Annabelle's p.o.v.

I'm making dinner for Archie and me. As I glance at the clock on the wall, I sigh. It's 5:50. Archie said he'd be home at 5:00 for dinner. I started to get worried. Where is he?

Calm down, Annabelle. I tell myself. He's probably stuck in traffic or something.

I put the meat in the microwave and turn it on. I grab my phone to call Veronica when she calls me. I answer it.

"Hey, I was just about to call you," I say. "Have you seen Archie? He's not home yet."

I hear Veronica choke out a quiet sob on the other end. "Annie, something happened."

I feel my knees suddenly go weak. I sit in a chair. "What?" I ask, dreading.

Veronica takes a deep breath and answers. "Archie's been kidnapped by my ex-boyfriend from when I lived in New York, Nick St. Clair. He thought Archie was dating me, so he kidnapped him to force me to get back with him. I tried to tell him Archie and I weren't dating, but he wouldn't listen. He demanded that I bring the ransom money to Pop's, and he'll let Archie go."

"I'm coming with you," I say, standing up.

"No, Annie. It's too dangerous." Veronica protests.

"Ronnie, Archie's my boyfriend. I'm going to get him back.

"Meet me at Pop's in an hour." She hangs up. I grab my jacket and head out.

Veronica and I sit in a booth at Pop's, waiting for her ex-boyfriend to come; the door opens, and he walks in, grinning smugly.

"Veronica, lovely to see you," Nick flirts, sliding into the booth facing us.

Veronica brushes him off coldly, rolling her eyes.

"Cut the crap, Nick, where's Archie?" she snaps.

Nick's gaze turns to me; he stares at me uncomfortably.

"This must be your cousin, Annabelle, right?" he asks smoothly.

Hello there, beautiful."

"Forget it, jerk. I'm taken." I spit.

"You're Archie's girlfriend; you mean, your dating that hick farm boy when you can have someone with more class and riches, like me?"

Veronica and I are appalled, "You're a sicko, Nick, now, where's Archie."

Nick pulls out his phone and shows us a picture of Archie tied to a chair in some dark warehouse, his face bruised and bloody.

I gasp in horror at my boyfriend's injured form.

"Archie," I whimper sadly while I cover my mouth.

"Oh, my god." Veronica breaths.

"So, here's the deal, girls. I'll let your precious Archie go if your cousin Annabelle here goes on a date with me. If not, then your redheaded farm boy dies."

"No!" Veronica shouts.

"I'll do it." I interrupt.

Veronica looks at me, worried.

"No, you can't." She begs, gripping my elbow.

"I have to, Ronnie; I promised to protect you all," I say.

I turn back to Nick, "Where will our date be?" I ask.

"At the Five Seasons, of course." He responds with a chilling smile.

"You promise you'll let Archie go afterward?"

"Of course, dear Annabelle. I must go, but I'm looking forward to tonight, Annie." He leaves.

Veronica turns to me, eyes pleading. "You're not seriously thinking of going through with this, are you?"

"Yes, I am; for Archie's sake. Don't worry, I'll be fine. I promise." I say. Deep down, I'm a ball of nerves and dread.

I arrive at the hotel around six. I double-check my phone to see what room I'm supposed to go to. I try to calm myself by thinking of my only thought, the reason I agreed to this in the first place: for Archie. I get to the room and knock on the door. Nick opens it with a charming smile.

"Welcome," he drawls seductively. I cringe.

"Let's just get this over with," I respond dismissively. I enter the room. He closes the door and starts towards me. He puts his hands on my hips and begins to kiss me. I turn my head away and try to push him away.

"No, get off me!" I demand, shoving him.

"What's wrong, princess? You kissed Archie before, right? What makes that redheaded freak any different than me?" Nick argues.

"Archie's ten times better than you." I shoot back.

"Oh, yeah, in what ways?'" he urges. I scoff at him and fight back. We struggle for some time until I finally punch him in the face, knocking him out.

I step over his crumpled body and make my way to the door. As soon as I touch the doorknob, it swings open, revealing a bloodied, exhausted, but thankfully alive Archie.

"Annie, are you okay?" he asks, panting. "Ronnie told me what was going on?" He pulls me into a tight hug, and I relax against him, grateful he's okay.

"Yeah, I'm fine. How about you?" I whisper, cupping his bloody cheek.

"I'm okay." Archie sighs. We hug once more. Then we run out of the hotel room, leaving Nick behind.