Always Hooked on You

NOTE: This is the third book in the series. Please read 'Hooked on You' and 'Still Hooked on You' for it to make sense. And of course, enjoy!

With several options of lingerie to try on, Scarlett headed to the changeroom stalls and stepped inside one of them before closing and locking the door behind herself.

She began trying on the different options, one by one until she had chosen some to purchase and some to return.

With her clothing in hand, she opened the changeroom stall door to step out but was suddenly surprised by a man wearing black who appeared from around the corner and launched himself at her.

Before she could cry out for help, he had covered her mouth and dragged her back into the stall, locking it behind himself.

Scarlett tried kicking and screaming, but his hand over her mouth drowned out most of the sound, with the music playing in the store drowning out the rest.

He held her while she struggled and then reached into his jacket pocket to grab something.

Feeling as if she was either being robbed or raped, Scarlett fought with everything she had left in her, suddenly kicking her leg upwards and hitting him right in the balls!

He grunted, releasing his hold on her and frowning.

And she used this as her chance to run and escape him.

Flinging open the stall door, she ran back out into the store, calling out for help, “Help! Someone, please help!”

One of the store workers came over, concern evident on her face.

“What’s wrong?” she asked her.

“Someone just attacked me. In the stall back there.” Scarlett reported, pointing back in that direction.

The store worker quickly darted back there to check and see if anyone was there, as she had just said.

As this happened, Henry darted inside the store, finding Scarlett and grabbing her by both arms.

“What happened? Are you alright?” he asked her.

“Yeah.” she replied, just as the store worker had returned.

“Maam, there is no one back there.” she replied.

Scarlett wasn’t sure of how to react to this news.

She knew she had just been attacked by someone dressed in black.

But was she just panicking over nothing?

Was she making a bigger deal about this than was necessary?

Had she perhaps imagined it?

Now she had begun doubting herself as she looked to the store worker in apology.

“I’m sorry. I must have been mistaken.” she replied.

Henry took Scarlett by her arm and then walked her on out of the store as onlookers watched from inside and outside the store.

Scarlett was visibly shaken, that much was obvious.

Whatever had happened, it must have felt real to her.

“Look, what really happened in there?” Henry asked her when they arrived out in the walkway.

Scarlett thought for a moment.

She wasn’t sure if she should be completely honest with him or not.

After all, she could have made the entire thing up in her mind… right?

Deciding it would be better not to concern anyone, especially Adam, Scarlett chose her response carefully.

“I just had a panic attack. Nothing serious.” she replied.

“A panic attack? In the lingerie shop?” Henry challenged knowingly.

She found herself unable to look him in the eye anymore.

“Yeah, that’s all it was. I’m fine now.” she reassured him.

“There’s no need to tell Adam about this. It’ll only worry him.”

But Henry disagreed.

“No, we should definitely tell Mr. Cunningham about this.” Henry admitted.

Scarlett panicked.

“No, really. It was just a small panic attack. It’s not worth mentioning to him.” she explained.

“Besides, if you do tell him, it’ll only make him more worried. And then that’ll be the end of anything fun for us while we’re here in Paris. He won’t let me go anywhere or do anything else while we’re here.”

Henry appeared to take this on board for a moment.

“Please, just keep this between us. I’m asking as a favour.” Scarlett pleaded.

“If Adam thinks for even one second that this has anything to do with Dimitri that’s it. Our trip here is over.”

He sighed.

“Look, I understand your point of view, Scarlett. I do. But he is my boss. I have a duty of care to tell him everything that happens to you, especially when it’s something serious like this.” Henry explained.

“I could lose my job if I’m not totally honest.”

She sighed, lowering her head.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” she admitted.

As much as he had a moral code, Henry was feeling incredibly guilty about telling Adam what had happened.

He knew that this trip had obviously meant a lot to these two and that telling Adam what had happened might jeopardise that.

But could he do that for her?

Could he lie to the man who had hired him?

Soon afterwards Adam and Jude had returned from their errand to find both Scarlett and Henry standing in the food court waiting for them.

“How’d you go?” Adam enquired with a smile.

“Oh, I decided I didn’t like anything there.” Scarlett admitted, shaking her head.

“Really? I thought French lingerie was meant to be really pretty.” Adam admitted in shock.

“Well, if you don’t like it, I guess it doesn’t matter. You look hot no matter what you wear.”

Scarlett blushed, smiling at his compliment.

“Are you still having a good time out here?” he asked her.

Scarlett looked up into his eyes and nodded her head, “Yeah, of course.”

He smiled, taking her hand in his as he then continued leading her along down the walkway.

With both Jude and Henry following along close behind.

Henry had decided to stay silent for the time being.

Perhaps she was right… perhaps it was merely nothing to worry about.

The four of them finished in their last shop and were now ready to head back to the hotel.

As they made their way down to the carpark to locate their car, that same group of men wearing dark clothing continued to stare at them from one end of the carpark.

And amongst them was the man who had attacked Scarlett in the stall.

They had missed this opportunity, but they wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

And more importantly, they now knew where the two lovebirds were headed.

They started making their way towards their own cars, separating into two groups of four.

Seated in the backseat, Adam suddenly remembered something as he reached into his jacket pocket.

“I almost forgot... you might want this back.” he declared, holding out his hand with something sparkly resting upon his open palm.

Scarlett looked at it and her eyes lit up with excitement, a smile graced her face.

“My necklace!” she proclaimed happily.

“You found it.”

“I've been keeping it with me since you were taken that night.” Adam admitted as he worked to fasten it around her neck, gently pulling her long golden locks out of the way and sitting back to look at the finished product.

He smiled proudly.

“Gorgeous... as always.” he remarked.

Scarlett smiled, revealing her dazzling white teeth.

Now busily staring at one another and lost in their moment, the pair hadn’t yet noticed as Henry took a turn down into a side street.

Jude frowned but didn’t voice his concerns as the car continued along.

Glancing up, Adam quickly noticed that they were making their way down a side street and looked confused by this.

“Henry, why are we headed this way?” he asked, glancing out through the car windows.

“Oh, don’t worry Mr. Cunningham. This is a short cut that I know, it’ll lead us out onto the right street without getting all the traffic lights. I use it all the time.” he reassured.

And having no reason not to trust him, Adam nodded his head and returned his attention towards Scarlett as she blushed at all the attention he was giving her.

Just as they were coming to approach the end of the side street, a car suddenly pulled into the street up ahead, blocking their path off.

The side street was only wide enough for one car to pass through at a time.

Abruptly stopping the car, Henry cursed aloud, “Shit.”

Adam looked up upon hearing this.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” he enquired.

“Some asshole’s blocked us off up ahead.” Henry explained, waving his hand to try and shoo the car away.

With a sigh, Henry spoke again, “Don’t worry, Mr. Cunningham. I’ll just reverse us out…”

As he placed the car into reverse and began reversing it, another black car turned into the side street, this time blocking off the path behind them.

“What the…” Henry seemed startled now as he stopped the car.

Adam frowned, turning around to see the car now blocking their path off from behind and immediately felt concerned about this situation.

“Guys, arm yourselves.” Adam ordered the two guards.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

Scarlett looked visibly worried as she glanced to Adam.

“Adam…” she whispered.

He cupped the side of her face lovingly as he spoke to reassure her.

“Relax, we’ve got protection. We’re going to be fine.”

As Henry and Jude both drew their guns, they noticed as several men wearing black emerged from out of the cars parked at either end of them, then heading towards their car.

And even worse… they appeared to be armed!