Chapter 6

Elena opened her eyes slowly and for a moment, she simply stared at the ceiling.

The house was quiet. She couldn’t smell Aaron’s woody cologne or hear the cold voice of her mother-in-law downstairs.

It took a while for reality to hit her. She was no longer Elena Calvalli, she was Elena Anderson, a legitimate daughter of one of the wealthiest families in the country.

She smiled slowly as the memory of the photographs Tiffany had sent flashed across her mind. Aaron sprawled across the bed, with Tiffany pressed against him.

It was no longer as painful as it had been when she saw the pictures. Now, all she felt was determination.

She sat up, her eyes hardening. “Both of you will regret it,” she whispered.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door. 

“Miss Anderson?” A soft feminine voice called out.

She furrowed her brows as she walked to the door, wondering who it was. She had declined her brother’s offer of a housekeeper. She wanted to be alone after all the chaos.

She opened the door, her frown deepening upon seeing a young woman who looked to be around her age and a tall man standing quietly behind her.

The woman stepped forward first and flashed her a smile. “Good morning, Miss Anderson, my name is Felicity and I’ve been assigned as your personal assistant.”

The man inclined his head. “Ed, ma’am. Your driver.”

Elena blinked rapidly. It all felt so unreal. She had a personal assistant and her own driver now? People who were waiting for her!

Felicity stepped closer with a tablet in hand.

“Your brothers have arranged a meeting with the family lawyer in one hour. After that, you’re expected at the headquarters for your introductory board session.”

She nodded. “I’ll go get dressed now.”

“We’ll be out here, ma’am,” Felicity said and they moved to the porch.

She let out a deep sigh. Who would’ve thought that this would be her life? Attending board meetings, having a personal assistant. She squealed at the thought as she made her way to the bathroom.

At exactly thirty minutes time, Elena walked out of the main house, looking even more breathtaking in her light blue two piece skirt. She had taken her time to look good, hoping it would boost her confidence and it sure did work.

“You look really good, Miss Anderson,” Felicity said, standing up upon seeing the woman. 

“Thank you,” she replied curtly, not sure if it would be professional to tell her personal assistant to call her by her first name.

Felicity gave her a warm smile and stepped aside as Ed moved towards the sleek black Mercedes. She thought about telling them that she wanted to ride in the Aston Martin but decided to just let it be.

Ed opened the rear door for her. “After you, ma’am.”

Elena slid into the plush leather seat, marvelling at the interior. Felicity entered from the other side, settling beside her with the tablet still clutched tightly in her hands.

Ed closed the door and moved to the front and a moment later, the engine roared to life. 

As the huge gates slowly swung open, Elena leaned back against the seat and looked out the window, inhaling deeply. 

If anyone ever told her last week that she was going to suddenly become rich, she would’ve just laughed it out as some kind of joke.

Felicity tapped lightly on the tablet screen. “Would you like me to run through your schedule for today, Miss Anderson?”

Elena turned from the window and nodded. “Yes, please.”

Felicity adjusted her glasses and began.

“At ten o’clock, you’ll meet with Mr. Harrison Bell, the family lawyer. He’ll brief you on the details of your legal status within the Anderson family and explain the relevant documents concerning your inheritance rights.”

Elena clasped her fingers tightly on her lap.  

Inheritance rights.

Even hearing it being spoken aloud still felt surreal.

Felicity continued. “By eleven-thirty, we head to Anderson Enterprises headquarters for your introductory board session. Your brothers requested that your arrival remain discreet until the official announcement is made.”

Elena furrowed her brows. “Why discreet?”

Felicity hesitated. “There are still many people within the company who may not welcome sudden changes in leadership, ma’am.”

Elena nodded. That made sense. With much power comes great responsibility, or however it was said.

“After the board session,” Felicity went on, “there is a private lunch scheduled with your brothers at one-thirty. By three, you have a briefing with the executive strategy team and legal department.”

Elena let out a deep breath. There was just too much and it felt as though she had been thrown into a storm without warning.

