THE MIDNIGHT FLIGHT

Chapter 7: The Midnight Flight

The back stairs of the Westchester estate were really narrow. Dimly lit. They smelled of floor wax and old stone. Elena's high heels clicked on the wood stairs, a sound that seemed to echo the fast beating of her heart. Julian was ahead of her his fancy jacket was off and his white shirt sleeves were rolled up. He was moving through the servants quarters with a lot of focus.

"Julian, wait " Elena said, trying to catch her breath. The cold air was making her lungs burn. "If we get married tonight there's no going back. People will not just see a wedding planner and a rich guy. They will see something."

Julian stopped at the steel door that led to the service garage. He turned around. His face was partly hidden by the shadows.. His eyes were burning with a strong desire. "People already think we are up to something, Elena. This way we are in control. Sterling and your mom are at the door and they are not happy. We. Run or we fall."

He pushed the door open. A black car was waiting for them. The driver, the guy who had moved Elena's stuff, was holding the door open.

The drive to the hangar was crazy. The car was taking turns and they could hear sirens in the distance. Elena watched as the Westchester lights disappeared into a wall of snow. Julian was on his phone talking to his lawyers in a serious voice.

"I do not care about the weather, " Julian said into the phone. "The plane is ready. The pilot has a plan. We are leaving in ten minutes. Make sure the judge is waiting for us at the terminal. Not in a courtroom. At the hangar. We are doing this before sunrise."

He ended the call. I looked at Elena. He saw that her hand was shaking. The one with the diamond ring. To her surprise he put his hand over hers. His hand was warm. For a moment he did not seem like a tough CEO.

"Are you sure Elena?" he asked softly.

Elena thought about the past and how Julian had defended her in front of the cameras. "I am sure I do not want to let them win, Julian.. Call me Elena, not Nora. If we are doing this you are marrying me, not the person the world knows."

Julian smiled a little. "Elena it is."

The hangar was a space with a metal roof and it smelled like jet fuel. The plane was ready. Its engines were already making a lot of noise. A man in a wool coat was standing near the plane holding a briefcase. This was Judge Miller, a man who had gotten help from Julian's family in the past. He looked nervous. His eyes kept looking at the hangar doors.

"Mr. Vane, " the Judge said, "I have the papers ready. I have to warn you. If someone stops us before I sign this it might not be valid later."

"Then sign it now " Julian said, taking Elena to the table.

The wedding ceremony was simple and fast. It was like a business deal. It happened in the shadow of the plane.

"Do you Julian Vane take Elena Rossi..."

"I do, " Julian said, looking at Elena.

".... Do you Elena Rossi take Julian Vane..."

Elena looked at the ring on her finger and she thought about her life. "I do."

Just as the judge was about to finish the hangar door opened. Three men in suits walked in led by Marcus Sterling. He was holding an envelope and he looked really happy.

"Stop!" Sterling shouted. "Julian Vane you are not allowed to make any decisions for your company right now!"

Julian did not even turn around. He just signed the papers. Then he held up the marriage certificate. "Too late, Marcus. Elena is my wife now. That means I am safe from your challenges for a while."

Sterling. His face turned red. "This is fake! This marriage is not real!"

Julian turned around. He put his arm around Elena. "Is it? Because we are going on our honeymoon now.. I do not think a fake couple would do that."

He kissed Elena. It was a deep kiss. "Let's go Mrs. Vane, " he whispered.

As they got on the plane Elena saw Sterling looking at her. He was. He showed her a text message on his phone. It said that Elena had been taking money from his company. Elena knew that was not true. She also knew that Sterling did not care about the truth. He just wanted to make her look bad.

The plane doors. Elena felt like she was in trouble. She was not just married to a man she did not know. She was also in a lot of trouble because of him.