Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“First of all, can you at least tell me what you want with me? Why would you go to such lengths and take such big risks to kidnap me! You guys even chased me all the way to Lower Manhattan Hospital! That doesn’t sound like an average kidnapper.”
Currently, Leila Fox’s arms and legs were tied and she was strapped to a chair. She was held captive in the hospital’s surveillance room, surrounded by the group of kidnappers with different expressions on their faces. Some looked excited, some looked frustrated, some seemed angry, and some just had a nasty look in their eyes as they eyed her menacingly. Among the group, the leader and the ex-bodyguard Raj stood out the most.
In response to Miss Fox’s question, the ringleader shook his head triumphantly with a satisfied smile. The man had an overgrown beard and he looked rather mature and intelligent. Unlike the other kidnappers, he was not fully armed and was dressed in quite a rustic manner.
Meanwhile, Raj was sitting in a corner holding an ice pack to his cheek. His hands and his face were still hot and stinging, and he reckoned that the burning sensation would not subside for a few hours.
“Let me introduce myself. My name is Locke and I’m Raj’s elder brother. I was released from jail just three months ago.” The ringleader was fidgeting like a person with ADHD, constantly shaking his head and doing all kinds of weird, jerky movements.
Leila turned to Raj and said, “Your record doesn’t say anything about an elder brother.”
Raj ignored her with a sullen expression but his elder brother, Locke, was happy to answer on his behalf. “We’re half-brothers—same mother, different fathers. I’ll be honest, it’s not a glorious thing. To be exact, our mother was hooking up with various men at the same time, and that’s how she ended up with two children sealed with different fates.”
“What does that have to do with kidnapping me?” Leila asked.
“Our original plan was to simulate a car accident so I can easily grab you and leave. That would make things simpler as it wouldn’t involve my little brother.” Locke paused here and sighed out loud before continuing, “But that d*mn policeman had to butt in, and not only did he kill one of my men, but he forced Raj to help you escape.
“However, my plan couldn’t stop there. So, we took a gamble and followed you here to the hospital, hoping to accomplish our goal. Well, I guess you could say our kidnapping operation has only just begun.”
“Money isn’t your only objective, right? It can’t be that simple. Come on, tell me what is your goal here.” Seemingly unbothered by her precarious situation, Leila Fox’s voice merely sounded curious when she spoke.
“You truly are an intelligent woman. Certainly praiseworthy, Miss Fox.” The ringleader nudged his younger brother in the arm and said, “Raj, tell her. What do we want?”
“We want the super administrator rights to Fox Finance Group’s central computing system. Only the head of the finance group would have access to these rights.” Judging from Raj’s hoarse voice, the pepper spray earlier had obviously injured his throat and the great pain still lingered.
“If I hand over the authority, will you let me go?” Leila Fox said with a casual shrug. “Though, even after making such a mess, it looks like you aren’t the slightest bit worried about getting away with it. Clearly, you have someone helping you behind the scenes.”
“That’s right, Miss Fox. Wow, you’re indeed bright,” Raj said as he shrugged his shoulders. “First of all, we have a very unfortunate piece of news to deliver. Your father passed away yesterday but the board of directors hid this from you because those old men don’t want you inheriting the 50 billion dollars fortune. Above all, they don’t want to hand the group over to a 23-year-old woman.”
“Or a woman who doesn’t know how to listen to the board of directors’ every demand,” Leila Fox added with a wry smile. “Then I’m guessing this kidnapping was planned by my uncle. So, he wants to deprive me of my position as the CEO under the guise of the board of directors.
“Of course, the premise is to acquire the super administrator rights to the group’s central computing system. Without the authority, they wouldn’t be able to accurately size up the assets of the company, let alone control the more than 20 branch companies under the main one.
“Besides, for security purposes, even if I do hand over the authority, they wouldn’t let go of me either. They would just find a way to kill me and I believe my uncle has already laid out your escape plan, am I right?”
Raj nodded as she finished speaking while Locke clapped his hands enthusiastically. The other kidnappers surrounding them merely stared at the beautiful and intelligent woman before them.
“Alright then, I’ll hand over my rights. You’ll need to collect my fingerprints, a scan of my pupils, my voiceprint, as well as an account registration method that I designed myself. I can provide you all of these.” Leila Fox was being suspiciously cooperative.
Her quick and helpful response was extraordinary, and even the slightly eccentric ringleader Locke could not help but feel a little confused. “And here I thought we would need to spend more time to persuade Miss Fox. I didn’t expect Miss Fox to be so considerate. So, may I know how I can get all the things you mentioned?”
“I don’t want to be tortured or make things messy. If I die, I’d rather die gracefully,” Leila said in a light and casual tone as if they were discussing the weather instead of a matter of life or death.
“Well, I’m sure you have your own conditions then,” Raj remarked coldly.
“Of course I do. The super administrator rights need a couple of hours to be verified and modified. So I hope that I’ll receive good treatment throughout this time. Release my restraints and allow me to move freely, possibly in a comfortable room without too many guards.”
Leila Fox stated her request calmly. Locke looked at his younger brother Raj hesitantly, who nodded and said, “As long as she hands over the super administrator rights, everything can be done. As for security, I will personally look after her.”
Even the mad Locke was not opposed to the suggestion, and he even applauded as he exclaimed happily, “Wonderful! I’m glad we were able to come to an agreement so nicely, it truly saves us a lot of trouble. Miss Fox, do you want a drink? The police negotiator is here now and I’m sure they would be happy to bring us a bottle of wine.”
“A bottle of wine is far too stingy. I want a luxurious meal to commemorate my life. Tell the police that I want New York’s most famous restaurant, Jean-Georges, to prepare my last dinner. Mind you, I’m a super VIP at that restaurant.” Leila Fox spoke with her head held high and in an elegant manner, not showing the slightest hint of fear or anxiousness.
Locke knew nothing about this Jean-Georges restaurant Leila Fox was talking about and turned to his brother. Raj curled his lips and answered, “That’s a three-star Michelin restaurant, the best there is in New York. If you’re not of a certain status, you can’t even enter.”
“Oh… I guess I wouldn’t be able to get a table there then.” Locke clapped his hands as he repeated the restaurant name aloud, making a note of the restaurant’s name.
Leila pressed on, “What about the police officer who rescued me earlier? What happened to him?”
Locke shook his head in confusion and said, “He’s just a d*mned crappy cop. I have already sent my men down to the parking lot to get rid of him. He should be dead by now!”
“Really…? Are you sure?” Leila Fox asked tentatively, “Don’t you think you should make sure of it?”
“Thank you for reminding me.” Locke ran his fingers through his beard as he grabbed his wireless radio and shouted into it, “Hey! John, how’s the situation over your side? Is that cop dead? John, hurry up and answer if you hear this. Hey… Hello… Hello!”
Locke yelled into the radio for a long time and finally, he heard the sound of heavy breathing coming from the other end, as well as what sounded like gushing blood. It was an eerie sound that made his hair stand on end. It was the sound of someone on the verge of death, letting out ragged breaths of despair.