SOLD TO HIM - (El Ricci Series, # 1) (Rewrite)

CHAPTER ONE

Emily

I came to a stop on the stoop, where two men in polished black suits awaited me, standing with heads held high. Glancing over my shoulder, I wondered if they were somehow related to the client I had just visited. However, no one else emerged through the double doors but me.

"Miss Miller," the blond one said, tossing off his sunglasses. His attempt at a gentle smile vanished as I took a step back.

"That's me. Yes?" I replied, narrowing my eyes at them.

The blond man stepped forward, not in a menacing manner, but rather kindly, as if he were trying not to scare away a small child. His attempt failed again when I retreated, almost stepping back inside my client's foyer.

"We're here to pick you up," he explained.

"I think you're mistaken," I replied warily; was this how kidnappings worked these days?

"No, Miss Miller. We got directions to pick you up and bring you to the head quadrants of SafeGuard."

At that, I raised a brow. "Did Mr. Miller send you?"

He shook his head. "No, we don't answer to him."

Crossing my arms, I said, "Who do you answer to then?"

The blonde man's lip curled into a smile as he glanced over his shoulder at his colleague, undoubtedly considering tossing me into the sleek SUV and spiriting me away to God knows where.

"Your uncle will explain everything once we're there," the blonde man said with an air of confidence. His words, however, left me wondering—what did my uncle have to do with this, and why was I being whisked away without any clarity? "Please, Miss Miller. Get in the car," he insisted, his tone firm.

Just as I was about to refure again, my phone pinged with a message from my Uncle.

CharlieMiller: 

Emily, get in the car and come here as soon as possible

Alright, so the men were telling the truth.

I shot a scrutinizing look back at them, evaluating each one individually. My eyes scanned their imposing figures, noting the distinct lines of well-defined muscles beneath their black suits. These weren't your average taxi drivers; their stature and disciplined posture hinted at rigorous daily training routines. Both sported earpieces, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.

A knot of unease tightened in my stomach. I wrestled with uncertainty for another five seconds before surrendering to the situation with a resigned sigh.

The man gestured towards the open door once more. "After you."

Keeping my eyes locked on them, I cautiously entered the car, taken aback by the smooth leather and opulent interior. As rich as my family was, I'd never ridden in a car quite like this.

The blonde man's remark about not 'answering' to my Uncle echoed in my mind; who did these people answer to then? Perhaps one of our investors, but they didn't seem to belong to the average wealthy class that this car suggested. That couldn't be it. And why did my uncle need me at the headquarters? Couldn't he just simply called me?

The two men who had been waiting outside opened the door and took seats on either side of me, forming a protective barrier from me to the outside world. I raised a skeptical brow, and they exchanged a brief glance before turning their attention back outside.