We ran, lucas pulling me behind him to the front of the building.

My hair was flying behind me and i held my dress in my hand in attempt not to trip on it. The very few people who were still on the red carpet stared at us like mad people.

This is crazy. he doesn't even know why we're running but he's pulling me along with him as if his life was on the line. And i, i'm trusting him even though i have no idea whatsoever about him, except his name that is Lucas Carter.

"Vanessa!" i heard his voice behind me. but i couldn't even stop if i wanted to.

We kept running, the sound of our feet pounding masked by the padding on the floor. He stopped suddenly at the entrance of the building, making me screech to a halt with him and we were immediately met by the flashes of various cameras.

"Stay behind me, okay?" lucas said over the voices of the reporters.

I nodded.

I hid my face in his suit and he pressed me to his back, shielding me away from the reporters.

"why are you leaving?"

"who is she?"

The questions didn't get any better but not once did i even raise my head to take a peek.

"Desmond, bring the car." lucas's voice boomed from above me.

The sound of an engine roared a minute later and lucas pulled me from behind him. I was unceremoniously shoved into the backseat of the car, someone slid in after me but i didn't need to see their face to know who it was. it scares me that i'm already familiar with his scent.

He shut the door rather roughly and leaned into the car seat, his chest heaving lightly. Blood was rushing into my ears and i did same but my chest was heaving not so lightly.

"Can i ask some questions now?" He finally broke the long stretched silence.

I opened my eyes slowly and cocked my head to the side, my face resting on the leather of the seat.

The guy just saved me from my husband, the least i could do is dwindle his curiousity down a little.

"You can ask two questions and i have the right to not answer if i find it too personal." I rested my head back to its original position, coming face to face with the tinted panel that seperates the back seat from the front.

"Who was that man?"

My heart dropped in my stomach.

"My husband, ethan." I gulped. anticipating in fear, his next question.

"Why are we running away from him?" he asked .

"Too personal." i shook my head in refusalm

"If i turned out to be a serial killer and is kidnapping you right now, would you rather stay in the bathroom or my dirty basement?"

"Definitely basement. and please, make my death a swift one will you?"

"Swear on my cat gertude." he placed his hand on his chest in mock serioiusness.

I paused in thought.

"You don't have a cat do you?" i deadpan.

"Nope." he popped the 'p' and chuckled.

The deep rich sound reverberating off the walls of the car.

"So.....vanessa huh?" I can hear the smirk in his tone.

"Lucas." I nod.

"Say it again." he pushed himself off the chair in a swift motion and narrowed his eyes at me.

"Uh..lucas?" i asked in confusion.

"Wait a moment." he gestured with his hand to wait and dug into his pocket for something.

"What?"

"Just hold on a minute." he pulled out his phone and tapped something on it. He then brought the end of the phone close to my lips.

"Say my name." he grinned.

And just because i couldn't help myself, i grinned and batted my lashes. "Dj khaled."

He laughed. 

"Eh, good enough." he shrugged and put his phone back in his pocket.

"Thank you." i said quietly. "for helping me I mean. "

"Don't thank me yet. I don't even know where you live." He cocked his head to the side. "Where do you live?, because i'm sure Desmond is confused and just is contemplating driving to Mc Donalds. that guy loves his Mc Donalds."

"25 Westland Avenue, Jameson mansion." i said.

He was suddenly quiet again. i cocked my head to face him and found his jaw wide open.

"You're ethan's wife!?" he shifted backwards."You're the Vanessa Jameson!!" he smacked his head.

"You've heard of me?" i ask. why is he freaking out?

"Goodness i'm so stupid. your husband's name is ethan. your name is vanessa. why didn't i connect the dots earlier?"

"Because we just met half an hour ago?" i suggested.

"No, No, No No No No! Bloody fuck!, I can't do this." he clenched his jaw.

"What's hapenning?" I frowned

He ignored me and pushed a buttton to let the panel down. the driver who i assume is desmond peered at us through the rearview mirror.

"Desmond, i wan't you to stop the car, take a cab back to stellon's building and tell my sister i'll be back soon. keep your phone close to you just in case." Lucas instructed with a firm voice.

Desmond parked the car and slid out of the driver seat.

"Get to the front." lucas instructed me and i did not waste time. i walked out of the car and the cold air immediately hit me, he was right. We're less than a hundred feet away from a Mc donalds.

  I saw desmond get into a cab as i walked around the car and into the front seat. Lucas got into the driver's seat and shut the door.

"Put on your seat belt." he said, pulling his own strap and securing it around him. I did as i was told.

"What's wrong?" I asked carefully.

I was ignored.

He gripped the steering wheel tightly and clenched his jaw. His knuckles where turning white but he did not loosen his grip,if anything, he held it more tightly.

I sat upright and looked foward. what the hell is wrong with him? just minutes ago he was joking with me about his nonexistent cat and now he's acting like he got scratched in the balls.

