Genevieve's eyes widened in a mixture of fear and confusion, her words coming out in a stammer.
"Why? Wh—What are you doing?"
''Helping you," Annika was the one who replied. The smile on her face widening, she explained, "It's what we wish others would do to us if we ever find ourselves in the same position as you are now. Go now, Eve.''
Genevieve could not help the splutter of disbelief that escaped her lips, ''What do you mean? You can't possibly be talking about setting me free—'
Aurora cut her off, "Well, we are. And we don't have time for emotional sentiments." She turned to the guard still standing at the door and ordered, ''Help her out.''
Bowing slighly, the guard obeyed the command, maintaining a firm but gentle grip on Genevieve's arm as he pulled her out of the car.
''What?!'' she protested, ''You two can't possibly leave me here. Your fa—I mean, Roberto might punish you when he finds out—''
''We can handle him,'' Annika deadpanned. ''You just go and live your life as you used to.''
Genevieve opened her mouth and closed it back, no words forthcoming. She had not expected this. The girls were actually deciding to let her go because she insinuated she wasn't with their father of her own will? But she couldn't let this happen.
She had to remain with the Viscontis!
If she went back to where she came from, she would have to start the process all over again and maybe this time, she would be sold to an old man with unkind daughters and an ugly son.
What? It shouldn't surprise anyone that Adrian was one of the reasons she felt staying at the Viscontis would be bearable. Seeing his handsome face at breakfast every morning should be able to help her forget anything she'd had to do with his father the previous night.
'Jeez, Eve. Get your thoughts straight and stop thinking about a handsome man you should be scared of. When the hell did you start allowing distractions into your mind?' she shook her head vigorously as if to clear it of stray thoughts, when Annika's voice pierced through her mind, reminding her she had to think of something to make the girls take her back without telling them she lied about following their father unwillingly.
''What are you doing?'' Annika asked. ''Go ahead, Eve, before someone recognizes our car and notifies dad.''
''But I can't just go!'' Genevieve blurted out.
''Why not?'' Aurora retorted, her tone harsh.
''Because… because…'' Genevieve licked her lips nervously, racking her brain for what to say. Her eyes lit up with happiness the moment an idea popped into her mind, ''I don't know where to go. Actually, I was homeless before the auctioneer took me and—''
Annika blinked genuine confusion brewing in her eyes.
"Did I just hear homeless?! How the hell are you this beautiful and refined then?''
Before Genevieve could think of another lie, Aurora chimed in, ''Look, we don't have enough time for all this.'' She dug into a small bag beside her and retrieved a card, quickly showing it to Annika, who nodded before extending it to Genevieve. ''Take it. Use it to get anything you want. An apartment, a car, a passport? Don't bother thanking us. You're welcome.''
The card was pressed onto Genevieve's palm, and before she could get a chance to refuse or accept, the door was slammed in her face. The guard who had pulled her out of the car hurried over to enter the passenger side beside the driver seat, and as soon as he got in, the car sped off, leaving her standing there.
~
Sixty seconds later, Genevieve was still standing in the same spot, looking in the direction where the car had now disappeared as if her persistent gaze would summon them back. The wind blew a loose tendril of her hair against her face, and she was finally reminded of where she was standing. She looked around the area, spotting a cafe across the road and a phone booth just down the walkway around the corner.
A smile broke out on her face. This was another sign that God was on her side for this revenge plan; why else would everything look like they were prearranged? She looked down at the Amex card in her hand, and her eyes sparkled when she noticed the name on it.
Adrian Victor Visconti…
''Gosh, those girls are really sheltered. How can they not know that using this card will help Roberto trace my location when he finds out I'm missing?'' she chuckled, but the laugh quickly died in her throat at the realization that the girls must have been so eager to help her that they didn't think that far.
Looking around herself one last time, she started on her way down the walkway towards the phone booth. On getting there, she looked around once again and pulled the door open, then stepped in. Her hands flew across the buttons in quick succession, and she placed the phone against her ears as soon as she was done.
''Hello? Aunt Anna? Yes, it's Eve. Come over to The Whispering Cup,'' she told the person on the other side the name of the cafe across the road. ''Yeah,'' she continued, ''The one we always stop at for coffee after our morning runs… I'll be waiting in the back lounge."