Robert Robertson stepped out of his car, the cold November wind biting at his face as it whipped through his jacket. He tugged it tighter around his body, shivering slightly.

The sky was dark, a deep blanket of stars overhead, but Robert wasn't in the mood for stargazing. Christmas was only a month away, and the air was getting more frigid by the day. Pulling out his phone, he scrolled to Eligos's number and dialed. As usual, it went straight to voicemail.

"Of course," Robert muttered, glaring at the phone. "The most exclusive, mysterious guy in the world, and his phone's never on."

He let out a frustrated sigh, tapping the screen aggressively to send a text instead. But just as he was about to hit send, two men in dark suits appeared out of nowhere, walking toward him. Robert blinked, confused, as they stopped directly in front of him. "Uh... can I help you?" Robert asked, his voice edged with suspicion.

He didn't get an answer. Before he could react, one of the men yanked a bag over his head, plunging him into complete darkness.

"Hey! What the-!" Robert struggled, his arms flailing as he tried to pull the bag off, but strong hands gripped him tightly. "Let me go!" he demanded, his voice muffled by the fabric.

Suddenly, he felt his feet leave the ground, his body being hoisted into the air as if he weighed nothing. He could hear the sound of a car door opening, and before he knew it, he was shoved into the back seat. The door slammed shut, the noise ringing in his ears. "I swear to God, you better let me out right now!" Robert shouted, his panic rising.

His outburst was cut short by a sharp prick in his arm. He barely had time to register the sting before his limbs went numb, his head spinning as unconsciousness washed over him.

Meanwhile, the two men who had just kidnapped him exchanged glances in the front seat of the car.

"Why does the boss always gotta be so secretive with this guy?" one of them asked, adjusting his seatbelt.

The other man shrugged. "That's just how Eligos operates. You know, he's got his whole mysterious vibe going on. Don't tell anyone anything."

"Yeah, but why kidnap him? Why not just, I don't know, invite the guy over for a chat?"

The driver suddenly snapped, his voice sharp as a whip. "Shut your mouth, both of you! You wanna keep your heads attached? Don't talk about the boss like that."

Both men immediately clammed up, their lips sealed tighter than vaults. Only the sound of the car's engine and the tires on the road filled the silence.

The drive was long-longer than usual. Nearly an hour and a half passed before the car finally slowed down. The area they'd arrived at was eerily quiet, like a place forgotten by time.

They had entered a thick forest, the trees casting long, crooked shadows under the moonlight. It looked like no one had lived here in years, and honestly, it was the perfect place for someone like Eligos to hide out.

As they pulled up to the house, the headlights illuminated an old, worn-down mansion nestled deep within the woods. The place was huge but gave off a creepy, abandoned vibe, with vines crawling up the stone walls and windows covered in grime. But this was Eligos's choice of hideout-he preferred staying off the radar, away from prying eyes.

The men dragged Robert's limp body out of the car, his arms hanging loosely by his sides as they carried him inside. The front door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit hallway that smelled like old wood and dust. They moved quickly, not wanting to risk waking him up, making their way toward the basement, just like the boss had instructed.

The basement was just as unsettling as the rest of the house. It was damp and cold, with stone walls that seemed to close in on you the longer you stayed. At the bottom of the stairs, two more men stood guard by a heavy metal door, their faces unreadable. "Got him," one of the kidnappers said, nodding to the guards.

Without a word, the guards opened the door, revealing a small, dimly lit room inside. The kidnappers dragged Robert's body inside, plopping him down in a chair in the middle of the room, his head lolling forward.

"Let the boss know he's here," one of the kidnappers said, straightening his jacket.

The other man nodded and immediately headed upstairs to report to Eligos.noveldrama

Eligos, meanwhile, sat comfortably in a high-backed leather chair in his office, a twisted smile on his face. His phone buzzed on the desk, and he glanced down, seeing the call from his men. He picked up with a cool, casual tone. "Yes?"

"We have him, boss. He's in the basement."

"Good," Eligos replied, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "And he's still unconscious?"

"Out cold," the man confirmed.

"Perfect," Eligos purred, leaning back in his chair. "Make sure he stays that way. I'll be down shortly."

Eligos descended the creaky wooden steps into the dimly lit basement, his leather shoes tapping lightly against the floor. The room was cold, the walls damp with a faint musty odor lingering in the air.

As he entered, he spotted Robert slumped in a chair, his head covered with a rough burlap sack. Robert wasn't moving-probably unconscious.

Eligos took his time, sauntering to the chair directly across from Robert, and gracefully sat down. He flicked his hand lazily toward one of his men, who stood against the wall with a stern expression. The man nodded and quickly moved to Robert, yanking the bag off his head

in one swift motion before splashing cold water in his face.

Robert's eyes flew open instantly, his body jerking awake, coughing and spluttering. He blinked rapidly, wincing as his eyes struggled to adjust to the blinding light from the single bulb hanging from the ceiling.

He scanned the room, confusion giving way to realization, and then fury as his eyes locked onto Eligos, who sat coolly across from him, arms resting casually on the chair.

"You!" Robert shouted; his voice hoarse but filled with rage. He sprang to his feet, his chair clattering to the floor behind him as he pointed a trembling finger at Eligos. "You!"

Eligos didn't flinch. He just sat there with an amused smirk tugging at the corners of his lips, while his men tensed up, ready to act. One of them stepped forward, but with a calm raise of his hand, Eligos signaled for them to back off. "Let him have his moment," his gesture seemed to say.

"Well, good to see you again, Robert," Eligos said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. His eyes glinted as if this entire situation was one big joke to him.

Robert, still fuming, took a step closer, his fists clenched. "Where the hell have you been?" he spat, his voice shaking with frustration. "I've been trying to contact you for weeks! Your phone's dead, your number's not working-what the hell, Eligos?"

Eligos leaned back, his demeanor unfazed, almost relaxed. He tilted his head slightly, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, you know... busy," he replied smoothly. "I have other clients, Robert. It's not just you, you know."

That only made Robert angrier. His

face flushed red as he took another

step forward glaring at Eligos.

your

"Busy? Busy?! And what, that's your excuse for making me jump through hoops just to see you? You goons kidnap me, drag me t god-knows-where, and for what? You couldn't just pick up the phone?" His voice rose with every word, his anger spilling out like lava from a volcano.

Eligos's lips curled into a wicked smile, the kind that sent shivers down people's spines. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, locking eyes with Robert.

"Well, Robert," he said, his voice smooth as silk, "it's much easier to commit a crime when no one knows where you are, don't you think?"