Chapter 4 Try Me
1043 Words
The auction hall remained dimly lit, and the recent incident seemed like just a minor interruption.
All eyes were back on the auction stage.
Claire looked at him with frustration. "I’ve helped you now. Can you let me go?"
Nathan leaned in to Lucien and whispered, “We’ve found them.”
Lucien turned his gaze back to Claire. “Wait a little longer. For now, don’t stray too far from me.”
Wait?! More waiting?! She felt like this was just another excuse to keep her trapped.
Her mind raced, desperately searching for a way to escape this man.
Meanwhile, a man with tattoos covering his arms approached them, his face carrying a somewhat ingratiating expression.
"Mr. Stacey, about what happened earlier, I hope you can let it slide and return that project to us."
"Return?"
Lucien remembered this man. He used to run all the smuggling operations in this area.
His name seemed to be... Oliver Blocke.
Lucien asked, "There's no 'return' in the business world."
Oliver's eyes flashed with a hint of malice. He knew Lucien's methods were brutal and didn't want to make a scene.
That project should have been theirs, but this seemingly elegant yet sinister man had snatched it away!
He had to get it back, or his family would harshly punish him!
"I can pay... double."
"Five times the price," Lucien interrupted.
Oliver shouted in disbelief, "Are you insane?" That would leave him with no profit for three years!
"Then there's nothing to discuss."
Oliver clenched his fists, suppressing his anger. He soon noticed Claire standing next to Lucien and gave a knowing smile. “Alright, alright. I wish you the best of luck…”
Claire sat to the side, tuning out their conversation as her mind focused on one thing.
With Lucien momentarily distracted by the other man, this might be her chance.
She was so nervous that she kept swallowing, her heart pounding, and her palms sweaty.
Claire had to force herself to stay calm.
She softened her tone and said to Lucien, "I need to go to the restroom."
Lucien casually waved his hand, granting his permission.
Claire stood up but was immediately stopped by the bodyguards. Her nerves got the better of her, and she couldn't help but yell, "I need to go to the restroom!"
The crowd around instantly fell silent.
Claire's heart sank as she realized her mistake. ‘Oh no, I think I got too carried away.’
Her hands instinctively gripped her skirt, and she felt a cold sweat form on her back.
With Lucien's nod, the bodyguard lowered his hand and allowed her to leave.
Trembling, Claire made sure to walk slowly, afraid that Lucien might suspect something.
At that moment, Claire was like a frightened, skittish cat, jumping at every little thing.
It wasn't until she turned the corner and entered the restroom that she felt Lucien's gaze lift.
She relaxed slightly, her legs nearly giving out beneath her.
But she knew it wasn't over yet!
Claire's eyes locked onto the escape route ahead.
Just down that corridor, and she could be free!
Then, she glanced back cautiously.
Lucien's attention wasn't on her, and no one was watching her!
Now was her chance!
She kicked off her high heels and ran towards the escape route.
Faster!
She kept running until...
An icy gun barrel was pointed right at her!
*****
The man’s rough appearance and yellowed teeth gave off a foul stench. “Finally caught you.”
Claire’s heart nearly leaped out of her chest. She stared at the man in front of her, demanding, “Who are you?”
“Me? You don’t need to know. Just come with me now!” The man ordered, his eyes leering lasciviously at Claire’s chest.
Claire fought to keep her revulsion in check, her mind a jumble of confusion.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Lucien’s voice rang out from behind.
“How did you find me?!”
“I had eyes on the venue from the start,” Lucien said calmly, his demeanor smooth and collected. “Just to catch a rat like you.”
He slipped a cigarette between his lips, and one of his men immediately stepped forward to light it.
The flame danced in his icy eyes. His face was hidden in the shadows, concealing countless secrets.
No one could guess what he was thinking.
Lucien narrowed his eyes, a deeper smile curling at the corners of his mouth. In the face of the armed man, Lucien exuded an air of mastery, as if he controlled everything.
The man suddenly aimed the gun at Claire’s temple. “Let me go, or I’ll kill her.”
“Looks like our esteemed Mr. Stacey is in trouble,” Oliver’s voice rang out from the crowd, his smile dripping with malice. He had intended to make a move on Claire himself but was now pleased to see someone else beat him to it. Nonetheless, he wasn’t about to miss the chance to undermine Lucien.
Oliver signaled his men, who raised their guns in Lucien’s direction, hoping to force him into submission with this show of force.
The cold barrel pressed against Claire's forehead. She forced herself to stay calm, but her trembling body betrayed her fear.
Of course, she was scared!
She had lived a safe, ordinary life until she met this man, and everything changed!
Lost her virginity, imprisoned, and now used as a bargaining chip...
Fear and terror were the emotions she had felt most in the past day!
She couldn’t fathom why she first had to deal with being drugged and now found herself threatened with death!
But what she failed to notice was that as the man aimed at her, Lucien’s expression changed.
No longer indifferent.
Instead, his gaze turned sharp and icy, like a blade ready to strike.
The warmth within was long gone, replaced by an intense sense of threat that could crush everything in an instant.
Lucien was used to having guns pointed at him.
But Claire was someone he had protected with care, and now Oliver dared to threaten her life?
Absolutely not! No one could harm Claire!
His voice was as cold as a frozen abyss. "Go ahead. Try me."
- Writer
