Claire: The Forced Virgin Of The Billionaire

I waited until we turned another corner and then tried to be nonchalant, “Is there a public washroom in this store?” I asked Rosita, careful not to look at Earl.

She pointed behind us, “Yeah, back by the customer service desk.”

“Okay, I’ll meet you in the ice cream isle in 5?”

She smiled at me, “You want ice cream?”

I smiled back and nodded. “Be right back.”

Earl said something to her and she took the cart from me. He followed me to the bathroom. I felt my face get hot. I didn’t make eye contact with him. Thankfully, he at least waited outside the door.

The washroom had two regular stalls and one wheelchair washroom. I saw Lily’s feet in the wheelchair washroom. I pulled the handle and stepped in and she grabbed me and clutched me tight against her.

I tried not to make a sound but wanted to fall apart.

“Let’s go. Quick!” she said.

I put my finger to my lips and pointed out the door, “bodyguard,” I whispered.

She gasped and covered her mouth, then said, “I’ve been so worried. Are you okay?” her voice was barely above a whisper, “You don’t look well.”

I nodded and dashed the tears off my face.

“How the hell did you even find me?” That question had had my mind up in a whirl, making me feel like I was hallucinating seeing Lily.

“That chip I’d placed in your phone 3 years ago when you weren’t looking led me up to that fortress of a penthouse which I’m guessing you’re staying at. I’d been worried sick and there was this gut feeling that I just couldn’t shake off that something bad had happened to you. So, I couldn’t help myself but track you down. Once I noticed that there were men patrolling that massive penthouse day and night, I knew something was up.”

She took a deep breath, her body trembling as she spoke in a hushed whisper, “You’re being held captive, aren’t you?”

I silently nodded, wanting to kill myself for my stupidity which had landed me the prisoner spot on a mafia’s list.

Lily seethed, her nostrils flaring up. “I should’ve told you not to go at all. I should never have let you go through with this. f**k!”

“It’s not your fault. All of this is my doing and I alone am responsible for it.” I silently told her, hating myself for her blaming herself for my stupid mistakes.

Looking me straight in the eyes, she said, “It’s not too late. You need to go. We need to go. You have to escape.”

“Oh Lily, this is too dangerous!” I was trying to keep my voice low. I didn’t have much time, Rosita and Earl could start to suspect that something was up if I was gone for too long.

“Listen,” I said, “I can’t talk about this but these are dangerous people. I don’t want you getting mixed up in this. I’m okay. I’m fine. Please don’t do anything else, please just —”

“You are not fine!” her voice was getting too loud.

“Shhhh,” I winced, clutching her biceps.

There was a loud knock on the door. I flushed the toilet and signaled for her to keep quiet.

“Miss Dawson?” Earl was inside the ladies’ room right outside the stall door.

s**t.

I started to open it and tried to squeeze out without revealing that Lily was in there with me. It was no use. He pulled the door open and came face to face with her.

“Is everything okay, Miss Dawson?” Earl asked, looking at her instead of me.

“It’s fine,” I breathed, “Let’s go.” I looked back, giving Lily a desperate look, “I’m fine. It’s okay. I’ll be in touch, okay?”

She shook her head at me and then turned her attention to Earl, “What do you people think you’re doing? You can’t just—”

“Please!” I exclaimed, “I’ll be in touch. Don’t, okay? If you do this, it could put your own family at danger too. Trust me. I’ll be fine.” Earl narrowed his eyes at me and then at her. He reached for my elbow and gently ushered me forward.

“You’re part of my family, Claire.” Lily choked out.

“I love you.” I said to her, “Thank you for everything. Everything. I will be in touch, okay?”

Tears welled up in her eyes and she covered her mouth with her hand.

As we stepped out Earl said, “Take my arm, Miss Dawson.”

I did. He ushered me directly out of the store and to the Jeep he’d driven us there in. He opened the back door and I got in.

He got into the driver’s seat, then dialed a number and held the phone. Then he hung up and dialed again and held the phone and looked pissed off.

Then he dialed again, “Sir, there’s been an incident. It’s under control but a family friend of Miss Dawson’s followed us to the supermarket and got Claire into the bathroom and I broke up their conversation.” He was quiet for a minute and then stepped out of the jeep and closed the door and stepped about six feet away to finish his conversation.

By the look on his face he looked like he was getting raked over the coals. He made another call and talked with a cold look on his face and then seemed like he was getting in an argument with someone.

When he got back into the car he dialed another number, “Rosita, we’re in the car due to a problem, security breach; you’re almost done there? Wrap it up immediately. No, per Mr. Clarke. It’s urgent. Or, I take Miss Dawson home and you either wait until I have time to come back for you or you take a cab. No, I will not ask her that. Fine…” he leaned back and asked me, “What kind of ice cream?”