He turned on the car with a tilt of his key and pullled the car out of park. We started moving, slowly and then faster. Soon we were moving at least fourty over the speed limit.

My heart was pounding, I should be scared. What if he's not taking me to the mansion? what if he really is taking me to his dirty basement?

I shut my eyes close tightly and gripped the plush seat even tighter. 

"Please." i choked. I just couldn't take it anymore. I have been scared of speeding cars since my mom died in one.

My chest was heaving. For a moment, i thought he didn't hear me until i felt the car slow down along with my breathing.

"Thank you." i say. we were still moving pretty fast but this speed, my stomach can take.

"Sorry." he said, taking one hand off the wheel and ran it through his neatly cut hair.

i nod.

that was the end of our conversation in the car. he focused on gripping the wheel tightly, flexing his fingers once in a while and clenching his jaw while I imagined what will happen to me if he truly did turn out to be a serial killer.

To my utter dismay, which bothered me alot because this was my plan in the first place, He pulled up at the gates of the mansion.

I unfastened my seat belt and glanced at him. He was staring intently ahead. I open my mouth to say thank you but he cut me short with a nod.

I sigh and huriedly came down from the car. I yelped when the car zoomed past me,raising a tail of dust behind it.

"What's his problem!?" i muttered.

I rushed to the gates and spoke into the intercom.

"Wiesly? it's me nessa. Let me in."

I looked around me, it's not so dark but it'll soon be. There are no neighbors within a mile radius of the mansion. Ethan isn't particularly fond of them.

Wiesly didn't take long to open the gates, he brought with him his yellow audi despite the fact that it'll take only five minutes to reach the mansion. with a small smile, i slid into the car and glanced at the old man.

"Thank you wiesly."

"You're welcome vanessa, pray tell why you're so early." he replied, turning the car around and towards the mansion. The car smells like coffee and vanilla. just like him

"He was there." I simply stated but the atmosphere in the car definitelty changed.

"Did he recognise you?" wiesly asked, pulling up before the mansion. The lights are off in every room, except for those of wiesly and the girls.

"Undoubtedly." I nod with an exasperated sigh.

We both walk out the car and he speed walked ahead of me to open the door for me. I don't even bother protesting, i've done that one too many times but the old man is as stubborn as his five year old audi.

Anxiety enveloped me immediately i stepped in through the doors of the mansion. the smell, the lights, the furnitures, the atmosphere, it unsettles me so much that i have accepted that overwhelming feeling for the past months except, now that i stepped out of the mansion and inhaled a different kind of air, i don't feel right with the atmosphere of the building.

Wiesly didn't say anything else but i can sense the tension rolling off of him. Without a second glance, i dashed up the stairs and into my bedroom.

I carefully peeled the dress off of me, leaving me in my lace undies.

I walked into the bathroom and stood before the mirror above the sink. i stared at the familiar stranger before me, i knew this would't last, i knew it was just for tonight but why do i feel so.... weird?

I thought i could be someone else in this disguise, i thought i would do everything i wanted to do but just what are those things i want to do so badly? i cant recall even one.

I move closer to the mirror and carefully took out my contacts.

Amber.

That is who i am. I bent over the sink and scrubbed off the remainants of my make up. i used soap for an added effect and when i felt quite satisfied , i straightened up to peer at myself.

Not satisfied.

I peeled off my underwear and walked into the shower. I switched on the cold water. it made me shiver but I walked under it nonetheless.

I didn't even squirm.

I sigh when the water hit my scalp and moulded with the roots of my hair. Too bad. i loved what freda did to my hair. i used my fingers to brush my hair slowly, untying the wet knots.

I turn on the hot water after i relaxed enough and used some soap to wash off the remainant of all that make up. Once i'm done, walk out of the shower and walked to the mirror.

Perfect. now i look like the broken mess that i am.

I slipped into my yellow pajamas, the one wiesly gave me last year.

A ringing sound came from my night stand and i walked over to it, my hair dripping all over the floor. The light of the screen illuminated my face as i peered at it.

20 missed calls and 25 messages. Most of them are from lyla, asking where I am and that we had to talk and to call her when I get the message. one is from freda. it read

'Are you okay?'

I switch off my phone and tossed it into the first drawer. I walked to the bed and slipped under the covers.

"I'm fine" i say to myself and closed my eyes.

It's funny isn't it? i thought i was bold and all mighty when i wore that make up but i ended up anxious and cowardly. I thought i was someone else tonight but turns out ........

I let a sad smile stay on my face.

I still was and still am, vanessa edgewood.

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Short chapter...

I had to, because I thought the chapter was better ended like this.

So Vanessa realises she's no Cinderella, she still was Vanessa edgewood.  I know her last name is Jameson because she got married to Ethan but I decided to use her maiden name. It suits the moment better.

Please vote, and please, please, please, for the love of Lucas and his beautiful eyes, please comment.  And follow...... 💙