And the irony of it was that she didn’t hate it. In fact, for the first time in a long time, she felt like she was moving forward.

And she was becoming powerful, someone who was impossible to dismiss, someone Aaron would one day regret losing.

Her eyes moved back to the window and her reflection caught her eyes. She looked really different, like a whole different person.

She smiled softly and then suddenly, the car jerked forward and she instinctively braced herself against the front seat.

“What was that?” she gasped.

“Road bump, ma’am,” Ed replied immediately. 

Elena let out a deep breath. “Go easy please,” she muttered. She had thought her heart was going to pull out of her chest due to the force.

Felicity glanced towards the windshield and furrowed her brows. The car was moving fast now. Too fast. 

Elena noticed it too as she glanced out the window. Her heart rate sped up. Cars that were beside them were suddenly left behind in seconds.

“Ed,” she said slowly. “Why are we speeding?”

He didn’t answer. The only thing they heard was the increased roar of the engine. 

The arrow on the speedometer went  higher, from eighty, then ninety and then a hundred. 

Felicity sat upright now, gripping her tablet tightly. “Ed?”

“I’m not doing this,” he sounded tense and nervous. There was fear in his voice. 

Elena’s eyes widened and she held the seat to keep herself steady. “What do you mean you’re not doing this? What’s going on?” Her eyes darted around from Felicity to Ed and then back to Felicity. 

Ed’s hands tightened visibly around the steering wheel. “The accelerator isn’t responding and neither is the brake.”

Felicity paled. “What?”

“I’m trying to slow it down,” Ed said through clenched teeth. “The car isn’t responding.”

A sharp wave of panic slammed into Elena’s chest. “No.”

Her voice was barely above a whisper and she began to clutch the door handle, trying to party it open. “Why won’t this open!” She yelled, clutching it tighter. 

No! No no no!  this couldn’t be happening.

Not now!

“Ma’am, please calm down,” Felicity said, trying to calm her and then turning to the driver, she snapped. “Try harder!” 

“I am trying!”

The car surged forward again and a horn blared loudly as they swerved past another vehicle by a few inches.

The other driver cursed, his voice muffled behind the glass.

Elena felt that she could hear her heartbeat in her ears. “Can’t you turn it off?” Elena asked, her voice shaking. “Turn off the damn car!” The road ahead was a busy one, she could see it.

Ed shook his head. “It’s not responding to the ignition either. I think,” he hesitated. “I think someone tampered with the car.”

Elena yelled as she kept trying to yank the door open. “Help! Ed, do something about the doors! Open them!”

Ed was speaking, but she wasn’t listening. She began to see the memories, every humiliation she had suffered from Aaron and a lone tear slid down her face. She didn’t want to die this way.

Felicity was already fumbling for her phone.

“I’m calling your brothers.”

The phone slipped from her trembling fingers as the car swerved violently again.

“Ed!” Elena yelled upon seeing a large truck driving towards them.

He turned the car sharply and the sound of screeching tires filled the air.

Felicity was already fumbling for her phone.

“I’m calling your brothers.”

The phone slipped from her trembling fingers as the car swerved violently again.

Elena slammed her shoulder into the door and pain shot through her arm, but she threw up her hand to shield her face from the flying glasses. 

That car swerved again and Ed yelled. “Hold on!”

Elena yelled upon seeing the truck approach them again and then it seemed as though time had slowed.

Everything happened in an instant. One moment, Felicity was screaming and Ed was still wrestling with the useless steering wheel and then the next moment, there was a crash and everything became silent.

Elena felt pain all over and she felt something hot on the side of her face.

Blood.

Smoke began to fill the car and she coughed, trying to keep her eyes clear.

A faint groan came from the front.

“Miss… Anderson…” Ed rasped weakly. 

Elena tried to move, but something held her back. She cried out. She couldn’t see anything and she couldn’t move. 

The last thing Elena saw was a small spark of fire at the hood of the car, the only place she was finally able to see.