Ruin Me (Savage Bosses)

Chapter 38

CHAPTER 38

M adison

“Madison, sleep. You’ve been going nonstop since you landed five days ago,” Emily said.

I’d barely left her guest room, I was so busy trying not to leave a trail for Kent to follow. Now, I was exhausted. I hadn’t slept, my appetite was nonexistent, and I battled myself every day. From one second to the next, I convinced myself Ife would forgive me if I succumbed to my heart’s desire before recalling her steadfast refusal to absolve me for betraying her trust.

I lived in hell.

I shook my head and concentrated on Emily, eager for the distraction from my thoughts. “Has your contact gotten the documents I need to disappear?” Although I began the process of transferring my company to Emily and set myself up to escape to a country Kent wouldn’t find me, I had a few loose ends I needed to tie up.

Once I decided my destination, I’d call my parents and explain what I could. Leaving Kent felt like I’d ripped my heart from my chest. I had nothing left inside me to tell my parents I was leaving and I wouldn’t return to Douglas. The next time I saw them, they would have to come to me.

Emily bounced on my bed. “I don’t get why you have to go so far.” She stiffened, then grabbed me, concern wrinkling her brow. “Did this guy abuse you? Are all these preparations because?—”

“Stop, Kent would never hurt me. If anything, I’ve hurt him by leaving.” I sniffed and blinked away the tears that refused to stay behind my eyeballs.

“Then why are you looking for countries where he doesn’t own real estate?”

I swiped under my eyes and cleared my throat. “Because if he owns property there, he has political influence he can use to find me. Not to mention he’s rich as King Midas and has no problem using his wealth to get what he wants.”

Emily ran out of the room and returned a few moments later with single-serve wine bottles and cheese crackers. “Then I have a proposal. My contact can get you the documents you need, but if your man is as influential as you say, he can compel organizations to use facial recognition to hunt for you.” She handed me a bottle and a snack.

“What do you suggest?” I set the food aside while I plucked at the bottle cap. I hadn’t had much of an appetite, given my circumstances.

“I know a makeup artist who’s worked on some big Hollywood movies. She can give you a new face to get through any airport. Once you get to your final destination, you can revert to your normal face.”

“How soon can your guy deliver what I need?”

“A week after we deliver your photos to him.”

“Good. The only thing I have remaining is my apartment.”

“Which I will pack up and put on the market for you.”

“Emily, you are a godsend.”

“Am I really? You’re giving up everything you’ve worked your ass off to avoid this man.”

“No, I’m keeping a promise to someone who means the world to me. If not for abiding by my word, I’d be in his arms as we speak.” And with those words, I keenly felt the loss of Kent’s embrace. I hugged myself, but my arms were a poor substitute for what I needed.

“Aw, Madison. I wish—” The doorbell’s ring interrupted Emily. She arched her brow at me in question.

I shrugged. “You aren’t expecting someone?”

“At this time? No.” She stood to leave but I grabbed her arm.

“It might be Kent.”

“Don’t be paranoid. It could be my neighbor.” She patted my hand and walked away.

I whispered at her back, “If it’s Kent, I’m not here.”

“Duh, give me more credit, please.”

Emily lived in a detached condo unit with a front and rear entrance. However, if Kent was at her front door, he didn’t come alone. I had no way of sneaking out and had to hide here. But only if the person at the front door was Kent.

I swung the bedroom door until a sliver of space remained and stood to the side to observe who Emily’s guest was.

“Whose there?” she asked.

“Kent Luxe. I’m looking for Madison.” His voice sounded gruff and tired, even muffled by distance and two doors.

My heart did a sad jig from the pain he couldn’t hide and the excitement of hearing his voice again. It was the oddest sensation, experiencing joy and sadness at the same time. The emotions struck so sharply I clutched my chest and found it difficult to catch my breath.

“Madison’s not here.”

“Emily, is it? You have a choice here. You can let me in, or I’ll force my way inside.”

At his warning, I spun around and saw all the signs I had in the room that would betray my presence. As quietly as possible, I ran around the room collecting everything. Because one thing I knew for certain was Emily had no chance of keeping Kent out of her condo. I hid everything in the closet and smoothed the covers on the bed.

When Kent’s voice increased in volume, my heartbeat skipped. I’d hidden the signs I was staying here, but my efforts would be futile if I didn’t hide in the event he decided to search every room. I glanced toward the window, but my name wasn’t Lara Croft and jumping from two stories up was not a skill I’d ever had any interest in pursuing.

