Chapter 78 An outing
Maria’s POV
It was 9am when I got out of the shower and looked down at my phone, where I saw Henry's message.
He approved the outing. We can check out that new Korean bakery in Duluth with those delicious-looking mousse cakes you showed me. Just remember, you have to be on your best behavior, young lady, and listen to everything I tell you, or he'll have us, I mean you, under lock and key forever lol.
Putting the phone back down on the marble bathroom sink, I pumped my fist into the air, “Yesssss,” I screamed in delight. I was finally able to get out of this hellhole and do something normal. I hadn't been able to leave here since we arrived. It's been one thing after another, and I was finally going to get a taste of freedom.
Opening the closet, I browsed through the clothes that had been purchased for me. A pair of light blue, faded, stretchy skinny jeans stood out; now all I had to do was find a shirt. Halfway through the closet, I found a V-neck, short-sleeved shirt in a pastel pink; it was gorgeous.
In front of the mirror, I quickly got dressed as the urge to escape this place overwhelmed all my other senses. Doing a final check after putting my hair into a high ponytail, I grabbed my phone and headed to the door.
I made it to the kitchen and texted Henry:
"I'm ready. Come meet me in the kitchen."
A text came back almost immediately from him:
"Hah, I'm one step ahead of you. Come outside, I'm already in the Mercedes."
A laugh, an actual laugh, escaped me. How long had it been since I genuinely laughed?
Running outside to the driveway that circled the main house, Henry was waiting in Aleksander's infamous bulletproof Mercedes SUV. Not wasting a second, I jumped in the passenger seat, giggling like some schoolgirl sneaking out of the house.
"Gas on it, Henry, before he changes his mind!"
Not even bothering to respond, Henry gassed it, making the tires spin as they sped down the driveway. Pushing a button on the steering wheel, the gate that had been recently repaired opened for them.
Finally on the road, Henry made quick work of reaching I-85S heading towards Duluth from Commerce. The traffic was unusually light for a Tuesday, so we made it to our exit within twenty minutes. Pulling off onto the Pleasant Hill exit, we turned right, heading into “Little Korea.” This place was amazing, I'd always wanted to come here. The signs were in English and Korean, and advertisements were everywhere for the best Korean BBQ spots, bakeries, and the general stuff like doctors and lawyers. My face was smashed against the glass as I couldn't contain my excitement.
“You look like a kid at Disney World for the first time!” Henry chuckled from the driver's seat.
“I feel like it. I've always wanted to come here and explore. I've just never had the chance or anyone to go with me,” I said, “I've always loved watching the Korean dramas, especially the ones where it's set in ancient times. It's just all so incredibly fascinating.”
Henry turned left into a large parking lot facing White Lily Bakery.
My mouth was already watering as Henry came over and opened the door. Grabbing his hand, I stepped out. Linking my arm through his, we walked into the most beautiful bakery I've ever seen. It was as if Korea met French aesthetics. Fairy lights hung from the ceiling, and the cream and emerald-green walls gave it a fairy-garden vibe.
Dragging me to the cake case, Henry looked like a man on a mission, a mission to eat every cake they had. “Maria, look,” he said, pointing at one of the cakes on display, “It's a sweet potato cake, and over there is a peach cake! I'm going to have to try them all!”
Laughing, I followed him to the register to place our orders. He ordered three slices of cake and a black coffee, and I ordered a slice of the red bean cake and a slice of their chocolate mousse cake, and, of course, to top it off, I ordered a caramel macchiato.
Taking our trays full of plates, we picked a booth in the corner, facing the door so that Henry could observe for any threats. Even though we were having a good time, we sadly had to be on guard because something could pop off quickly at any moment.
I gave Henry a moment as he was lost in ecstasy with every single bite he put in his mouth. I didn't
blame him, though, because when I tasted the rich chocolate mousse in my mouth, my body purred in satisfaction. It had to be one of the best things I've ever eaten.
After a few minutes of us gorging ourselves on cake and coffee, Henry stood up. “I'm going to the bathroom, I won't be long,” he said, motioning between the booth and the bathroom. “Don't move from here, and if something happens, scream!”
Nodding as I took another sip of my drink, “I’ll be ok, Henry, go before you pee on yourself.”
Laughing, he walked off towards the bathroom. Once he was gone, I took out my phone and checked for messages. Of course, there wasn't any. I kept my hope alive that he'd message me to make sure I was ok. But ever since I confronted him several weeks ago, he's been absent. Why was it so damn hard for him to open up to me? That's all I ever fucking wanted.
After a while, I realized more than five minutes had passed. Surely he's ok? Fear began to tingle down my spine. I knew I should stay here, but shouldn't I go check on him?
Standing up, I grab my phone, putting it in my back pocket. I walk to the men’s bathroom and find that it has a single toilet. I knock on the door, “Henry, are you ok? Answer me!”
No answer.
Against my better judgment, I jiggle the lock.
The door opens, and I walk in.
What the fuck?
To my absolute horror, Henry was lying unconscious on the bathroom floor.
“Oh my God, Henry,” I yelled, kneeling by his side. Blood trickled down his forehead, but he still wouldn't wake up. I grab for my phone, but a noise behind me stops me in my tracks.
“Tsk, Tsk, Tsk. My dear little Maria, I wouldn't do that if I were you.” Alina said, coming out of the shadows from the corner of the bathroom stall. Another woman was behind her. Could that be Nina?
“What do you want from me?” I stuttered, trying to keep a strong demeanor, even though on the inside I was scared shitless.
“Oh my dear, so many things. You'll just have to wait and see.” Alina purred.
I hadn't seen her move, but Nina had managed to creep up behind me. I tried to move, but I was too slow. She wrapped her arm around my neck into a chokehold, pressing a cloth against my mouth that had a weird smell to it. I flailed my arms and fought, but slowly I began to weaken, and I disappeared into the darkness.
Alina spoke into her phone, "We got the bitch, we're on our way."