A Billionaire In Disguise

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"Dad!, dad!." Audrey yelled as she stormed into her father's office with nothing but pure rage. Her father raised his hand up in a sign that she should hold on since he was on a very important call. "Alright Mr Michael, there's no problem, we can reschedule the meeting." He said with a smile, then he hanged up. "Audrey, what is it you want this time?." He sighed, rubbing his temple. "How many times do i have to say this dad, i don't want to get married, stop trying to set me up with different men, I'm not getting into an arranged marriage." She fumed. Her father sighed as he stood up, then he walked to where she stood. "Audrey, how many times do I have to explain to you that you'll have to do this for the company, and besides, this is for your own good, it's not like I'm setting you up with a monster, those men are of decent and wealthy homes, if you agree to marrying one of them, it'll help the company greatly." He said, and she looked at him in utter disbelieve. "My good you say, my good?." She scoffed. "We both know too well dad, you ain't doing this for my good, this is all for your own selfish reasons, all you care about is your company and making more money, that's all you care about, what about me huh, i have the right to decide who I want to marry and what kind of marriage I want to get into, I want to marry someone I'm in love with, not get into an arranged marriage." She said, her father laughed. "Love you say, there's no such thing like that Audrey, you're only fooling yourself, there's no such thing like love, it doesn't exist, and fine, if you want to marry someone you love, why not pick one of those men, I'm sure you'll fall in love with them as time goes by." "I can't believe what you're saying dad, I'm your only child and is this how you should treat me, you don't care about my feelings or my opinion, don't forget dad, it's my life, and I alone have the right to decide how to live it, you have no right to do what you're doing, i won't get married to any of those men, and that's final." She said, a note of finality in her voice. "There's nothing you can do about this girl, there's no need acting stubborn, you'll get married, like it or not, I've been patient with you enough, and this is the limit, in a week time, you'll be getting married." He retorted. "What?." She muttered in shock. "You know what dad, sometimes I ask myself one question, have you ever truly loved me, or my mother, the way you treat both of us is so bad, you've never truly cared for us, the only person you care about is yourself and your wealth, how could you be this bad dad, how could you be so selfish and heartless, you're the real monster here dad." She said with teary eyes. Her father sighed deeply, not knowing what to do. "Audrey...". He was saying when she cut him off. "No, i don't want to hear anything from you dad, if you're going to be stubborn about this and keep doing what you want, I'll also have to stand up for myself and do what is best for me, know one thing dad." "I will not succumb to your wishes." She said, then she stormed out of there in anger. Her father picked up the vase on his table and smashed it in anger, he doesn't know why Audrey is being so stubborn, she keeps saying she wants to marry for love, but there's no such thing as love, the only thing one should care about is survival, not some stupid love, and Audrey will have to learn this the hard way, she'll have to get married, no matter what, and he's got the perfect person in mind, this thought was enough to bring a smile to his face. ********** "Where would you love me to take you ma'am?." Her driver asked. "Let's go home." Audrey replied. She sighed as she shut her eyes, she was trying to relax and keep calm, but that's proving to be so difficult, she knows her father will do anything to have his way, and she can't let that happen, but what will she do, how will she escape from this, she doesn't want to get married, but her selfish father is being to stubborn, she'll have to find a way, she'll have to find a way to escape from this or else her whole life will be ruined for good. ******** The car finally pulled up at her house, then Audrey came down, she hurried inside and was on her way to her room when her mother stopped her. "Audrey." She called. "Yes mom." Audrey replied, turning to face her. "Where have you been my dear?, and what's wrong?, why do you look so sad?." Her mother said in concern as she walked up to her. "It's nothing mom, you don't have to worry about me, I'm fine." She assured. "No dear, do not forget, I'm your mother and I can see through your lies, tell me what's wrong, please, or i won't stop worrying about you." She said, Audrey sighed. "Fine mom, but can we please go to my room, we can talk about it there." "Sure dear." ★ "What!." Christina half yelled. "Yes mom, dad is at it again, i don't get it, why is he so selfish, i don't want to get married mom, I don't want to get married." Audrey cried, Christina sighed. "I'm so sorry dear, this is all my fault, as your mother, I should be able to fight for my daughter's right, but I'm just useless." Christina said sadly. "No mom, please don't say that, i know you've been doing everything possible to help me, you've been trying your best to change father's decision, but we both know he's being so stubborn, we both know the kind of man he is mom, he only cares about himself and his wealth, we don't matter to him, i don't