Sweat slicked down my back as he neared my room, while he ignored Emily’s protests. At times like these, I wished I were more slender and able to fit in a suitcase. Hiding under the bed would be too obvious. As would the closet. That was when I spied the panel in the ceiling.

Emily had an attic.

Hopefully, Kent would pass over the panel and leave once he didn’t find me. I rushed up the foldable steps, making sure to remain quiet. I managed to close the panel as the bedroom door swung open. Unlike the guest room, the attic housed many hiding spots, but to get there I needed to move, however, any motion might alert Kent, and I couldn’t risk it.

I stuffed my hand into my mouth and lay paralyzed while Kent and Emily searched the room below me. I thought sneaking away from him while he attended the party I threw for him was hard, but being so close and pretending I wasn’t close enough to touch him was a new kind of torture I wouldn’t wish on my enemy.

“I told you she wasn’t here.” Emily’s angry statement filtered up to me. “Please, leave.”

“I was so sure… You were the last of—I’ll go, but if you hear from her?—”

“I’ll let her decide if she wants to speak to you. However, if she listens to me, you won’t hear from her ever again.” A door slammed after Emily cut Kent’s plea short.

A few minutes passed when she whispered, “Madison? If you’re still here, you can come out now.”

I pushed the attic door and descended into the room.

“I am so happy you hid up there and didn’t jump out the window.” Emily clutched her chest.

“I thought about it, but Kent probably has people watching outside. Thank God you live in a place with an attic.”

“So that is Kent. Girl, you sure know how to pick them. Are you sure you don’t want to go back to him? That specimen is a national treasure.”

“Emily, please. I’m weak as it is. Don’t tempt me when you know I can’t.” I sat on the bed, deflated and feeling Kent’s loss anew.

Emily picked up her phone.

“What are you doing?”

“Calling my friend, the make-up artist. The sooner we get your new face, the sooner you get out of the country.”

Two days after we photographed my face full of prosthetics for one set of passport pictures, Emily barged into her condo frantic and out of breath.

“What’s wrong?” I pulled her toward the couch and went to the kitchen to pour her a glass of water.

She took the cup with shaky hands. “Thanks.”

I sat and waited while she drained the glass.

“I have bad news. I went to your place to start labeling things per the moving company’s instructions.”

“And?” I asked after she lapsed into silence.

“Either someone robbed you or Kent took everything.”

I shook my head because I must have misheard her. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“The place was so empty, not even a dust bunny had the nerve to make that place its home. Well, except for this.” Emily handed me an envelope.

I ripped it open. The message inside was terse.

If you want your belongings, you know where to find them.

“What does it say?” Emily asked.

“He isn’t giving up.” I handed her the note and dropped my head onto her lap while she read the letter.

“Now I understand why you insisted on going where he doesn’t have reach. You’re about to turn him into a stalker. Actually, he kind of already is. You know, he showed up at everyone’s house looking for you? The entire office was abuzz about it. Are you sure he isn’t dangerous?”

“Not to me, he isn’t.” I covered my eyes with my arm, but couldn’t prevent tears from leaking out of the corner of my eyes. “I miss him so much, Emily. Every second of every day. All I think about is being in his arms.”

She stroked my hair. “Madison, is sacrificing him worth keeping your promise?”

“I don’t know. I hope so? I need it to be.” I curled onto my side and stifled my sob.

For hours, Emily comforted me although I was inconsolable. My eyes swelled until I couldn’t keep them open any longer. At some point, I fell asleep.

The next morning, I woke up drained and listless, counting the days until I put more distance between me, Kent, and all the memories I wasn’t able to relive yet without gut-wrenching sorrow.

Thanks to Emily’s friends, I landed in Santa Marta, Colombia within a week. I was still getting used to my new identity, but I expected it would take months. I found a modest home and set up a VPN. My first message was to my parents. The second and most nerve wracking was to Ife. I had little hope she would respond, but if she ever did, I wouldn’t think twice before going to her.

My new home was colorful with comfortable furnishings. The climate here was always warm, but I rarely felt the heat. A chill took up residence inside me and nothing I did thawed the frost. My only comfort was the picture of Kent I kept on the pillow beside me at night. Without it, I slept fitfully and woke without feeling rested.

A month dragged by, but I had no desire to do anything but watch the sea on my balcony. I had plenty of funds to last me years and no ambition to find alternative employment. Maybe one day when I could get through the hours without crying myself to sleep.

The worst part was I only had myself to blame. I made the choice, now I had to live with the consequences. My only regret was Kent was somewhere also living with the repercussions of my decision.

One day, maybe he would forgive me, even if I didn’t deserve his absolution.