Chapter 8 ** Way To The Airport **

Chapter 8
**||VERONICA'S POV||**
A wicked thought flashed across my mind. My lips curled up into an evil smirk and I suddenly pressed my hand on my stomach.
“Ouch! Oh God it hurts! I feel like dying...” I whined as my face contorted in pain.
The demeanor of the guards changed instantly from stern to worry.
One guard approached me and hesitantly, he asked, “Young Miss, are you okay? What wrong?”
I peeked up at them and noted how shocked and concerned they looked. Resuming my act, I scrunched up my face and took shallow breaths. “I...I… need some medicine... Please take me to a pharmacy?” I asked pathetically as possible.
While I continued with my charade, their faces showed some hesitation as one of them went to get a car and the other one stayed by my side.
“Young Miss… Please hold on. The car will be here soon.”
I smiled in relief and continued rubbing my stomach under his watchful eyes. His face was full of worry but he continued to pretend to be calm. I smirked to myself, knowing that my plan had worked. A few more moments passed and then I saw the black Brittany coming out from the garage. Stopping the vehicle just outside of the main entrance, the guard stepped out of the driver’s side door and quickly made his way over to me.
“Please follow me, Young Miss,” he said.
I looked around and, except the guard, no one else was coming. The timing was perfect. Hearing the car running, I didn’t give them a chance to try and stop me as I flew over to the driver side of the car. I hopped inside and locked all the doors. The guard started banging on the window while trying to convince me to get out. He repeated a warning that I couldn’t hear and his face turned white. I found it to be quite funny and had to suppress a wicked grin.
“Poor man,” I thought.
“I will be back soon, don't worry! I have to go somewhere!” I shouted, trying to reassure the man. But he probably couldn’t hear me.
I put the pedal to the floor and took off at an unbelievable speed. I drove without caring whether or not they were following me. I had to reach the airport before Asher left! The thought of possibly missing him made me increase the speed of my driving. I had visited this area a few times for photo shoot so I had a vague knowledge of the way to the airport. About ten kilometers away from the villa, I instinctively checked the rearview mirror. As expected, more than three black cars were tailing me.
“Must be the guards,” I thought.
I increased my speed even more and I was reminded of my time spent abroad. My friends and I would have street races all the time. I smiled at the memory. Regret and doubt started to nag at me and the thoughts that I had pushed to the back of my brain, started to come resurface.
“Perhaps nothing would have happened if I hadn’t come back here. Maybe Victoria would still be alive,” I thought.
After about a half an hour, I finally reached on the airport. Rushing inside, I heard the speaker announce that the next flight would be departing in thirty minutes. I breathed a sigh of relief and then ran looking through the crowd for Asher. I hadn’t seen him for a few years and I wondered whether I would be able to recognize him or not. Pushing through the noisy crowd, I spotted a tall, blonde haired man who was about to board his flight. A leather bag hung from his broad shoulders. His back was facing mine so I couldn't see his face clearly, but I was almost certain that it was him. Picking up my pace, I stopped right behind him, doubled over while panting and gasping for air.
“Asher!” I called.
The blonde man turned around to face me. A look of surprise flashed across his features.
“Veronica?” he asked.
I smiled as tears of relief threatened my eyes. It was, indeed, Asher. Though a few years had passed, his features hadn’t changed much. His skin was tanned, but he had the same chiseled jaw and deep blue eyes, which had turned much darker over the years. He was just as tall as Blake, if not a little taller. However, Asher’s usually bouncy and curly blonde hair was now perfectly combed back. I had guessed it was due to the influence of being in the military.
Asher scanned me from head to toe and worry marred his face. “What happened to you? Why are you here in this state?” he asked.
I knew that he had a soft spot for me. As I was busy developing my career, I didn’t pay much attention when he started showing interest in me. Besides, I could only see him as a friend at the time. Who knew that we would meet again and that I would be the one looking for him?
“Life is so unpredictable,” I thought.
Another man was by Asher’s side, I guessed he was a co-worker. I saw him dart his dumbfounded eyes between us and a faint smirk playing on his lips.
Finally, being able to somewhat breathe, I blurted out, “I am so sorry to trouble you, Asher. B-but I desperately need your help to look for my sister. Please… You are the only one I know who can help me.”
Asher put his hands on my shoulders and began to comfort me. “Calm down, Veronica! Take a deep breath first! I won't go anywhere without listening you.”
I took a deep breath to stable my mind. I was about to explain clearly, but then I heard an enraged voice and my words died in my throat.
“Veronica!” he yelled.
I flinched on hearing my name with such a harsh tone. I spun around and spotted Blake walking over to us with a murderous expression on his face. I felt shiver run down my spine. Oh… I was so dead!
As Blake took large strides towards me, I hurriedly tried to explain. “Blake… Wait… This is...”
I didn’t get to finish what I was saying, as a hard slap landed across my face–knocking me to the floor in the middle of the airport. I gasped in pain as warm blood trickled out from the corner of my mouth. My head was ringing and I sat there dazed with my cheek beginning to ache.
“Veronica!” Asher yelled.
“How dare you try to run away, Veronica? What a devious woman you are! It seems like I have been too easy going on you.” Blake said.
As tears blurred my vision, I looked up and saw that people were watching me. Never in my life have I felt so humiliated. I can’t believe he would slap me, let alone in public.
“Blake… just kill me if you hate me so much.” I thought. “This is getting to be insufferable.”