Billionaire bargain bride

Chapter 7

Elmira paced the length of Henry's office, each step echoing the rapid beat of her heart. The broken glass from the hallway lay forgotten as a minor concern compared to the documents scattered on the desk. Threats, surveillance, danger—words that now defined her once simple life.

The office door swung open abruptly, and Henry stepped in, his expression taut with urgency. "We have to leave. Now."

"What? Why?" Elmira's voice trembled slightly, her eyes wide with confusion and fear.

"There's no time to explain. Trust me, Elmira." Henry grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the door.

As they hurried down the emergency staircase, Henry glanced back, ensuring no one was following them. The sound of their footsteps bounced off the concrete walls, a stark reminder of the peril they faced.

Reaching the parking garage, Henry steered her towards a sleek, black car she didn't recognize. "Get in," he commanded, opening the passenger door.

Elmira hesitated, her mind racing with questions. "Henry, you need to tell me what's happening. Now.

"Henry looked around, his gaze sharp. "Someone tried to break into my office just now. It wasn't an accident. It's related to the inheritance. Someone knows about us, about the agreement."

"The inheritance?" Elmira’s confusion deepened. Memories of Merinda’s cryptic comments about an inheritance surfaced, causing her to frown. "What inheritance? What is this about?"

Henry's eyes widened slightly, then softened. "I was hoping to discuss this at the right time. It's complex, Elmira. Part of the reason I needed to marry was to access funds tied up by my father’s will. Funds we need to keep the company afloat."

Elmira's stomach churned. The agreement. The words hung between them, heavy with implication.

"They think you know too much," Henry continued, his voice low. "We need to get you somewhere safe."

"Somewhere safe? Is there such a place now?" Elmira's voice cracked asthe realization of her precarious situation sank in. The lines between pretense and reality, between safety and danger, blurred until she couldn't distinguish one from the other. Fear, raw and real, gripped her.

Henry reached for her hand, his touch firm yet reassuring. "I promise, Elmira, I will protect you. But we must leave now.

"With a hesitant nod, Elmira slipped into the car, the cold leather of the seat pressing against her as the door shut with a definitive thud. Henry darted to the driver's side, started the engine, and the car peeled away from the building, merging into the night's traffic.

As the city lights streaked by, Elmira's mind raced. The inheritance, the danger, her role in a game she barely understood—all of it swirling into a storm she couldn't control. She turned to Henry, seeking something in his face that might offer comfort or, at least, some semblance of truth.

"Henry," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside, "who exactly thinks I know too much? Who are we running from?"

Henry's jaw clenched as he navigated through a sudden turn, evading a slower vehicle. "It's not just one person. It's more like a network, connected to my father's rivals. And now they're watching us, maybe even listening.

"Elmira shuddered at the thought of unseen eyes and ears monitoring their every move. "And the inheritance—is it worth this risk?"

"It’s not just about the money," Henry admitted, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. "It’s about control over assets that could change the balance of power in the industry. If they fall into the wrong hands...

"His voice trailed off, leaving the sentence to hang ominously in the air.

Just then, Henry's phone buzzed insistently. He glanced at the caller ID, tension lining his face, then pressed the device to his ear. "Yes?" His eyes narrowed as he listened to the voice on the other end.

After a moment, he ended the call and exhaled sharply, his expression darkening. "We have to change our plans," he said, looking over at Elmira with grave concern. "It’s not safe to go to my usual safe house. They know too much."

Elmira felt her pulse quicken again. "So, what do we do?"

"We're going to have to disappear completely," Henry replied, his tone grim. "Off the grid, where no one can find us."

As the reality of her situation sank in, Elmira was left to wonder how far they would run and if there was any turning back. With each mile they drove, the life she knew became a distant memory, and her future with Henry—a mysterious and uncertain path filled with shadows and secrets.

Just as she was about to respond, a black SUV suddenly appeared in their rearview mirror, its lights flashing ominously as it accelerated towards them.