Chapter eight
1141 Words
. Nora’s POV
I rushed out of the cafeteria’s restroom, where I had been hiding, my eyes darting around suspiciously at anyone who might jump me at any second. Clutching my purse tightly to my chest, I scurried down the hallway toward the airport entrance as fast as my legs could take me. I was this close to breaking down in tears. I had left my favourite suitcase behind, and partly thinking about it made my chest ache.
The thick makeup I had on was truly doing its wonders of hiding how shaken I really was.
When I spotted a security guard heading in my direction, panic hit me instantly. I quickly ducked into a corner, my chest tightening even more as I tried to stay out of sight. When the security guard passed me, I heaved a soft sigh of relief.
Then I felt a tap on my shoulder. My whole body went still, and I turned slowly. It was another security guard, although female this time.
“Are you okay? You seem troubled,” she asked me, her voice full of concern.
I managed a stiff smile. “Yes, I am okay,”
“Are you a passenger?”
“No, I’m not,” I said quickly, the lie easily slipping off my tongue as I nodded to make it seem believable. “I just escorted my sister here, I'm going home now.”
She frowned and gave me a confused look. “But non-passengers are not allowed into the airport building,”
Oh, s**t.
I stretched my smile a lot wider. “I begged them, and they let me in,”
Her expression went stoic immediately. “That's against the rules. Who let you in?” she asked, pulling out a notepad from her back pocket. “Could you describe the person for me?”
A thin layer of sweat broke out across my skin. “I.. errhm.” I stumbled on my words. “I don't think… I can do that. That would get them in trouble because of me,”
She rolled her eyes, unimpressed. “That's considerate, but we have procedures for a reason. Those rules exist for a reason too. If you’re not going to cooperate, I’ll need to see your ID, ma’am.”
ID? Yeah… My luck had officially run out.
“I don't have an ID,”
“Then you have to come with me, ma’am.”
Amid the brewing tension, my phone began ringing. I took a glance at the Caller ID. It was Elisa. I couldn't afford to waste any more time. It was now or never.
Before I could think twice, I burst into wild, almost hysterical laughter and yanked down on my hood, letting my long red hair fall free, on full display. I grabbed her hands in mine, while she stared at me, shocked, the recognition dawning in her eyes.
“I’m not going anywhere with you ma’am!” I shouted, then bolted out of the corner and into the wide hallway.
Footsteps pounded furiously behind me, so that meant she was chasing me. My heart lurched when I heard her speaking urgently into her walkie-talkie.
“I’ve found the target! Do you copy? She’s heading for the exit! I need backup!”
My heart dropped when I saw more security guards forcing their way toward the entrance. My phone kept ringing nonstop. People cleared out of our way in confusion and panic. Some people even joined us in the chaos, trying not to get caught up in whatever was happening. I ran as fast as I could, although I could feel and hear her catching up to me, which of course, she was trained to do. I clearly didn't think this through.
My heart dropped further when I spotted more security guards forcing their way through towards the entrance. My phone kept ringing continuously.
I fixed my eyes and my focus on the exit that came into view, pushing myself harder. The security guard woman was right behind me, and I could feel the tips of her fingers brushing my shoulders as she tried to grab me. If only I could just make it outside.
Then I slammed straight into a hard wall. I had been caught.
I almost shoved away whatever it was that I ran into, my heart racing and my thoughts a mess from panic. But when those gentle strong hands wrapped themselves around my waist, and the familiar scent I was used to hit my nose, I knew who it was.
I looked up with tear-filled eyes. Nathan.
*
. Nathan’s POV
Her lips, and her body were quivering in my arms. The tears threatened to spill from her eyes. For a moment, neither of us said anything. She just stared at me, like she was trying to convey something that she couldn’t put into words. I needed to see what state she was in when she left. The makeup told me enough, to my relief, that something had set her off.
The security guards at the airport all surrounded us, which turned everything into a major scene.
My bodyguards stepped in to calm things down, and then the executive I had ordered to halt all flights came down to meet me. I left Nora for a few minutes, to speak with him as the crowd slowly began to thin out.
Her phone rang, and even while I was talking, my attention constantly drifted back to her as she spoke on the phone with someone. My bodyguard was handed Nora’s suitcase. The way she took it from him made it clear that she still had every intention of leaving, so I wrapped up my conversation and returned to her.
“Can we talk somewhere peaceful?” I asked gently.
She didn't even look at me. “I’m not leaving this airport.”
I clenched my fists, my irritation rising, and I turned to one of the security guards. “Can you get an office cleared for us, just for an hour?”
“Yes, sir,” she replied quickly with uncontrolled enthusiasm, which hinted to me she must be a fan. “This way, please,”
We followed her to a nearby office in silence, and the staff occupying the office were asked to leave. I had rendered a stiff apology to the displaced staff and tipped them a thousand dollars each. When I shut the door behind us, I could see Nora flinch from the sound. I was angry, frustrated and embarrassed, and I could finally show it.
I took a step forward, and she took a step backwards.
I moved again, and she retreated again, until her back hit the wall. I leaned in, close enough that she couldn’t avoid me anymore.
“What is going on, Nora?”
- Writer
