IN LOVE WITH MY KIDNAPPER

Chapter 1- Spoilt

"How much is in total?", Ruby Birschoff questioned the attendant.

"That's going to be three hundred and fifty thousand, six hundred and-"

"That's enough! I don't need details. Here, take my card", she cut her off rudely and whipped out her card, and flung it at the young attendant.

She was soon through with the transaction, and she walked out of the boutique.

She was hoping for a dramatic exit, but she bumped into a tall young man dressed in all black, causing all the bags to crash to the ground.

"Hey! Watch where you're going...", her voice trailed, as she looked up at the man, and was smitten by his charming looks.

He had the darkest blue eyes she'd ever seen, and his jawline, jet-black hair and well-defined physique almost caused Ruby to drool over him.

But there was something different about him.

He didn't just look extremely handsome, he also managed to look rugged at the same time.

He didn't break a smile, and he seemed to possess an aura of mystery that hung in the air around him. He looked like someone that shouldn't be played with.

With an intense gaze, he locked eyes with her for a second, and she almost choked on her own breath. She felt the time come to a standstill. But surprisingly, he didn't help her with the bags that fell down. He only took a quick glance at them and turned, continuing his journey to wherever he was going.

It wasn't until he left that Ruby managed to find her tongue.

"All these pretty faced good-for-nothings. The least he could do was to help me with the bag he fell", she muttered a little bit pissed as she picked up the bags and went to the car.

*******

"Where did you say she went to, Ruth?", Mr. Lawrence Birschoff asked, obviously getting pissed, as he stared at his sliver Louis Moinet Meteorois wristwatch for the upteenth time.

"Umm... She said she just went out to... To buy a few things... Yes! She said she wanted to go shopping", Ruth replied immediately.

Ruth wiped away the small beads of sweat that was forming on her forehead.

"You've been telling me that for the past four hours, Ruth! Didn't she tell you where she was getting the things?! What's the name of the shop?! What's the name of the street?! Is there anymore specific information other than the fact that she went out to get some things?!!", Mr. Lawrence questioned, in anger.

"N... No sir. But, I know sh... She would soon b... Be back", she said and she stared right down on her shoes. She dared not stare into the eyes of her raging boss.

"How do... What do you mean...", Mr. Lawrence sighed in frustration as he couldn't even get sentences out of his mouth.

"Pray nothing happens to my daughter. Just pray...", He said and turned around, his phone to his ear again to try and reach his daughter.

Ruth was the nanny to Mr. Lawrence's only daughter, Ruby. She had been taking care of Ruby like she was her own child she was she was little, as her mother died when she was very young. In fact, Ruth saw Ruby as her own daughter. Ruth was an old woman now, and his daughter was a grown lady, but Mr. Lawrence still made her watch over Ruby and take care of her.

However, Ruby had been getting out of hand, especially recently.

Ruby was almost impossible to control. She was only twenty-four, but behaved like she needed no one to tell her what to do, because her father - Mr. Laurence - was very wealthy. She was one who "loved to live to the fullest", as the new generation would like to put it. What was there to expect from the only child of the owner of a multi-million dollar industry?

Unfortunately, Ruby's exploration and lifestyle was about to cost Ruth her job - and probably her life...

Early this morning, Ruby had gone out, telling Ruth that she was going to get a few things. Ruth was quite surprised, because Ruby would've sent one of her maids to go get whatever she needed. She was getting getting old, but she wasn't getting stupid. Still, Ruth decided to believe her and let her go. It wasn't like she could possibly hold her down or stop her from going to "get a few things".

Apparently, she was about to face the consequences.

It was currently thirty minutes past five. The sun was slowly finding it's way below the earth for the moon to take over, and Ruby hadn't come back from where was going.

Mr. Lawrence was already getting worked up. Despite the fact that Ruby was very stubborn, he loved her very much and would have Ruth's head if anything happened to his daughter.

