Maya's POV

Everyone's gaze was on me and I've never felt so pressured in my entire life than now.

I thought of what to do, Option one : Laugh awkwardly, open the door and head back to wherever I came from.

But then there were still people outside that door and the ones staring at me right now - it would definitely look suspicious if I left right away.

Option two : Faint dramatically, that would save me from looking into their eyes and a high chance of escaping if I was taken to the hospital.

Who am I kidding? That only happens in movies and besides, all of them look like thugs or criminals, why would they take me to a hospital? Burying me would be a better option.

Option three : Put my taekwondo skills into use . You know Bruce Lee,

Jackie Chan, Jet Li styles - ring a bell?

Sigh, who am I kidding here? Fight against forty men or so ? That would definitely break world's genius record

But in reality, I stood frozen like an iced fish. My feet were helplessly stuck to the ground and before I could open my mouth to talk nor move, forty rifles were pointed instantly at me.

"I come in peace " I blurted out and put my hands in the air as a sigh of surrender.

" How did you come in here? " The guy from earlier with the tattoo asked me.

I swallowed and pointed at the door "The door was unlocked and so I decided to talk a tour "

I lied through my teeth, there was no way on earth I was telling them I was making my escape before mistakenly running into their room.

One of the them with a vivid brown teeth snickered and gave me a knowing look " You sure look to me like someone making her escape "

My heart pounded against my chest, is this how I was going to die.

God this is so cruel , this is not how I imagined I would spend my last moment on earth.

I've always imagined growing old, then on my sickbed my children and grandchildren would surround me as I bless them one after the other and finally give up the ghost .

But it seems that dream is definitely not for me.

"Take her " The man with the brown teeth which I would refer to as "Rotten teeth " gestured to his men with his head and they approached me at once.

I didn't resist them but remained calm and tried to think my way out of this situation.

If they had the intention of murdering me, they would definitely not do it in this room - who knows what's going on in their head anyway but let's look on the bright side.

I could fight those two men - a lot of effort would be needed - if we were somehow excluded from the others.

But the moment they grabbed me, a knock sounded from behind and one of them released me with a curse and went ahead to open the door.

"Oh, Emerald " He looked startled and reflexively took a step back before letting this Emerald guy into the room.

"Sakuzi wants to meet her, " Emerald told them straight away as soon as he walked into the room, eliciting a hushed atmosphere.

The guy was very very tall, I bet seven feet plus and big and brawny, not to talk of his rugged features.

His intense gaze was on me and I had to really stretch my neck just to have a glance of his face.

Unfortunately, I lowered my head as soon as our gaze connected, his expression was scary.

He had this stiff and unsmiling face and it was obvious the others were scared of him as well.

Rotten teeth cleared his throat nervously, "Of Course take her away, who would stop you anyway " He said, subtly hinting no one was bold enough to challenge his authority.

He glanced down at me with that scary expression of his and ordered "Follow me " as he walked out the door.

My feet fearfully moved of its own volition, I couldn't even think of taking on this guy - not even in my dreams - his stare alone was enough to make me pee in my pants.

Emerald marched down the passageway with me trailing after him but it got to a time he didn't even glance over his shoulder to check whether following or not

So I purposely stopped but when he continued walking, I knew this was my chance to escape.

But the moment I turned around and tried to take to my heels, a painful grip turned me back around.

I was slammed into the wall with a momentum that had my breath knocked out of me as he hovered over me saying,

"Now buttercup, you could either be a doll and follow me peacefully or… ," he lowered his voice and moved closer "Or we could do this the hard way , your choice " he offered but I could sense the threat in his tone.

I replied nervously "I-I will follow you peacefully "

A smile that did little to calm my nerves appeared on his face "Good choice " he tousled my hair.

"Now to the front " he commanded and I obeyed, I guess he couldn't risk me staying behind him this time.

I bet he was thinking : the first time you ran, the second time you might stab a knife in my back.

Though I was at the front but Emerald led the way from behind and soon enough, we walked into a large yet lavishly decorated dining room.

There was a large dining table filled with numerous mouth watering dishes and I felt my stomach grumble, I had not taken any filling food at the Gala.

There was a middle-aged man sitting at the edge of the dining table and giving out orders to a maidservant.

Emerald walked up to him and bowed "Boss "

Boss? My brows knitted together as confusion crossed my features.

Honestly, when I heard the name "Sakuzi " I was definitely expecting a handsome young man, probably Niklaus's age or a little older and who I surmised was a gang leader or had an affiliation with the mob.

But the middle-aged man with short straight salt and pepper hair, definitely handsome, virile with the same eye colour as mine, wasn't what I was expecting at all.

He looked the same age as Adam, maybe a little more younger - I couldn't exactly tell since looks were deceiving - and was donning a casual shirt and pants.

I stood at a place and watched the giant Emerald bend and whisper something into his ear which made his eyes twinkle.

He nodded his head and gestured Emerald to leave before he stood, approaching me with this vibrant smile on his face.

"You must be Maya " He said, standing right in front of me.

"Why bother asking when you already know " I wanted to sass at him but the thought of Emerald who was currently guiding the door made me hold back my tongue.

I replied instead " Yes, I am Maya "

He clapped " Splendid, now come for dinner "

I knew it was an order not a request, so without objecting, I followed him.

Sakuzi pulled out a seat beside his for me and I sat down muttering "Thank you "

He smiled back " You're welcome "

I don't know what game he is playing but I would see it through to the end.

I couldn't help but wonder what Niklaus would be doing at the moment - that is if he has noticed I have been kidnapped.

But even if he does notice, would he come find me? I bet not , afterall he was the number one "citizen" , the treasured "heir" of the Spencer group, his daddy would probably not let him even take a foot out of the house.

I snorted derisively inwardly, perhaps I should be grateful Tina opened my eyes tonight.

I was dating someone who was way beyond my dream and I had nothing; no money, no fairy godmother .

"Why did you bring me here? I swear I have never seen you in my entire life, so what could I have done to have you kidnap me? " I couldn't take it anymore, what could they possibly want with me?

I was not fooled by his warm reception, I have seen his men and the weapon they carry, they must be a mob or something.

Sakuzi was indifferent to my question, instead he dug his fork into his sliced chicken and took a bite.

"Mmm," he moaned, pointed his fork to the chicken and said to me " You should have a taste, the chicken is heavenly "

But I didn't dare obey, who knows what he put in my food.They drugged me once, what's to say they won't drug me a second time

"Don't tell me you kidnapped me from God knows how many miles away, just to make me have chicken with you "I said to him with a vexed tone.

Sakuzi stopped, dropped his fork beside his plate,he glanced up at me with a serious expression

"Fine, I'll tell you why you're here " He wiped the side of his mouth with the red table napkin and continued, "You're here because Niklaus took a life from me and you are going to pay with yours "