/Madison's POV/
"Excuse me for a minute, I have to use the restroom." I flashed the pretty guy a smile and rose to my feet, walking with calm but slightly hastened steps towards the women's room. But I swiftly turned towards the staff room at the back, then took another turn to the storage area with a separate exit the staff used, most probably for restocking inventory.
I tried to leave as swiftly as possible, but Zane soon burst into the street, so I took another corner that led to the main road. Luckily, I was able to slip into a taxi before he caught up with me.
"What shitty luck!" I muttered under my breath as I settled in the seat, glancing back to see a disgruntled Zane frantically scouring the street, turning at every corner as if eager to catch me.
"Why on earth was Zane even there?" I grumbled, biting down on my nails.
The bar was a little far from his home and a lot farther from his office—I mean, I made sure of that. There was no way he could have gone there without a purpose of his own.
Was he meeting someone? The memory of the guy I was just about to hit on resurfaced in my head, and I blinked in surprise. Was he meeting that guy? My eyes widened at the realization.
If that guy was meeting Zane, I can't be sure he wasn't familiar with Allison. That could have been bad. I glanced outside the moving taxi blankly, realizing how reckless that was.
"Fuck!" I cursed under my breath as I shifted uncomfortably in the seat while the car slowly approached Zane's private mansion.
Being an isolated structure surrounded by low trees, with the sound of the howling sea nearby, makes sneaking in a lot easier.
I'd barely snuck back in, got out of my dress, and removed the nasty makeup I had on when I heard Zane's car sauntering into the driveway.
While hearing his car engine roar to a stop, I started wondering if Zane had confirmed I was really at the bar or not. Would he ask me about it? The thought of him confronting me both excited and scared me because I had no intention of denying it if he asked, yet I feared he'd be mad at me for trying to ruin everything we've been working on.
I've snuck out quite a handful of times, but this was the first time I'd been so reckless about it. If I'd been caught by someone familiar with Allison and Zane, I could have jeopardized the plan.
Guilt tugged at my chest at the thought. Once again, I had to remind myself—this meant a lot more than what's between my legs.
I should never have gone to that bar, but as usual, I don't do great with regrets. There's no point crying over spilt milk now.
"This is harder than I thought." I heaved an exasperated sigh as my nerves thrummed, my emotions a messy pool of mixed feelings.
My body instinctively tensed when Zane's gentle knock hit the door. Inhaling sharply, I turned towards it, wondering what he'd do.
"Hey," I said flatly while making way for him to enter my room.
"Hey." His response came calmly, but I could sense the tension in his expression. His questioning gaze stayed on me for a couple of minutes before he finally spoke. "I—" he started but hesitated. "Are you okay?"
My eyes automatically furrowed as they flipped up at him, cold and indifferent. "Why wouldn't I be?" I asked back in response.
"Um… Aya mentioned you didn't look good." I was silent.
Then half-smirked, realising Zane had no intention of mentioning how he saw someone who looked just like me out there. If I hadn't noticed him following me, I'd be convinced he hadn't seen me with that random guy, yet… he couldn't bring himself to ask me about it? I wonder why.
"I'm fine… I just needed some rest." I forced him a smile before another long, awkward silence dragged on between us. "Do… you need something?" I asked, my voice slicing through the tension.
"No. I was just checking in to ask if you need anything." He smiled.
"I'm okay." My response was blunt as I turned away, afraid I'd be swayed by his charms.
"Maddy—"
"Wait, did you hear that?" I furrowed my brows as a low whooshing sound coming from the hallway slowly filled the room.
"Zane, get down!" I dragged him by the arm, making him fall into me as we fell back to the floor together. A tear gas canister was thrown in from the hallway, followed by the loud shattering sound of the bedroom glass window.