Mr. Lawrence was used to Ruby's lifestyle. He did caution her whenever she ended up doing too much, but she was his only child. He couldn't resist cutting her some slack here and there. He wouldn't deny the fact that he spoilt her effortlessly, but she sometimes, she took it for granted and acted recklessly - which had been the case of recent.

He knew that Ruby took a lot of hours outside with her friends and at parties, but getting a few things was not enough reason to be outside all day, without telling anyone where exactly she was going.

Once again, her number was unreachable. He threw the phone to the sofa he was previously sitting on, and began massaging his head, trying to calm his nerves down.

He knew within him that it wasn't right of him to transfer his frustration to his daughter's nanny.

Ruth had been working for him for over two decades, and this kind of situation hadn't occured before. Besides, there was no possible way on telling Ruby not to go out. Even he found it hard doing that. But he could not afford to allow her make mistakes like this.

He tried to reach Ruby on the phone over and over. After phoning her for the seventh time without getting an answer, he concluded that trying again was useless.

"Stay here. I'm going to search for her", he told Ruth as he headed for the door.

"Now? But... W.. why don't you-"

Mr. Lawrence turned sharply and gave her a menacing glare, letting her know that he wasn't asking for suggestions, and if any at all, definitely not hers.

And she got the message immediately.

He turned to the door and headed for it.

He grabbed the knob, and swerved the door, to see his daughter standing in front of the door.

"Ruby?!", He called in shock.

Ruth's eye lit up immediately at the call of her name and was relieved when she saw her father at the door.

She had her hands full with a lot of different bags that had brands on them, so she wasn't lying when she said she went shopping. Only that, it didn't seem to be the only place she spent some time at.

Beside her was a young man in his mid-twenties, chewing on some bubble gum like a shameless prostitute.

What was funny about him was that despite the fact that every piece of clothing he had on himself was designers, he still looked unkempt. He looked like a rich junkie.

"Hiii, pops!", She beamed in excitement as she walked into the house.

Trailing right behind her was the young man. The bubble gum didn't help get rid of the reeking smell of weed and alcohol.

Mr. Lawrence wasn't wrong after all...

"Who's this?", He questioned, staring at the lad.

"Oh, he's my friend. We spent some time together outside, and he wanted to come see my house before we parted ways", she explained with a grin.

"Hey guys", the lad said casually.

He turned to Mr. Lawrence...

"Sup, dude?"

That was it.

"Get out! Get out of my house, now!!", Mr. Lawrence ordered, pointing at the door.

"But daddy-"

"Young man, get out of my house while your two legs are still able to carry the rest of your weight! Don't make me do something I'll regret!!!", He yelled at the lad.

The young man simply shrugged in response and casually walked out of his house.

Mr. Lawrence instantly regretted letting him leave. He wished he'd beaten him up and watched him crawl out of the house.

"Daddy!! What the hell?!! Why would send my friend out of the house like that-"

"Where have you been young lady?!!!", He cut her off immediately.

"I told Ruth that I was going to shop for a few things! Didn't she tell you-"

"You didn't just go to buy a few things, Ruby!! I'm not a baby!! I'm your father!! Nobody goes to buy a few things for almost eight hours!! Where did you go?!!", He queried in rage.

"S... So what if I branched somewhere to see a few people??! Is there anything wrong with that?!!", She retorted.

"You cannot just go out without giving anyone information about your whereabouts, for crying out loud!! Why would you just be gone all day without telling anyone where you are, or at least answering phone, only to come back with a spoilt, weird-ass looking, reeking boy!! What if something bad happened to you?!! How would we be able to track you?!!"

"First of all, don't speak about my friend like that!! Secondly, I'm not a fucking baby, sir!! Stop treating me like one!!! I'm twenty-four for fuck's sake!! I don't know what gives you the right to think that you can control me like fucking teenager-"

"I will not have you speak to me in such tone or manner, young lady!!! You will not speak to me like that ever again!!!! Am I understood?!!!", He yelled at her in a thunderous tone.

Ruby could see that her father was fuming red with rage, but that did not faze her. She took a sharp turn and stormed away to the stairs.

