Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring
Billionaire Shadow 131

Chapter 131

"Either you tell me where the videos are," Annie said, "or I'll start cutting away pieces of you until you do. And trust me, Jim, I have all the time in the world."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Jim stammered, voice trembling, eyes darting around the darkly lit warehouse as though searching for an escape that wasn't there.

Annie leaned to one side, and a cold smile curled up her lips. "It seems you still don't understand the gravity of your situation," she said, her tone ice-cold. Her heel came down hard on his foot, the sharp pointed heel digging into the tender flesh.

Jim let out a guttural cry, thrashing in the chair, but she gave no shit. Her weight pressed hard onto his foot, and her eyes remained cold.

"Where are the videos?" she demanded again, her voice sharper, colder.

"I don't..." Jim's words were cut off by another sharp cry as Annie began twisting her heel. "I still don't understand what you're talking about. What videos?" he gasped, his face pale and glistening with sweat.

Annie's patience, as thin as a razor's blade, snapped. Her palm landed on his face with a sharp crack resounding through the warehouse. "Do not test me, Jim!" she hissed, flashing anger in her eyes.

Her mind raced; she needed to finish this on time, because she had to return before Alexander noticed her absence. Taking a deep breath, she let her expression soften, her features changed into an almost angelic innocence, as she put away the small knife and lifted her heel off his throbbing foot.

"Jim," she said, now her voice was smooth as silk, oozing with fake kindness; her hand reached out, her fingers cupping his bruised face gently; her thumb stroked the side of his cheek.

"We don't have to do this the messy way," she whispered, her tone almost seductive. Her fingers trailed down to his jawline, and her eyes bored into his, faking understanding. "Hand me the videos. Both the originals and the duplicates. Do that, and/ I let you go. No pain, no mess. Win-win, Jim. Doesn't that sound better?"

Jim's chest heaved, his lips quivering. For a moment, Annie thought she'd finally gotten through to him. But then his lips pressed into a thin, defiant line.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, his voice firmer now, though the fear in his eyes betrayed his resolve.

Annie froze. Her hand stilled on his face, and for a brief second, the room fell silent. Then, in a sudden burst of fury, she struck him across the face again, harder this time. The slap echoed in the warehouse, and Jim's head snapped to the side, blood began trickling from the corner of his mouth.

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"You think this is a game?!" she snarled, her voice trembling with rage. Another slap landed, and then another. "You think you can sit there and lie to me?!"

Jim didn't respond, his head hanging low, his breaths shallow and ragged.

Annie straightened, her chest heaving with exertion and anger. Her patience was gone, her mask of composure shattered. Turning toward the warehouse door, she barked, "Get in here!"

The metal door creaked open, and the hulking men she'd dismissed earlier stepped inside, their faces devoid of emotion. Pointing at Jim, her eyes ablaze with fire, Annie ordered coldly, "Deal with him." The men nodded, one stepping forward to carry out her order, and Annie turned her back from the scene, her mind already working on what next to do. She couldn't afford to be here for long.

As she walked away, Jim's panicked voice echoed behind her, pleading and begging.. Annie didn't look back. This was who she was since day one of her life. She was indeed the devil whom her father had called her before he took his last breath. 10:48 Wed, Jan 1 GF.

Chapter 131

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The room was suffocating with fear. People fell on their knees, trembling and holding on to each other, their faces white with terror. There were gasps and muffled cries, but nobody dared move.

Emma's phone slipped slightly in her trembling hand, the voice on the other end becoming distant as panic gripped her heart. Her head security officer was talking urgently, his voice lined with concern..

"Ma'am, most floors in the building have been spotted with explosives. The police are already on their way here, and we are on our way to your floor. We'll get you out of the building on time and try to defuse as many bombs as possible before the police arrive." The words echoed in her ears, very far away, as if she were hearing them from beneath the water. Her mind raced, her thoughts spinning out of control.

Her hand slacked, and the phone fell to the floor with a dead thud. The weight of the situation pressed down on her like a crushing force. Hot tears spilled from her eyes as she stood frozen, her heart pounding wildly against her chest.

Her mind wandered to her twins, Emily and Ethan. Their round, plump faces flashed in her mind, their giggles ringing in her mind like some haunting melody; who will comfort them when they cry, who will put them into bed and say everything would be all right, and who would take Emily to the hospital for her sessions?

The thought was unbearable. Her knees weakened, her lips quivering as she struggled to keep her composure. They're too young to lose their mother, she thought bitterly, the ache in her chest deepening.

Her mother's frail face rushed to her mind, already in bad health, her death would surely shatter what little strength she have left. And then, there was Alexander. The most egomaniac man she had ever met.

She had never wanted him to know of their twins, not after what had transpired between them.

Now standing on the edge of death, she regretted not telling him. If only he knew. if only she had told him. at least then, Emily and Ethan would have someone to take care of them, someone who loves them just as fiercely as she does, Emma thought.

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