matter to him, he treats me like an item, and thinks he can just sell me off to who ever he wants and whenever he wants to." "But no mother, i won't put up with father's maltreatment anymore, i won't put with this, i will never agree to his demands and i will be forced into a marriage that I don't want." "But what can we do my child?, what can we do?, your father has given his final decision and i don't think there's anything we can do to stop him or change his mind." Christine said, Audrey smiled. "No mother, there's only one way to stop this, there's only one way to prevent my life from being ruined forever." She said. "And what could that be." Christine said, Audrey sighed. She really don't know if she should tell this to her mother, and she also don't know if her mother will agree to her plans, but this is to only way she can think of. "Come on Audrey, speak to me, tell me." Christine urged. "Please mom, you'll have to agree to this, this is the only way." Audrey said worriedly. "Something tells me i might not like whatever you're trying to say." Christine said. "Please mom." Audrey pleaded. "Fine, go ahead and tell me." She sighed. "I'll have to leave home and go someone very far, far away from dad, somewhere he won't be able to find me." Audrey said, Christine jaw dropped in shock. "No, no Audrey, have you gone mad, don't even think of it, there's no way I'm letting you leave, i won't let you go, there's got to be another way, you can't leave Audrey, no!." She refused. "Please mom, please, this is the only way I can think of, this is the only way." "No Audrey, I won't let you leave, don't worry, I'll talk to your father, I'll plead with him to reconsider his decision, I'm sure he'll listen." Christine said. "No mom". Audrey yelled as she stood up in anger. "How many times will you keep doing this, we both know what his answer will be, you've tried countless of times to change his mind, but yet nothing has ever worked, don't do this mom, it's useless, it won't work, there's no point in trying knowing it'll only fail." She cried. "But what can I do, what do you expect me to do Audrey." Her mother said as she stood up, then she turned Audrey to face her. "You're my only child, and I'm about to loose you, what can I do Audrey, you're my source of joy, you're my happiness, my life will be meaningless without your Audrey, I can't loose my child like this." She cried. "Mom, you're not loosing me, please don't say that, you'll never loose me mom, but you know there's nothing else we can do, the only option is for me to leave mom, otherwise, I'll leave the rest of my life in regret is father succeeds in marrying me off to whomever he wants to." "Audrey." Christine called as she hugged her daughter tightly, both of them sobbing so hard. "I'm sorry my love, I'm so sorry, i can't protect my own daughter and her happiness, I'm so sorry my child." "No mom, you've done everything you could, you've done so much mom, you're the only one that's ever showed me true love, you're the only one that's ever cared for me and i appreciate everything you've done for me mother, you're the best and I've never for once regret you being my mom, I'll choose you as my mom over and over again, thank you mother, for everything." She said, and her words only made Christine cried the more. "My daughter is all grown up now." Christine said as she pulled away from the hug to stare at Audrey's face. "You're so beautiful, and I'm proud of the woman you've grown up to be." She smiled. "Why don't you come along with me mom, let's leave this place together, let's go somewhere far and Start life afresh, just the two of us." Audrey suggested, Christine smiled sadly. "No child, i won't be able to do that, your father will find us, and you know that, it'll be difficult If the both of us were to leave here together, you don't need to worry about me dear, I'll be fine knowing my daughter is safe wherever you are, but you'll have to make me a promise Audrey." She said seriously. "What's it mom, tell me anything." "You must survive, we know your father will come for you, you'll have to be strong child, promise me you'll do everything to survive and i pray you get the happiness you deserve." She said. "Mom." Audrey called as she hugged her once more. "I promise you mom, I'll survive, i promise I'll leave a good life and I'll be strong for you mom." She promised. "And you'll also have to promise me that'll you'll be okay." She said, pulling away from the hug. "I'll be fine dear, I promise." Christine smiled. "When do you want to leave?." "Tonight mom, I'll have to leave tonight". "So soon." Christine said sadly. "Why not stay for a while." "No mom, we don't know when dad will suddenly change his mind and who knows, he might shift the date to something sooner than expected, so I'll have to leave as soon as possible mom, I'll have to leave tonight." "But where will you go to, what about money." "Don't worry about money mom, I've got a personal account which dad doesn't knows about, and I've got millions of cash in it, I've been keeping it, and it'll be more than enough to get me started with a new life." She smiled. Yeah, she's fucking rich on her own, she doesn't need her father's wealth, she's got her own dollars. "And a location?." "Uhmm." She muttered, scratching the back of her hair nervously. "What's it?, this is New York, so you can pick a town." "Actually mom, I've got another place in mind." "And where's that?." She questioned, Audrey sighed. "Mexico City." "WHAT!!!."