"What the hell?" I frowned just as Zane rolled off me. Following the sound was an infuriating, smoky gas that immediately stung my eyes. I wasn't sure if the gas thrown was a knockout gas or something close, but I had no intention of filling my lungs with that crap. I got off my jacket over my tank top and fastened it over Zane's nose instead. At first, he looked surprised by my actions, but he reached into his suit to retrieve his handkerchief and offered it to me, as if returning the favour.
"We need to get out of here," I made clear while trying to rise to my feet, but my body felt heavy. "Fuck… it's a knockout gas." It occurred to me after staggering on my feet. I guess whoever it was just wanted us alive.
I slammed shut the door to my room the moment I heard multiple heavy footsteps advancing up the stairs.
Zane seemed to be struggling on his feet as well, but at least he could stand, and he immediately steadied me on mine the moment he gained balance.
"Thanks," I muttered.
"What the fuck is security doing?" he hissed through the piece of cloth.
I scoffed. "Hate to break it to you, but your security is absolute batshit—"
"You don't say," I heard him mumble. I caught a flicker of rage and panic in Zane's eyes—a look I didn't think a man like him could make.
"But this is probably not the right time to get into that. Could you help me move that desk?" I requested, pointing to the computer desk at the corner. With the handkerchief pressed to my mouth and nose, my voice came out slightly muffled but thankfully enough for Zane to hear, and together we pushed the desk against the door, then advanced towards the window.
I peeked down from the window to confirm the ground was clear of the incoming intruders. It'd be easier getting to the ground from the balcony, but looking down from here, it was a little far.
I flinched slightly when a heavy pound came from the door, and the desk pushed against it jiggled like it was ready to bulge.
"Shit, we need to jump." I said to Zane realising the gas wasn't dense enough yet to knock us out, but it was spreading fast but he replied with a look that questioned my sanity.
I mean, anyone would be insane to jump from the second floor, but you'd probably just break a knee at most.
'Done it before and I'm still alive,' is what I wanted to say, but I intended to keep that part of my past buried and sealed—it's not something I'm especially proud of.
"Zane, we've gotta jump." I insisted, pulling him by the hand while I dragged him closer to the window.
I continued to peek because, no matter how much I assured myself, I wasn't sure this wouldn't hurt. "I have no idea if the people behind that door are armed. We've got to leave before it gets even more dangerous; that desk won't hold." I continued, hoping to convince him, but I kind of slurred my words a little.
What the fuck was in that gas? My body kept getting heavier by the second, and my fingers felt numb—even my tongue. Wait… does this cause paralysis?
"I'll go first." I blinked in surprise when Zane suddenly lowered himself from the window pane and jumped down immediately afterwards.
I heard him mutter a few curses under his breath as he hit the soft grass away from the flower beds, and even though he looked like he got hurt, he still brought his hands forward, ready to catch me.
That was a terrible idea though; we'd both get hurt if I jumped on him, but watching him jump so quickly… "Is kinda cool," I mumbled.
I was still recovering from how fast he took action, since I was convinced it'd take a little more time to get him to take that leap, when I heard a louder bang at the door.
I flinched. "Fuck!" I said as the hinges creaked in protest and the desk legs screeched against the hard floor, but the people behind the door continued to stubbornly shove at it from the other side.
"Maddy! Jump!" Zane hurried me after he realised my attention was no longer on him, after all, my eyes had snapped back to the door. But more than that, I was starting to get really dizzy; my weak hands slowly fell, and the handkerchief dropped immediately after losing my grip.
"The plan!" I shouted back from the window as my legs turned to mush. I wouldn't make it—I was sure.
"What?" I could see his frown from the window.
"Remember the plan!" I shouted louder, and his eyes widened—not from realisation but from panic.
"No, don't do it!" he shouted back, then followed up with more words I couldn't catch as I slowly fell to the ground with a loud thud.
Fucking hell! That hurt like a bitch. Holding onto my consciousness became a struggle; eventually, I caved and closed my eyes just enough to see the door bust open with a few men walking in, and as their shadows zoomed in, I realised how badly I'd fucked up.
Things should have never had come to this.