Stockholm Syndrome | h.s.

Six

"So wait, let me get this straight. Lucy expects us to kidnap someone?" Valerie asks frantically.

I was still trying to make sense of it all. Yes, I know when I agreed to join the EMU that I would have to do things a little out of my comfort zone. But kidnapping a person was pushing my limits.

After Lucy had told us what the client wants us to do, Liam and I sat there in silence. Lucy continued to explain that there were two reasons she said yes to the client.

The first one being that the client, Mr. Ames, was actually a good friend of the owner of our company and actually helped the business get its start. The second is that he's offering a hefty amount of money, mostly in cash. Honestly, I can see why Lucy didn't want to pass up this mission. Yet, I had a strange feeling about it.

"Yeah, basically." I respond to Valerie as we sit in the small living room of our apartment.

"We've never done anything this extreme before! Yeah, we've stolen things before, but never a person!" Valerie says and lets out a frustrated sigh.

Even though I can feel my heart rate double at the thought of the task we've been assigned, I manage to let reassuring words pass through my lips. "I know Valerie, but I have a feeling we can do this. I mean, we've never failed a mission before, right? And-"

My words come to a halt as a soft knock sounds from the door. Valerie jumps a bit at the sudden noise. "Come in," I call from my seat so that the person knocking could hear me.

The door opens slowly and Liam comes into view as he enters the room with Niall not far behind. Liam walks over to the small couch across from us and takes a seat, Niall doing the same. I only look up and give them a small smile before turning back towards Valerie. I am about to continue where I left off but, once again, Liam interrupts.

  "Well, you two aren't very welcoming, are you?" Liam teases us, a small smirk forming on his face.

  "Liam, I don't think right now is the time to be teasing us," Valerie says as she rolls her eyes. With all the eye rolling she did in one day, her eyes should be sore.

  "You could at least say hello. It's not that complicated," Liam says, a small smirk still visible.

  "Well then, tell us what you would have liked us to do, mister hospitality!" I challenge him and wait for what he'll say next.

  "A simple, 'Hi boys!' would have been enough." Liam says, his voice raising many octaves as he impersonates my voice. Valerie and myself burst into a fit of laughter, with Niall joining in soon after, at Liam's high pitched idea of a greeting.

I finally compose myself and wipe a stray tear from the corner of my eye before looking at Liam once again. "Hi boys!" I emphasize my words so Liam will take notice. "How's that, Liam? Satisfied?"

  "I suppose. Anyway, hello Chloe. Hello Valerie," Liam laughs a bit.

  "Guess I should say hello as well before I get yelled at by Liam over here," Niall laughs an adorable laugh before turning to me and then Valerie. "Hello Chloe. And Valerie, am I the right?"

Valerie nods her head bashfully as a hint of pink covers her cheeks. She never gets embarrassed or shy around guys, but I suppose guys with Irish accents are simply her weakness.

Liam leans back into the couch as he smirks at Valerie's reaction before turning to me. "Well, what did you invite us over for?"

"Right. Well I figured we could discuss what Lucy has planned," I answered. "We can fill Niall and Valerie in on what Lucy told us in her office."