Annabel nudged Stella with her toe. Her voice was now sweeter, a sharp shift from her usual voice. She was faking it, and even without a voice changer, she was doing a good job.
“Heard you’re into pushing people around?” said Annabel.
Mason was watching from the side, and he grinned. Annabel could make a living with that voice–acting, he thought.
Stella’s mind raced, trying to figure out who she’d pissed off. She shouted, defiant, “I didn’t push anyone around! Stop making stuff up!”
Annabel’s face darkened as she smiled coldly, “Still laying when you’re all tied up?”
Annabel slapped Stella, her smile sharp as Stella flinched. “Play a game with me. Win, and you walk free.”
Stella wasn’t buying it, sensing a trap. “I’m not playing your games! Let me go! I work for Charles Shaw–aren’t you scared of the Shaw family?”
Annabel ignored her, her eyes cold and sharp. She nodded at Mason.
Mason got the signal, stepping up with a grin. Ignoring Stella’s squirming and screams, he tied an apple to her head.
Annabel’s voice was steady. “I’m good with a blade. When the wheel spins, if my dagger hits the apple, you’re free.”
Stella realized she was strapped to a huge spinning wheel, arms and legs spread out.
The idea of daggers flying at her made her shake, her screams raw. “Let me go! You’ll kill me! When I get out, I’ll sue you dry–lock you up forever!”
Annabel played with a shiny dagger, her tone flat. “Miss Hughes, it’s starting. Move, and I can’t promise the blade hits only the apple… Or your head.”
The wheel hadn’t even started, but Annabel’s icy, deadly voice broke Stella.
She sobbed, her legs trembling, a warm, nasty smell leaking down her pants.
Annabel scoffed. “Miss Hughes, you’re making a mess. Spinning’s going to spread it- we won’t like cleaning that.”
Stella, beyond embarrassment, knew these weren’t just random thugs; they meant
business.
“Please, let me go. Name your price–I’ll pay anything,” she begged, her voice breaking.
Silence. Not even a peep around S
Successfully unlocked!
“Spin, Annabel said.
1/4
Chapter 16 Annabel Stokes Fast
The wheel jerked. Stella flipped upside down, the liquid dripping onto her face, warm and gross.
“Whoosh.” A breeze shot past her ear, followed by a thud near her earlobe.
It was a blade.
Stella screamed, her voice shrill. “Ah!”
A soft laugh came next. “Miss Hughes, nice job–round one, no cuts.”
‘Round one? Just the start?‘ Stella couldn’t believe her ears.
Before Stella could say anything, the wheel spun faster. If she had her eyes open, they‘ d probably be all blurry by now.
Even blindfolded, her stomach twisted, bile creeping up.”
going to puke…”
Another sickening thud came. Something hit the apple above her head. She didn’t
know if it was juice or blood.
Picturing a dagger in her forehead, Stella’s eyes rolled back. She passed out.
Mason stepped back, wrinkling his nose. “Nasty.”
Annabel eyed the dagger in the apple, satisfied. Her aim was on point today.
*Annabel, keep going?” Mason asked, then added, “I’ll grab water.”
Annabel nodded, setting her other daggers aside.
Mason splashed Stella, waking her. Annabel stepped closer, her voice low. “Hand or
foot?”
Stella, out of it, stammered, “W–what?”
“Which do you keep, hand or foot?” asked Mason.
It hit Stella. Her scream ripped through the room. “No! My hands, I need them! My feet too! Neither, no!”
Annabel was done with her whining. She stomped on Stella’s wrist.
Stella’s pained screams echoed as Annabel spoke, her voice cold. “Since you want both, you’ll lose both.”
Mason watched, excited but rattled, as Annabel crushed Stella’s hands and feet.
Stella passed out again, this time from pain.
Annabel switched back to her usual voice, calm. “Dump her.”
Mason gave an OK sign, calling someone to drag Stella back to the hospital.
With quick care, her limbs might work again–someday.
The villa went quiet. Mason turned to Annabel as she got ready to leave. “Annabel, wel haven’t eaten together in forever. Dinner tonight?”
2/4
Chapter 16 Annabel Strikes First
Mason’s sharp features, striking but not too pretty, lit up as he winked, his charm tought for anyone to resist.
Annabel shook her head. “Not tonight.”
She paused, recalling something. “But come with me somewhere, and I’ll grab dinner with you after.”
“Deal!” Mason, usually cool and distant, grinned like an excited kid, cozying up to Annabel. “Where we going?”
“Buying an entertainment company,” she said, heading for the exit.
“Entertainment company?” Mason blinked, chuckling. Only Annabel could toss out something that big so casually.
He thought for a second, then asked, “Is this about Charles?”
Annabel nodded. “Yup.”
They jumped in the car. Mason, hyped up, said, “Annabel, you’re finally making a move. Which company?”
“Aether Studios,” she replied, her voice calm.
Mason’s lips curled into a sly grin. “If you’re low on cash, just let me know.”
“Not yet,” Annabel said. “But I need the buyout under your name.”
Thrilled to pitch in, Mason hit the gas, speeding toward their destination.
At Aether Studios, they stepped out to see a crowd buzzing around someone heading
for the entrance.
All they saw was a tall, commanding figure, oozing authority–a guy you didn’t mess
with.
“Who’s that, showing up with a whole crew?” Mason muttered, fixing his collar. “Not here to grab Aether Studios too, are they?”
Annabel didn’t reply, her brow creasing as she picked up her pace.
At the entrance, a guard stopped them. “Sorry, only employees are allowed in.”
“We’ve got a meeting with your boss,” Mason said, smooth as ever, throwing out a lie.
Name’s Shaw.”
The guard checked via radio, got a go–ahead, and let them pass.
Inside, Annabel gave Mason a look. He shrugged. “Don’t start. For a jerk like him? Use what works.”
Annabel looked away just as the elevator dinged, opening to the first floor.
As they stepped in, a curious glance shot their way.
Chapter 16 Annabel Strikes Fast
Jonathan didn’t expect to see Annabel here–especially not with someone from Arlington’s Cole family.
He wondered, ‘The Coles were high and mighty, rarely mixing with Frostville’s business crowd. Why her? Daughter of a businessman?‘
He brushed it off as curiosity, ignoring the weird twinge in his chest.
On the top floor, Annabel and Mason were led to a waiting room, left to sit tight.
Annabel sat for a second, then got up. Time to take control.
As she left, Mason’s laid–back voice followed. “Annabel, need me, you know where I am
I’ve got you.”
She slammed the door shut, her face blank.
Turning a corner, still searching for the CEO’s office, her wrist was grabbed. Someone pulled her into a nook full of potted plants.
Annabel saw who it was and relaxed. “What are… YOU doing here?”
4M