★

"What!." Christine yelled. "No no no, there's no possible way I'm letting you go that far Audrey, Mexico City, that's miles away from here, it's too far Audrey, i can't let you go, no." She said sternly. "Mom please, you know if I stay within new york, dad will find me, I'll need to go somewhere far away from here, somewhere he won't be able to reach easily, please mom, you'll have to understand, I beg you." She pleaded. "But it's too far Audrey." She sighed. "I know mom, but we've got no other option." "You don't even know anybody there, how will you survive?." Christine pointed out worriedly. "Come on mom, it's not like I'm a kid or something, I'm not a child mom, I'll be able to take care of myself, I'll survive mom, i promise." She assured. "Oh God, what am I going to do with you?." She sighed, Audrey smiled. "Please mom, please, and do not worry, I'll call you every single day." "Hmm." "Please mommy, I love you so much, please let me go, please." She pleaded with a pout. Christine thought about this for a while, this is going to be something difficult, Audrey is her only child, and now she's about to be separated from her daughter, she would have loved to say no, but if she denies Audrey her happiness, her daughter's life will be ruined forever, this is the only way to get Audrey far away from her father, and as a mother, she's already failed her too many times by not being able to stop her father, but she won't are that mistake this time, for Audrey's happiness, she'll be willing to do this. "Alright, you can go to Mexico." She said. "Really, thank you so much mom, thank you." Audrey said excitedly as she hugged her mother tightly. "Promise me again that you'll be okay." Christine said in a crooked voice, she about to cry again. "I promise mom, I'll be okay, I'll be fine, don't worry, and I'll call you every single day, we can make video calls too." Audrey promised, then she pulled away from the hug. "Better, it's a long drive to Mexico, what do we do." Christine said with a frown. "Who said anything about driving." Audrey smirked. "What do you mean." "What I mean is, i won't be driving, i already booked a flight since yesterday." She said, and her mother gasped in shock. "So you're saying, you've already have everything planned out." Christine said, Audrey laughed. "Yes mom, delay can be very dangerous, most especially in cases like this." She winked. "I can't believe this, so when does your flight leaves." "In an hour." She replied. "Oh my God, an hour, that's 6 pm." Christine said, then she checked her wrist watch to confirm the time. "And this is 5 pm, there's no much time left, we haven't even packed anything yet." She panicked. "Relax mom, there's no need for packing, I won't be taking any clothes with me". "And why is that?." "Just...., there'll be no need for that mom, trust me, and I'll have to leave now mom." She said. She walked to her wardrobe and took her back pack, she's just put in a few stuffs in there, no much clothes. "A are you sure dear, you're sure you don't need to take anything with you?." "Yes mom, I'm 100% sure, trust me, and mom, i understand that you'll want to come with me to the airport, but i won't want you to do that, i want it to look like I did all this on my own, i don't want dad getting mad at you because of me, we both know he'll get angry, but it'll only increase his anger if he knows you know about my plans, i don't want him to know I told you anything, so please mom, you'll have to make him think I ran away from home without telling anybody, it's best that way." She explained. "Audrey." Christine called in tears as she hugged her daughter once more. "My child." She cried. "Mom." Audrey cried, hugging her back. They stayed in that position for sometime, before Christine finally pulled away. "You should go now, or you'll be late for your flight." She said, wiping away her daughter's tears with both her palms. "Make sure you stay safe, and take care of yourself and your health, eat well and don't get