Chapter 3 Abducted

Minutes later, Alex arrived back at the Gregory house. He pulled into the driveway, his heart pounding. Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he got out of the car and opened the trunk. He carefully took out the bags of groceries and household supplies, balancing them in his arms as he made his way to the front door.

As he entered the house, he heard voices coming from the living room. Mrs. Gregory was entertaining guests-a group of her friends and business partners. The moment he stepped into the room, all eyes turned to him. The women looked him over with thinly veiled disdain, and their expressions were a mix of amusement and scorn.

"Good afternoon," Alex said politely, nodding to each of them.

His greeting was met with silence. One of the women smirked and whispered something to the woman next to her. They both laughed quietly, casting mocking glances in Alex's direction.

Mrs. Gregory, seated at the center of the group, glanced at Alex with irritation. "Alex, go put the items you bought in the kitchen," she ordered, her tone dismissive.

"Yes, ma'am," Alex replied, his voice steady despite the frustration tightening in his chest. He carried the bags to the kitchen and set them down on the counter.

He began to unpack the bags, putting the groceries in their designated places. Once everything was put away, Alex took a deep breath and returned to the living room.

He approached Mrs. Gregory and her friends, standing respectfully a few steps away. "Is there anything you would like to eat?" he asked, his voice calm and professional.

One of Mrs. Gregory's friends raised an eyebrow. "Don't you have a chef?" she asked, her tone dripping with condescension.

Mrs. Gregory pointed at Alex with a thin smile on her lips. "He is our chef," she said, her voice laced with a hint of cruel amusement.

Another woman, seated on a plush armchair, looked at Alex with a mixture of surprise and disdain. "Isn't he the son-in-law?" she asked, incredulous.

Mrs. Gregory's smile widened, and she leaned back in her chair, clearly enjoying the moment. "Yes, Alex is our son-in-law. But everyone has to earn their keep in this house. So, that's the reason why I made him our chef."

The group of women laughed, but Alex stood there, his face impassive as he absorbed the humiliation with practiced calm.

"I'll prepare something right away," he said quietly, turning to head back to the kitchen.

As he walked away, he could hear the women continue their conversation, their voices a mixture of laughter and gossip. The familiar sting of their words followed him, but Alex focused on the task at hand. He began to prepare a simple yet elegant meal.

Thirty minutes later, Alex finished preparing the meal. He had made delicate finger sandwiches, a vibrant mixed salad, and a platter of assorted cheeses and fruits. Each plate was carefully arranged, showcasing his skill and dedication. He placed the dishes on a large serving tray and carried it into the living room, where Mrs. Gregory and her friends were still deep in conversation.

Alex approached them, the tray balanced expertly in his hands. "Lunch is ready," he announced calmly.

Mrs. Gregory barely glanced at him. "Serve us, then," she said curtly.

Alex set the tray down on the coffee table and began serving each woman, making sure their plates were filled with a variety of the prepared food. As he moved around the room, the women continued to ignore him, their conversation uninterrupted.

"Alex, pour us some wine," Mrs. Gregory ordered as he finished serving the food.

"Of course, ma'am," Alex replied. He went to the cellar, carefully selecting a bottle of the finest red wine. He took five crystal glasses from the shelf and returned to the living room, holding the bottle and glasses securely.

He began pouring the wine, moving from one woman to the next, filling each glass with the deep, ruby liquid. As he reached the last woman, the one who had asked if he was the son-in-law, his hand trembled slightly from the stress of the day.

In that brief moment, a few drops of wine spilled, staining the woman's white blouse. She gasped, her eyes wide with indignation.

"Watch what you're doing!" she snapped, dabbing at the stain with a napkin.

Alex's face flushed with embarrassment. "I'm terribly sorry," he said quickly, reaching for another napkin to help. "It was an accident."

The room fell silent, all eyes on Alex. Mrs. Gregory's expression was a mix of annoyance and satisfaction, as if she had been waiting for him to make a mistake.