"Hey, Ruby!!! Come back here, right now!! You do not walk out on me while I'm still talking!!! Ruby!!! Ru..."

There was no use. She was already out of sight.

"Don't worry sir, I'll take care of it", Ruth - who had been silent but in on the conversation all the while - finally said and followed Ruby immediately.

Chapter 2- With or without your permission!

Ruby sat on her bench, allowing the paintbrush in her hand to do whatever it liked on the canvas in front of her, while she thought about all that happened some hours ago.

Her dad wasn't the only one who was vexed by the brawl. She was mad about it too.

She needed to find a way to cool off, so she succumbed to her usual habit of getting a canvas to paint on.

Painting was what cooled her down. She found peace in it. She had always loved to draw and paint right from when she was little, and her dad always said that it was a gift she inherited from her late mum.

Thankfully, she was good at it too. She'd just graduated out of an art school, and she was thinking of starting up a gallery of her own. At least that way, she wouldn't be bothered and controlled by her father that much.

Painting was life for her. It was the only thing she genuinely loved doing. Whenever she felt sad or angry or moody, all she needed to do was to start painting.

She sighed absentmindedly as she scribbled on the canvas with the paint brush...

A light knock on the door intruded into her thoughts.

She knew who it was already.

"I'm not hungry, Aunty Ruth. Just go away", she said as she continued painting.

Instead of some peace and silence, she heard her door open.

She turned back immediately to see Aunty Ruth in her room.

"How did you get in? Did you use the spare key again?", She questioned with a frown.

"Well, no. It seemed you forgot to lock you door", Aunty Ruth replied with a smile.

Ruby humphed in frustration and continued painting.

"I told you I'm not hungry", she muttered.

"I heard, but that wasn't entirely the reason I came here", Aunty Ruth replied.

Ruby sighed.

"If you're going to preach to me about what happened earlier today, now's not the best time. I don't want to talk about it, please. If that's what you've come here for, please just go", she said, her eyes still on what she was painting.

"You know one thing I like about you?", Aunty Ruth asked.

"What?", She murmured as she continued stroking her paint brush on the canvas.

"Whenever you get angry, you don't throw tantrums like the other children. You don't yell and break things like a spoilt brat. You always end up translating your emotions on a white canvas", she commented.

"And you're a natural at it. You never fail to awe eyes that behold your drawing. No matter the situation or your emotions, they always manage to turn out as beautiful as you are", she continued.

She saw Ruby crack a smile.

"You always have a way to melt one's heart and crack your way into someone's emotions. That's why I told you not come in. I was scared you were going to melt my heart", she teased as she turned to her nanny with a smile.

"And it so happened that the angry fairy forgot to lock her door before the heart melter came in", Aunty Ruth replied with her own tease, and she managed to make Ruby laugh a little.

They both finally sighed.

"You know he loves you, right?", Ruth asked calmly.

Ruby nodded sadly.

"He was so worried about you today. He was thinking the worst of the situation, and you couldn't blame him. You told me that you were going to buy a few things, but you left for hours. He was scared. I was scared. He was just about to go search for you before you came in", Ruth explained.

"But I'm not a baby anymore. I'm a grown woman now", Ruby groaned.

"And he's still you're father. You're still his child", she said with a smile.

Ruby stared at her face.

She was getting wrinkles around her smile and on her forehead. she was slowly growing white hair. She was so kind and loving, Ruby could say she was a mother figure.

"I'll talk to him tomorrow, Aunt Ruby. And sorry for yelling like that. I was just..."

"I understand", Aunty Ruth said with a smile.

"Okay, let me leave you to continue what you were doing. Goodnight", she sighed and left.

"Goodnight, Aunty Ruth"

As Ruby resumed painting, she thought of the mysterious man she ran into earlier today. She didn't even get his name, but she found herself smiling as she thought of him.

"How does a man manage to be look rugged and also be strikingly handsome?", She questioned rhetorically.

