6. Please stop following my car...

CAROLINE

I can't get that face out of my head as I go through the rest of the night by my grandmother's side with a smile plastered on my face. I have to wear this smile and act like I don't want to disappear into a hole and hide inside a hole but I've long decided that I'm way past hiding from my problems.

I still bear the scars at my back to prove that thanks, grandma.

"Caroline dear," Madam Quinn says and I turn my neck to give her my attention. She's not looking at me but that doesn't mean she's not seeing me. "You're stiff, dear.'' Her voice is light and humorous with pride and that makes me tense. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing at all. I guess I'm just a little tired," I lie. "My head is spinning from all the names and faces I've recorded-"

"Pay attention to every one of them," she interrupts and sets her levelled eyes on the guests around. "You'll need them as well as they'll need you."

"Yes, grandmother."

Her lips curl in a smile and she's turning to me to grin, "You are one I have decided to be very proud of, Caroline. I'm defying all odds by putting all my hopes in you."

"I will not let you down," I quickly assure her.

"Good," she narrowed her eyes to the side. "Who is that... man you were standing outside with? You looked far too relaxed."

Shit! Her eyes may be old but that didn't mean she was blind. Madam Quinn had eyes and ears everywhere. I knew this beforehand and I've been prepared ever since but Malcolm caught me off guard.

Wearing a calming smile, I chuckle a bit and relax my shoulders. I understand what she's trying to do. I mustn't lose my cool at all times. "That was Malcolm York, grandmother. He's your granddaughter's husband."

"Oh!" She looks away. "I have heard of him. They have a child together- Marylin. What did he want with you? If he's looking to hop to you because you're now the heiress then," she chuckles with little to no emotion on her face. I can already tell what she's thinking. "A shame."

"I cannot say for certain but it seems he mistook me for someone else," I cleared her doubts. "Even if he wishes to hop, I'm afraid there's already a long queue. I'm aware that Mr. Williams just called for his son," I glance at the elderly man keeping an eye on me as he waits impatiently by the door.

"Yes. You'll have many suitors, dear. Be nice and keep your head up," She advises before stretching her hand to me, "Now let's play Cinderella before those suitors arrive."

It's easy to love her. I clutched her hand and she grabbed me firmly. I glance at her wrinkled hands that trembled due to old age. These same hands can be harsh and brutal when they want to be.

"What would you like for dinner?" I ask with a smile, leading her out to the car as her guards open the door for her and I help her in.

"Come home and we'll decide together," she says and her guard shuts the door before they drive off. I'm still wearing my smile as they drive off and I watch her leave.

Once she goes, my car is pulling over before me and the passenger's window is rolling down to reveal a familiar face. "We have five minutes before they notice you're gone."

"Right on time, Susan," I'm getting in and we're driving off immediately. As I relax my shoulders with a deep sigh, I feel Susan's eyes on me. She's my personal assistant as well as the only friend I'm allowed to have. I'm pretty sure Madam Quinn doesn't know we've moved from just assistant and boss to friends. She will lose her job if she finds out.

"The headlines are going crazy," Susan announces. "I saw he left angrily."

"You would too if your inheritance is snatched from you," I lean back on the seat and close my eyes with a deep sigh. "Book me a massage by tomorrow. I need to get all these tension out... as well as their evil eyes."

"Yes, ma'am. Do we resume fully on Monday?"

"No. We start tomorrow," there's no rest for me in this world. Not until my mission is complete. Being announced as heiress is only the first step. The first step to problems.

A phone rings beside me and my brows knit at the disturbance.

"Sorry, I have to take this, Hello," Susan says, going all professional in an instant. "From York tech? Are you Mr. Malcolm's assistant?"

That's... fast.

"Miss Quinn cannot come to the phone right now. You can leave me the message and she'll get back to you- Oh. Oh, Mr. York. Y-Yes, sir-"

Did he call himself? I sit up straight and turn to Susan who quickly pulls the phone away from her ear and covers the mouthpiece with her hands.

"Him?" I ask and she nods.

"He asks to speak with you."

Why would he go through the trouble?

"I'll pass," I rub my temples and lean back on my seat, closing my eyes again to take a breather. I don't need more headache. I already broke character once when I laughed so heartily but who could blame me? His eyes were literally begging me to say something and that attitude was so sickening that it was funny.

There's a little commotion around me as I can hear Susan and the driver whispering back and forth but I can't quite make out their words.

"Uhm, Miss. Quinn," Susan interrupts my moment of peace.

"I'm not in the mood to talk to anyone, Susan. Whatever he has to say can wait. if he wants a meeting, go ahead and book him down for 10a.m tomorrow-"

"Yes, okay but that's not it," she sounds concerned and I look at her. She's looking behind us and I see she has put down the call, "We're being followed."

"Followed?" What does that even mean? I turn behind to see a black car following at a distance. "Susan, it's a straight road. They could just be going their own way."

"No, Miss Quinn. I noticed them when we drove out of the hall. I've taken the longest route and even tried losing them but they are still on our tail," the driver announced.

"What do we do? We can't die here. You only just got your position," Susan whines. "I'll call the cops-" but her phone rings insead. "It's Mr. York again-"

Could it be... I turn to the car again and I try to picture Malcolm driving. I squint my eyes as anger washed over me and I snatch the phone from Susan, answering the phone, I say in one breath, "Mr. York, this is Caroline."

He's silent for a while before he speaks, "Finally. I thought your assistant wasn't going to put you through-"

"You can say whatever you want to say now but first, can we stop this barbaric act? It's a little too belittling of your status. I wouldn't want your wife to get the wrong idea."

"What are you talking about?" I can hear the frown in his voice. "And Louise is not with me right now-"

"I don't care. Please stop following my car. I'll book you in for 10a.m tomorrow-"

"Wait, what? You're being followed?" he asks in shock that I recoil and turn to the car that's now gaining fast on us. The sight strikes danger in my heart that for the first time in a long while I feel fear.

"I haven't even left the hall yet. Where are you? Give me your location right now and I'll come find you!”