The Kidnapped Bride

Alice's eyebrows raised as she heard a familiar voice from the other side, "Shawn…Johnson?"

"Seems like you remember me, Ms. Anderson. I wasn't expecting this out of you. But surely, I'm lucky enough to be remembered by a prestigious person like you." A scoff left from Alice's lips at his words. Does he want to be self-conscious and self-loved? 

But on the second note, she found it amazing that the man wasn't even joking with her at that time. He was damn serious, unlike her, who found him to be bluffing at that point. 

"But you are commendable, Mr. Shawn, that you were able to get the number of my landline… my personal landline," Alice answered when she relaxed her body a bit backward on her chair.

As expected, she could feel Shawn laughing on the other side where he took her words as his compliment, "Grateful that you acknowledged me by yourself. But now that I'm successful in tracking you, will you do the honor to actually accompany me somewhere?" he was straight and this wasn't she expecting.

Her lips curled upwards with a sly glint passing from her eyes to realize this man was taking extra efforts. But was this a normal outing or…more than that? Alice needed a proper answer and clarifications regarding this. 

But at the same time, the door of her chain was opened by her secretary Abbey, to whom Alice simply signaled via her hands, showing her to wait for five more minutes outside. 

"Are you asking me for a date, Shawn?" she was blunt in her question, to which Shawn denied immediately. "Never. I don't have any interest in getting into any relationship…that is purely for the refreshment of my mind and your  benefit to learn about here." 

If she was at the point, so was he who didn't lie to her, which gained her confidence. If it was to be counted if Shawn had put a good impression on her, Alice would regard this to be on the positive side. 

Yet, her guards were raised against this strange man about whom she had no idea, not even the fact whether he was her enemy in the business world or…simply a normal man? Her instinct told her to go and investigate him once. 

"Alice?" she heard her name once again from his lips, which brought her out of her daze as well. "Yeah? Well, let's meet then. Which stop would you like to take me to for the very first time?" Alice asked sweetly. 

"Square garden. It is near the docks and a beautiful sunset can be seen from there." she heard about that place and Alice agreed since she loved the sunset too much. Without further delay, she hung up as quickly as possible since the work was piling up. 

But then, she kept her hand on her desk to cup her face into her palm. Realizing that she just agreed to go out with a stranger made her feel awkward. What was this weird sensation spreading all over her heart? She wasn't at the right place to even define the same. 

At last, she rang the bell where Abbey appeared inside the cabin once again, "Yes ma'am? You called me?" 

"Hmm..I need information about someone…." she mumbled and Abbey nodded her head, "About whom ma'am." 

"Shh….a.." the name itself didn't come out of her mouth. As if, something was holding her back from even speaking the name in front of her other employees. Why? Isn't she always the one who does the background search on everyone who comes into her life to be on the secured side? 

Then why not this person? Was she treating him as an exception? Alice was doubtful about her own choice of actions. 

"Nothing….go and do your work." Abbey didn't ask and left quietly making Alice sigh, "Gosh Alice…. Probably risking this time…won't make you end up doing something wrong.."

….

With the passage of time, things progressed in a much simpler way. Not only that, both Alice and Shawn met each other on a regular basis. While Shawn seemed to like her company, Alice found an interest in learning new things. 

For them, this was their personal space which wasn't even intruded by anyone. Alice could already feel that with him, she can be herself, not someone with her high attitude. Similarly, her pure nature was already making Shawn feel bubbles in his stomach to no extent. 

A similar evening, when both of them were walking on the sides of the river while wearing a short hazel dress while he kept himself simple with jeans and a shirt. The talks were never-ending but most of the time, it was Alice who spoke. 

"And you know what? When I was young, my father always motivated me to learn something new. But my brother? They were so jealous! Especially my younger brother, he literally did all the stuff to not make me learn anything. BUT in the end, I was Alice, so was my stubbornness can never make anyone stand in front of me.." 

A laugh was heard when Shawn kept his hand on his lips, "Surely I can imagine your brother being in a disadvantageous position against you." 

Alice passed him a narrowed glare but then Shawn doubled his laugh. "Ohkay Ohkay, SORRY. Obviously, you are so sweet. How come someone like you irritates your brother?" hearing him complimenting her, once again, Alice smiled with a grin almost reaching her ears. 

But then, his eyes caught the shop behind her, "Would you like to have ice cream?" 

"Sure!" With her approval, Shawn walked out towards the shop to get the two ice cream cones filled with ice creams. Giving one to the other, she tasted it while surveying all the favors in herself. "Um..this one is good!" 

"Yeah.." Shawn simply gazed at her expressions with a faint smile coming over his lips. 

But then, their peace and quality time was soon disturbed when one man from behind came in their direction to call Shawm, "Mr. Johnson, you will need to come with us." 

Hearing this, both of them shifted their attention to a man who was wearing a black formal with his eyes covered with black goggles. Averting her gaze at Shawn, Alice's eyes shone with worry, "W-Who are they?" 

But what she came across was Shawn's laugh already replaced with something she hasn't seen till yet. He was cold, with his aura immediately changing in just a few seconds. "What if I Say no?" he asked with quite a suspicious tone. 

The man, on the other hand, pulled a gun from his pocket to come close to Shawn and point it against his stomach, "This is Elder master Johnson's orders, Sir. You will need to come with us." 

.....

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