Chapter 27
Thane’s pov
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There are so many things I want to do to her and with her. At this point, it would be useless to deny it. I want Andera, scratch that,
I need her, or I might just explode. I don’t know how much longer till my frayed restraint completely washes away.
Andera just left me and Grace with our mouths open in awe, and dammit, she made me breathless.
Again, I ask myself, how is this even possible? This is the same woman I spent my life ignoring, both when she was under my
family’s care and when she became my wife.
They say change is constant, and yes, Andera has changed, but is it usually this drastic and overwhelming?
Are you listening, Thane?” The blonde lady says to me. She has been talking non–stop of things I don’t want to hear. I didn’t even know why, and when she approached me, I was too focused, gawking at Andera as she took small sips of her drink. I should pay close attention to Andera; being drunk at a party like this, in a sea of men, would do more harm than good.
“I’m talking to you, Thane. “The lady presses on. My eyes fall on her, since she walked up to me, I haven’t looked at her more than twice. Even In a luxurious sapphire–coloured dress that leaves little to the imagination, she doesn’t hold a candle to Andrea. No one here tonight does, Andera remains the most beautiful woman that has walked through that door.
The blonde lady leans forward to brush off some invisible dust from my suit
“You look tense Thane. Maybe we could go to my suite upstairs and I’ll relieve you of it.” Her teeth dig into her bottom lip, looking, waiting for a go–ahead from me.
I take a step backward.
“Err.. Ms…” I don’t even know her name
“Josephine. I told you my n myself to care.
a minute ago.” She looked somewhat hurt that I didn’t remember her name, I couldn’t bring
“Josephine, it had been nice talking to you, but it seems like the event is about to start, I must get going now. “I turn my face away from her and towards the bar; my lips form a thin line when I don’t see Andera sitting there.
“Oh, how about after the event, what say you? Mingle?” Her voice pitches a tad too high, like a little kid asking for ice cream, I nearly laugh
“No.” I don’t stay long enough to see her reaction, but I hear her mutter a curse behind me. The main event for tonight (business conference) is at the largest hall in the hotel. I follow the crowd there, scanning with my eyes to find Andera. In front of me, I see the skirts of an emerald green dress, but it isn’t Andera:
I walk into the grand hall as men and women of business minds take their seats, the hall is filled with more men than women, old, young, middle–aged, all the CEOs, investors, and big business owners in Seattle but there are still no sign of Andera
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anywhere, and the event is about to start.
Did she go back home? I know Andera is under no obligation to tell me when she chooses to leave but……
Two minutes pass and no one else walks through the hall doors.
The host for tonight starts giving his grand opening speech.
I suck in a breath, if Andera doesn’t walk through those doors in the next sixty seconds, I’m going out to get her.
Sixty seconds pass..
I don’t think twice before shooting up from my seat and walking out. When I get to the lounge area where everyone was left to
socialize, it’s utterly empty. I call her line but her phone is switched off.
That’s weird; I remembered she made use of her phone during the drive here; could her battery have died out?
My eyes dart towards the lady’s room in the foyer. I know it wouldn’t be right for me to enter, but I did; I could stand outside and
holler. If Andrea is in there, she would hear me and if she isn’t, well, I will find her.
I stand by the door and call her name twice, carefully averting my eyes just in case any ladies are in there; my voice echoes back to
- me. I’m about to turn to leave when a faint glint on the floor catches my eyes.
Without caution, I walk into the anteroom and pick up jewelry on the floor; a feeling of unease settles in my stomach; as expected, it’s Andera’s emerald ring.
Maybe I’m overthinking all this; she must have probably gotten an early hangover from drinking and gone home. It’s nothing to
worry about, but… if she’s drunk and driving… No, she didn’t come with a car, now that leaves me with another question: how did
she get home?
My mind races a mile a minute, I should go to her place and check on her, just to make sure she’s okay.
I sprinted outside, it was almost midnight. The fine lights illuminate the surroundings of the majestic Bellavista hotel, but the
road in front of it was covered in pitch darkness.
I pulled out my car Keys from my pockets and just then, I heard the sound of a car engine in motion. It takes my attention away momentarily. Someone was leaving
A sleek black Jeep swung around the fountain and sped past me, its tires screeching on the pavement. My keys slipped from my hand when I caught the faint glimpse of auburn hair through the passenger window, my heart racing with sudden recognition.
Andera
The darkness swallowed the vehicle. With the speed of lightning, I bolted to my car and followed the jeep.
Andera is in there. Someone is trying to kidnap her right here in a fuckin soiree. My guts twisted.
I stepped on my brakes, pushing my Porsche to its limit. I hastily called nine one one to let them know of the situation, but before the cops would arrive, I will follow them and get my Andera back. Whoever this person is, he sure made the gravest mistake of his
life.
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The jeep sped away, its engine throttled. The criminal must have noticed I was trailing closely behind them and he hit Too bad for him, my Porsche is faster than his outdated Jeep.
– Ras
Finally, I saw a chance, an opening, a way to corner the vehicle. I was driving alongside the jeep now, but I couldn’t see inside
clearly because of its tinted glass.
I pulled my car into a narrow, dark alley, my tires screeching with the force of the turn.
I stepped harder on my brakes, and when I came out of it and into the open, empty streets, I parked my car perpendicular to block
the jeep’s path.
I could see the Jeep coming now. The criminal must have thought I gave up the chase, but rather, I had them outsmarted.
But the jeep didn’t stop, it didn’t even slow down. It hurtled towards me at full speed.
My lunes froze.
self for the worst; there’s no way in hell I’m letting whoever is there escape with Andera. I will fight for her; I will
r, even if it means using my car as a blockage to stop them and possibly getting run over.
grip on the steering wheel tightened.
I never once stood up for Andera; all the times Melissa taunted her before she was my wife, I sat back and watched. After our
marriage, I was so full of indignation and anger at my father that I didn’t show Andera enough love and affection. There was a
small spark between us, but my resentment that she had been forced on me quenched that passion we shared on the night of my
father’s birthday.
But now, things are different.
I don’t know how different, and I don’t plan on explaining it; I know I’m engaged to Melissa, I know Andera despises me,
I’m aware of how unworthy I am to even be around her.
heck,
But it doesn’t change a Damm thing about how I feel. I guess that spark has reignited; it’s burning me on the inside, and it’s
maddening.
I will hold my ground; if that jeep crashes into me, then I’ll know I did it for her.