********

The morning sun was shone brightly in the sky, and Ruby had woken up, feeling much better than she felt yesterday.

She'd gotten over with her usual morning abulation, and she went down the stairs to have breakfast.

She got to the dining room and saw her dad seated there, having breakfast.

"Good morning, dad", she greeted as she sat across him.

"Good morning, daughter", he replied, without looking her way.

She rolled her eyes at his response. Why did her father have to be so dramatic?

"I'm sorry for how I spoke to you yesterday, dad. I didn't mean to flare up like that. I'm sorry", she apologized, and waited for his response.

Mr. Lawrence dropped his spoon and reached for his daughter's hands from across the table.

"You know that I love you very much. The stunt you pulled yesterday, amongst the others you've been doing recently, they're giving me a lot to think about. You can't just leave the house without telling anyone of your whereabouts. I promised your late mum that I would make sure you stay safe and have the finest things in life. I promised her that I would protect you. Now, I can't do that if you keep going AWOL for hours, can I?", Mr. Lawrence asked.

"I have enemies everywhere, they can hurt you to get at me, now I'm not saying you can't have fun, but I need you to slow down a little. Promise me you won't disappear like you did yesterday", he requested.

"Fine, I promise", Ruby replied and rolled her eyes again.

"You know I love you"

Ruby smiled.

"I love you too dad", she said and they resumed eating.

"Now that that's out of the way, I want to ask for a favor", Ruby announced.

"What's that?"

"Promise that you'll say yes", she pleaded.

"Tell me what it is first"

"Okay... I want to travel out of the country with some of my friends for a couple of days for a carnival-"

"Ruby, we just finished settling a fight about your outing lifestyle seconds ago, and you're talking about another one?", Mr. Lawrence asked in shock.

"Dad, this one is very important... It's one that I can't miss... We're going for a concert out of the country, and we're only staying for a couple of days... Or weeks. It's just a small outing-"

"If it's a small outing, then I want to assume that it won't hurt so bad to miss it. You're staying back this time", Lawrence instructed as he stood up.

"Dad, please!! I can't miss this one for anything!! Please-"

"You will sit this one out. Have some time to think about yourself and how you've been acting lately", he said and walked away.

"But-"

"You're not going, Ruby. Period", he said and walked out immediately.

He had concluded that he probably needed to stand his ground the more before she could listen.

Ruby watched leave her dad the dining room until he was out of the house.

"I'm going to the carnival, whether you like it or not. With or without your consent, I must attend that concert. You're not going to make me miss out on the biggest show of my favorite entertainer", she muttered to herself, allowing a mischievous smile to crawl up her face.

Chapters 3- Rebel

*******

It was already 8:55 pm.

Ashley had packed her bags, ready to go, but she was still in her nighties, laying on her bed, covered with her soft duvet.

She knew her dad wasn't going to be home until early in the morning. All she was waiting for was for Aunty Ruth to come bid her good night.

Aunty Ruth was usually the last person to go to bed, and she usually went in by 8:30pm. Ruby was waiting for Aunty Ruth's routine night check before she went to bed.

Immediately after that, Ruby would go get out of her room and out of the house through the backdoor in the kitchen to the gate where her friends where waiting for her.

She heard a soft knock on the door, before Aunty Ruth popped her head into the room.

"I see you're ready to sleep, Ruby", she said with a smile.

"Yes, Aunty Ruth. I'm feeling really sleepy", Ruby replied and managed to fake a loud, long yawn.

"Okay. I'll leave you to go to bed, then"

"Goodnight, Aunty Ruth"

"Goodnight, Ruby", Ruth replied and closed the door shut.

Ruby slowly counted backwards from hundred to one in her head, so she would be sure that everyone including Aunty Ruth was asleep.

Once she got it over with, she got up from her bed and opened her closet to take the bags she'd already packed.

She'd already gotten everything she needed in the bag, so she slowly got the door open.

She looked down the hallway and was thankful that it was empty.

