3: One problem to another

She let her hand feel the shimmering silk fabrics of the dresses that hung on the racks.

She’d been shopping here since she married Theodore and thought it was a perfect place to enact her plan.

Her heart pounded, the beat of rebellion

thrumming in her chest and head.

She recalled her joy the first time she made a purchase here.

But now, the opulent establishment seemed to remind her of a life she was desperate to escape.

She smiled tensely at the other shoppers while her eyes darted to the huge guards that her husband placed to watch her every move.

“Welcome, Madam Hannah Hills”

one of the workers greeted.

It was a young lady a few years younger than her, the name tag on her shirt read ‘Dalia’.

She wondered if Dalia looked at her with wonder and envy?

She wondered if the girl looked at the designer clothes, the expensive cars and bodyguards and wished that it was her.

“Thank you, Dalia”

“Is there anything in particular that I can help you find? We had some new items brought in from France just the other day”

“Is that right?”

Hannah tried to lengthen the conversation so the guards would get bored and it seemed to be working.

“Yes, ma’am. I believe you’ll find them worth a look”

“Where did you place them?”

“I could lead you there”

Hannah laughed and shook her head.

“Just point me in the right direction. I like to connect with the clothes on my own”

Dalia had a momentary look of confusion on her face but quickly checked herself and smiled.

“Of course,” she pointed straight ahead, “Just right down this aisle ma’am”

“Thank you, Dalia” Hannah turned to the guards, “You two wait here”

Both men exchanged nervous glances.

The first guard cleared his throat, mentally weighing his words.

“With all due respect, ma’am that’s not possible”

“As impossible as you losing your job, Marco?”

Hannah made sure she looked as menacing and commanding as possible.

She hated talking to her employees like that but what she needed to do was more important.

“I…. I meant no disrespect madam. I apologize”

“As you should,” she said and waved a dismissive hand, “Go find something to do. You can do your jobs without ruining my shopping experience”

Their muscles seemed to twitch under their well tailored suits.

She knew that these were trained security personnel that she had to slip past.

She had to be swift, quiet and brave if she truly needed to slip through the cracks of her gilded cage.

Marco and his colleague looked at each other again and nodded.

“Of course, madam” He said with a short bow.

Hannah watched as they walked away but not too far enough to let her out of their sight.

That was fine.

It was something that she could still work with.

The chandeliers cast a warm glow over her and seemed to encourage her.

She gently tapped the small bag that she hung over her shoulder.

Nobody had questioned the bag, she was the madam after all and she could do as she liked.

Hannah thought of what she placed in there. It was not much but it was enough to buy her freedom.

She could almost feel her heart breathe as she envisioned the icy grip of her husband over her soul loosen.

She paused near a display of shimmering gowns, her breath coming quick and shallow as she weighed her options.

The guards' laughter, a melodic yet jarring sound, echoed off the marble floors.

She was grateful for whatever amused them and as one turned momentarily, she seized her chance, slipping past the cluster of shoppers enthralled by the latest collection of clothes.

She had been coming to the store for so long she knew the building pattern.

She made a run for the rear exit and all but threw the door open and began running down the street; blending in with the people that filled the roads.

The more she ran, the more the cool air hit her face like a splash of cold water.

Was this freedom?

Hannah ran half laughing and was almost tempted to kiss a random stranger from the joy of it all.

She was free.

It felt invigorating and yet terrifying.

The world was a chaotic blur.

She had been so confined for so long that everything felt alien.

The guards must have realized that she was missing by now or at least suspicious of her whereabouts.

She needed to get off the street.

Taking a deep breath and encouraging herself to be brave, she rounded an isolated corner.

Her heart pounded like a drum in her ears and her footsteps echoed against the pavement.

It was then that she saw him.

A handsome man standing by a car that seemed like it needed to visit the mechanic a lot more, his silhouette striking against the sunlight.

He took several steps towards Hannah who was too terrified to move.

Her pulse quickened as she noticed the gun that in his hand.

“I don’t want to hurt you ma’am” he began as he made the gun a lot more visible, “rich girls like you have no business being around here”

Rich girls? Did he know her?

Did Theodore send him?

“Theodore won’t like you pointing that at me,” she almost started crying, “I’ll go back just don’t kill me”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about lady. Get in the car”

Theodore didn’t send him? Was she really getting kidnapped?

"Get in," he commanded, his voice low and firm, eyes cold and calculating, “I don’t want to have to hurt you but if you give me a reason……”

He cocked his gun to pass his point across.

Hannah’s instincts screamed at her to run, but her body betrayed her.

Fear and adrenaline surged through her veins, freezing her in place.

What did he want?

She glanced frantically around the street, searching for help, but the bustling crowd seemed oblivious to her plight.

“Now!” he barked, taking a step closer, gun unwavering.

She felt her heart drop.

She thought of the guards, if she’d stayed put she would have avoided getting into this chaos in the first place.

But as she glimpsed the threat in his stance, the resolve in his dark eyes, she felt the stark realization that getting in the car was her only option.

With shaky breath and wobbly legs, she edged closer and opened the door, slipping inside the car.

The smell of leather filled her nostrils, mixed with something distinctly masculine.

The man slid into the driver's seat beside her, the engine purring to life as he slammed the door shut and locked it.

Panic fluttered in her chest as she caught sight of one of the guards from the boutique, scanning the street.

Her blood turned to ice.

“Wait!” she cried, adrenaline fueling her voice as her mind raced. “You can’t drive away yet—they’ll see us!” She bit down on her lip, “They’ll see me”

His jaw tightened, and for a split second, she caught a glimpse of something beneath—an unspoken worry?

“Don’t know who you’re running from lady but keep your head down”

Hannah obeyed and as he pressed on the gas, Ramon wondered why this woman would gladly pick being kidnapped over being saved by her own bodyguards.