Chapter Ten: Untraceable!

Vanessa's POV.

I hung up the call on Lawrence and I felt relieved and sad at the same time. One chapter of my life was about to end and there was nothing I could do to reverse it.

My throat felt dry when I heard the word finalized. That word hit me like a blow and a relief all at once. It was finally happening, the end of my marriage. The end of Damon and I.

But I had another chapter of my life which was the forced marriage. The dinner, the smiles, the fake happiness was already being scripted for me. All I needed to do was act according to it.

“Thank you Lawrence.” I whispered, though my voice shook and I ended the call instantly.

I turned my back and I was about to walk back to the dining table but my mom unexpectedly showed up in front of me and she read my face before I could even speak the word.

“It is tomorrow right? Isn't it?” she asked and I nodded my head at her.

“Yes. The divorce is by ten in the morning.” I replied and she smiled at me.

For once, there wasn't bitterness in her eyes. Only a smoke that was soft and proud.

“I'm happy for you, Vanessa. Truly, guy are finally closing this horrible chapter of your life.”

“Same here mom. I'm also happy for myself.” I said as my mom walked towards the dining table and I followed behind her. 

“Alright. Mrs Adisa we will be leaving now. It is getting late.” my mom informed and my dad stood up to his feet, alongside Lucian, Mrs Adisa and her husband.

“That is fine by me Mrs Roothmore. Thank you so much for honoring our invitation. I will walk you to the door” Mrs Adisa said.

Lucian's parents walked us out. Their chauffeur opened the car door while their bodyguard waited nearby. I walked away from them to give them that space as my father and Lucian's father exchanged polite words that I didn't pay attention to, while my mom and lucian's mom hugged each other tightly.

“We will meet again soon” Lucian's mother said as she smiled at us.

“See you soon.” my mom replied as her and my dad entered into the car and Lucian, alongside his parents waved us goodbye before going back into their house.

I stood exactly in the same spot as I watched the red lights of my parents car blink in my face.

“Vanessa. What are you doing there all alone? Get it in the car we have to leave right now it's already getting late.” my mom called out to me when she noticed that I hadn't moved from the spot I stood in. But then I shook my head at her.

“I will go in my car. I came with it.” I replied as she widened her eyes at me.

“Vanessa, I know you too well. Are you doing somewhere?” she questioned and I stared deeply into her eyes.

“You guessed right mom. I have something important to attend to. And it has to be tonight.” I said and my mom glanced at her wristwatch.

“Vanessa, it's nine ‘o’ clock. Where could you possibly_”

“I am aware of the time.” I interrupted her gently. “Whatever I want to do will only take an hour and I'm going to be home before you realize it”

Her lips parted like she wanted to argue with me. But my dad placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Let her be, Sylvia. She can take care of herself.” my dad said and a smile curved up at the corner of my lips.

“I’m glad you finally understand me, dad. Even if it took a long while.” I said as I moved closer to them. I leaned closer and kissed them both on the cheeks.

“Get home safely. I will see you guys in an hour.” I whispered as my dad's driver drove them away.

I entered into my car as I waited for them to be out of my sight. My fingers trembled against the steering wheel. I couldn't get the thoughts out of my head that I was about to do something reckless.

Something I never thought I would do. I never thought I would seek help from a man I hadn't seen in years.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The city was darker than usual or maybe it was just my mere thoughts that were messing with my head. I parked my car outside his office and I noticed that the streets were already empty. My stomach twisted as I walked in, I felt really uncomfortable.

His office had the smell of coffee and cigarettes mixed together. Then my eyes landed on the man I hadn't seen since college. Yet I recognized him instantly.

“Vanessa Roothmoore.” he called out my name as he leaned back in his chair with a smirk. “Long time no see. You finally remembered me after all these years” he said as his name finally came back to me like a whisper in my ears and from the past.

“Ethan Vincenzo.” I muttered as I gulped hard but then he stood up to his feet, his eyes staring at me intensely.

“Address me as Detective Vincenzo from now henceforth. So tell me something, what brings the golden girl of our college to my doorstep?.”

“Fortunately for us we are in the 21st century and I searched you up on the internet. Congratulations, Ethan. You did it. You are exactly what you always said you are going to be.” I praised as his eyes softened for a moment before getting hardened again.

“Flattery won't save you. What do you need from me?” he asked and instead of answering him. I stepped closer and grabbed his collar as I leaned in closer, just enough for his breath to hitch.

He dragged his lower lip into his mouth and licked it slowly. 

“Do you go around seducing innocent men like me?” he asked and I leaned in closer to him, close enough that my mouth was on his ear.

“Point of correction. You are definitely not innocent, Ethan” I whispered his name into into his ears like a warning, and then I pulled back from him as I slapped his cheeks lightly.

I noticed the way Ethan exhaled loudly and I could see the desire flickering in his eyes.

“Fuck, Vanessa. You haven't changed a bit. You are still a dominative woman and I want you all for myself. I have desired guy since our college days but you never noticed me. Now you are no longer married, why don't you become mine?” he expressed and a bitter laughter escaped me.

“I had half the college chasing me, Ethan. I didn't have time to notice you”

“Then notice me now. Try me out. I'm the perfect man you need.” he said and I smirked at him, shaking my head.

“You said you love a dominant woman, but here is the truth. I don't want to be dominant with a man. If I have to be, then you are doing it wrong” I said as I pulled out my phone and pushed it towards him.

“What I need is this. Trace this number” I instructed as he frowned and grabbed my phone from me.

“Is someone bothering you?” 

“I have been getting calls all day from this number and what makes it worst is there are no words. Just silence.” I responded.

Ethan stared at the screen then back at me.

“Vanessa, people are mad about you. I mean men and women, it doesn't matter to them because you are beautiful enough to drive anyone crazy.”

“Just trace it Ethan” I snapped at him and he began to operate on his computer. But for nearly twenty minutes he tried as he ran through his software and checking systems.

His frown deepened until finally he handed my phone over to me.

“There is no trace. It is like the number doesn't exist” he admitted and my chest tightened as panic prickled at the back of my neck.

“What do you mean by no trace? That is impossible”

“It is not impossible. It is just deliberate, and whoever this is, they don't want to be found. And they are good at hiding”

“So what are we going to do now?” I asked as a shiver cursed through my body. Then he leaned back on his chair, folding his arms across his chest.

“I will insist you get security. I'll hire some people to watch over you and your family tonight. I already have a man outside. He will follow you home to make sure you are safe” he suggested and I hesitated for a while before nodding my head at him.

“That is fine. But just make sure they don't know, I mean the number that keeps calling me” I said and he smiled at me.

“Anything for you” he replied and I reached to grab my bag. But then he stepped closer to me.

“Won't you give me a kiss before you leave?” he asked and I raised my eyebrow at him.

“Obviously Ethan. You deserve more than a kiss” I said as I leaned forward and blew him a playful kiss before laughing out loudly and I ran towards the door.

“You are cruel Vanessa” he screamed out.

“Get used to it” I replied back.

I finally reached outside and the night air hit my face as I slipped into my car. I felt lighter though, but I was not at ease. I started the engine but before I could drive off, my phone buzzed.

And I looked down at it. This time around it wasn't a call. It was a new message, with no name and no number. Just words that froze my blood.

“I know you want to find me and get rid of me but you will never be able to get rid of me. I will only reveal myself when I want to. Also, if you really want me to reveal myself to you. I will be in court tomorrow to watch you finalize your divorce so you have to find me.

My hands tightened around my phone as my heart pounded so hard in my chest that it hurt. I knew for a fact that whoever this was, they weren't done with me yet. And I had no idea what I wanted.