Chapter 4: Preparations

(Zara’s POV)

I stir in my sleep as I hear Adrian talk heatedly to someone. When I open my eyes, I find him talking on the phone with his back to me. The person is riling him up too much because he throws his head back and groans.

His next words are so firm that I'm sure it leaves the caller shocked but I finally understand why he's so disturbed.

“No, for fucks sake, Celeste. You can't come here. Can't you be patient? I already said I would be there soon and sort things out.”

He steps outside and puts the call on speaker mode not knowing I'm awake. It gives me the opportunity to grab a few words.

“You have been saying that for two weeks now, Adrian. You better get back here and clean up this mess you have created. You have humiliated my family and my father is pissed. You know what you'll lose.”

“I’m sure you can handle your father for a little longer. And another thing, Celeste. Don't you ever threaten me again. This marriage will be revisited when I get back.”

“What are you saying? Are you trying to end our marriage over the phone? Be a man and tell that to my father yourself.”

He doesn't reply again and just hangs up on her. “Damn it.”

He dials another number. “I want you to move the money to the other account as soon as possible. Do it quietly. Celeste shouldn't find out.”

I choose that moment to make a sound, letting the blanket fall from my body just as he drops the call. He enters the room and his eyes roam over my body.

“Work problems?” 

“Nothing that you should worry about.”

“Right. You're none of my business anymore.”

‘Stop it, Zara. It's too early for this,” he snaps then takes a deep breath to calm himself.

“Certainly. I won't come between a couple’s fight,” I roll my eyes and get down from the bed.

I think he's about to leave the room but instead, he walks over to me and grabs me behind my neck. Not in a rough way but in a way that has my pulse racing as he looks into my eyes.

“I told you I’ll dissolve it. I won't lose you. Not today or ever.” The vow is heavy on his words and I worry when my helper will act on his promise.

I know two weeks have passed since I replied to his message. And one may be wondering if I changed my mind and decided to stay. Not in a million years.

Adrian has just been breathing down my neck. If I thought he was all over me before, then I was wrong. It has only gotten worse. He won't let me out of his presence. When he's not keeping an eye on me, he has one of his guards doing it.

I can't even explore the city on my own because he constantly wants to spend time with me. I don't know if he feels that I'm up to something but he's consuming all my time. There no personal time for me.

The day stretches out with even more pretense from both ends. After we have breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant, we return to the room to spend the day doing nothing since we have no plans. 

I could feel his eyes on me the entire time and it was not his usual affectionate look. He kept looking at me suspiciously but I simply focused on my food.

Now in the room, he doesn't go to his office. He sets his laptop on the table across from me and I frown.

“Don’t you have work to do?” I ask as I raise my brows.

“I want to work from here today,” he says casually.

“You mean you want to watch me closely?” 

“Whatever you want to think,” he says and starts working.

I try scrolling through my phone but it's useless. My mind keeps going back to the unknown person and why they have been so silent. Could it be that it was only a joke or a wrong number? 

I've put so much hope on whosoever it is that I'll crumble if they don't come through. I don't really care who it is at this point. It could be a serial killer with random numbers for all I care.

The instructions they promised to send haven't come in yet and there's nothing I can do until I have them.

So many thoughts are running through my mind and it feels like I'm suffocating. I need air. It's finally afternoon and I can't take it anymore, so I decide to take a walk outside.

‘I’m going out for some air,” I tell him as I stand.

“Give me a minute and I’ll join you,” he says typing fast.

“No. I want to do it alone.”

His head snaps up at that. “Why?” 

“Because I need to clear my head.”

He looks at me suspiciously before nodding. “Fine. Make sure you’re back in thirty minutes.”

“I’m not your child,” I tell him as I leave.

The weather is hot and the sun is shining so brightly. I walk into a coffee shop and as soon as I sit, my phone vibrates.

I can feel my heartbeat increase while I read the message again. 

Unknown: Be ready at 1am tonight. There’ll be a black car waiting at the back exit. No bags or phone. I’ll have the necessary things ready for you.

“Finally,” I breathe. Even if it means cutting all ties and erasing myself.

Me: I’ll be ready.

I put my phone in my bag and try to relax. I hope I'll be out before Adrian finds out.

I get back to the hotel hours later and find that Adrian has abandoned his laptop. He's now holding a glass of whisky while the bottle sits on the table.

His sleeves are bent to the elbow and I take a moment to admire the veins bulging on his arms. Something that always had me drooling. I seriously need to snap out of it.

“What took you so long?” He asked when I walked in and his voice sounded like he had had more than a glass or two.

“I don't remember having a curfew.”

“What are you playing at, Zara?”

My pulse picks up. “Nothing. I'm tired. I need to rest.”

“Sit down.”

I sit.

“Are you trying to punish me by pulling away? Is that what this game is?” 

My heart calms down a bit. He doesn't know.

“Game? You really think this is a game? Keep thinking then,” I say as I stand to leave.

He grabs my hand before I take two steps away. He wraps his hand around my throat as he whispers in my ear.

“Let me give you a taste of what you’ll be forgoing if you decide to leave me,” he says and kisses me. His mouth tastes of whisky. “Can I make love to you now?”

He asks because I've been turning him down for the last two weeks with the excuse that I'm healing. I had to make it seem real alongside the prenatals I've been taking which he thinks are to support my recovery process.

I don't push him away. He takes that as a push to keep touching me. I hate that my body still craves the man he was. 

I let him kiss me and claim me for the last time. My mind forgets my escape plan for a moment. He pounds into me. Grunting and breathing heavily until we both come.

I wait until he's in the shower to pull out my phone. I delete all the messages and call logs. Then I switch it off and place it at the back of the cupboard. I don't want him digging.

I get into bed before he gets out. I wait for the moment of execution.

We fall asleep. Not really for me. My eyes snap open and I check the bedside clock, it’s 12:50am.

Perfect timing. Tonight I disappear from Adrian Leighton’s life.