"Lucien! I'm here!",
Lily's frantic voice shattered the silence, bouncing off the worn and creaky wooden walls of the lurid shed. The fear and restlessness evident in her eyes, the once bright innocent pupils now widening out of unhinged terror.
"Oh my little Lily, calling out for her prince charming?. How cute!", the grumpy kidnapper's gravelly whisper slithered its way around her ears.
She whirled, her breath hitched as she slowly took a step back.
The kidnapper mirrors her moment taking a step forward, like a predator toying with his prey.
She continues stepping back in an anxious cadence until her back is pressed against the cold wooden wall. She's trapped. Powerless.
"Don't you dare touch her", a low but authoritative voice rings out just then carrying the hint of a deadly threat, its firm finality leaving no room for disobedience.
The grumpy man barely had time before he was tackled to the ground in a swift motion, a strong forearm at his throat cutting off his air supply. Struggling, choked noises escaped the man's throat before he took his last breath, his head falling rearward with a soft thud.
"Lucien!"
Lily's weak hand grappled to clutch desperately at Lucien's shirt. I knew you'd come save me! I had faith in the power of our love", his emerald gaze softens instantly just as his eyes meet hers.
"You can rest now, love. You're safe now", he says as he scoops up her lean frame effortlessly, with a gentleness that totally contradicts the distant cold CEO he is known to be. A sweet smile tugged at his lips, a soft side only reserved for her.
But the little moment of bliss doesn't last long. The sound of the recoiling of a gun rings through and.....
BANG.
A heart wrenching scream, a sob, a plea and then…. Nothing.
—-----End of chapter 47—--------------------------
"Ah…finally, just two more chapters to go", I drawl, stretching my sore arms like a lazy cheshire cat.
Right then, a growl escapes my traitorous stomach
"Okay, okay my dear tummy', I say, calming my rumbling stomach, caressing it in little circular motions.
"I think we both deserve a good treat after enduring that nonsensical trainwreck of Romance novel", I smile looking down.
But seriously though, I wonder who even reads that shit nowadays. A gunshot? Prince Charming saving his Cinderella? Can it literally ever get any more cliché than that?, I roll my eyes at the thought.
"But the one good thing is that it is coming to an end. Now all that's left is for the CEO to save his girl, them getting married, and knowing the author they probably also threw in some dumbass pregnancy trope in the epilogue. Ugh….", I groan.
I slam my laptop shut in one satisfying push and plop off the plush office chair. I push it back under the table with practiced gentleness considering it being one of the only perks of this job.
Well, I guess one of the perks of editing shitty Romance CEO novels is that you are given a better seat, a better office and a better pay. I still get surprised on how better off I am better of than my highschool mates at least in terms of financials and position. But maybe, I shouldn't be surprised at all, considering how the current highschoolers practically drool over these novels and worship them more than their dear god.
I don't get it, I never might.
I make my way out of my little cabin, my heels clicking being the only rhythm that fills the empty floor. I step onto the elevator letting my thoughts creep their way back into my mind.
Great. I'm the only one left. Again.
Well, that's what you get for being the top editor of Nashville Publications. Overwork, extended hours, dark circles served with a big dose of loneliness, hostility, and of course not to mention– EMOTIONAL DAMAGE.
But to be fair, I do feel slightly better when I look at the number of zeroes in my bank account for working on bestsellers that others rarely get a chance to even peek at. Oh my god, I can't think of a reason why my coworkers seem to hate me. I smirk at the thought.
The familiar ding as the elevator opens has me beaming with excitement. I just can't wait to get the creamy triple cheese heaven of a grilled sandwich in my mouth, the thought alone enough to make me drool. I stiffen up almost instantly and scuttle out the elevator speed-walking toward the cafeteria.
"Sorry, we're out of Cheese sandwiches", Amy, the chef, puts on a sorry smile.
Of course. Cuz luck is a fickle minded bitch.
But not today. And no, it's not just about a sandwich.
Luck has taken away and given me a lot of things, but never at the right time. I used to be angry and grateful at the same time. But over the years, I just became numb. But not today, not when I've finally decided to quit this burden of a job.
"Working with Nashville Publications is nothing less than a dream come true", they said.
Yes, it is. It truly is. It was just never my dream.
And so, with that thought in mind, and a determined heart, I step out of the sky-high opulent building and make my way toward the other side of the road where a tapestry of restaurants and street food stalls wait for me. I pause at the familiar stall and without hesitation meet the gaze of the vendor, "A triple cheese sandwich, please". The man nods, an unspoken understanding that only comes from years of familiarity.
After I have my bundle of joy in my hand, I happily dig in, taking a greedy bite. I'm instantly hit with a whirlwind of memories of her. My mother. She always made this sandwich for me, and today, more than ever, I really needed her spirit, her love, her courage.
Because today finally
I finally decided to quit my necessity, my obligation.
I finally decided to chase my dreams.
I finally decided to become Attorney Elara Ross.
But just as I close my eyes imagining myself in that neatly pressed black suit and a white blouse to pair with…..
My phone buzzes snapping me back to reality-
Boss:
Elara, the deadline to submit 'Bound to Each Other' has been revised to tonight sharp 8 p.m. I hope you can comply.
My eyes involuntarily flick toward the watch on my hand. 7: 45 p.m
Oh shit. shit. shit.
I've got only 15 minutes left and still 2 chapters to edit.
My pulse shoots up, my heart races, and I hastily shove my half-eaten sandwich into my purse and slam the cash on the man's table. I'm really not a very unhygienic person, but etiquette is definitely the last thing on my mind right now. God help me, if i don't make it, they would never approve my short notice resignation. And I will have to wave goodbye to ever wearing that black suit and white blouse. NO. I can't let that happen.
So, before my own panic and negativity get the best of me….
I bolt, straight on to the road, like a stupid child who never learnt the- right- left- right rule . It's funny how just a pure rush of adrenaline can make you run right into the lion's den with the confidence of a beast despite being the size of a mouse, right to your inevitable doom, and yet no fear.
It's not until the blaring headlights blind me that I realise, not until the jarring honk deafens me that I realise, not until an outline of a sleek black Benz car comes to view, that I realise, I was falling, bleeding and dying.
Huh, so that's how it ends?
In the distance I hear the incessant and panicked screams and whispers of strangers calling for help, checking my pulse, patting my cheek. My fading consciousness, just enough to catch a few snippets of the chaos.
"There's been an accident, in front of Nashville Publications HQ"
"A woman has been hit by a car, the driver has also been severely injured"
"They say there will be a delay in the arrival of the ambulance, the roads are jammed due to the explosions at the Square, too many casualties–"
"Please! Someone save them"
"Send an ambulance asap"
"....They're dying"
What a stupid way to die, damn
And then…..nothing
Mom. Dad. Brother
Wait for me.
Death comes when you least expect it.