"Be more careful next time," Mrs. Gregory said icily. "You know how important appearances are."

"Yes, ma'am," Alex responded, bowing his head slightly in apology. He finished pouring the wine, careful to avoid any further mishaps, and then stepped back, his posture respectful and attentive.

The women resumed their conversation, the incident already becoming fodder for their gossip and laughter. Alex stood by, ready to attend to any further needs, his thoughts a mix of frustration and resolve. Despite the humiliation, he knew that maintaining his composure and professionalism was the only way to endure the situation.

As he watched them enjoy the meal he had prepared, Alex's mind wandered to the decision he still had to make about his future.

"Alex," Mrs. Gregory called, snapping him back to the present. "Fetch some more napkins, just in case. And bring another bottle of wine. This one is almost finished."

"Yes, ma'am," Alex replied. He swiftly made his way back to the kitchen, grabbing a stack of fresh napkins before heading to the cellar for another bottle of wine. As he selected a bottle, he took a deep breath, steadying himself for the return to the living room.

Back in the living room, he handed the napkins to the woman whose blouse he had stained. She accepted them with a haughty nod, still dabbing at the now-faded mark. Alex uncorked the new bottle of wine and moved to refill the glasses, his hands steady this time.

As Alex worked, the women continued talking, almost ignoring him completely. It felt like he was invisible to them, like just a servant, even though he was family. Their attitude hurt, but he kept calm.

After filling their glasses, Alex stepped back and watched Mrs. Gregory and her friends enjoy their meal and wine. Their laughter filled the room. To them, he was just another part of the staff, an inconvenience.

One of the women glanced at Alex with mild interest. "Alex, please bring us some dessert. There must be something in the kitchen," she said.

"Of course," Alex replied, keeping his voice steady. He went to the kitchen, found some pastries and fresh berries, and arranged them on a tray. He took it back and set it on the coffee table.

"Here you go, ladies," he said, stepping back again.

The women barely noticed him as they grabbed the desserts and kept talking. Alex stood by, feeling more like an outsider. He knew he needed to decide about his future soon, as the Gregory household's atmosphere was becoming too much.

All afternoon, Alex stayed attentive, serving the women as needed. Despite their rude comments and cold treatment, he did his job with care and dignity. He knew that being professional was the only way to keep his self-respect in such a tough situation.

Finally, the visit drew to a close. Mrs. Gregory's friends began to gather their things, preparing to leave. Alex helped them with their coats and saw them to the door, offering polite farewells as they departed. Mrs. Gregory remained in the living room, her eyes following him as he returned to clean up the remnants of their gathering.

"Alex," she called, her tone sharper now that they were alone. "Make sure you clean everything up properly. I don't want to find a single crumb or stain."

"Yes, ma'am," Alex replied, his voice steady.

As he worked, tidying the living room and kitchen, his mind raced with thoughts of his future. He knew he couldn't continue living under Mrs. Gregory's oppressive thumb. The decision about his divorce loomed large, but he also had to consider what kind of life he wanted to build for himself once he was free from this toxic environment.

With the living room spotless and the kitchen immaculate, Alex finally allowed himself to take a moment to breathe. He leaned against the counter, exhaustion and frustration washing over him.

Later that night, everyone in the house was asleep. Alex was on the couch in the living room. Suddenly, Mark, the first son of the Gregory family, entered the quiet room with two of his friends. Alex woke up to their footsteps and saw Mark and his friends standing in front of him.

Before Alex could say anything, Mark hit him on the head with a stick, knocking him unconscious.

"Carry him to the car, and make it snappy. I don't want anyone to find out about this," Mark ordered. His two friends immediately picked up Alex's unconscious body and carried him out of the house.

Outside the mansion, Mark unlocked his car trunk. His friends placed Alex inside, then they got into the car and drove away from the compound.