into trouble, I want you to be happy and not worry about a thing, I want you to live tour life, live a happy life." She instructed. "I will mom, and I'll ask the same of you, take good care of yourself mom, I'll call you when I get to the airport." She said with a sad smile. "I'll walk you to the door." Her mother said, then they both went downstairs. They got to the living room and that was where her mother stopped. "You should leave from here, i won't want the guards seeing us together, after all, you don't want your father knowing about you told me." She said with a sad smile. "Thank you mom, thank you for everything." Audrey Sniffed, she hugged her mother briefly, then she turned to leave, but as she got to the door, she turned to take one last look at her mother who was already crying. She wanted to go back and hug her mom, but If she does that, she might end up not leaving again, this is one of the hardest decision she's made in her life as a daughter, but she's got no choice, this is the only way to have her freedom. "I'm so sorry mother, i pray you live a long life and you'll always be safe and happy even when I'm gone, i love you mom." She thought. She smiled at her mom as she wiped off her tears, then she opened the door and left. The moment Audrey stepped outside, her mother dropped to her knees, then she wept bitterly. When Audrey got out, her driver rushed to meet her. "Where would you love to go miss." He said with a little bow. "No Diego, there's no need to worry, I'll take a cab, just need some time alone, you don't have to worry." She smiled. "Are you sure miss." "Yes, I'm sure." She replied. "Okay miss, if you insist." He replied with a bow. "Thank you." She said, then she continued walking. When she got to the gate, the security didn't bother to question her, he quickly opened the gate, then she got out. Audrey let out a long sigh the moment she stepped out, she turned to look at the mansion and the only thing that'll make her miss this place is her mother, apart from her mother, there's nothing else she'll miss about this hell of a home, Infact, she's glad she's finally leaving, she's glad she'll finally be able to live her own life, and in peace, she would have loved to see the look on her father's face when he returns and is met with the shock of his life, sadly, she won't be able to do that. "Well, goodbye it is then." She said as she left. She's finally leaving to start a new peaceful life, she stopped the first cab she saw, then she got in. "Delta Airlines please." She said. "Okay ma'am." The driver replied, then he drove off. ★

The Airport _____________ The cab finally pulled up in front of the airport, she paid the driver and got out in a rush, there's only few minutes left before her flight leaves. She ran in, did the necessary process before boarding. Audrey sighed when she was finally settled in the plane. "New life, here I come."

★

Mexico City 12 : 38pm ____________________________ "Ahh, Mexico City." Audrey sighed, it's been one hell of a flight, but thankfully, they arrived safely. She breath in the sweet air of Mexico with a satisfied smile, she was feeling so excited and she felt like she might burst with joy. "Hola señorita, bienvenida a mexico, a donde le gustaria ir." (hi miss, welcome to Mexico, where would you love to go). She heard someone say. Audrey opened her eyes, then she saw a middle aged man putting on a security like clothing, but she guessed he was a taxi driver. "I'm sorry, but I don't understand Spanish, do you speak English?." Audrey questioned shyly. "Oh, I'm so sorry señorita, i wanted to know where you will love to go, and again, welcome to Mexico City." He smiled. "Oh, I'm new here, and i don't know anywhere around, so I'll love for you to suggest a nice hotel to Lodge in for me." "Ahh, my pleasure señorita, La Valise is a nice place, one of the best here." "Sweet, please take me there." She replied excitedly. She followed the driver to his taxi, then they both got in and drove off.

