Eric's POV
Planning a surprise for Liezel's 33rd birthday had become an exciting challenge. I wanted it to be perfect, something that would show her how much she meant to me. I enlisted the help of a few close colleagues—Franz, MJ, and Laren—to pull off this surprise. They were more than happy to assist, and together we organized a party at a chic venue, ensuring every detail was taken care of.
The evening arrived, and the place was buzzing with laughter and good cheer. Liezel had no idea what I had planned, and the excitement in the room was palpable. As she walked in, her eyes lit up with surprise and happiness. The decorations, the guests, and the warm atmosphere were all tailored to make her feel special. I could see how touched she was, and that alone made all the effort worthwhile.
But as the night progressed, an unexpected and terrifying turn of events unfolded. The festive atmosphere was abruptly shattered when a group of men in black suits burst into the party, their intentions clear—they were here to kidnap both Liezel and me. Panic swept through the room as the guests screamed and scattered.
The men in black suits moved with chilling efficiency, their faces concealed behind dark sunglasses. One of them grabbed a microphone from the DJ booth and began shouting, "Where is Liezel Nadine? We know she's here! Come out now, or things will get worse!"
Their voices were harsh, their laughter unsettling. They reveled in the chaos they were creating, clearly enjoying the fear they instilled. Another man taunted, "This is your last chance! Give us Liezel, or we'll make sure no one leaves this place unscathed!"
I was caught off guard, my initial shock quickly replaced by a surge of adrenaline. I realized that the situation was far more dangerous than I had anticipated. What I didn't know was that among the guests were covert agents from the CBI, stationed there to protect Liezel. Their presence was a secret even to me, and it became evident that they were prepared for such an attack.
As chaos erupted, I was astonished by Liezel's reaction. She sprang into action with a level of skill and precision that I had never witnessed before. Her movements were fluid and confident, as if she had been trained for moments like these. It became clear that she was far more than the HR officer I had come to know. Her combat skills were impressive, and she handled the attackers with a fierce determination that left me in awe.
Despite the chaos, the CBI agents and Liezel managed to neutralize the threat with remarkable efficiency. The black-suited men were subdued and taken into custody, and the immediate danger was averted. No one was hurt, but the incident left everyone shaken.
As the dust settled, I approached Franz, MJ, and Laren, who were visibly shaken. They had been close to the action, and their concern was palpable.
"Eric, what the hell just happened?" Franz asked, his voice trembling.
"I don't know," I admitted, still trying to process everything. "But why did those men want Liezel?"
MJ, her usual composure now replaced with fear, added, "We need to know why they targeted her. This is beyond anything we expected."
Laren, who was trying to steady his shaking hands, said, "Is she okay? Did they hurt her?"
I looked at my friends, struggling to find the right words. "She's fine. The CBI agents handled it. But I don't have all the answers yet."
MJ's eyes widened with concern. "Eric, why would anyone want to kidnap Liezel? What's going on?"
I hesitated, not sure how much to reveal. "I... I don't have the full picture. There's something more going on here, something I wasn't aware of until now. But I need to focus on making sure everyone is safe and understanding what just happened."
As I spoke, I could see the confusion and worry in their eyes. They were just as in the dark as I was about the reasons behind the attack. I was determined to protect Liezel and get to the bottom of this, but I also knew I had to keep some things under wraps for now.
As we worked together to ensure the safety of our guests and resolve the aftermath of the attack, the reality of Liezel's double life settled heavily on my shoulders. The secrecy and danger that surrounded her were more intense than I had ever imagined, and it left me with a profound sense of urgency to protect her and understand the full scope of her world.
Tonight's events had revealed a side of Liezel that I had not known, and while I was grateful that she had kept everyone safe, I was now more determined than ever to stand by her side and support her in whatever lay ahead.
