Chapter 3 - The Hostage
My blood ran completely cold.
I dropped the candlestick, and it hit the floor with a loud clang.
"David!" I screamed at the screen.
My husband looked terrified, his eyes darting frantically around our living room.
Grant grabbed my shoulders, pulling me back before my knees gave out.
"What did you do?" Grant roared, lunging toward Mark.
The two large men intercepted him instantly.
They slammed Grant back against the head table, knocking over glasses of champagne.
Vanessa looked back and forth between Mark and the screen.
"Mark, you said nobody was going to get hurt!" she yelled.
Mark rolled his eyes.
"Shut up, Vanessa."
"You were just the bait to get him to sign the company over."
Diane grabbed Mark's arm.
"Where is my money, Mark?" she demanded.
Mark shoved Diane so hard she stumbled backward into a chair.
"Your money is gone, Diane."
He pulled out a sleek silver laptop from a nearby podium.
"Grant’s company just patented a new software worth fifty million dollars."
"I just need his fingerprint on this scanner to transfer the master rights."
Mark walked over to where the two men were holding Grant.
"If you don't press your finger here, the men at your house have orders to hurt David."
I sobbed, feeling completely helpless.
"Grant, just give it to him," I begged.
"Nothing is worth your father's life."
Grant looked at me, his eyes full of a strange, calm determination.
He looked back at Mark.
"You're a smart guy, Mark."
"But you always underestimated my security protocols."
Grant reached into his pocket with his free hand.
He pulled out a small, metallic flash drive.
"The master rights aren't on that laptop."
"They are on this drive."
Mark's eyes widened with greed.
"Give it to me, now."
Grant smiled.
"I will."
He tossed the flash drive straight into a pitcher of ice water on the table.
Mark screamed in pure rage.
He lunged for the pitcher, knocking it over and spilling water everywhere.
May you like
The drive clattered onto the floor, completely soaked.
Before Mark could pick it up, the lights in the banquet hall suddenly went pitch black.
