Chasing

LESLIE’S POV

Tears fall down my cheeks in torrents, my struggle to free myself becomes even more futile and in what I now believe are my last moments, the words of Stone resurfaces in my mind. He said I went against someone more powerful than I am and that is why I am going to die.

The only person I can think of is Kian

I can’t tell what breaks my heart more, the fact that I am going to die here without anyone finding out or because Kian, the man I spent most of my life loving, ordered my death. How could he? I know he never loved me but I never thought he was capable of going this far either. He would rather let me die than divorce me? How could he be so cruel to the very end?

I feel more pain in my heart now more than my body. As the fire grows bigger, the smoke infiltrates my nostrils like poison. My vision starts to blur and I can feel my consciousness slipping away for the second time this night only this time it’s going to be forever.

In the final moments before my eyes close, I see someone running through the fire towards me, yelling my name.

I thought I must have made it to heaven when I opened my eyes and I almost got blinded by a really bright light but it turns out it’s just the fluorescent lights of a hospital ward

I am laying on the bed, having opened my eyes a long time ago and staring up at the ceiling. My mind is a blank slate and only one thought circles my mind; I didn’t die. I survived. Someone comes into the room slowly but hasten their footsteps once they realize I am awake.

“Leslie, you’re awake.” I turn my head to meet the eyes of the one who had saved my life. Travis. I’d registered his voice as the one yelling out my name just before I lost consciousness at the warehouse. I already owe this man a lot and now I owe him something that’s worth more than everything he has done in the past–my life.

“Travis.” I call, my voice croaky. I want to hug him, to tell him just how grateful I am that he came. To tell him how scared I’d been but his name was the only thing I could manage.

Travis’s eyes soften and he sighs heavily, his relief as clear as day.

“God, Leslie, I was so worried.” He says, unable to keep the tremble in his voice from making itself

known.

“How did you find me?” I didn’t tell anyone where I was going and that was my biggest mistake because! was still stupid enough to trust him Kian.

Travis takes a seat beside the bed as he replies, “Your father has a tracker in every single car he owns mostly to know what his drivers do with his cars when he isn’t around. I am only thankful that you went out in one of those cars. I can’t…I can’t imagine what would have happened…” His voice breaks as he speaks.

I look around the room and Travis notices what I’m looking for.

“Your father wanted to be here but you know he isn’t in good health. I told him to stay back. I promise, he’s worried sick.”

I nod and wince when that small movement causes me pain.

“Hey, don’t move, okay? Just rest up. The police are already looking for suspects. I promise you, Leslie. I will find the person who did this and make them pay.”

As he says that, I feel a burst of anger inside of me.

“It’s Kian.” I say, shocking Travis into silence.

“What?”

“Kian did it. He asked to meet there alone and I foolishly listened to him.” I no longer feel pain or hurt at the thought. All I feel now is fiery anger that makes me want to burn Kian in a fire greater than the one I almost got killed in.

“Leslie, I know you aren’t really in the right state of mind right now-

“I am not crazy! I know what I am saying! It was Kian. That bastard ordered my death.”

Travis goes silent for a second before speaking again, “I’m not saying you are crazy. Leslie but I was with Kian when your father called and I didn’t notice anything strange. This is a serious allegation, Leslie.”

I have the strong conviction that Kian did it even if I can’t tell why he wants me dead. The thought of him fills me with nothing but spite and a thirst for vengeance,

“Does he know what happened?”

Travis shook his head, “I left him as soon as I got your father’s call.”

“Good, keep it that way. He wants me dead, doesn’t he? Then let him know I died. Let everyone damned family, his company and the entire world know that Leslie Winston is dead.”

in that

Travis looks at me, confusion and concern mixing in his eyes, “What are you planning, Leslie?”

“I am getting reborn. I will become someone else if that’s what it takes to teach that bastard a lesson.” My plan was to go back to being Leslie Johnson after the divorce as I would prefer to take my mother’s last name rather than that of my father but my near death experience has made me realize that to fight against the powerful, I need to be just as powerful.

“How do you intend to do that?” Travis asks and I smile at him.

“My father has been dying to announce to the world that he has an heiress, hasn’t he? This is his chance. Have him organize a charity gala where he introduces me next month and of course, the almighty Kian Winston gets a special invite.” I elaborate the plan and it fills me with excitement.

A special invite where he gets to see me rise from the ashes not as Leslie Winston, the timid, spineless wife and secretary but Leslie Hanson, the heiress of a conglomerate.