Chapter 48: Factory Nightmare

"Are you the ones who kidnapped Linda?" Adaline's face darkened as she turned, her cold gaze locking onto the middle-aged men in front of her. The factory boss chuckled and shook his head. "Kidnapping is a bit extreme. This lady here just took some photos she shouldn't have, and when we asked her to hand them over, she got all stubborn, talking about 'public duty.' Naturally, we couldn't let her leave, could we?" Adaline's expression grew even grimmer. "So, it's true—your factory is producing meat from dead pigs?" "You could say that," the factory boss sneered dismissively. "Producing meat from dead pigs and holding a journalist captive—do you even understand the seriousness of these charges?" Adaline's voice was icy, her eyes narrowing as she swept them over the men. The boss gave her a long look, finally noticing her police uniform. A flash of fear crossed his face, quickly replaced by a greedy smirk as he ogled her figure. "Ah, so you're a cop. No wonder you're so brave." He licked his lips. "I've had my fair share of women, but I've never played with a cop before. Boys, when I'm done, make sure to keep her uniform on—don't strip it off too soon." The men burst into vulgar laughter. "You dare to touch me?" Adaline's eyes blazed with fury as she instinctively reached for her gun—only to remember she had left it at home since she wasn't on duty today. The factory boss noticed the motion and grinned wider. He stepped toward Adaline and Linda, motioning for his men to follow. Adaline's heart sank. She clenched her fists, preparing for a fight. As the head of the investigative unit, she was highly trained and mentally tough. But the odds weren't in her favor. Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the factory, and all the lights went out, plunging everything into darkness. "What the hell?"  "Who cut the power?" "Do these girls have backup?"  "Let's get out of here!” The men panicked, bolting for the exits. "Stop!" Adaline shouted, unsure whether to chase them. She didn't know the factory's layout, and in the dark, pursuing them could be dangerous. Besides, Linda was still behind her. She couldn't risk falling into a trap. "Where the hell is Jackson?" she muttered, frustrated at his absence when she needed him most. "Haha, I'm right here." A calm, familiar voice echoed in the darkness. "Who's there?" Before anyone could respond, flashes of white light flickered in the shadows, followed by the sounds of bodies hitting the ground. Silence fell, so thick that Adaline could hear her own breathing. She remained tense, fists clenched, unwilling to lower her guard. Suddenly, the lights flickered back on. "What…" As her eyes adjusted, she saw the men, who had moments before been trying to escape, now lying unconscious on the ground. Footsteps echoed, and Jackson appeared, casually dusting off his hands. "No need to worry, it's all handled." Adaline exhaled in relief but couldn't hide her frustration. "You could've fought them head-on. Why go through the trouble of cutting the power? You nearly gave me a heart attack." Jackson smiled and scratched his nose. "I always prefer the safest solution, even if it's a bit more complicated. There were six dangerous men—caution never hurts." "Fine, you've got a point." Adaline's irritation melted into a smile. Jackson nodded toward Linda. "Go check on your friend." Adaline rushed to untie Linda. "Are you alright? Did they hurt you?" "I'm fine, Adaline," Linda reassured her, getting to her feet. She glanced at Jackson, curiosity filling her eyes. "And who's this?" "This is Mr. Jackson. He's… incredibly skilled. We were discussing work when he heard you were in trouble and came to help. We owe him big time," Adaline explained. "Mr. Jackson, thank you so much. Without you, Adaline and I could have been in serious danger," Linda said, extending her hand gratefully. "Don't mention it, just doing my part." Jackson shook her hand, noting Linda's delicate features and confident aura. Her short haircut gave her a competent, fresh look that only added to her charm. "Adaline, call the police. These scumbags need to be dealt with." Linda wrinkled her nose in disgust. Adaline nodded. "My colleagues are already on their way." Soon, police cars surrounded the factory, and the men were taken into custody. Linda's camera, hidden safely in a corner, was recovered without damage. Delighted, she exclaimed, "I've been investigating this factory for weeks, and now I can finally finish my story!" "Be more careful next time," Adaline warned. "You won't always be this lucky." Linda grinned. "No worries, I've got you. And if not, there's always Mr. Jackson." She winked, playfully changing how she addressed him. "By the way, Mr. Jackson, let's exchange contact info. Just in case I run into trouble again." "Sure." Jackson, never one to refuse, exchanged contact details with a smile. … Later that night, Jackson finally returned to the Griffith family home, starving after missing dinner. "Young Master," Julius greeted him as he entered. "Everything alright at home?" Jackson asked casually. "Rest assured, Young Master. Even if something happened, we'd handle it immediately," Julius replied seriously. Jackson nodded and headed into the house. It was quiet—Apollo had already gone to bed, his early schedule a habit in his older age. Jackson went to the kitchen, intending to make himself some noodles, when a cool voice called down from upstairs. "There's food in the pot. You can just heat it up." Jackson looked up to see Violet on the second-floor landing in her pajamas. He smiled. "Still up?" "I heard the police took you in. We sent someone to bail you out, but you weren't at the station," Violet said flatly. Jackson chuckled. "It's a long story. I'm starving—come down if you're not sleepy, and I'll tell you over dinner." "Not interested." Violet turned and walked back to her room. Jackson grinned to himself. "Sharp tongue, soft heart. You act cold, but you care. Ah, being this handsome is such a curse." Violet almost tripped, overhearing his words before slamming her door shut. "What a narcissist!" she muttered. "Who cares about you? Go to hell, you jerk!" After mentally cursing Jackson a thousand times, Violet finally felt satisfied and went to sleep. … The next day, Jackson returned to work at the company, immediately causing a stir. "No way, Jackson's back already?"  "Didn't the police take him away yesterday?"  "His connections must be crazy!" The employees whispered amongst themselves, unsure whether to greet him or keep their distance. "Young Master."  "Mr. Jackson!" The security guards, however, greeted him as usual. They knew his true identity—Violet's boyfriend and heir to the Griffith Group. Arrest Jackson? Fire Jackson? They knew better. Back in the sales department, Jackson's arrival caused another stir. "Jackson, you're okay?" Wade rushed over, followed by others expressing concern. "I'm fine," Jackson replied with a smile. As he sat down, a mocking voice interrupted him. "Some people just waste time all day. I hope you don't wet yourself when it's time to fulfill our bet at the end of the month." It was Frederick. Jackson smiled. "Oh, it's you." Frederick flinched, half-expecting a punch, but when none came, he sneered. "Just a reminder—don't forget the wager." Nolan, who had been about to flatter Jackson, became annoyed. "Frederick, could you shut up?" Frederick glared at him, enraged. Jackson waved a hand to quiet Nolan, then turned to Frederick with a smile. "Thanks for reminding me. I'd almost forgotten." Frederick regretted speaking immediately. His plan to mock Jackson had backfired, reminding him of the bet. If he had stayed silent, Jackson might have forgotten entirely. "He's a rookie," Frederick reassured himself. "Aside from that initial 7.5 million dollars deal, he hasn't closed anything all week. I'm still the sales champion. No way he'll beat me." Calming himself, Frederick regained his confidence. He was sure there was no way Jackson could surpass him.