★ La Valise hotel ------------------------ On getting to the hotel, Audrey wondered how she'll pay the driver. "How much is the pay sir?." She said nervously. "300 pesos." "300 pesos." She repeated. "Please hold on." She said as she quickly brought out her phone and searched the amount in dollars. "That'll be $14.50, but I can still give him $15." She muttered. "Sir, I've only got dollars with me, is it okay I pay in dollars, you can get them changed." She said, silently praying he agrees. "Alright señorita, you can pay in dollars." He smiled. "Thank you sir, thank you so much." She said, then she brought out $15 from her purse. "Here sir." She said, giving him the money. "Thank you." She said, then she got down. "Goodbye señorita, enjoy your stay in Mexico." The driver yelled before driving off. Audrey took a long look at the magnificent La Valise luxury hotel, and boy!, it was so damn beautiful in the night, everywhere was filled with so much colorful lights, she could see some couples walking around, and some people who were just on their own. "Well, i better go in and get settled in, I'm freaking tired." She muttered, she adjusted the bag on her back, then she went in. She met two ladies at the reception table, she walked up to them with a smiling face. "Hi." She greeted with a smile. "Hello miss, welcome to La Valise hotel, would you love to check in?." One said politely. "Yeah, I'll love to check in." She replied. The regular procedures was carried out and they also gave her a brief introduction about the hotel, then she got her keys and left. Following the directions given to her by the receptionist, she got into the elevator and punched in number 5(the fifth floor), soon, she arrived on the fifth floor, then she got out and searched for room 105. "Found it." She sighed when she finally found her room. She opened the door and got in, first thing she did was to fall on the bed. "Ahhh, at last." "I better call mom." She said, fetching her phone from her ripped jeans pocket, she quickly placed a call through to her mother. "Sorry, the number you dialed is unreachable." "What?, how's this possible, let me try again." She said, then she tried calling her mother again, but she got the same message, she tried some more time but still the same thing, she was already getting worried, but she managed to calm herself down with the thought that she'll try again tomorrow and maybe she'll be able to reach her mother this time. "I wonder what's happening at home now, i pray you're safe mom" She thought. She forced herself up and went to the bathroom to take a warm bath.

★ New York City _________________ Markenson's Mansion

★ Christine laid numb on the bed, she couldn't find the strength to move, one part of her eyes was swollen, and her lips busted, she was weak and exhausted. "Audrey." She whispered as a lone tear rolled down her cheek, then her slowly closed shut.

"What!." Christine yelled. "No no no, there's no possible way I'm letting you go that far Audrey, Mexico City, that's miles away from here, it's too far Audrey, i can't let you go, no." She said sternly. "Mom please, you know if I stay within new york, dad will find me, I'll need to go somewhere far away from here, somewhere he won't be able to reach easily, please mom, you'll have to understand, I beg you." She pleaded. "But it's too far Audrey." She sighed.

