The Contracted Stripper

When I escaped, I heard them mention someone. They were afraid of him. I think he’s the one behind all of this.”Ryan’s eyes narrowed. “Did they say his name?”

“No,” Iris replied, shaking her head. “But they were terrified. Whoever he is, he’s dangerous.”Ryan’s resolve hardened. “Then we’ll find him. And we’ll make sure he can’t hurt you or anyone else again.”

The unknown caller was on the phone again, his voice cold and calculating. “I want surveillance on the Kendrick Mansion.

Find out everything about Iris’s movements. We can’t afford another mistake.””Yes, sir,” came the prompt reply.

He hung up the phone and leaned back, his brain working on a new strategy already. He had underestimated Iris’s determination, but he was not going to let that stop him.

Not when he was so close to achieving his goal.”Enjoy your safety while it lasts, Iris,” he murmured to himself, a sinister smile curling his lips. “Because it won’t last long.”

Ryan’s assistant, Luca, was already waiting in his study room when he arrived. Luca had been briefed on the situation and had spent the night gathering information.

“Ryan,” Luca greeted, concern evident in his eyes. “How is Iris?”

“She’s resting,” Ryan replied, his voice tight with worry. “We need to find out who’s behind this.

Any leads?”Luca nodded, spreading out a few documents on the desk. “I did some digging. There’s been some unusual activity in our security logs.

I think someone’s been watching the house.”Ryan’s eyes narrowed. “Any idea who?””No solid leads yet, but I have a few names. I’ll keep digging,” Luca assured him. “In the meantime, I’ve tightened up security around the mansion.

No one gets in or out without us knowing.”

“Good,” Ryan said, his tone resolute. “Iris needs to be safe. And we need to be prepared for anything.”Iris’s RoomIris woke up, her body aching but her mind clear.

She felt a surge of determination. She couldn’t just sit around and wait for the next attack. She needed to be proactive.”Ryan?” she called softly, knowing he wouldn’t be far.

He appeared almost immediately, a look of relief washing over his face. “Iris, you’re awake. How are you feeling?””Sore, but I’m okay,” she replied, managing a small smile. “We need to talk, Ryan.

We need to figure out who’s doing this and why.”Ryan nodded, sitting down beside her. “I know. Luca is already working on it. But I need you to focus on recovering.”

“I can’t just sit here,” Iris insisted. “There has to be something I can do to help.”Ryan sighed, recognizing the determination in her eyes.

“Alright.

The unknown caller paced around his room.

The failure of his men to keep Iris infuriated him. He picked up his phone and dialed a number.”What’s the status?” he demanded as soon as the call connected.”We lost her,” the voice on the other end stammered.

“But we’re still looking. We’ll find her, sir.””You’d better,” he snarled. “I don’t tolerate failure. Remember what happened to your friend?””Yes, sir. We’ll find her,” the voice replied, trembling.”Good. And this time, don’t let her escape.

You won’t get another chance,” he said before hanging up. He leaned back in his chair, his mind racing.

Iris had proven to be a more strong opponent than he had anticipated. But he wasn’t worried. He had resources and he had time. She wouldn’t escape him again.

Over breakfast, Ryan and Iris discussed their next steps.”I think we need to bring in outside help,” Iris suggested.

“Someone who can dig deeper and find out who’s behind this.”Ryan nodded thoughtfully. “I’ve already reached out to a private investigator I trust. He’ll be here later today.”

“Good,” Iris said, feeling a sense of relief. “We also need to make sure the staff knows what’s going on. They need to be on alert.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Ryan promised.

“And Iris, I want you to stay close. Don’t go anywhere alone.””I understand,” she agreed. “We’re in this together.”

Later That Day

The private investigator, a grizzled man named Jack, arrived at the mansion.

He had a reputation for being thorough and relentless, which was exactly what Ryan and Iris needed.

“Jack,” Ryan greeted him. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.””No problem,” Jack replied, his eyes scanning the room.

“I understand you’ve got a serious situation on your hands.””Yes,” Ryan said, leading him to a private room where they could talk. “Iris was kidnapped, and we need to find out who’s behind it and why.”Jack nodded, pulling out a notepad.

“Alright. Let’s start with everything you know so far.

Hours Later

After an extensive debriefing with Jack, Ryan and Iris felt a glimmer of hope. Jack had promised to start his investigation immediately and report back with any findings.

“I feel better already,” Iris admitted as they walked back to her room. “At least we’re doing something.”Ryan squeezed her hand reassuringly.

“We’ll get through this, Iris. Together.”As they sat together, a newfound bond of trust and determination began to form between them. They were no longer just partners in a forced marriage, they were allies, united against a common enemy but not for long.

The unknown Man received another call, this time from a different source.

“I have some information for you,” the voice said. “Ryan has hired a private investigator.”The unknown man’s lips curled into a cold smile.

“Interesting. Keep me informed. And make sure our plans proceed without a hitch.”

“Yes, sir,” the voice replied before the line went dead. The unknown caller leaned back, contemplating his next move. Ryan and Iris might have gotten lucky this time, but their luck wouldn’t last forever.