Xia Ling was tied to a chair. A man in black held a dagger, the blade pressed against her neck. Two other men in black, one glaring fiercely at them, and the other crouching in front of Xia Ling, holding a mobile phone, seemingly filming something.
"Ms. Xia...Ms. Xia!" The security captain's voice was extremely tense.
"Don't come any closer!" The man in black coldly swept his gaze across the crowd at the doorway, his voice low and threatening. "Take another step, and your Ms. Xia will be dead!"
The security personnel and several executives at the doorway froze in their tracks, their faces turning grim. The security captain gritted his teeth and whispered to the person beside him, "They have knives. Don't act rashly. Stabilize the situation first."
"Ms. Xia!" Shang Yan couldn't help but call out, her eyes filled with anxiety and helplessness.
As a senior executive of Lingya Group, Shang Yan was dressed formally today. Her hair was styled up, and she wore a haute couture suit, her beautiful legs encased in the newly released gray stockings. However, at this moment, her long, slender legs in gray stockings completely lacked their usual composure; her small feet in gray stockings trembled uncontrollably in her high heels.
"Don't be impulsive, we can talk this over!"
"Yes, let's release President Xia first..."
"Let our President Xia out!"
Security personnel and a group of executives gathered outside the door, a tense atmosphere thick with tension, making even breathing heavy. They had considered rushing in to subdue the three burly men in black, but the situation was far too dangerous—a single misstep could see that gleaming dagger slit Mom's throat.
The security captain stood at the front, a burly man whose leather shoes clattered on the floor. His fingers unconsciously reached for the walkie-talkie at his waist, but he hesitated to press a button. His face was grim, his brow furrowed, clearly hesitant as well.
The executives outside looked on with complex emotions, anxious but helpless.
As a high-end women's fashion brand, Lingya's management team is almost entirely composed of women. Each woman is tall, impeccably made up, and always in high heels and tailored business suits. Whether in meeting rooms or at press conferences, they exude confidence and charisma.
However, now, these normally confident and elegant women appear utterly powerless.
A slender executive stood at the front of the group, arms crossed, long fingers clenched tightly at her elbows. Her stockinged legs shimmered under the lights, and her high heels tapped rapidly on the floor. Her voice was anxious as she said, "What do we do? We can't just stand by and watch President Xia be threatened!"
Another executive shook her head. A pearl necklace swayed gently around her long neck. "But if we call the police now, not only will President Xia's safety be uncertain, but the media will be there, and our brand image will be ruined."
"Who sent these people? They clearly came prepared!" a voluptuous executive said in a low voice, her anger barely concealed.
Shang Yan stood in the crowd, her brows furrowed, her hands clenched into fists. Her stockinged legs trembled slightly, and her high heels made a soft squeak as they moved. She looked up, her gaze sweeping over her colleagues with a complex mix of emotions, a hint of resentment in her voice: "These people are too cunning. They're taking advantage of our fear of making a sound. The press conference is in progress, and there's only a half-hour break before President Xia takes the stage again. There simply isn't enough time..."
"What do we do now?" A young executive's face was filled with anxiety, a hint of panic in his eyes. His high heels clicked crisply on the floor. "We can't just sit here like this! President Xia is still inside!"
"But what can we do now?" Another executive sighed, rubbing his forehead and temples. Clearly, the sudden crisis was giving him a headache. His voice was weary. "Calling the police is too late, and rushing in is too dangerous… These people have knives. President Xia's safety is the top priority."
Outside the door, the executives paced anxiously, some arguing in hushed tones, others pacing restlessly. The sound of their high heels hitting the floor was a discordant symphony.
Meanwhile, the security personnel standing among them, tall and clad in black uniforms, seemed rooted to the spot, their faces filled with helplessness and frustration.
Inside the dressing room, three burly men in black appeared increasingly composed. The leader, a cold smile playing on his lips, spoke mockingly, "Very well, it seems you lot are quite clever. Listen, we don't want to escalate things. As long as you cooperate obediently, no one will get hurt."
He then pointed his phone at the crowd outside the door, continuing with a sneer, "However, if you call the police or try anything funny, I'll post these photos online. Then we'll see if your Lingya Group will still have the face to hold a press conference!"
The executives outside exchanged anxious glances, their hearts pounding, but they were helpless.
"These bastards!"
Shang Yan gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with rage. Her gaze swept over the executives around her, noticing they were all whispering amongst themselves, but none of them could come up with a practical solution.
Time ticked by, the countdown to the press conference hanging like an invisible knife over everyone's heads.
Finally, Shang Yan made up her mind, took a step forward, and looked at the leader of the men in black, saying, "What exactly do you want? Money, or something else?"
"Heh, you women, after all this chatter, you finally think of negotiating?" The man in black sneered, then said in a sinister tone, "Our goal today is simple—to stop this press conference! Otherwise..." He paused, his gaze falling on Xia Ling, who was tied to a chair, a wicked smile playing on his lips, "...your CEO Xia will be in big trouble."
"The press conference can't be stopped!" Xia Ling squirmed in the chair, her bound legs rubbing against each other, but her face remained resolute.
"Did I ask you to speak?!"
The man in black was furious, the dagger pressed against Xia Ling's neck again, as if another inch would kill her instantly.