Page 3 of Knot in Their Wildest Dreams: Part 1

I nodded again, trying to keep up, trying to breathe. I heard the person shuffling around me, and tried to take in a whiff. There was no scent at all, nothing to identify who took me. I tried to stay calm.

“You cannot trust anyone around you, Celeste.” The use of my name sent an additional shock through my body.

“Don’t mention a kidnapping plot. No one will believe you. But if you look closely, you might see surprise on the faces of the people who expect that you won’t make it to your own vote. Have a story ready for why you weren’t in your room. Say you went for a walk, drank too much and fell asleep in another room. Have a reason why you weren’t in your room last night, or they will know you’re aware of the plot.”

I swallowed, my mind in shambles as I tried to keep up.

“You’ll be returned to your room shortly. Get dressed. Go to the Capitol. Make it to the vote, if you care at all about your future.”

I breathed in slowly, trying to stay calm as this stranger told me about a conspiracy against me.

“You are a smart woman, Celeste. Let’s see if you really are smart enough not to sabotage yourself.” A hand clapped over my mouth, and I suddenly panicked and tried to cry out.

I was lifted, carried for only the briefest moments, and then dropped onto a soft surface. And suddenly I knew where I was. The overwhelming scent of my own patented fragrance hit my nostrils.

“Don’t be late. The vote starts in two hours.” Then I felt something tugging at my hands, and a door shut quietly. Whoever took me loosened my bindings, but it still took several minutes to squirm out of them. Once my hands were free, I ripped the blindfold off, my heart hammering.

I looked around and sure enough, I was back in my room.

But as I looked around, I saw something that made my stomach turn. Bottles of alcohol littered my room, along with half-empty glasses and spots of spilled drink. It did look staged, like someone wanted me to look like I’d been out on a bender.

I didn’t have time to think about it. I ran over to the door, flinging it open as I looked down the hallway. There was no sign of the person who had takenme.

My phone was missing, but there was still a clock in my room. I glanced at the time. My captor was right - I only had a few hours to get to the Capitol for the vote.

I looked at myself in the mirror and grimaced. I looked rough after the night of chaos I’d endured. I quickly changed into the suit I’d planned to wear, combing through my hair and washing my face. Makeup would cover the bags under my eyes, but I was still so shaken up by what happened. I rehashed the memory of my walk back to my room, interrupted by a hand over my face…

I shoved the memory down. I was Celeste Harringday. Heiress. Omega. Fighter.

I could do this.

An hour later, I was on the road, the car practically flying. I knew the board would have already gathered ahead of time.

The driver screeched to a halt right in front of the Capitol building. I stepped out with a calm I didn’t feel and walked briskly through the grand halls. I knew the vote would be taking place in mere minutes. With my hair perfectly styled, I kept a face of confident ease as I strode through the halls. When I reached the doors outside the meeting room, I took a deep breath.

The voice of the unknown captor echoed in my memory.

“Trust no one.”

I steadied myself, and pushed the doors open.

The faces of six men who made up the board looked up with surprise. I walked in, confident as ever, and made my way toward the empty seat that was my own. As interim CEO, I too had a vote in the potential merger. So did my uncle. I knew he would vote in my favor, but the other five men would need to vote as well. In the case of a tie, one man, Reginald, would be the tiebreaker, making the final decision. But with me here, it would be four against three… if the other men voted for me.

I stood at the table, looking around at the faces in front of me. Although I kept an outward facade of assuredness, I looked for hints of who could be behind the events of last night. Who could I trust?

“Gentlemen, have we started the vote yet?” I asked in a straightforward voice. There were a few moments of silence, but then someone spoke up.

“Miss Harringday, we were just about to start. You arrived right on time.” Reginald said, with a now confident smile growing on his face.

“Of course. I wouldn't miss this vote, you know that.” I said as I gave him a smile.

My uncle, seated next to me, leaned in and smiled.

“Where were you?” My uncle said in a tight whisper through his teeth, in a voice so low only I could hear it.

“Doesn’t matter, I’m here now.” I said back quickly.

I placed my hands on the table, assessing everyone around me. “Well? Shall we begin?”

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