Dolt and Ham were almost salivating as they led Juliet into the security room. It had pale walls, a single table, and a chair, but mostly the room was empty. Dolt locked the heavy, reinforced door with a solid finality. The sound echoed in the small space, making the air feel suffocating and ominous. Juliet looked from one guard to the other. Her voice held steady at first, even though her heart pounded. "Listen, I am the heiress of the Forbes family. You don't have to do this. I will pay you a thousand dollars each for letting me go right now." Dolt eyes had been bust sliding down Juliet's body and lingering on the curve of her hips. When she spoke, he put on a hurt expression. "Do you think we are corrupt security personnel, ma'am? That we will take the stealing of such a precious item lightly? Are you trying to bribe us like common thieves and aid crime?" Ham smirked and let his gaze trace the line of her waist and the swell of her chest. "The fact that you are offering a bri

Juliet walked out of the security room into the premium suits section.Zendaya still held her court there, waiting for Jack to return. The manager was trapped there, too, fawning over the celebrity alongside her entourage.Juliet kept her head high and her shoulders squared. The locked room and its trauma had only made her angrier.Inside, a quiet pride swelled in her chest for her reliable partner. Jack had come through when it counted most.On seeing Juliet, Zendaya burst into laughter. The sound rang sharp and mocking across the section, drawing every eye in the crowd."Look at this pathetic woman, doing her walk of shame with such an attitude."Juliet met the laughter with a steady gaze, and smiled straight at Zendaya as she walked. She kept her face calm on purpose.Let the toxic widow laugh. It won't last.The manager looked around for Dolt and Ham, but they were nowhere to be seen. His brow furrowed in confusion and panic."Miss Forbes. Where are the guards? They should have re

In the Brioni showroom, Jack smirked lazily. All he had done was send a broadcast message through a high-level channel five minutes earlier.The message read as follows."Zendaya Seymour has offended the Dark Prince. Anyone affiliated or remotely connected with her is his enemy."As the word spread, hell broke loose. Any sane person or organization knew that becoming the Dark Prince's enemy even by accident was suicide.Zendaya didn't even have time to process the rejection before messages began flooding in, all of them rejecting, unfriending and blocking her.Her phone buzzed nonstop, notifications stacking up on the screen.A famous director she had worked with texted bluntly."Sorry Zendaya, can't be associated with this mess anymore. Good luck out there."A luxury brand she had endorsed for years sent a formal notice."Effective immediately, we are terminating our contract. Do not use our name or likeness in any capacity."A fellow royal cousin messaged her coldly."Stay away from

In a side room off the wedding hall, Donald read Johnny Bowman's demands to the family while Jack stood by the window.The demands were simple. Juliet must meet Bowman on his ship at sea. Since the Springfield Alliance was guarding the shores of Redmont City, he couldn't land.Frustrated, he had taken the Forbes ships hostage instead, holding the crew and valuable cargo as leverage to force the meeting he had been obsessed with for so long.The family members exchanged shocked glances as the reality of the hijacking sank in."We can't send my granddaughter to that monster's ship," Donald said. He pushed back his chair and paced the room."He's a dangerous man with a history of violence and obsession. Sending her there would be like handing her straight to a wolf. We have to find another way to resolve this without putting her in harm's way.""Think of the risks she's already faced today. We can't add to that by sending her straight into his grasp on some isolated ship where we have no

A sheer black veil was draped across the glamorous young woman's eyes. It hid half her face, and it made every man aboard want to see the rest.Johnny's mouth watered at the sight of her. His eyes raked over her body with open hunger, and he was already picturing how the green fabric would feel under his hands."Look, Carl. There's Juliet. I can't wait to unwrap this premium package.""Save some for us, boss!" a goon called from the railing. "Once you're done with her, we'd like some sloppy seconds."A tall, handsome man followed close behind her. His stride was steady and unafraid, even with dozens of weapons aimed at him. It was Jack Hardy.The young woman slipped her arm through his, and they walked together across the deck toward Johnny's throne. The goons kept their weapons raised and tracked every step.Carl glanced from the pair to his boss in surprise."Boss! Did she bring her husband with her?"Johnny's face twisted into a grimace. His fingers drummed on the arm of the throne.