Chapter 271 - Cornered

F.u.c.k! F.u.c.k ! F.u.c.k!

This wasn't what was supposed to happen... Julian still couldn't believe it. A bunch of kids... they were just a bunch of kids. Why did six professional kidnappers who have killed people in the double digits fail this simple job?

Not only were they now reduced to two men, but they also didn't manage to make a clean getaway. Cops were chasing them all the way to Hell's Kitchen and they almost didn't make the swap in time. The borders out of New York closed soon after and Julian was stuck in the city. He was meant to meet Leah after the heiress called once the girls reached her hotel but now, it was going to be difficult.

How did things end up like this?

To make matters worse, everyone that he tried to contact was unavailable. His father had been arrested so Julian ditched him. The mayor was caught in a huge scandal and rioters were starting to gather in the streets. The police that he thought he had under his control now tell him they couldn't help him because some big wigs were running the place, for the time being, an order from the higher-ups.

After so much meticulous planning, the CEO of EZ Express still could not understand why all this was happening so suddenly. He tried to call Wilmer but the man simply wasn't picking up. At some point, he was also blocked. Even if Leah successfully got the kidnapped girls into her hotel, it would be useless unless Wilmer knew that his daughters were in their hands.

The men sent to place explosives at the Wilde mansion were not responding, Wilmer feared the worst. Nobody was doing what they should be doing and Julian was pissed. Even Adrian had run away the moment Pier 22 was sold. That sly weasel... he knew that there was something fishy about this distributor! His father just refused to believe him. Somebody had been tipping the Interpol off and Julian had been careful enough to get rid of spies from his company, staying as far as he possibly could from his father's underground business to maintain a pristine record.

Where did it go wrong?

Hiding in a discreet live music bar in Manhattan, Julian couldn't help but feel miserable. It was close to two in the morning and his phone was deathly silent. The soothing blues music did nothing to improve his mood. If he knew things were going to be this bad, he would've gone to a gay bar instead.

As if knowing that he was feeling down and lonely, someone sent him a text.

Julian went to check the message and found that it was from an unknown number.

[Hello, Julian. I bet it must be really lonely for you to be drinking all alone at the bar alone while your world falls apart. Want some company?]

With a scowl, Julian wondered if he should block this number or reply to it. However, before he could decide, a new text came in.

[Don't worry about my identity. You won't find out even after everything is over. I bet you're very curious about who the spy with your circle is. I'll give you a hint. They have your personal number. It's also how I could trace you down so easily.]

[The police are on their way and you have no escape even if you tried to run. Aren't you curious why Wilmer didn't respond to your calls or react to the news about his daughters' scandals? How about the foiled plot about bombing the Wilde mansion?]

Julian thought about it. If this mysterious person already knew his number and was hacking into it to find his location, there really would be no escape even if Julian tried. The entire New York City was on lockdown, there were rioters outside and nobody who should be responding was responding.

He took a huge gulp of whisky and laughed bitterly. That was right. At the very least before he never saw the light of day again, he wanted to know who it was and how they did it. It was a checkmate and he was the felon waiting for the executioner to bring the guillotine down. He was aware of the things he'd done and judging by the tone of this mysterious person, they just wanted to stall him for long enough so that it would be easier for the authorities to find him, not that he there was any hope of escaping.

[Sure. Might as well let me know before I'm gone forever. How did you find out?]

From Kiwi Cat Studio's office, Elfie and Jasper looked at the hacker's laptop. Julian really replied.

"Are you sure we should tell him?" Jasper asked. "The police will be there in another five minutes."

Elfie smiled. "Think of it as kindness on my end. After all, we don't want him plotting revenge. I don't believe that the Interpol can clean up their operations immediately. EZ Express is one huge company. The arrest of their CEO will send them into a panic. I just want to give you a better chance of expanding your business. If you want to marry Alex, you need a huge dowry."

Jasper frowned. "It's usually the girl who brings the dowry and not the man."

Elfie looked at the CEO cheekily. "Seeing as how you're not in the right position of power, you have to match her. Also, speaking of Alex... I think you'd need to baby her and treat her super nice for a while. The kidnapping isn't something to sneeze at. Both girls might be tougher than they look but there will always be some sort of trauma and mental damage. I don't know details but they survived a gunfight and were kidnapped by people who had weapons. Edward says that something similar happened to Scarlet when she was younger?"

Jasper nodded. "I'm more worried about how Scarlet is coping. Alex will be fine, she is prepared for something like that. Claire didn't go easy on Alex when it came to training for such a situation. Scarlet was away in China so she didn't have training."

Elfie nodded. "Anyway, I'm going to reply. The man has got to know that he's downfall was only because he messed with the wrong kids."

At the bar, Julian read as the mysterious texter gave him pieces of the puzzle to put together. It took Julian a while to understand that there was actually a team working behind this and to make matters worse, he knew the one spy he failed to guard against.

"So it turned out to be him... I should have known that interns were bad investments. No wonder he didn't call me that night and didn't appear the next day. It was simply too convenient. What a shame... he was such a pretty thing. Too bad he has his heart on another girl now."

Thinking about Liu Xiu Wen, he could finally understand a fraction of what Leah felt. That girl was simply too blessed. Too many people cared for her and Julian sometimes wondered why his life was as such. Perhaps if he had a fraction of the love Scarlet Wilde received, he wouldn't be this cynical.

"What a hateful girl," he smiled as the doors were slammed open with police rushing in to apprehend him.

Finishing the rest of his whisky, Julian took out all the money he had in his wallet and put it on the counter. It was way too much for the drink and the tip that the startled bartender wanted to refuse but Julian paid him no attention. What use was money and power now?

"Julian Anastasia, you are under arrest on the grounds of involvement with kidnapping, drug and arms dealing and illegal business transactions. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in court. Please put your hands behind your back and come with us peacefully."

Julian didn't say anything. He merely put his hands up then slowly turned around to let the officers cuff him. The stunned bartender and patrons of the establishment simply watched the police take the gentleman away, not knowing what to believe.