chapter 16
1014 Words
Lana woke later the next morning, and for a few blissful seconds, she lay still beneath the soft blankets, her mind blissfully empty. The mattress was comfortable, the room quiet, and everything felt peaceful.
Then reality crashed into her, and all the memories of everything that happened to her, including the previous night failed, attempted at escaping, and came rushing back to her.
She groaned and pulled a pillow over her face.
"Wonderful," she muttered under her breath.
She was still trapped in his house.
After lying there for several more minutes, she finally forced herself out of bed and headed into the bathroom.
The hot shower helped more than she expected. It washed away some of the exhaustion clinging to her body and eased the soreness from yesterday's disastrous escape attempt.
Not all of it, though. Her muscles still ached, especially her pride.
When she finished, she wrapped a towel around herself and walked toward the closet.
Then she stopped when she thought about her clothes.
The outfit she'd worn yesterday was crumpled in a corner. It looked dirty and wrinkled, and after hanging from a makeshift rope and nearly falling to her death, it looked like it had survived a war.
Lana sighed deeply as she stared at clothes.
"Great."
Her gaze slowly moved to the rows of clothes hanging neatly inside the enormous closet.
Designer dresses, blouses, skirts, and shows. Enough clothing to fill an entire boutique, and every piece looked expensive.
She stepped inside and stared at them.
"This is ridiculous. I can't possibly wear any of this"
She had never owned anything remotely close to this.
The most expensive thing in her wardrobe back home was a pair of shoes she'd bought during a clearance sale, and now she was standing in a closet that probably cost more than her entire apartment building.
After several minutes of hesitation, she finally reached for the outfit that looked the least expensive.
At least she hoped it was. Knowing this house, it probably cost more than three months of her salary.
Once dressed, she walked toward the large mirror.
Then she froze because the clothes fit perfectly.
The cream-colored blouse complemented her skin, while the fitted dark trousers made her look far more elegant than she was used to.
For a moment, she simply stared at her reflection.
The woman looking back at her didn't seem real. She looked like someone who belonged in a mansion.
Someone who was wealthy and confident, not a woman who spent most of her life running from debt collectors.
Lana frowned, her eyes slowly trailing over the clothes.
"I still don't belong here."
The clothes might fit and the room might be beautiful but none of it was hers.
She was still a prisoner. The thought instantly soured her mood.
After leaving the closet, she found herself standing near the bedroom door and staying there.
Her hand hovered over the handle, then dropped.
Then, I reached for it again and then dropped once more.
She began pacing back and forth because the problem wasn't breakfast.
The problem was Mr Carson, she still remembered the look in his eyes.
What if he was downstairs?
What if she walked into the dining room and found him sitting there?
The memory of yesterday flooded back immediately and, worst of all... He caught her while she was dangling halfway down the side of the house.
Lana buried her face in her hands.
"I am never recovering from that."
The image of him carrying her through the front doors while some of the staff started made her want to disappear forever.
She was still pacing when a sudden knock startled her so badly that she nearly jumped.
Her heart leapt into her throat.
For one terrifying second, she thought it might be him.
Then she heard a familiar voice.
"Miss Lana?"
It was John. relief washed through her, and she quickly opened the door.
John stood outside with a pleasant smile on his face.
Beside him stood a middle-aged man carrying a large toolbox.
Lana immediately looked between them in confusion.
"Good morning," John said warmly.
The man beside him nodded politely.
"We're here to repair your window."
Lana's cheeks turned pink.
when she remembered her attempt at escaping had damaged the window.
John's eyes twinkled slightly, as though he knew exactly what she was thinking.
Thankfully, he was kind enough not to mention it.
"The repairs should only take a few hours," he continued.
"The repairs?" Lana repeated weakly.
The worker glanced at her before his eyes travelled to the damaged window behind her.
His expression suggested he had several questions.
Fortunately, he kept them to himself. John cleared his throat.
"In the meantime, breakfast is ready."
Lana stiffened. breakfast, that meant she had to go downstairs where people existed. Including one particular person she desperately wanted to avoid.
Her gaze flickered toward John, and she almost asked if Me Carson was there.
The question sat right on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed it. She refused to ask about him. It would only make John suspicious.
Besides, she didn't care where he was. At least, that's what she told herself.
"Alright," she said quietly.
John smiled and moved out of the way for her with the repairman who still had a curious look on his face. would he try to help her if he found out what was going on ? she doubted it.
"Wonderful."
Lana stepped into the hallway.
Behind her, the repairman immediately entered the room and began examining the damaged window.
The sight made her wince. It was evidence of her failed freedom attempt.
She quickly looked away as John led her toward the staircase, a strange feeling settled in her stomach.
Part nervousness, partt dread, and part embarrassment.
She didn't know what awaited her downstairs.
If Mr. Carson was sitting in that dining room, breakfast, she wasn't sure if she would be able to get food down. She still kept thinking about the furious look in his eyes when he found her dangling.
- Writer
