Chapter 71

Ella POV

At the sound of David's name, James stood from his seat. He moved in front of me, his arm stretched out protectively. He didn’t know David, but his sharp gaze locked onto the man who was rapidly closing the distance between us.

David must have realized he’d been spotted because suddenly stopped. He was a few feet away, and there were other tables around us with people enjoying their meals.

David approached slowly, smiling his best charming smile. “Let’s not make a scene,” he said softly.

“You need to leave,” James ordered, his voice firm and commanding.

The dizzy feeling in my head was becoming more pronounced, and I was having trouble focusing. I tried to stand up, but I stumbled. James turned to me with a look of concern, and David took advantage of the distraction.

My head spun too wildly for me to make sense of the details. I heard the sharp sound of James hissing in pain, then saw him stumble before collapsing back into his chair. David was smiling, cold, and triumphant.

"That's a dirty trick," James growled through gritted teeth, his voice taut with pain.

“What did you do?” I demanded.

Something was clearly wrong with James. A thin stream of blood trickled down his arm, and he swayed slightly, clearly unsteady.

David sat in the chair across from mine and placed his hand on the table, leaning forward. “Sorry about that,” he said happily. “I wanted to talk to you in private, so it was necessary to take care of your bodyguard.”

My heart raced as the horrifying realization dawned on me—David had planned for this. He had known I’d have protection and had come prepared with something to incapacitate my bodyguard.

"James," I said, my voice filled with concern.

"Miss Rowan," he gasped, his eyes locking onto mine with urgency, "you're going to need to run."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, disbelief flooding through me.

"Whatever he stabbed me with," James continued, his words strained, "I think... I think it was drugged."

My veins filled with ice at his words. James’ eyes looked heavy, and it was clear that he was struggling to remain conscious.

I stood up and hurried towards the exit. I wanted to cry out for help, but I felt like my throat was closing up. My heart was thundering, and I realized that I was truly panicking.

I could hear murmurs ripple through the crowd as they tried to figure out what was happening. No one moved to help me, though.

I made it out of the restaurant and into the lobby, swaying as I went. Suddenly, a strong grip seized me, and I was pulled against someone’s side. My stomach dropped as I realized it was David.

I looked around frantically, searching for help. A woman in a hotel uniform looked at me with concern.

“Help,” I said, barely audibly.

The woman stopped and looked at David uncertainly. “Is everything alright?”

“Too many mimosas,” David said in a friendly tone. “I’ll get her up to our room to rest.”

The woman smiled, seeming relieved. “Our lunch specials are hard to resist,” she joked.

“The best in the city,” David replied kindly.

Then we were moving again. I found it difficult to keep my feet under me. I tried to pull away from David, but I was too weak. I felt so hot that his touch was almost too much to bear.

I squeezed my eyes shut, desperately trying to regain control of my senses, but the terror was overwhelming. Whatever he had done to James, it was clear—I was on my own.

No one noticed my distress, or if they did, they didn’t think it was enough to step in. David appeared to be helping me, so why would they?

David led me down a side hallway towards a bank of elevators. He seemed so calm and casual that no one would ever suspect he was in the process of kidnapping me. We reached the elevator, and David hit the button.

He released his grip on me, then looked at me expectantly.

I tried to turn, desperate to run in the opposite direction, but my body wouldn’t cooperate. The vertigo hit me like a wave, making it impossible to stay upright.

With each step I attempted, nausea surged. The world tilted, and I felt my strength slipping away.

I staggered, holding myself up against the wall, but I couldn’t get away.

“What’s wrong?” David asked mockingly. “You aren’t running away, so I guess you must want to come with me.”

I tried to deny it, but my mouth was so dry no words would come out.

There was a ding, then the elevator doors opened.

He threw me over his shoulder, knocking the wind from my lungs.

I gasped, struggling to breathe as I clung helplessly to his back, trying in vain to free myself from his iron grip.

He stepped into the elevator, and as the doors closed, all hope of being saved seemed to fade. David held me over his shoulder easily, using his free hand to stroke my leg.

My skin felt so overheated that the coolness of his touch was pleasant. A shiver went through me and I felt disgusted with myself.

“Have you figured it out yet?” he asked, watching the numbers change as the elevator rose.

I tried to lift myself to look at him, but I couldn’t.

“It’s not exactly the same as the drug that you slipped to Amanda, but it’s similar. Soon, you won’t be able to resist my touch.”

David's mocking laugh echoed in the small space. I felt all of the air leave my lungs, and my head swam as I struggled to make sense of what I was hearing.

I tried to call out for help, but my voice was too weak, barely a whisper.

“Don’t act like that,” he scolded. “Is it really so bad to feel my touch again? You never complained about it before.”

“Let me go,” I begged weakly. “Just leave me alone.”

“I can’t do that,” he replied. “Even if I wanted to let you go, I need you. You’re my girl. I’ve planned my life around you, and I’ll be damned if I’m about to let that bastard Alexander Black take what’s rightfully mine.”

His hand stilled on my leg, and his grip tightened slightly.

My heart pounded furiously as panic set in. In my weakened state, there was nothing I could do to escape him. I was completely at David’s mercy, and the fear of what he might do clawed at my chest.

This must have been because of the engagement announcement. It had driven him over the edge. I should’ve known—should’ve been on guard. My thoughts spiraled, the terror mounting with every moment that passed.

What exactly had he hoped to accomplish? Did he think he could simply kidnap me and force me to take him back? Was he planning to hold me for ransom? I had no idea. His plan, if he even had one, seemed thoughtless and reckless.

“What are you going to do?” I asked, my voice coming out in a rasp.

“I’m going to film you,” he answered simply. "Then I’ll have proof that you belong to me. You’ll have no choice but to take me back. Don’t worry though; I won’t share the video unless I have to. You won’t make me do that, will you, Ella? You’ve always been so shy and private; I’m sure you won’t want people to see you like this.”

Before I could respond, he dropped me from his shoulder and shoved me up against the wall of the elevator.

He surged forward, kissing me with bruising force. I tried to shove him away, but the sensation of his touch sent a tremor through me and I shuddered beneath him.

David pulled back with a victorious grin on his face, and my heart sank at the sight of it. There was no way I could get out of this. The drug was too strong. I was completely at David’s mercy.