Passport to Peril

I panicked. I was about to say something when Ray slapped me twice more. He didn't give me the chance to speak, and I had an ominous feeling about the situation. I felt like I was genuinely going to die there!

When the other men in the room saw my terrible state, they hesitantly stopped Ray. One said, "She was very confident when explaining the origin of our company's name, Ray. It looks like she really does know a thing or two.

"Even if she's not Noelle Grant, she might be a friend or acquaintance. Maybe we should question her before doing anything else. We'll be in more trouble than this is worth if we piss that person off…"

Ray panted and spat at me. "I'd rather chop her up and feed her to the dogs! Ms. Grant is Mr. Quill's precious treasure—how could our people trick her into coming here?"

I felt like my organs had shattered from his assault. I wanted to speak, but all that came out was a mouthful of blood.

Then, I forced out, "Contact the person who tricked me here. She saw my passport and knows my name. Either that or you give me a phone I can use. I'll call Lysander and tell him to come here!"

The men exchanged looks. One muttered, "What if she really is Noelle Grant? Won't we be dead meat? We can't let her contact Mr. Quill. Get the woman who brought her here—we'll ask her what happened."

Someone immediately hurried off. Soon, the woman who'd tricked me into thinking this was a training trip abroad sashayed over.

She covered her mouth in surprise when she saw me covered in blood. "Didn't I tell you to be good when you got here? Look at you—how did you end up like this?"

I raised my head with difficulty and tried hard to make her out with my right eye. "You brought me here—you saw my identification. You must know I'm Noelle Grant. Tell them who I am! I'm Lysander Quill's fiancée, and I want him to see me right now!"

The woman shrieked and backed away as I crawled toward her. She didn't want my blood to get on her. "Who do you think you're kidding, calling yourself Noelle Grant?

"Mr. Quill's girlfriend lives a cushy life—why would she wander the streets and end up being brought here? Don't listen to her, guys. She's just making an excuse to drag this out!"

I froze, feeling stunned. Something was wrong here. The woman had seen my passport and verified my name. How could she have forgotten it so soon?

This wasn't a simple case of abduction. Something nasty had to be underway here. I'd walked right into someone's trap!

The sudden talent scout, my missing passport and phone, and this woman who was lying and refusing to admit who I was…

Whoever was behind this wanted me to die abroad without a trace!

I broke out in a cold sweat, which drenched my clothes. It soaked into my wounds, making them sting and itch.

The men watched the woman leave. Then, they circled me. Ray asked, "Any other excuses to make? No, right? How dare you pretend to be our boss' fiancée! The nerve of you!"

I summoned the remnants of my strength and staggered to my feet, wanting to run out of the room. I heard the sound of something hurtling through the air behind me, followed by a crack. Then, my legs gave out, and I collapsed on the floor.

They'd broken my calves with a baseball bat! The pain made my vision go black, and my head spun. I was in so much pain, yet I couldn't pass out.

I felt a tugging on my scalp. I knew someone was lifting me by my hair.

The men laughed heartily when they saw my miserable state. They discussed throwing me into a meat grinder. My heart sank when I heard this, and despair crashed over me.

Just then, a voice rang out from not far away. "What are you guys doing? Who is this? Why is she so badly injured?"