Chapter3
1322 Words
Vanessa's POV.
The stranger and I left the club together, walking down the street to a luxury hotel where he claimed to have a suite booked.
The elevator ride up to his suite was charged with tension, each of us staring at the other with looks so intense and laden with sensual promises. Once the ding of the elevator signaled that we had reached his floor, it was like the thread between us snapped, as we rushed towards each other, meeting in a tangle of lips and limbs. We didn't care if there was anyone on the other side of the slowly opening elevator doors, too consumed by each other. It was a battle to reach his door, and immediately he swiped the key card, letting us in; our clothes started dropping in sporadic piles on the floor, our hands making quick work of all the buttons and zippers. Before long, cries of pleasure rang through the room, accompanied by heavy breaths and empty, whispered promises.
I woke up very early the next morning, hazy and disoriented. I looked around, not recognizing my surroundings before last night's events came rushing back to me like a flood. The drinks, the stranger, returning to his hotel room…
I looked down at myself, finding my body covered by only the white sheets, and a muscular, tattooed body sleeping soundly next to me. Overcome by panic, I quickly dressed up in my clothes of the previous day, gathered my belongings strewn about the room as quietly as possible, and quickly left the room without making a sound. I retraced my steps from the hotel to the club, and locating my car, I hurriedly started to make my way home, ignoring the pounding headache that was beginning to throb at my temples. As I gripped the steering wheel with shaking fingers and navigated my way home, only one thought echoed through my mind:
What had I done?
I knew that I had a wild streak, but I didn't believe that I actually hooked up with a stranger the night before my wedding!
Exactly how much did I have to drink yesterday?
I checked the time on my dashboard, noting it to be about 4 am. None of my family members are up yet.
I parked my car down the road from our family estate and quietly made my way into our house, scared of bumping into anyone this early.
Karol was going to have a fit if she saw me in my current state, and I smirked a little victoriously at the thought of that.
However, reality came crashing back down the moment I stepped into my room. There was no way my foster parents were going to accept what I had done if they ever found out. And if I showed up to the wedding with the remnants of alcohol still in my system, only the heavens knew how they would react.
And I didn't want to marry the mysterious Colchester CEO anyway.
What if he was a sleazy and perverted old man?
It only took a moment for me to decide.
I had to run away.
I didn't even let the thought marinate in my head before rushing to my closet and grabbing a briefcase. I started shoving clothes in, packing only the essentials as I didn't want anything slowing me down.
I didn't bother taking a shower because of the noise and the amount of time it would take to be done. I needed to get out of there as quickly as possible if I wanted to escape this wedding before someone saw me.
Or even worse, found a way to convince me to go ahead with it.
In no time, I was dressed in a hoodie and jeans, a few clothes, and all my legal documents and stuff, all safely tucked away in my suitcase. I counted all the cash I had secretly stashed away all these years, nodding my head in approval at the amount. I didn't know where I was going yet, but this was going to be enough to last me for a while until I was able to figure out what direction my new life would take.
I snuck out of my room and slowly made my way down the stairs, careful not to make any noise and hoping that I didn't meet anyone on the way.
But I almost dropped my things out of shock when I saw Enide silently staring at me at the foot of the staircase.
“What are you doing, lass?” She whispered pain and hurt, bleeding through her tone.
“You saw what they did to me, Enide. I can't stay here. I can't continue to be their puppet.” I answered her.
She didn't say anything else, only looked at me deeply before letting me pass.
“I hope you know what you're doing,” she gave me a pointed look.
“Trust me, I do. Please don't try to talk me out of it,” I begged her.
“I won't,” she moved to hug me, one I returned earnestly because I realized that I may never see her again. “I wish you good luck, lass.”
“Goodbye, Enide. I hope we meet again.” I disentangled myself from her arms and gave her one last look before grabbing my suitcase and leaving the house.
I moved to where my car was parked down the street and tossed my suitcase in before starting the car and beginning to drive.
Away from the only life I had ever known and towards a life I knew nothing about.
I drove and drove, not stopping even when the sky lightened around me and the familiar city roads gave way to unfamiliar country highways. The farther I drove, the more I felt a weight I didn't know I carried leaving my chest.
The Harpers may have been the ones that raised me, but I couldn't find it in me to call them my family. I guess it only took them selling me off to realize that.
I drove for the entire day, stopping only at a few random diners for food. I didn't risk using my credit cards, and I was already thinking of ways to get rid of my car before they used it to track down my location and find me.
I'm sure that they must've found out about my disappearance now, but I couldn't bring myself to care anymore.
I had left that life behind.
Lucky for me, I found an auto shop where I was able to sell my car for a bit more cash, and I bought a small sedan as a replacement with some of the money.
And that was how my trip continued.
I drove in that fashion for an entire week, topping up the gas in the car and eating at random places, until I found a little town in the middle of nowhere.
It was the perfect place for me to start over.
I entered the town and checked into a small motel. I collected my room key and collapsed onto the bed, my body almost giving out from sheer exhaustion. Physical exhaustion from driving all the way here and mental tiredness from worrying about being caught.
Well, I was certain that there was no way they were going to find me there.
I took a shower in the tiny ensuite bathroom, grateful for the hot water and a change of clothes. I took some money and went out of the motel, eager to explore the place I would soon be calling home.
The town was quaint and beautiful, its residents nice and welcoming. I'd had a fake ID also done on my way, so it was safe to say I was starting life entirely anew.
A life that was going to happen entirely on my terms.
What exactly could go wrong?
- Writer
