8: Lost in the City

Now he’s brushing it off my face that he has all the right to me just because I am his fiancée. I wanted to protest and tell him that it shouldn’t be the case. That we are not married yet and he should not visit my room late at night. But I know that is not the case for Analiese’s situation, so I shouldn’t be carried away.

“Right. Of course, you can,” I said silently.

Damn. I wish I can shout to his face how ugly he is. Well, not really literally since he has ‘adequate’ looks, but metaphorically, yes. He has such an ugly personality and I swear I would rather go to hell than put up with a man like him. He’s so arrogant and insensitive. He’s bossy and self-centered as if he is the king of the world and he can boss anyone around.

“I just came to check if you’re already sleeping. I want to ask you to join me for some wine.”

Some wine, huh? The hell I care if you want to drown yourself to wine. I don’t want to drink with a filthy rich billionaire who’s cold-blooded and controlling.

“How did you enter my suite, anyway?”

He showed me what he was holding. “I have a duplicate key card.”

And he really asked for that? Seriously? Or maybe… what if he already sensed that something is wrong with me? Then he wanted to catch me in talk like he did earlier. It’s more like he is putting me under surveillance. Quite absurd, but somehow reasonable on his part. Who would allow himself to marry an impostor, anyway? Especially a man like him who has all the riches in the world.

“Oh. I was actually sleeping earlier and Peter’s call woke me up.”

“You should tell him not to call you late at night so he wouldn’t disturb your sleep. Unless if it is very urgent.”

“I understand him, though. He’s very busy during the day, so he only has his free time at night. I don’t mind at all.”

His brow shot up. “Well, if you don’t mind, then I do.”

This brute.

“What I’m saying is,” he went on. “If he keeps doing that even when already married, I’d definitely mind it. I don’t want a phone call to wake me up in the middle of the night.”

I felt how my cheeks flamed. Thinking about sleeping in the same bed with him makes me feel a painful twist in my stomach.

“Fine. I will just tell him,” I gave up. I’m in his territory, after all. I have no say in his rules. I wish Analiese was a little feisty, at least. I would have had an excuse for a bit of impatience.

“I’m sorry, I can’t drink wine tonight. I want to rest. I hope you don’t mind,” I added politely so he won’t have a chance to push that wine session he wants. This interaction for the night is already enough. I don’t want him to notice more about my actions.

“I guess I have to drink alone, then. I’ll go.”

I nodded and he walked out of my room.

The following morning, we had breakfast together which made me feel sick the whole time. I was glad after that though since he had to leave for his business affairs and I can roam around Manhattan without carrying the burden of his presence. Charlie was with me the whole time, however. But I didn’t mind if he was my company since he is a jolly person who has a light personality which is far different from his boss.

After having lunch, I told Charlie to bring me to an art museum. I love art that’s why it’s one of the things I always wanted to do when I would have the chance to visit other countries. I do paint sometimes but I couldn’t afford to buy expensive materials because I have a lot of more important things to pay for.

When we went out of the building, Charlie received a call so he had to excuse himself for a bit. I was about to get in to the car first but something caught my attention. I saw someone very familiar to me. He was crossing the streets and I didn’t have the chance to think about my actions. I just acted on my instinct and walked in fast pace, following the man.

I’m not sure if it’s him but I need to see him, regardless. I need to confirm it, and I hope so bad that my hunch is right… that it’s really him.

I didn’t know where I was heading, or if I had some sense of direction, but I just continued following him. There are many people walking on the streets and I couldn’t cope up with him right away. I just walked and walked… then I suddenly lost him.

I stopped in the middle of the crowd. I looked at different directions, hoping to see a trace of him. But I didn’t find any. It was like he was just a piece of my illusion who suddenly appeared and just vanished in thin air like he wasn’t even there in the first place.

I felt lost and… disappointed.

It must be just an illusion, Katherine. He wasn’t there. He was never there.

I smiled bitterly to myself and was about find my way back to where Charlie and the car was, but I stopped when I suddenly realized I don’t know where I am anymore. I’m in the middle of a busy crowd, in an unfamiliar part of Manhattan. How am I ought to find my way back now?

