to take my mind off from the events of my past as well." he was brutally honest in his speech. 

Somewhere, it alarmed her but in the back of her mind, she understood his concern more clearly. She needs someone to teach her the new culture while he needs her company to keep his mind fresh and not let himself be once again drowned in alcohol. 

A sigh escaped her lips when she brought her hands near her forehead to massage them. This was a hard decision to make. 

At last, when Alice noticed the man eagerly waiting for her answer, she finally gave in after calculating all the pros and cons that appeared before her, "Alright. This is done. We will meet somewhere and you will help me explore things." 

Her reply brought a big smirk over his lips when he felt a big relief wash over his head. Something seemed to strike him but then, he decided to keep himself quiet against it as well. "Thank you so much!" 

"But where are we going to meet?" Shawn asked with clear confusion, as he had no idea who this lady was, "Also….what is your name, Miss?" 

"Alice, Alice Andreson." 

Repeating the name in his mind, Shawn found the name to be a really beautiful one, for a confident lady like her, it suited her personality too well. "Then it is well settled for you, Ms. Andreson. Myself, Shawn Johnson." 

Alice extended her hand to shake his hand with a firm grip. With time, her driver arrived with the car when he opened the back door for her. Alice was ready to get off from the place without even exchanging any medium, to converse with the man. 

But before that, she heard from the back, "Miss! Your number or address?!" 

Rotating her eyes to view him, her eyes glowed with the naughtiness that spread all over, "If you have such intent to have my company with you and you know everything about here to make me explore, find me, by which means you can." 

These were her last words before she sat inside the car to speed off from the street leaving Shawn alone in the loneliness that spread. 

However, unlike last time, he didn't feel the same hurt feelings anymore. Despite today being one of the worst days of his life, he felt something reviving again. As if, he was learning something new, a fresh start, and surviving again in this life…. 

A sincere smirk curved on his lips at her last challenge which she threw on him without learning how exactly he was.

'Seems like you will be soon learning about the Johnson group, Alice Andreson…'

….

Five days passed with no further contact from the strange man whom she met on the streets that day. 

Neither did Alice make any sincere attempts to find the man herself as it was very much clear to her that the man was drunk that day. He must be joking on his behalf and nor did she take his words seriously. 

It was very much bluffing in the back of her mind as she concentrated back on her work. 

After having a long meeting in the morning, Alice stepped back into her cabin to just sit on her armchair and close her eyes. But then, her eyes were once again sharply opened from the sound of her landline being heard. 

It made her head start to ache but on the other hand, she knew that it is possible for them to be important.

Picking it up, she asked, "Yes?"

"Didn't I say I will ultimately find you, Ms. Andreson? How are you?" 

.... 

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