15.Escape

Angela watched her husband socialize almost effortlessly with the other political figures in the room. He was charming and easy to talk to and drifting around the room with the finesse of a born charmer. The smile on her lips for a moment turned bitter for unfortunately she was very aware of his charm. Once upon a time she had been the focus of all that charm and it had made her cold heart warm for the first time in years making her risk her father's displeasure just to be by his side, that when directed at her even to date still made her heart skip for a second before she remembers his betrayal and then bitterness clouds that pleasure. They say you cannot love and hate one person at the same time but she believed she has mastered that art. She glanced past her husband and she saw her new bodyguard, Adrian. He stood in one corner blending in with the surroundings. Her bitter smile turned into an amused one. Once upon a time she had dreamed of a man like him, once when she was young and naïve. She chided herself at that thought for she was very much aware she had never been naïve only fascinated and longing for love. Her father had made sure of that. She turned automatically to greet the ambassador who had made his way to her. She knew what he wanted from her the minute she looked into his eyes. Yes powerful and rich men approached her when they wanted one of two things, either they required a favour of her or wished to charm their way into her good graces. The ambassador wanted a favour. Her smile turned cunning. She loved granting favours because it meant she can ask for anything in return as payment including future payment in the manner she so wished repaid. They called her the sin-eater so to speak.

As she listened to the ambassador drone on and on tucking in praises here and there to stroke her ego and mellow her into granting his favour which he had yet to state, she glanced around the room, a habit she had taught herself to gauge if there was any danger in the vicinity. She rarely relied on her bodyguards completely when it came to her own safety a lesson she had learnt from her father. Her father always told her only a foolish man would rely entirely on another person for his safety. In that thirty seconds glance she caught sight of someone in the crowd who was not supposed to be there. Shirleen was wearing one of the waiter's uniform and she was carrying a tray of champagne glasses. Angela's eyes turned cold, her hand tightened on the champagne glass she was holding and her eyes slowly followed Shirleen as she made her way towards her father. Lawrence was reaching for a glass when he glanced at the waitress and his hand froze mid-air, his eyes were shocked for a second there then a myriad of emotions passed across his face. He finally gathered himself, picked a glass, his face went blank and slowly turned back to the man he was talking to dismissing his daughter. Shirleen looked as if someone had slapped her across the face at her father's dismissal and the hope she had slowly died. Angela who was watching the exchange her face grim turned to look at Adrian and she nodded slowly. He got her meaning and quickly walked towards Shirleen and gently guided her out of the room.

Adrian sat next to the quite woman waiting for the car to arrive. A part of him was proud of her actions tonight. She had finally found the courage to step out of her stepmother's shadow even if she knew it would cost her. "He acted as if he did not know me," she whispered close to tears. "I thought if he saw me he would…." She had not known what exactly to expect but it was not his cold dismissal. Had he not missed her like she had missed him? "I had hoped with all of my heart he was innocent. Is this his way of saying he wasn't?" she asked the night not expecting an answer as the tears finally slid down her face.

"I don't have answers to your questions darlin'. All I can tell you is that until you get a chance to speak to him don't jump to conclusions," Adrian said softly. He handed her a handkerchief to wipe her tears. She looked at it and an amused smile appeared on her face. "What?" he asked.

"In this century I believe you are the only man who carries one of these in his pocket."

He smiled at her assessment, "Call me old fashioned." The car stopped in front of them and Adrian helped her inside. When he did not join her she turned to look at him a frown on her face, "Are you not accompanying me?" she asked.

"No my duties are here for the rest of the evening I will join you later at the house darlin'. I will be back in time to prepare you a cup of hot chocolate." She nodded at that and closed the door he watched the car drive off and he returned inside to his post. Angela met his eye immediately he entered the room and he nodded. She turned away and continued her conversation.

Adrian followed Angela and her husband out of the ballroom and out of the building leaving the noise behind. You could almost see the tension crackling between the two. They stopped outside the door waiting for the cars to be brought to the entrance. Lawrence reached and grabbed Angela's arm roughly pulling her closer. "If you touch even a hair on her head I will not be pleased," he whispered harshly.

"Unhand me before I make you," Angela said coolly. Lawrence dropped his hand disgusted. "My love, bad girls need to be punished. Don't you think so?"

Lawrence's expression turned pleading, "I will do anything you ask so please don't punish her," he said softly.

Angela smiled at her husband; her smile didn't reach her eyes. "I like you begging, my love. You should do it more often." With that she turned to walk to her car, Sang' was holding the door open for her. She turned to look at Adrian stopping him from joining her. "I have something else to attend to. Sang' will be accompanying me. For tonight accompany my husband home in his car and then you can go back to your normal assignation. I will see you tomorrow in my office." Adrian nodded and turned to join Lawrence and his bodyguard in another car. Lawrence was quiet, lost in thought during the drive home. He finally broke the silence, "You must be new. I haven't seen you around my wife before," he said.

"Yes," Adrian replied.

"You are the one who came to her rescue that day at the hotel," Lawrence said stating a fact. "You must be close to her. She rarely lets guards she does not know extremely well be her personal guards." Adrian didn't answer instead he looked ahead. He had no idea what was happening between Lawrence and his wife but he was sure it was something he did not want a part of. But when it came to Shirleen he would get involved without a second thought. "You are also the only one she turned to when my daughter appeared at the ballroom which means you know where she is keeping my daughter. But I guess you won't tell me that." Adrian ignored him for the rest of the drive. They stopped in front of the house and he quickly stepped out to open the door for Lawrence. Adrian watched the man's-tired face looking at the sprawling mansion in front of him. "I sacrificed so much to get here. I didn't care the price I had to pay so I paid it without a single regret or hesitation. These days I find myself wondering now and then if it was worth it," Lawrence said.

Adrian had been disgusted by the man immediately he had dismissed his daughter like she was no one but now he was finding himself feeling sorry for the man and Angela. They were not trapped in a marriage they were basically trapped in a war zone with no one willing to raise the white flag. It was a shame they trapped an innocent girl with them. "You have my word, I will protect your daughter with my life," Adrian said. He did not wait for the man's reply he slid back in the car and it drove off. Adrian found Shirleen waiting for him when he got back to the house past midnight. He smiled, "I thought you would be asleep darlin'," he said walking to the kitchen. She joined him, "And miss my daily dose of hot chocolate? Not a chance."

"Sit down, relax and watch the master at work," he replied laughing.

"Why do you call me darlin'?" she asked him curiously.

"You pronounced it just like I do," he said pleased. "I figured it was different just like you are. All the other names of endearment like sweetheart and honey have been so overused worldwide. Difference is good." He looked up at her. "Do you not like it?"

She blushed, "I have nothing against it."

"Good," he said placing a cup of hot chocolate before her and just like she always did she wrapped her hands around her cup and took a sip her eyes closed with pleasure.