She appeared carefree and audacious.Maria’s demeanor was the perfect mix of frustratingly playful yet deeply disarming. As she lounged lazily in her chair, Sidney watched her in silence, contemplating his next move. Finally, he broke the silence. “I want forty percent.””No,” Maria replied casually, but her tone left no room for negotiation. “Thirty percent.”Sidney sighed deeply, feeling the weight of her unwavering decision.Maria, noticing his frustration, flashed a teasing smile. “Or, we can go back to my original offer-you marry me, and it all becomes our shared property. No need to split anything.” Sidney’s response was swift. “Let’s just sign the contract.”Maria raised an eyebrow, amused.Clearly, marriage wasn’t on his agenda.”Tsk…” S~ᴇaʀᴄh the FɪndNøvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Was he a fool for passing up such a convenient offer?She called the legal team, quickly preparing the contract.Once everything was in place, both of them signed, making Sidney an official partner and operator of the studio.With the papers signed, Maria’s playful grin returned.She grabbed his collar, tugging him down so he had to bend over, catching him off guard.”What are you doing?” Sidney frowned, confused by her sudden move. She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss. “Here’s to a successful partnership.”Letting go of his collar, she stood up and walked out, leaving Sidney behind in a daze.Sidney stood there, rubbing his temples. He couldn’t help but feel like he had been played, but the contract was signed, and his mind was already focused on his next steps. The studio was just a stepping stone, after all….With the studio matter resolved, Maria shifted her attention to her bigger plans. She still intended to take that much-needed trip she’d been dreaming about.But just as she was starting to plan her escape, her phone rang a client calling to schedule a meeting for that evening to discuss business matters.Maria smiled faintly. “Sidney’s in charge of the studio now. If there’s anything you need, feel free to reach out to him.”But the client on the other endwasn’t having it. “I’ve been dealing with you, from the start. This Sidney guy doesn’t know anything about our project. Why would I talkto him?” Maria thought for a moment, realizing the client had a point. “Alright, see you tonight.”She knew it would take time to transition everything over to Sidney.A gradual handover would be best.That evening, at a quiet restaurant, Maria met with the client. They discussed the remaining issues, and by the end of the meeting, she handed over Sidney’s contact information. After sharing a glass of wine, they went their separate ways.Maria stepped outside the restaurant, feeling a strange warmth spreading through her body. She found a bench nearby and sat down, letting the cool evening breeze wash over her.Across from the restaurant was apeaceful river, and the scenery was beautiful, but something was wrong. The heat in her body intensified, and an unfamiliar tingling sensation started creeping through her making her feel weak. Confused, she rubbed her temples.Was she having an allergic reaction?Just as she tried to gather her thoughts, a car pulled up in front of her. Two men stepped out and, without a word, grabbed her, pulling her toward the car. “What are you doing?” Maria asked, stunned.She tried to struggle, but her body felt weak, her limbs like jelly-no strength left to fight back. Before she could comprehend what was happening, the car door slammed shut behind her. Maria’s instincts kicked in, her pulse racing. “Who are you? Where are you taking me?” But her voice was soft, barely intimidating in her dazed state.The men said nothing.The car was eerily quiet.Panicking, Maria pinched her thigh hard, using the sharp pain to keep herself awake. Without drawing attention she subtly pressed a hidden button on her phone. The screen didn’t light up, but an emergency signal had been sent.
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