My stomach flutters. Me? “But, you made it sound like a business arrangement. Like a marriage of convenience—something logical and mutually beneficial.”
“I know I did.” He rakes his fingers through his short dark waves. “I thought appealing to your rational side wouldn’t be nearly as off putting as telling you how I really feel. As getting emotions involved.”
I swallow thickly. My hands shake as I pull the blanket to my chest. “How do you really feel?” I prompt, unsure if I want to learn the answer. Would it change anything if he has real, genuine feelings for me?
“I care…” He grunts and shakes his head. “Go back to sleep. I need an answer from you tomorrow.”
“An answer?” That’s too soon. He’s giving me no time to think.
He stands up, but won’t look at me as he strides to the door. “Marry me, Elena. Sayyestomorrow. I promise I won’t let you down if you’ll be mine.”
After tossing and turning all night, I wake up groggy but determined to do what needs to be done. Maximo will never takenoas my final answer. He won’t let me go. I can either give into him willingly, or I have to run. Now. And never look back.
In moments of weakness, like last night, I consider giving in and falling into line with the world I was brought up in—instead of resisting it with all I’ve got.
But then I remember that I’m stronger than I give myself credit for, that I deserve better. I won’t allow myself to be trapped by a handsome devil of a man. Or any man for that matter. I’m safer on my own, far away from here.
This morning, I tiptoe through the penthouse. The space is quiet. Not a sign of Maximo anywhere, which leads me to believe that he stepped out. I’m not sure how long I have before he returns.
Rushing back to my bedroom, I grab a small suitcase. This is my opportunity. My one chance. I can’t let it pass by because I might not get another one. Especially since he’s going to demand that I give him the answer he wants today.
Most of my sleepless hours last night, I spent formulating this plan. I just didn’t know my chance to act would be so soon.
I simply can’t marry him. I refuse to give in. Admitting defeat means death—death of my dreams and the life I want to live. If I marry Maximo, it means giving up on myself. I won’t do that.
Quickly, I pack the necessities list I came up with while lying in bed. I’m taking the bare minimum I need to start a new life. Unfortunately, all of my books can’t come with me, so I have to leave them behind. Clothes and toiletries go into the suitcase. I also make sure I have my ID and passport in my favorite new Fendi purse.
In under ten minutes, I’m heading for the door. My pulse gallops as I make my way out the front door and down the short hallway to the elevator. His apartment has two elevators, which is strange. One for guests that goes to the lobby. The other one in the foyer bypasses all the other levels, going straight down to his private garage. I don’t know which one he uses more regularly.
What if Maximo’s coming up and catches me? Are there guards posted in the lobby with orders to keep me here?
I glance around the space. Surely he has security cameras in here. He’s that type of man. For all I know, he could be watching me right now. He could be putting this place on lockdown, or rushing back here to stop me from leaving.
I push the elevator call button and tap my toe as it seems to take forever to arrive. When the doors slide open, and it’s empty, I breathe out a sigh of relief. So far, so good.
Anxiety grips me again as I step into the carriage and take it down to the street level. Opening the rides app on my phone, I order the quickest one available, paying extra for the rush. Icould catch a cab, but I don’t want to have to wait a second longer than necessary. I also hate being exposed, standing on the sidewalk where anyone can get to me. Daylight doesn’t prevent kidnapping. The men who took me before snatched me as I was running an errand. I never made it back to the waiting car.
The elevator announces the ground level. The doors glide open.
I peek into the lobby. Empty.
But there’s definitely security cameras. If Maximo didn’t see me leave the penthouse, he’s going to see me leaving the building.
Head down, I quickly cross the reflective marble floor. The attendant opens the door with a polite nod, and a hysterical laugh threatens to bubble up my throat. I’m walking out of here in broad daylight with not a single soul to stop me. If I knew it would be this easy, I’d have left on day one.
My phone pings, notifying me that my ride’s here. I scan the street, find the license plate, and practically dive into the back seat.
“I’ll leave a hundred dollar tip if you get me to the airport as fast as possible.”
The driver eyes me, then nods. “Sure. Traffic’s a pain, as always, but I know a quick route.”
Merging with the other vehicles, we’re moving further and further away from Maximo’s place. While the driver focuses on getting me to my destination in record time to earn that tip, I open an airlines app and search for the next flight out of LaGuardia Airport. At this point, I don’t care where I’m going. I just need to get out of this city.
Once I’m in the air, I’ll figure out a plan to get the rest of the way to California. This is it, I’m disappearing. Finally, I’m seeing my plan through to the end. If only my heart didn’t ache so much at leaving my family behind.
They’re going to be devastated. And it’s all my fault.
CHAPTER 10
