Page 10 of Empowered

“You’re smarter than you realize. The fact that you’ve stayed alive this long without them killing you proves it.” I looked into her eyes before making my vow. “We’ll make it out of here…together. I promise you.”

A wide smile spread across her face, reaching her eyes. She really was a beautiful woman with soft, delicate features. I had once been jealous of her and everything that she once had, but now she was my friend.

“There’s a small fabric shop called Mongoose Inc. that I used as an address to tip off Shyam,” I continued. “Do you know where that is? I think I saw that it’s on Mount Road.”

“Hmmm…” She furrowed her brows, considering my question. “I think I know it. It’s a small, rundown building near one of the big temples. I used to go to that temple whenever we were in town and I remember seeing the sign for Mongoose Inc. on our way there. I can’t believe it’s still in business.”

“I need to get there. Shyam and Jai are probably monitoring each of the locations that I used to divert their shipments. I’m hoping that if I get to that location, they’ll see me and can help us.” I hoped that they would think to take pictures of anyone passing by the locations, especially Mongoose Inc., so that it would trigger the facial-recognition software. Shyam would know I had been there if my photo found a match against the software. I hadn’t figured out every detail of my plan yet, but it was a start.

Before Salena could answer, the dungeon door opened. Instinctually, Salena and I backed further into our respective cells just before Tarun waltzed down the hall, stopping between them.

“Great news!” he exclaimed, clasping his hands over his chest. His iridescent blue jacket shimmered under the skylight. “Your plan worked, Ms. Becker. My sales have increased ten-fold since you worked your magic on Shyam’s sales accounts. I have been busy welcoming my new clients all day. I’m even thinking of preparing a party to properly thank them for their business.” He clapped his hands in excitement, looking expectantly at me to reciprocate his glee.

“That’s…umm…wonderful,” I said, but it came out more confused than happy.

“I have to say, I was suspicious of your motives, little girl, but you proved your worth to me. I think I might just keep you on board as Vice President of Sales.” His words were flying out so fast and his hands flailing so enthusiastically that I felt dizzy.

He continued without waiting for my reaction, his hands now on his hips. “Your boyfriend is suspicious, though. He has his men watching all the locations that you entered, probably to steal back the merchandise that was rerouted. Of course, he is no match for my army.” His face shone with his perceived victory. “It surprises me as to why you were bedding him in the first place when you are much smarter than him. Seems like such a waste of time.” He shook his head in mock disappointment and changed the topic. “Anyway, one wrong move and his men are dead.” He grinned with psychotic satisfaction.

It had worked! Shyam knew something was off. Now I just needed for his men to get a photo of me at one of those locations to trigger the software. Maybe I could hide out at Mongoose Inc. long enough for one of his men to rescue me. I needed to find a way to get out of this cell.

I chanced a glance at Salena. I hadn’t told her exactly how I knew Shyam; all I had said was that I worked with him because I thought it would have been a little awkward to tell her I had screwed her ex-fiancé. Now, I wished I had told her the truth.

Her lips were pursed and expression twisted in bitterness.Dammit.I’d betrayed her. I felt awful for having kept information from her, especially when she had been so honest with me. I genuinely liked her and hated that she’d had to find out this way.

“I just thought of the most wonderful idea for a party,” Tarun’s voice pierced through my thoughts. “Get ready, wife,” he exclaimed, moving closer to Salena’s cell, “we’re getting married in four days!”

With a flourish of his jacket, he turned and spun away, walking hastily down the hall. The door slammed, leaving Salena and I alone in awkward silence.

Chapter X

Shyam

“We can’t ambush each of the locations blindly. We aren’t even certain that she’s in Jaipur,” Jai said, leaning against a bookcase in my father’s office.

“Of course, they are,” I said. “All of the addresses listed were ones in Jaipur.”

“How do we know that Tarun isn’t on the run again? He would have taken her with him too,” Saran asked, seated in a chair across from my desk. His mammoth arms poked out over the sides of the chair; it was too small to contain him.

“We can’t be completely sure of where he is, but we do know that Jaipur was of some significance for her to use addresses within that city. Therefore, we still need heavy surveillance at all locations mentioned. It’s possible that we can find clues in Jaipur that heison the move,” Zayn chimed in sensing my growing frustration at everyone doubting my intuition. I knew Amelia was in Jaipur, but it was a feeling that only I could sense. I couldn’t blame my brother and my men for being skeptical.

“I guess that makes sense, since we don’t have much to go off of,” Jai said, rubbing his chin as he considered Zayn’s argument. “We’ll need to make sure that photos are being taken of all people passing by the locations. I can allow our surveillance men to have access to the software. All the photos they take will be automatically scanned and uploaded to the cloud. We should get a hit if Amelia, Tarun, or even Salena are photographed, since we already have their images saved.”

“Make sure you and I both get notifications on our phones if we do get a hit,” I reminded him. I wanted to know as soon as any of them were found.

He nodded in understanding.

We spent the next three hours combing through each location using virtual maps to memorize exactly how they looked from overhead and street views. We also allocated more men for surveillance.

After we adjourned for the day, the guys headed to the dining room for some of Raj’s famousbiriyani, made with seasoned rice and lamb marinated in yogurt. The men wanted to fill their bellies before we departed for Jaipur tonight.

I wasn’t hungry so I opted to walk the gardens out back. Even though our palace was spacious inside, the anxiety I was experiencing from the search left me feeling claustrophobic. I needed some fresh air.

The house wrapped around a courtyard with six large fountains and a massive swimming pool in the middle. A lush green garden sat off to the end of the courtyard and extended past the confines of the house. The musical chirping of birds soothed my mind. Mango and lychee trees spanned the landscape. Jasmine vines sprawled along trellises in the shape of arches. The air was fragrant with perfume and nectar.

The winds had begun to pick up and clouds settled overhead. A storm was coming.

I used to run around these grounds eating fruit from the trees with my brother and Zayn when we were children. We’d pretend to launch rocket ships using soda bottles and balloons. It would make a huge mess, but Raj would cover for us and hide all evidence of our mischief from my father. We’d play until the sun disappeared and the crickets chirped in the evening air. My mother would have to come herd us indoors to eat dinner and take baths. Even though she had servants to do all of that for her, she was still a hands-on mother who took care of us. Her parenting style reflected her upbringing. She was born in this same village, in a meager household of farmers, and never lost the desire to do things for herself. Now that I was an adult, I could appreciate that quality in her.

---