Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)

Agnes was suddenly wide awake, her heart racing with the kind of clarity that only comes from pure adrenaline.

She was pounding on Jared's broad shoulders, trying to get him to let her go. The walk through the crowded hallways was a blur of surprised and, oddly enough, envious glances.

Jared was, without a doubt, that archetype of a domineering CEO, his presence so intense it was almost suffocating.

"Jared, let me go, damn it!" Agnes shrieked, her voice echoing off the walls.

She never imagined things would escalate to this point. She was still tangled in a web of indecision, weighing her options. But Jared hadn’t given her the chance to choose. He’d just grabbed her and pulled her along with him.

Once they were outside, Agnes' mind was racing even faster. The clearer her thoughts became, the more fear crept into her heart.

Ryder hadn’t followed them. And that was the most terrifying part. What would he do next? She couldn’t even begin to guess.

Ultimately, Agnes found herself forcibly ushered into Jared's sleek car. He slid into the driver's seat after securing her inside.

"Jared, you've lost your mind. Let me out of here!" She reached for the door handle, only to find that Jared had locked the doors from his side. There was no escape.

luggage was left abandoned in the

car, and soon

her protests. "Jared, put me down! I can walk

striding into the house and up to a room, where he shoved her inside and locked

lost your freaking mind?" Agnes

Jared said,

yet anxious, Agnes retorted, "Jared, there's nothing

She needed to go find

anywhere. You're not setting foot outside this place today,"

You're imprisoning me now?" Agnes' voice rose in

imprisoning

she could process his words, Jared produced a pair of handcuffs from seemingly nowhere. In a flash, she found herself cuffed to him, their wrists

Agnes stared at Jared as though he was a lunatic who had suddenly become

the window, into the dense shrubbery of the garden below, where it disappeared