Filed to story: Watch Me Win Alpha (Olivia & Ethan)
This was personal. Dangerous. With the reach of two powerful families in motion, secrets I’d hoped were personal were now lethal.
Alexander’s POV
The screen glowed ominously as the surveillance replayed the footage: a black-clad figure, hat pulled low, entering the 18th- floor corridor carrying a suitcase. He appeared confident- unconcerned by onlookers. Seconds later, he exited, suitcase still in tow, and vanished from view. That was the first time anyone saw him.
I leaned closer. “Freeze it on his face,” I muttered. Gai tapped the screen, enlarging the blurry image. His build was tall, athletic, the face obscured by shadow, but his hat seemed familiar. Too familiar.
At my suggestion, the security techs reviewed earlier days. The man appeared again-leaving the floor swiftly after dropping the food bag at one apartment. We tracked him to a sleek black
SUV parked in the basement. It pulled away nearly immediately. No license plate visible.
“Ava.” I said, pressing record. “You heard about that pantry that delivers to Bella’s apartment? I believe we may have our suspect.”
Ava sat beside Detective Marquez, her voice trembling at first:
“Bella Windsor ordered that tonight. Nova’s friend told us the delivery guy insisted on coming upstairs himself.” She looked up. “That delivery man is the same mysterious guy from the footage.”
A hush settled. Detective Marquez leaned forward. “Bella
Windsor? Chole’s sister?” He looked between Ava and me. “That implies direct Windsor involvement in Olivia’s disappearance.””
My jaw clenched. The implications were immediate-my mind raced.
I had thought this was a random abduction tied to rumors or
Ethan. But I never considered thatBellaWindsor-or someone acting on her-orchestrated the staged “delivery” offered confession to a stranger living in Olivia’s building. Now, I feared, the same logic could be used to snatch Olivia.
I muted the phones and pressed my forehead into my hand.
This wasn’t about rumors anymore-it was a premeditated invasion. Chole had claimed Olivia “seduced” Ethan; but for
Bella’s involvement, someone at Windsor was already organizing hits on Olivia’s safety and location.
“Detective, if the suspect is Windsor-connected,” I said firmly, “it risks blowing this entire situation back into the public with greater explosive force. Wemusttreat Windsor Group as a hostile actor.”
Detective Marquez nodded. “We’ll proceed-discreetly. But we need a warrant. And fast.”
I rose to my feet. “Then we keep moving. Ava?” She nodded.
I stood before the camera again. “For Olivia’s sake, I urge Bella Windsor, Chole Windsor, or anyone in the Windsor family responsible for this abduction to release her immediately. If harm comes to her-no excuses. Green Group will withdraw all cooperation with Windsor Group and pursue legal and financial consequences. This goes beyond rumor-it’s an open act of hostage taking.”
The video was posted on all channels, Green Group social media, my personal account, and with the sheriff’s office. Within minutes, it spread. Netizens already blamed the Windsors; investors reacted with unease. Banks shifted overnight.
I also sent direct messages to Windsor’s executive board. “This ends with Olivia’s safe return. Anything else will cost you every donation, loan, and partnership.”
Just then, I heard Mike’s voice shaking over the radio. “Sir!
We’re approaching…there’s the black SUV. Parked there in front of us.”
I turned, voice low but steady. “What’s its position?”
Mike leaned forward, lips tight. “Front of neighborhood entrance. Appeared around the same time Olivia’s car went in.
Stayed there.” He pointed out the tinted windshield of a Chevy
Malibu parked across the street.
My gaze narrowed.
“That’s the suspicious vehicle that drove into the gated community where Olivia used to live. We can’t follow up on that.”
Olivia’s POV
I woke with a searing pain in my head. Every breath smelled of gasoline. Panic flooded as I realized I was lying in my own living room-where I and Ethan once built a home. But it felt like a tomb.
My limbs were bound with chemical-grade duct tape. They’d silenced my hands and sealed my ankles. Gagged. I couldn’t move. Stretching across the floor, the potent smell of petrol remained. I tried to call out, but only moist muffles escaped.
Time lost shape. Seconds-or hours-passed. Then footsteps: the soft rasp of heels against hardwood.
Chole. She appeared in the doorway, silhouetted in the haze. No mercy in her gaze.
“My dear Olivia.” Her voice was winesweet, with poison underneath. “Glad to see you finally woke up.”
I clenched my jaw in silence. No tears. No pleading.
She paced slow, the lighter’s flame flicking between her fingertips, illuminating her features. “You know, I walked past this very couch when we were… together. Sleeping next to my lover.”
She clicked the lighter repeatedly, the small orange flame shuddering. The smell hit me, made me gag. On instinct, I spat towards her feet.
Chole laughed-a soft, vicious sound. “You want him back so badly, don’t you? And now you’re here. Ground zero. I waited three days for you to wake.””
My lip curled. I remained silent. The flame caught a glint in her eye.
She took a slow step closer, lighter wicked with intent. “He’s going to hate you even more once he finds out you died tonight.” She blew a short stream of air from her mouth, watching the lighter’s wick morph.
My heart thudded. But I didn’t plead.
Chole arched an eyebrow. “What a shame,” she said faintly.
“You’re not begging. Not pleading-just like in marriage, huh?
You blame Ethan, call him cheater, then pretend you deserve forgiveness. But look at you now!’
With wicked fluidity, she straddled the couch arm, looking down at me. She ripped the duct tape from my mouth with a quick downward rip.
Pain. A sickening crack of skin and sound. Tears sprang behind my eyes-but I swallowed them.
She leaned in, voice cold: “You willget on your kneesandbegfor your life.”
Olivia’s POV
The gasoline smell coated the air like poison. My nostrils burned. Every breath felt like inhaling threat. Duct tape dug into my wrists and ankles, sticky and rough, leaving a rash across my skin. I sat slumped in the living room of the house
Ethan and I once shared-a space that used to mean warmth, now drenched in kerosene and fear.
Chole stood across from me, wild-eyed, flicking a silver lighter open and closed.
Click. Flame. Click. No flame.
“Three days,” she said, voice lilting with mock patience. “Three days I waited for this. I didn’t even let myself shower because I wanted you to smell the gasoline before I lit it. Romantic, right?”
My lips were dry, but I didn’t dare respond. I knew better than to speak when she was performing.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?