I stood there for a full minute to contemplate before I decided what to do.

“Hi. I’m a tourist and it’s my first time here, can you tell me which way leads to the art museum?”

“There are over one hundred museums here in Manhattan. Which one?”

I couldn’t answer. Now that is the problem. I don’t know what was the name of that museum. I just told Charlie to bring me to a museum and he did. I was too excited I couldn’t care more about the other details.

“I’m not sure about the name, but it’s near here, I guess. I was just following someone but I lost my way and I didn’t notice how far I went.”

“Most Manhattan museums are near here. You should try calling your company so they can help you. I’m sorry, I have errands to run. I have to go.” The woman smiled.

I just nodded because I don’t want to trouble her more. The thing is, I left my bag on my car and my phone is there. I also don’t have money to pay for a ride. Heck, I don’t even know the address of the hotel where we are staying.

I’m so stupid. I got myself lost in a big city and no one is going to help me.

At the end, I just sighed and walked towards the path where most people were heading. I didn’t know what I was thinking, really. I just kept on walking and I was just surprised when later on, I realized that it actually felt good. This—walking in a busy street alone around the people I don’t know. It somehow felt relaxing.

So, I just did what I wanted and walked around in peace even though I didn’t have any point of direction.

I was too preoccupied with it, I didn’t notice it was getting dark. I looked at my wristwatch and felt worried when I realized it was quarter to six. Worst, I felt like I’ve gone too far from the museum where I left Charlie. I don’t know if he figured by now that I got lost, or if he’s trying to find me, but I hope he does. I also hope he didn’t tell anything to Mr. Beaumont. I don’t doubt that Mr. Beaumont is already seeing me as a dumb woman, I don’t want to look more stupid in his eyes. Well, I’m really not talking about myself but Analiese. This is her life, after all. I just don’t want to ruin her reputation because of my stupid stunts.

I sucked on my breath when I felt my stomach churning. I’m starving but I don’t even have a single buck on my pocket. I stomped on the ground while I was standing near the lamppost, my hands are on the pockets of my coat because it was getting colder.

How am I supposed to find my way back to the hotel?

Ah. I’m getting sicker by the minute.

I got startled when in the middle of my deep thoughts, someone talked behind me.

“Hello, pretty one. Seems like we are a little problematic here, aren’t we?”

He looked like he’s on his thirties. He didn’t look pleasant at all. In fact, I could smell trouble from him. I stepped back when I saw another two heads at his back. They are all looking at me with that smug look in their faces.

“I’m sorry, I need to go,” I said on my attempt to get away, but they suddenly cornered me.

Oh, hell. What the fuck is going on? And where are the police officers around? They should be taking a round at this big city every now and then to see if something like this is happening in the dark part of the streets just like what is going on right now.

“Not too fast, honey,” the bigger one said. He smelled like cheap alcohol and smoke, it made me feel nauseous.

“I need to go, please.” There is no use to be hard and act tough. Sure I can hit just one of them, but I wouldn’t be able to run with the two on guard.

“Come on. You look troubled. Need some place to sleep in tonight? I can offer you my place,” he went on despite my defiance.

“No, I have hotel. I will go there now. Excuse me—what the—don’t touch me!”

They only laughed. “Ah. Feisty. Exactly my type.”

“And you are exactly not my type, so let me go or else you’d be in jail tomorrow morning. Or not. Maybe this night.”

I didn’t expect for them to take me seriously, so I wasn’t surprised when they only laughed as if I’m just a big joke.

“Fuck you. Fuck all of you,” I muttered. I swear, I’m so pissed I can see red.

“What? You want us to fuck you?” the bigger one said.

My jaw moved and I couldn’t help myself anymore. I slapped him.

His eyes turned bloodshot and he held my wrist with so much force, I felt like he could break my bone if he’d hold me longer. He lifted his other hand and I was so positive that he’s going to hit me, and it would hurt for sure.

But then there was a loud noise.

A gunshot.

The next moment, there was no one holding me anymore and there was a sleek black car parked in front of us. But what made me shocked was when I saw who went out of it.

It was Mr. Beaumont, in his black suit, with his coldest expression I’ve ever seen, and with a… gun.