"I know mom, but we've got no other option." "You don't even know anybody there, how will you survive?." Christine pointed out worriedly. "Come on mom, it's not like I'm a kid or something, I'm not a child mom, I'll be able to take care of myself, I'll survive mom, i promise." She assured. "Oh God, what am I going to do with you?." She sighed, Audrey smiled. "Please mom, please, and do not worry, I'll call you every single day." "Hmm." "Please mommy, I love you so much, please let me go, please." She pleaded with a pout. Christine thought about this for a while, this is going to be something difficult, Audrey is her only child, and now she's about to be separated from her daughter, she would have loved to say no, but if she denies Audrey her happiness, her daughter's life will be ruined forever, this is the only way to get Audrey far away from her father, and as a mother, she's already failed her too many times by not being able to stop her father, but she won't are that mistake this time, for Audrey's happiness, she'll be willing to do this. "Alright, you can go to Mexico." She said. "Really, thank you so much mom, thank you." Audrey said excitedly as she hugged her mother tightly. "Promise me again that you'll be okay." Christine said in a crooked voice, she about to cry again. "I promise mom, I'll be okay, I'll be fine, don't worry, and I'll call you every single day, we can make video calls too." Audrey promised, then she pulled away from the hug. "Better, it's a long drive to Mexico, what do we do." Christine said with a frown. "Who said anything about driving." Audrey smirked. "What do you mean." "What I mean is, i won't be driving, i already booked a flight since yesterday." She said, and her mother gasped in shock. "So you're saying, you've already have everything planned out." Christine said, Audrey laughed. "Yes mom, delay can be very dangerous, most especially in cases like this." She winked. "I can't believe this, so when does your flight leaves." "In an hour." She replied. "Oh my God, an hour, that's 6 pm." Christine said, then she checked her wrist watch to confirm the time. "And this is 5 pm, there's no much time left, we haven't even packed anything yet." She panicked. "Relax mom, there's no need for packing, I won't be taking any clothes with me". "And why is that?." "Just...., there'll be no need for that mom, trust me, and I'll have to leave now mom." She said. She walked to her wardrobe and took her back pack, she's just put in a few stuffs in there, no much clothes. "A are you sure dear, you're sure you don't need to take anything with you?." "Yes mom, I'm 100% sure, trust me, and mom, i understand that you'll want to come with me to the airport, but i won't want you to do that, i want it to look like I did all this on my own, i don't want dad getting mad at you because of me, we both know he'll get angry, but it'll only increase his anger if he knows you know about my plans, i don't want him to know I told you anything, so please mom, you'll have to make him think I ran away from home without telling anybody, it's best that way." She explained. "Audrey." Christine called in tears as she hugged her daughter once more. "My child." She cried. "Mom." Audrey cried, hugging her back. They stayed in that position for sometime, before Christine finally pulled away. "You should go now, or you'll be late for your flight." She said, wiping away her daughter's tears with both her palms. "Make sure you stay safe, and take care of yourself and your health, eat well and don't get into trouble, I want you to be happy and not worry about a thing, I want you to live tour life, live a happy life." She instructed. "I will mom, and I'll ask the same of you, take good care of yourself mom, I'll call you when I get to the airport." She said with a sad smile. "I'll walk you to the door." Her mother said, then they both went downstairs. They got to the living room and that was where her mother stopped. "You should leave from here, i won't want the guards seeing us together, after all, you don't want your father knowing about you told me." She said with a sad smile. "Thank you mom, thank you for everything." Audrey Sniffed, she hugged her mother briefly, then she turned to leave, but as she got to the door, she turned to take one last look at her mother who was already crying. She wanted to go back and hug her mom, but If she does that, she might end up not leaving again, this is one of the hardest decision she's made in her life as a daughter, but she's got no choice, this is the only way to have her freedom. "I'm so sorry mother, i pray you live a long life and you'll always be safe and happy even when I'm gone, i love you mom." She thought. She smiled at her mom as she wiped off her tears, then she opened the door and left. The moment Audrey stepped outside, her mother dropped to her knees, then she wept bitterly. When Audrey got out, her driver rushed to meet her. "Where would you love to go miss." He said with a little bow. "No Diego, there's no need to worry, I'll take a cab, just need some time alone, you don't have to worry." She smiled. "Are you sure miss." "Yes, I'm sure." She replied. "Okay miss, if you insist." He replied with a bow. "Thank you." She said, then