Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 164263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 821(@200wpm)___ 657(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 821(@200wpm)___ 657(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
I do a last check of my place, water my plants and grab my purse.
It’s vacation time.
I start my car and the garage door slowly goes up, they’re both leaning up against the car chatting away and I floor it and drive right past them. I glance into the rearview mirror to see them scrambling and I put my foot on the gas.
I giggle, proud of myself.
Catch me if you can.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
EDWARD
“And then moving forward I want to build….”
Bzz, bzz, bzz, my phone vibrates on my desk and I glance at the screen.
Philippe
Why is he calling me?
“I have to take this,” I tell the four people at the board table. I stand and walk to the window and look out over the view. “Yes.”
“We’ve got a problem.”
“Such as?”
“Alora drove off this morning and we’ve followed her but we got caught in traffic and have lost sight of her car.”
“Where are you?”
“At the international airport.”
What?
Fury fills me.
“Alone?”
“No, Helene is with her.”
“Find. Her.” I hang up as adrenaline screams through my bloodstream and I turn back to the eight eyes watching me. “Get out.”
They exchange glances and stand.
“Now,” I growl.
They scamper from the room like rats.
I call Philippe back. “Yes, boss.”
“Did you find her?”
“No.”
“What the hell are you idiots doing?” I scream. “You have one fucking job.”
“She’s purposely tried to lose us.”
“And she succeeded,” I fume. “Do not let her get on a fucking plane. Do you hear me?”
“If she’s already through customs then it’s too late, we can’t get through.”
“Buy a fucking plane ticket to get through.”
“Yes, sir.”
I pace back and forth. If she gets on a plane to god knows where…without protection…if something happens to her…if….
I dial her number as my blood boils. Ring, ring.
“Hello,” she answers.
“Where the fuck are you?” I yell.
“That’s none of your business.”
“Alora, I’m warning you. Do not dare get on a fucking plane.”
“I’ll do whatever I like.”
“Stop being so childish, have you forgotten someone is stalking you? It is not safe to travel alone at the moment.”
“Give me a break.”
“Why are you purposely trying to piss me off?” I scream.
“What?” she scoffs. “Are you for real?”
“Get your ass back to Nice. Right. Fucking. Now.”
“Swear at me again and I’m blocking your number.”
Veins are pulsing in my temples; the sky is a red shade of fury. “Stop being irresponsible, I want you safe.”
“And I want to forget I ever met you. So leave me alone. You’ve made it abundantly clear that I’m too much for you. So go find less.”
“Don’t you fucking dare threaten me. You will take a guard with you.”
“Stop trying to control me with your money, Edward, my love isn’t for sale. Stay the hell away from me. I never want to see you again.”
Click.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” My anger explodes and I dial her number again.
Ring, ring…. Ring, ring…ring, ring.
“I swear to god.” I’m so angry that I can hardly see straight. “Answer the fucking phone,” I growl as I pace. I hang up and dial her number again.
Ring, ring…. Ring, ring…ring, ring.
“Fuck,” I scream. I call her immediately.
Ring, ring…. Ring, ring…ring, ring.
ALORA
Heart hammering in my chest, I turn my phone off and shuffle forward in line.
“Tickets please.” The stewardess smiles.
I pass my ticket over and walk through and onto the plane. I take a seat and peer up the aisle of the plane. “Come on, come on, just close the door already,” I whisper.
He’s going to march onto this plane any moment and cause a scene, I just know it.
I wipe the perspiration from my brow, how the heck did my life get so complicated?
He doesn’t want me but still wants to control me
Talk about a toxic situationship.
For fifteen minutes I hold my breath, praying to get in the air. The doors finally close and I let out a sigh of relief. Thank god, two weeks of sun, sand and relaxation.
Thailand, here I come.
PHILIPPE
I stand on the dock and stare up at the yacht to see the dark silhouette pacing back and forth like a caged animal. It’s near midnight and the marina is in silence.
“What the hell is going on with Prescott?” Stefan murmurs as he stands beside me watching him. “I’ve never seen him like this before.”
“Me neither.” I light my cigarette. “He’s got it bad for this woman.”
“Yeah, well, he just fucking lost her, so get over it.”
I watch him for another half hour and I can’t let this go on, I go through my phone and walk up the marina so that nobody else can hear me. Ring, ring….
“Philippe,” William answers.
“Hi.”
“Is everything okay?” he asks.
“Ahh….” My eyes flick up to the yacht. “Are you around tonight?”
“I’m in London, why, what’s wrong?”
I twist my lips as my eyes flick back to the yacht. “Edward is just—”
“What?” He cuts me off.
“Agitated.”
“What’s happened?”
“I’m not sure, I was just thinking that you may be able to come over, but if you’re in London—”