WORLD OF TWISTS: The Billionaire's Slave

TRYING TO ESCAPE

Immediately after Smitty the bodyguard gave the bank card to me, he walked out of the room. But the aura of urgency laid on his wake.

I turned to face my room and then my cabinet. There weren't many clothes to pack anyway. Besides, Smitty said there was enough money in the bank card to suffice for me. But I had to wait for night to arrive. That way, it was easier to hide.

I began to pace the room, willing to turn forward the hands of time. The current time was minutes past 12 PM. I knew I should be out to start my domestic chores, but since the maidservants hadn't come knocking, I could hide for a while.

I took my phone and called my brother, Junior. I had learned earlier that after the accidental murder, my father had sent Junior to my aunt's place when he sensed Harrison would come after him.

"Hey, boy," I called into the phone, trying my best to sound cheerful. I missed him.

"I'm still preparing for school," Junior said. "How is your boss doing? Daddy said you work for a very cool, billionaire boss."

I glanced at my skin covered in the bruised Harrison inflicted on me. The tears flowed out again. "Yes, my love, he's extremely cool."

"Make sure you don't hesitate to call me if you need anything. Okay?!"

"I surely will." A smile cracked up my crying face and I wished I was back home with him.

"I have to go now," Junior said, "I have been preparing a small article on civil law, in the library, and I am currently hiding in the toilet to take this call. Can I talk to you later?"

"Sure, sure," I said, unwilling to let go. "Love you, sweetheart," I added. But he was already off the phone.

After the call, I was attacked by a cloud of dizziness again, and I dozed off on the small couch in my room. When I woke up, it was dark outside. I jumped to my feet.

"Hell, have I just slept for six hours straight?" I wondered aloud, wincing at a banging in my head.

I walked to my wardrobe and began throwing the few clothes I had into a small bag. I was filled with fear. What did Harrison want with my baby? Why did he want so desperately to have a child that he accepted me in exchange for his sister's life? Was there a sinister plan he had? Was it why he never had any baby at all? Just what was going on?!

These questions racked at the insides of my brain as I got ready to run away. A glance at the wall clock showed it was almost 8 PM. In an hour's time, Harrison would be back from work, or whatever club he'd been. I needed to act fast.

When I was done, I hung the bag over my shoulder and walked out of the room. I was putting on a grey hoodie, and looked so much like a man. I only hoped I'd be able to go past the guards.

Walking downstairs, my heart rammed heavily in my chest. Just what would I do if one of the bodyguards decided to show up now and ask where I was going? I wished dearly that Smitty was here.

And as though he heard my thoughts, I saw him walk through the door in front of me. When he saw me, there was a look of alarm on his face.

"What are you doing with a bag?" he whispered hotly.

I swallowed and stared down at the bag hanging from my shoulder. What did Smitty mean by that?

"Don't you know the guards would —" He caught himself short, grabbed me and pulled me behind a door. "Listen, I don't know what you're thinking, but I'm doing this to help you. To save you and your baby. Don't mess this up. Now hand the bag over. There's a million dollars in that card I gave you. See?"

I gave him the bag and he disappeared again. But before that, he thrusted a note into my hand, saying, "Open it when you're in a cab going far away from here."

Miraculously, I was able to slip past the guards. Most of them were chatting idly and didn't give me any attention. When I told the gateman I was going to get the groceries, he took a wary look at me and asked,

"You don't usually go out this late, is everything alright?"

"We realized pretty late that certain ingredients had run low," I lied. "I want to rush to the mall before Harrison returns."

"You mean, your master?" He had a mocking look on his face. Almost all the guards hated me. Harrison called me his slave in their midst, and the ill treatments I received were always made public. "Come to think of it, Veronica," the gate man continued, hands on his hips, "what really did you do to deserve such a treatment? I've always been wondering about this seriously. Please tell me."

The anger and fear were rising in me. What the hell was this man doing?! I glanced at the sky. Time was moving fast.

"You should have known from the guards," I snapped, glaring at the closed gates. "Let me go, man, I'm trying to beat time."

After taking a leisurely swagger towards the gates, he pressed a button and they rolled apart. "I give you not less than thirty minutes to return," he called after me.

"Only a fool would return to a dungeon after tasting the air of freedom," I muttered as I walked briskly down the road.

My head seemed to be wrapped up in a shawl of unbelief. Was this really happening? Was I really escaping the claws of Mr Harrison, or was this some sort of a dream? But I kept walking, and the more I got away from the monstrous mansion, the more I was convinced that this was actually happening.

Now, where would I go? Smitty said far away. So, going to the next city could be called a far away. I flagged down a cab and got in.

"Where to, ma'am?" the driver asked.

"Philadelphia," I murmured.

He frowned at me. "Ma'am, you're taking a cab to Philadelphia? That's over a hundred miles away!"

"How much would it cost?"

"Quite a lot," he mumbled after taking a scan at me. "Over 500 bucks."

"That's hideous!" I barked. "Why are you doubling the money?"

He shrugged. "This is my personal Uber, if you haven't noticed. That's my charge."

I was about arguing again when I saw a Lamborghini approaching in front. It looked so much like Harrison's.

"Let's go, let's go," I said breathlessly.

"Do we agree on five hundred?"

"Hell yes. Get going!"

I lowered my head and the car passed. It was indeed Harrison. The Uber driver glanced back at me in suspicion before starting the car.

"You're acting quite weird," he said. "Why do I feel you've done something really bad and are running away?"

"Get going, man, or let me get off here!" I snapped, exploding in anger. "Why would you talk to me like that, man? Do you know me from somewhere?"

I glowered at him through the rearview mirror. Then he smiled. "I am sorry, madam. I just wanted to make sure I'm doing the right thing. I don't want no cops on my tail, and —"

"Just go, just go. I am not a criminal. Move, please."

He drove off. I tried to relax in the backseat, but I couldn't. My heart still hammered in my chest. What if this driver was working for Harrison? s**t! It could be true.

"What is your name?" I asked.

Instead of answering, he engaged the car into full speed, tearing down the lonely road.

"What's your name, man?" I asked again, trying to sound unafraid. But a lump of fear had already formed in my throat. The wind was blowing past my ears at a breathtaking speed.

"Stop this car," I finally said. He didn't stop. "I said stop this f*****g car!"

He ignored me still. "Jesus Christ, man, you're a kidnapper," I muttered, prancing about in the car. I looked in front and, luckily, I saw a police checkpoint.

"Now, we'll see what happens," I said to him.

But he was smiling. And this scared me even more. What was he up to? Why wasn't he afraid of the police?