she continued walking. When she got to the gate, the security didn't bother to question her, he quickly opened the gate, then she got out. Audrey let out a long sigh the moment she stepped out, she turned to look at the mansion and the only thing that'll make her miss this place is her mother, apart from her mother, there's nothing else she'll miss about this hell of a home, Infact, she's glad she's finally leaving, she's glad she'll finally be able to live her own life, and in peace, she would have loved to see the look on her father's face when he returns and is met with the shock of his life, sadly, she won't be able to do that. "Well, goodbye it is then." She said as she left. She's finally leaving to start a new peaceful life, she stopped the first cab she saw, then she got in. "Delta Airlines please." She said. "Okay ma'am." The driver replied, then he drove off. ★ The Airport _____________ The cab finally pulled up in front of the airport, she paid the driver and got out in a rush, there's only few minutes left before her flight leaves. She ran in, did the necessary process before boarding. Audrey sighed when she was finally settled in the plane. "New life, here I come." ★ Mexico City 12 : 38pm ____________________________ "Ahh, Mexico City." Audrey sighed, it's been one hell of a flight, but thankfully, they arrived safely. She breath in the sweet air of Mexico with a satisfied smile, she was feeling so excited and she felt like she might burst with joy. "Hola señorita, bienvenida a mexico, a donde le gustaria ir." (hi miss, welcome to Mexico, where would you love to go). She heard someone say. Audrey opened her eyes, then she saw a middle aged man putting on a security like clothing, but she guessed he was a taxi driver. "I'm sorry, but I don't understand Spanish, do you speak English?." Audrey questioned shyly. "Oh, I'm so sorry señorita, i wanted to know where you will love to go, and again, welcome to Mexico City." He smiled. "Oh, I'm new here, and i don't know anywhere around, so I'll love for you to suggest a nice hotel to Lodge in for me." "Ahh, my pleasure señorita, La Valise is a nice place, one of the best here." "Sweet, please take me there." She replied excitedly. She followed the driver to his taxi, then they both got in and drove off. ★ La Valise hotel ------------------------ On getting to the hotel, Audrey wondered how she'll pay the driver. "How much is the pay sir?." She said nervously. "300 pesos." "300 pesos." She repeated. "Please hold on." She said as she quickly brought out her phone and searched the amount in dollars. "That'll be $14.50, but I can still give him $15." She muttered. "Sir, I've only got dollars with me, is it okay I pay in dollars, you can get them changed." She said, silently praying he agrees. "Alright señorita, you can pay in dollars." He smiled. "Thank you sir, thank you so much." She said, then she brought out $15 from her purse. "Here sir." She said, giving him the money. "Thank you." She said, then she got down. "Goodbye señorita, enjoy your stay in Mexico." The driver yelled before driving off. Audrey took a long look at the magnificent La Valise luxury hotel, and boy!, it was so damn beautiful in the night, everywhere was filled with so much colorful lights, she could see some couples walking around, and some people who were just on their own. "Well, i better go in and get settled in, I'm freaking tired." She muttered, she adjusted the bag on her back, then she went in. She met two ladies at the reception table, she walked up to them with a smiling face. "Hi." She greeted with a smile. "Hello miss, welcome to La Valise hotel, would you love to check in?." One said politely. "Yeah, I'll love to check in." She replied. The regular procedures was carried out and they also gave her a brief introduction about the hotel, then she got her keys and left. Following the directions given to her by the receptionist, she got into the elevator and punched in number 5(the fifth floor), soon, she arrived on the fifth floor, then she got out and searched for room 105. "Found it." She sighed when she finally found her room. She opened the door and got in, first thing she did was to fall on the bed. "Ahhh, at last." "I better call mom." She said, fetching her phone from her ripped jeans pocket, she quickly placed a call through to her mother. "Sorry, the number you dialed is unreachable." "What?, how's this possible, let me try again." She said, then she tried calling her mother again, but she got the same message, she tried some more time but still the same thing, she was already getting worried, but she managed to calm herself down with the thought that she'll try again tomorrow and maybe she'll be able to reach her mother this time. "I wonder what's happening at home now, i pray you're safe mom" She thought. She forced herself up and went to the bathroom to take a warm bath.

★

New York City _________________ Markenson's Mansion

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Christine laid numb on the bed, she couldn't find the strength to move, one part of her eyes was swollen, and her lips busted, she was weak and exhausted. "Audrey." She whispered as a lone tear rolled down her cheek, then her slowly closed shut.