TAKEN BY LUCIFER

CHAPTER 1

The taxi pulled to a stop, and several of the armed guards surrounded the vehicle. Adley settled the fare and stepped out, her gaze scanning the unfamiliar faces. Just as she was about to inquire about help with her luggage, a familiar figure emerged from the grand double doors.

"Uncle William!" she exclaimed, a wide grin splitting her face. The middle-aged man had been her father's trusted assistant since she was a child.

A warm smile creased Uncle William's face. "Ley, my dear," he greeted her, using the affectionate nickname from her childhood. "This is quite a surprise. Your father was expecting you next week."

"I know, I know. I couldn't wait and decided to surprise him. Is he home?"

Uncle William's smile faltered slightly. "Yes, he is, but currently in an important meeting. Why don't you freshen up and unpack while he finishes up? I'll have one of the maids prepare your room."

"Adley?" Liam's voice cut through the phone she still clutched in her hand.

Adley turned her gaze to the screen. "I'll call you back later, Liam. Don't worry." She gave him a smile before hanging up the phone.

"Who is Liam?" her father's assistant asked, frowning.

Adley, hesitant to reveal Liam just yet, mumbled, "My... good friend from London." It was a flimsy cover, but for now, she needed to tell her father first. Her uncle and aunt in London knew about Liam, but keeping him a secret from her father felt wrong.

Inside, the familiar grandeur of the house greeted her. Surprisingly, the interior had held onto its charm, with only a few tasteful additions. A woman approached, her nametag reading "Mary."

"This is Mary, our housekeeper," Uncle William explained. "She can prepare you a snack or an early dinner if you'd like. In the meantime, I'll let your father know you're here."

She nodded as the older man hurried away. She noticed him walking towards the newly added addition, which she assumed was the office area.

"Please follow me to the dining room, ma'am," a new maid offered.

Adley smiled politely. "Please, call me Adley. I'm not hungry. I'll wait for my father."

The woman seemed unsure but scurried off nonetheless. Drawn by a flicker of memory, Adley wandered towards the library. The familiar scent of leather-bound books and her father's pipe tobacco filled her senses. The library itself remained unchanged, yet the office space beyond seemed to have ballooned in size.

A frown creased her brow as muffled shouts erupted from the office. It was her father's voice, laced with anger. "...how did this happen again?"

On the speakerphone, other voices were trying to explain something.

"I need this fixed," her father yelled angrily. "This has been happening way too many times and for way too long. Find out if we have a leak somewhere. Do you know how much this is costing me?"

Adley's knowledge of her father's business was limited to the transportation company he'd built from the ground up. Guilt gnawed at her for never taking a deeper interest. Despite graduating from business school as he'd hoped, she craved the stability of a corporate job. 

The office door swung open, revealing a group of men exiting briskly. Adley seized the opportunity and approached her father's office, hoping to find him free.

"Ley!" Her father's voice boomed, laced with a sternness that sent a jolt through her. "What are you doing here?"

Her stomach lurched. "I wanted to surprise you, Dad. I missed you so much, I couldn't wait another week."

His tense expression softened a touch. "I am sorry, Ley. I shouldn't have snapped."

"It's alright, Dad. I understand." She forced a smile and closed the distance between them, engulfing him in a hug. Though they spoke every other week and he visited her twice a year, the physical touch felt necessary.

Her father placed a hand on her head, letting out a weary sigh. "You shouldn't have come unannounced, Ley. Things are different here. Not like they were when you were a child. There are people who wish to harm us."

She pulled back, a flicker of fear replacing her initial confusion. "Why? Because you're successful?"

He gave a curt nod. "Wealth attracts kidnappers. And cutthroat competitors are always looking for an advantage."

Adley frowned, concern etching lines on her forehead. "Dad, is this worth it? Can't we live a simpler life, away from all this stress?"

A humorless chuckle escaped his lips. "You sound so much like your mother when you say things like that. Not just your looks, but your way of thinking too."

A bittersweet pang hit her chest. Her mother, whom she'd lost to a tragic accident when she was just five, was a constant presence in their conversations. The grief in her father's eyes mirrored her own.

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by Uncle William bursting through the door, his voice laced with urgency. It seemed like there was some serious issue. Her father left for the office after promising to talk over dinner, leaving Adley with a whirlwind of unanswered questions.

Exhausted, she retreated to her room. Before she could get some rest her phone rang. It was her cousin Fiona.

"Hey, Ley! Did you make it home safe?" Fiona's voice crackled with excitement. After Adley went to LA, she lost touch with all her friends except her cousins. But then she was only five at that time. She was not aware of the values of friendship, but she did know now.

"I did, now let me sleep," Adley replied, tiredly. Both of them were comfortable with each other and always said what they had in mind. No filters.

"Okay, well get some sleep then. How about clubbing tonight? I know this amazing place..."

"Not tonight, Fi. Maybe tomorrow?" Adley offered.

"Fine, fine. Sleep tight," Fiona conceded with mock disappointment.

Hanging up, Adley drifted off to sleep, only to be awakened by a gentle touch. Her father stood beside her bed, his usual cheer replaced by a tense expression.

"What happened, Dad?" She asked, rubbing her eyes and yawning due to lack of sleep.

"Do you love me, Ley?"

"Yes, I do, dad. I love you a lot."

"Will you listen to me if I ask you to do something?" He asked, looking a little guilty.

"Of course, Dad. Now tell me what happened? You are scaring me," Adley said, worriedly.

"I want you to get married."

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