Chapter 3 What She Remembered

• Later that evening, Eloise found herself lost in thought instead of paying attention to the conversation around her. Here she is at another fancy dinner with beyond-boring executives, talking about nothing remotely interesting.
• They hardly engage her in conversation and never ask for her opinion. She sat there and tried not to show what she was thinking, like how Mr. Butch’s tie dipped into his soup, and his wife pretended not to notice.
• She keeps trying to hide her smirk—she took it they don’t get along very well at home. At least this is a tad amusing. She shifts her gaze out the window to Central Park. Oh, what she wouldn’t give to go for a run through the snowy paths right about now.
• “Wherever you are, can I join you?” Caleb Monist asks, leaning over so only she can hear him.
• “I’m sorry?”
• He smiles. “You look like you were off somewhere else.”
• Oh. She was embarrassed, caught daydreaming by their hopefully soon-to-be client. This doesn’t look good for her.
• “I’m so sorry.” She wrinkles her nose, mortified to no end. ‘Great, Eloise!’
• “Don’t be.” He pulls his hand out from under the table and shows her the phone he’s been using to play online poker. She tried to hide her laugh; he grinned and shrugged. “We all know it’s a done deal, right?”
• “I guess so, huh?” She said with a sigh. “I just wish I could get something stiffer.” She pointed to her glass of pinot grigio. She doesn’t drink, as a rule, but this dinner is painful. He winks at her before he clears his throat.
• “Excuse me, gentlemen, but I need to speak with Miss Lautner.” Before Eloise knew what was happening, he pulled out her chair and helped her to her feet, walking her through the dining area and out the front door. He handed the valet his ticket, and moments later, she was sitting on his red Corvette's tan, plush seat. “Now,” he grinned, “let’s see about getting you something stiffer—to drink.” All she can do is nod like a moron.
• After a few drinks at a Scottish pub, she decided she should get back before getting into more trouble with the press. Only the bartender and a lone man are in the corner, but Lord knows they’ll have a field day if they find her in another pub after what happened last night.
• “Let me drive you back to your car, at least,” Caleb says, standing to shrug on his jacket. He is a handsome man. His gel-styled brown hair and light eyes are a pretty combination. She guessed he was in his mid-thirties.
• “That’s not necessary. I can take a cab.”
• “Nonsense. I stole you away, so it’s only right I return you too.” He gestures toward the door. “Is your car at work?”
• Eloise shook her head as she slipped her purse over her shoulder. “A friend dropped me off this morning.”
• “Home, then?”
• She nodded as they walked outside. The ride is pleasant. He offers more information about his company and asks questions about her position.
• “So, you’ll fax me those samples as soon as you can?” he asks as she ducked down to say goodbye through the open window.
• “Yes, I will. Goodnight, Cal. Thanks for the fun evening—and the ride.” she walked toward her condo, deciding to grab the necessary file now rather than tomorrow.
• Eloise propped herself against the wall in the elevator, tired and anxious about how her day started. The idea of disappointing her father again is weighing heavily on her. It seems to be a weekly event. Either it’s the media or something she says or does around him.
• God, she misses her mother! She was so sweet and understanding. She wouldn’t have cared if she wore the wrong outfit to lunch or said the wrong thing during a business dinner. Christ, she’s only human. She never wanted to be a part of the public eye in the first place—never once!
• She stepped out to a quiet parking lot. Luckily, her car is parked nearby, and her feet are sore in her high boots. She opened the trunk, reached for her laptop case, and suddenly sensed someone was behind her. She started to turn, but a dark cloth slapped her face. A hand covers her mouth so she cannot scream. Her feet leave the ground as she is flung over someone’s shoulder, and something cold and hard strikes her shin.
• Fear courses through her veins and the air is forced out of her as her attacker tosses her roughly into the back of a vehicle. She felt the movement as they speed away. She can’t believe this is happening! She was terrified out of her mind.
• Someone makes fast work of binding her wrists and ankles. She can make out only shadows around her and hear male grunts and heavy breathing. Fear has taken over, and she seems to have lost her ability to speak.
• Someone grips her shoulders, pinning her, while another stretches out over the top of her. With all her might, she bucked her legs and nailed one of them in the crotch. His screech is ear-piercing as he falls back, then she feels a needle poke, and everything gets fuzzy.
• That’s all she remembered from the last day she spoke to her father, her best friend, and her coworkers and since she saw the light of day.