Charles stared at the message for a long time, before it faded away. System upgrade processing? What if something unpleasant happened, due to the system upgrade? Systems he knew, always had to shut down after an upgrade, so they could reboot. What if he fell out of consciousness, and it happened at the wrong time? That would be a disaster. He swallowed, and decided to do whatever he had to do, and be done with it all, before anything like his fears happened. Charles took in the size of the warehouse once more. He could not help feeling unprepared, as he knew the tech bugs had failed. Could the people he was about to meet be the ones behind it? For what reason would they want to threaten him with James? Charles wanted to take a step closer to the warehouse, but found himself hesitating— of course, he knew he was going to have to enter it eventually, but his brain needed to analyze and guess what could probably be waiting for him in there. It was the only way to feel better about the whole thing. Just then, a piercing and shrilly scream cut out in echoes from the warehouse, and Charles' eyes widened. What was going on in there? Charles' feet, which had been hesitant to move, seconds prior to the scream, suddenly took large bounds, making for the warehouse. He got into the large warehouse, which seemed fairly empty, except for empty crates, scattered boxes, and trash lying all around. Of course it was an abandoned warehouse. What else had he been expecting? Then he saw the men. They stood in the distance away from him with wooden planks, sticks, daggers, and tools only gangsters loved having on them. However, it was evident they were working for someone professional, as they were all dressed in black blazers, and pants, looking at Charles menacingly. Charles walked towards them, trying to insert the confidence into his every step. He didn't want to seem cowed by their numbers, or intimidated by their blank, yet nasty stares. They didn't say a word, except one, who had his phone to his ear. He dropped it, and dipped the phone into his pockets. "Was just about to call you." He said, with a little chuckle. "Five minutes is almost over." He added, then scanned Charles, noticing even the little details about him. The buttons on his clothes, his shoes, his watch… he knew Charles was no joke of a person. "Where's he?" Charles asked, in a low and dangerous tone, and the man checking him out chuckled once more. "Follow me." He said, with a jerk of his head in the direction of a door. The other men watched Charles, as he walked by, and whispered to themselves. Charles followed the chuckling man towards the door across the warehouse. When they got there, the man knocked once, and waited a little while, before pushing the door open. He motioned to Charles to go in, and Charles gave him a scalding look, as he went ahead of him, and stepped into the room. The room was dimly lit, but Charles could make out the suffocating four walls pressed around him. It bore an uncanny resemblance to an interroation room in the station, and Charles felt great discomfort. It took Charles a full minute to realize he wasn't alone. There was a figure in black, facing the wall, with their hands held behind them. "Who are you?" Charles asked, and the figure shifted, then turned. Charles heard a low chuckle, and the figure walked to one of the chairs at the table, seeming like an investigation table, and took his seat. He crossed his legs, and folded his arms, watching Charles intently. He was definitely the boss. Charles could tell it from the aura he exuded. He was a man of power.. "Who am I?" He returned, in a deep rumbling voice. "I think it's only courteous that you cut to the chase, and tell me what I need to know." Charles replied curtly, trying hard to keep the growing annoyance he felt at bay. "Of course, you ought to. You are really a businessman just like I am. I would really like you to guess who I could be.""With all due respect, if you are really a businessman, then you know that time is worth dollars, and you're wasting it." "Wow. This is exactly why I want you. You don't stall, you don't cower, you don't back out, you don't… There are lots of things you don't waste your time on, and I believe we will be perfect partners." The man drawled, playing with a loose strand of wood peeling from the table. "And you are…?" Charles asked, tired of all the bush beating. "Mr. Longman." The man replied, raising his head, and Charles couldn't deny the shock that took over him. Mr. Longman? But… why? "I'm deeply interested in partnering up with your newly-founded company, and will not take no for an answer. During the upcoming competition, we have to be one." He continued, and Charles felt disgust crawl up his chest. "You mean you went this far just so we could be partners?" Charles asked, unbelievably, "You abducted my man, and threatened me just for this?" "Surprised? You shouldn't be. I always get what I want, and I'm not scared to play dirty or risky to get it. I can go to the ends of the earth, and back, just to get a lollipop from a little kid who's unwilling to give it freely. That's how competitive and crazed I can get. I don't mind reaching high and low, or doing extreme things just to get what I want from you." He explained further, and Charles look turned into a glare. Mr. Longman was definitely not the kind of man he wanted to partner with. He didn't want to have anything to do with him. "At this point, there's no turning back and not much I can do. If you still stubbornly and foolishly disagree, then both your man and his woman will walk off the trail of the earth today. Never to return." He drawled, with a malicious glint in his eye. "His woman?" Charles asked. Was… Was Amelia also abducted?