Chapter 75 THE SAVIOUR PART 2
"Come on," Kai finally said. "Let's get you back to the Plaza."
Vivienne looked down at herself. The evening gown covered in dirt. "I can't go back there looking like this."
"You don't have to go inside. Just wait by a side entrance. I'll grab your purse and bring it to you."
"You'd do that?"
"I just spent twenty minutes searching for you. Getting your purse is easy."
Five minutes later, they were back at the Plaza.
"Wait here," Kai said as he hurried inside. "I'll be quick."
He disappeared through the door, leaving Vivienne alone again.
What was she going to tell Alexander? What possible explanation could she give that wouldn't make everything worse?
The door opened. But it wasn't Kai.
A hotel security guard leaned down. "Miss? You can't just stand out here. This is a service entrance, and the program ended an hour ago."
"I'm just waiting for someone. He'll be back in a minute."
"I'm sorry, but you need to move along."
"Fine. I'll wait inside."
She walked through the service door before the guard could argue. The hallway beyond was dimmer than the main lobby. Staff moved past carrying boxes and equipment. No one paid attention to her.
Vivienne found a quiet corner near the business center and leaned against the wall. From here, she could hear the sounds of the gala winding down. Voices. Laughter. The clink of glasses being collected.
Most people had probably left already. The speeches were done. The important networking finished. Just cleanup now.
She pulled Kai's jacket tighter around herself and waited.
Footsteps approached. She looked up, expecting Kai.
It was Priya.
"Ms. Cross?" Priya stopped, her eyes wide. "Oh my God, we've been so worried. Where have you been?"
"I got lost," Vivienne said. It was becoming her standard answer.
"Lost? But you missed your speech. Mr. Hunt was looking everywhere for you." Priya stepped closer. "Are you okay? You look..."
"Like I've had a rough night?"
"Yeah." Priya's concern seemed genuine. "Do you need help? Should I get someone?"
"No. I'm fine. My friend is just getting my purse, then I'm leaving."
"Your friend?"
"Kai. The choreographer."
"Oh." Priya tried to keep her face neutral. "He's been looking for you too. He left the gala about an hour ago."
"He found me."
Priya nodded slowly, clearly wanting to ask more questions but holding back. "Well, I'm glad you're safe. Mr. Hunt will be relieved."
"Is he still here?"
"I think so. He was in the lobby last I saw, talking to his mother." Priya moved her bag to her shoulder. "I should go. Take care."
"Thank you, Priya."
After Priya left, Vivienne waited another five minutes before Kai reappeared, her clutch in his hand.
"Got it." He handed it to her. "Most people have cleared out. Victoria's still holding court with some investors near the bar, but we can avoid that area if we go out the east exit."
Vivienne clutched her purse like a lifeline. Everything was in there. Her wallet. Her keys.
"Did you see Alexander?" she asked.
"Yeah. He was talking to someone near the entrance." Kai gestured down the hallway. "Come on. Let's get you out of here before anyone else spots you."
They walked quickly through the corridor, Kai leading the way toward the exit. Just before they reached the door, Vivienne heard a voice behind them.
"Ms. Cross?"
She turned.
Alexander stood at the end of the hallway. He looked worried. Angry.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"Home."
"We need to talk."
"I can't. Not right now."
"Why not?" His eyes moved to Kai, standing close beside her. "What's going on?"
"She needs to leave," Kai said.
"Tell me what is going on right now." Alexander walked closer. Then he saw Vivienne's face. The exhaustion. The fear. "What happened?"
"Please," Vivienne said. "I just need to go home."
Alexander's jaw tightened. "I'm coming with you."
"You don't need to." Vivienne didn't wait for him to finish.
Kai called for a car while they waited by the service exit. Neither Vivienne nor Alexander spoke.
A black sedan pulled up.
Vivienne climbed into the back seat, then looked up at Kai.
"Thank you. For finding me," she said quietly.
Kai gave her a small nod. "Call me when you get home."
She turned to Alexander. "I'm sorry. About tonight."
His expression softened slightly. "We'll talk later."
"Goodnight," she said to both of them before the door shut.
"Where to?" the driver asked.
Vivienne gave her address, her voice barely audible.
As the car pulled away from the Plaza, she pulled out her phone. Still dead.
"Do you have a charger?" she asked the driver.
He passed back a cable. Vivienne plugged her phone in and watched the screen stay dark for several seconds before the battery icon appeared.
1%. Charging.
She set it on her lap and stared out the window.
Two minutes passed. Her phone vibrated as it powered on.
Then it started.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Message after message flooding in. Missed call notifications. Voicemails.
The screen lit up repeatedly.
Alexander: 7 missed calls.
Marcus: 4 missed calls.
Victoria: 2 missed calls.
Rebecca: 1 missed call, 3 text messages.
Vivienne's fingers fumbled as she opened Rebecca's texts.
"Call me when you get this."
"Vivienne, pick up."
"Call me."
Her whole body went cold.
"Is everything okay back there?" the driver asked, noticing her face in the rearview mirror.
Vivienne was already calling Rebecca, her hands shaking so badly she almost dropped the phone.
Rebecca answered on the first ring.
"Vivienne, thank God. Where have you been? I've been trying to reach you for an hour."
"What happened? Is Noah okay?"
"He's fine. He's here with me. But Vivienne, someone broke into the apartment."
The words didn't make sense at first. Then they hit her all at once.
"What?" Vivienne's legs felt weak. She leaned against the car door for support.
"Was anything taken?"
"I don't know. I called the police immediately. Marcus too. He's with them, they're going through everything." Rebecca sounded terrified. "Vivienne, whoever it was, they went through your bedroom."
"Where's Noah?" Vivienne asked.
"Safe. He's at my place. He doesn't know anything about the break-in. I told him we were having a sleepover." Rebecca paused. "The police want to talk to you. They're asking questions about who might have access to your apartment, if you've had any threats lately."
The threats. The blackmail. The messages. The mysterious woman.
This wasn't random. This was a message.
"I'm on my way," Vivienne said. "Keep Noah there. Don't let him out of your sight."
"I won't."
She hung up, blood rushing through her.
She leaned forward toward the front seat. "Please. Can you drive faster?"
The driver glanced at her in the mirror, then pressed harder on the gas.