She got out of her room, quietly shut the door behind her, and stealthily tiptoed down the hallway to the stairs.

She tried not to make any noise as she moved with the bags she carried.

She moved stealthily until she was in the living room. She turned to the kitchen and began heading for it.

She opened the kitchen and unlocked the back door that led outside.

Once she got it open, she took a deep breath and ran as fast as she could to the gate.

Yes!

She could see her friends just around the gate!!

She got to the gate, got it open and went over to where her friends were waiting for her in a 2022 Toyota Sienna.

"Hey, it's Ruby!", Victor, Ashley's girlfriend who was behind the wheel announced once he saw her approaching the vehicle.

"You made it!!", Ashley squealed in delight as she hugged her tight.

"I thought you were not going to show up after all. We were almost leaving without you", Claire, one of her friends teased as she hugged Ruby too.

"You dare not!", Ruby panted in response. She was sweating from all the running.

"Why are you still your nighties?", John, Claire's boyfriend questioned, his eyes shamelessly ravaging her body despite the fact that his girlfriend was present.

"You boys should close your eyes. I'm about to dress", she instructed.

She changed from her nighties to a tight pair of jeans and red, classy shirt.

"Let's go have some drinks at the bar before we head out to the airport, shall we?!", Victor proposed and the rest of them ululated cheerfully in response.

He started the engine immediately and drove off.

******

PRESENT DAY

Mr. Lawrence was not able to come back home until early the next morning.

He walked into his house and tiredly dragged himself up the stairs to the master bedroom, when he decided to branch into his daughter's room first.

"Is my angel awake yet?", He asked, announcing himself into her room as he knocked.

He saw what seemed to be her figure covered under the duvet.

He assumed that she was still asleep... Or that she didn't want to respond to him.

"Are you still angry over our lady conversation?", He asked.

He got no response. Not even a budge.

"Come on. You can't still be mad at me. You know I was trying to protect you. Okay. You know what? I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't let you travel for the concert. How about I make up for it with an all-expense paid trip to the Maldives?", He asked, expecting to see her bolt from the bed in excitement on hearing the word "Maldives".

But she didn't.

"Come on. Now you're being to hard on me, hmm?", He said and gently patted her back.

Wait...

That didn't feel like...

That wasn't possibly...

"Ruby?", He called in uncertainty, but he got no answer.

He immediately swung the duvet from the figure, only to see that it was just a bunch of pillows arranged perfectly to take the form of a sleeping Ruby.

"Ruby!!", He screamed in appall.

"Ruby?!! Where are you?!!", He hollered and began searching for her.

But she wasn't in her room!

He frantically ran downstairs, still looking for her, but he ran into Ruth, her nanny.

"Ruth..."

"Good morning, sir. I didn't hear you come in-"

"Where is my daughter?", He asked, cutting her off.

"She's in her room sleeping soundly, sir. Is everything okay-"

"Ruby's not in her room! She's not in this house! Where is she?!", He questioned in despair.

"Wh... What do you mean, she's not in room? I kissed her good night before I went to bed last night-"

"Ruth, my daughter is not in this house!! She's not..."

It took Mr. Lawrence a while to put two and two together, and figure out that she'd gone against his order and gone with her friends out of the country.

Ruth was frightened by her boss's widening eyes and gaping mouth.

"S... sir, please what is the problem? Do you know where she is?"

"She travelled out of the country", he answered faintly.

"What?! Did you know about it?!", Ruth asked, shocked at the information.

"Go, get out"

"Sir-"

"Get all the maids and get out!!! All of you should get out immediately!!! I need to think!! ", He flared up suddenly, startling Ruth badly.

She scurried away in fear immediately.

Mr. Lawrence got his phone and rang the number of the Chief of Police and his close friend, Aaron Carter.

They had been friends for many years now, since he left the shady mafia business to start a legal business. He had helped Aaron a lot of times, and this one time he needed his help badly.

"Yes, Carter. Good morning... I want to report a case to you. My daughter is missing. I need your help"