Chapter Eight - Something about disappearing

Vanessa's point of view

Anthony wasn't soaking wet so I knew the intensity of the rain has probably gone down. But he was angry and when Anthony was angry, it was best to stay out of his way.

"I did not know you texted me" I said in an attempt to calm him down but that seemed to infuriate him the more.

Anthony's face was so close to mine I could count his lashes and man, were they beautiful.

"In this modern day and time, you did not know I texted you. You have a phone and you're a normal breathing person" He cursed under his breath at the end and moved farther away from me "I do not like the things you do Vanessa"

That was the exact moment One night stand....need to find a better name for him...decided to comment on our situation.

"Wait Mary, you did not tell me your roommate was the girl on the news, I could kidnap her for major bucks"

The fuck.

Mary's palm hit her face in a way I hoped wouldn't cause bruises. And now Anthony was almost murderous.

"What did you say?" He said in such a calm way I was almost scared.

He wasn't walking towards him, just stood by my side but his eyes were fixed on the man on my bed and sometimes it moved to my roommate.

"Thomas didn't mean anything by that, he just likes to joke" Mary defended, her legs taking her to stand in front of him.

Thomas chuckled, he raised his arms up in his own fucked up way of a surrender "I'm just joking man, I'm a lonely man with a bad sense of humor. My bad" He apologized.

Anthony wasn't relaxed in any way possible but now he could move his eyes from one night stand who was apparently named Thomas and fix those hazel eyes on mine.

"You'll be staying with me from now on" He said in a tone that left no room for argument.

Excuse me, I was going to argue. Anthony Thorn wasn't going to come from his house, with few splashes of rain on his clothes and looking like a fine specimen wasn't going to come here and tell me to leave my apartment.

Anthony sighed, his fingers moved upward to massage his forehead. He was tensed and stressed up but I wasn't going to give up. Anthony wouldn't make me leave my apartment.

"I'm not going anywhere Anthony" I told him.

"Then I'll move in" He countered.

Thomas jumped up at that suggestion as if he was waiting for that "Then we'll all be roommates, that's so sweet" He laughed with such gusto I was starting to become more annoyed.

"No no no, Anthony I need you to leave" I started moving towards the door "I'm sorry you had to risk the rain to come find me, I don't even know how you found me but I'm sorry. It's almost eleven and I have work in the morning" I turned to Thomas, taking in his appearance "And Thomas, this is not your apartment. Find somewhere else"

No one moved for the next five minutes. We just stared at each other wondering who was going to make the first move and when it got unbearable for Mary, she spoke up.

"I think it's best Thomas and I leave while you and your friend stay the night"

"Where would we go..." "That's a splendid idea"

Thomas and Anthony started talking at the same time and stopped at the same time. The situation was awkward and I could practically cut the tension in a clean slice with a knife.

Mary wore a night coat over her pyjamas while Thomas hastily put on some clothes. They carried one of Mary's small bag though and added all the things they might need, toiletries and a change of clothes. I saw Mary slip some cash into her coat, away from the scrutinizing eyes of Thomas.

I felt truly sorry for them but I was so tired to even properly care.

I just bolted the door shut and went to change the sheets of the bed.

"Let me help"

"I think you've helped enough for today Anthony" I snapped at him.

I didn't mean to and I wanted to apologise immediately but he had withdrawn from me already, settling himself on the couch and without much of a conversation, falling asleep.

I hope tomorrow is way better than today.

****

Anthony practically ignored me, he was on his phone for a better part of the morning until it was time for me to go to work.

"Where are you going to?" He asked, eyes still glued on his phone.

I stared at him for sometime, wondering what he wanted this morning.

Sighing, I placed my phone into my bag whilst working up the strength to deal with Anthony this morning.

"I'm going to work if you must know and you need to leave in the next....." I checked my wristwatch "..five minutes"

"You don't need to work anymore, my mom's money is enough to finance whatever lifestyle you choose to live" His eyes were still fixated on his phone and whatever he was doing there.

"Excuse me"

A quick glance at me and back to his phone.

"Vanessa, my mom told everyone you're going to become my wife. I am a very important person....."

"With quite an ego" I muttered under my breath.

"...and while I'm not in love with you, I do care about your safety" He paused so his words can sink in "You heard that guy Thomas and he's only one of them"

I rolled my eyes "Stop acting like this is the first time I've had someone rich and famous in my life, my father was quite popular and I turned out fine" I said.

He nodded "Your parents did not allow your faces to be shown to the outside world, no one knew about you and your siblings"

So to the best of everyone's knowledge, I was an unknown girl with no money who probably wanted to suck him dry.

Whoopee.

"So I can't work?" The tone of my voice came out weak like I had accepted defeat. "And Elizabeth will pay me monthly or what?"

"Those are the terms you're going to work out with her at the Thorns Mansion today"

I placed my hands on my hip as I considered the situation. I was fully ready to stay away from my job and never look back but so soon, I didn't want to come off as desperate.

But I needed some answers from Elizabeth too and I wanted to see my brother again. I shouldn't have abandoned my family the way I did last night.

"Okay, I guess I'll send a text or something" I told Anthony who gave no indication of even hearing.

I changed into a white off the shoulder crop top and jeans, redid my up do into something more casual and cleaned whatever makeup might be on my face. Just dabbed on some lip gloss and I was done.

All this was done in the bathroom though.

"How did you even find me and Why?"I asked during the drive to the Thorn Mansion.

It was currently eight fifteen but Anthony assured me his mother would still be frolicking around the house, looking for who to control.

"Nobody knew where you went to or even saw you disappear. I figured out you were impulsive and must have gone home under the rain" He paused when he heard his phone ding signifying a message but he chose to ignore it "You weren't picking my calls neither were you replying to the text messages"

Thoughts of how the Thorn family had replaced us in our brother's life and how we'll never gave him again had made me run away.

I was scared.

I was guilty.

I knew Anthony wanted to ask questions but would I be willing to give answers.

We were almost at the mansion now. The estate was at the outskirts of our beloved city, free from it's pollution and noise without lacking the charm. Dad had wanted to buy a house here when we were still together, he had the money but he never did at the end.

The Thorn Mansion sat on a beautiful land, it had a gate which I felt was much more for fancy than any security. I eyed where I had stood and gotten drenched with dread.

Worst night? No.

I was surprised I didn't get a cold though.

"I'll leave you at the door, I have important things to do in the office today and I don't need my mother's issues" Anthony said. He had stopped the car and was looking at me fully for the first time today.

I nodded at that, grabbing my bag from the back seat and getting ready to get out of here. I had big responsibilities and I needed to learn something about disappearing.