Page 52 of Runaway Girl
Chapter 30
ALICIA
I could hear the rumbles of the passionate fans, their screams shaking the concrete foundation as I tracked the troublesome trio through the underground corridors. Their auras were easy to follow since they were toxic and pitch fucking black.
Worry and urgency had me overtaken ever since Ethan had dropped the bomb about his resignation.
My bullshit radar was popping off. And I wasn’t going to rest until I found out how those three vultures sabotaged my man. There was no other explanation.
“Breathe, Alicia. You got this,” Stella said, her tone calming through the phone.
As soon as she had picked up my call, I gave her the quick rundown in sixty seconds flat. And just as I predicted, Stella laid out the harrowing repercussions for Ethan breaking his contract. He would lose millions of dollars and be sued for the rest. The split-second decision was going to change the trajectory of his life forever, and I wasn’t about to watch him crash and burn without attempting to save him.
I hummed in the phone, trying to distract myself from spiralling. “So… what if,hypothetically, you found out that a certain employee from your company was in a relationship with a client?”
“Hypothetically, they’d be fired.”Shit. Shit. Shit.“But if it’syou, I’d say there’s always a loophole.”
I nearly collapsed. “Really?”
“Well, I’m certainly not going to terminate you. And Felix wouldn’t dare, with the knowledge you have.”
The mention of my boss had prickles skating over my skin.
“Stella, are you okay?” I asked hesitantly. We never spoke about that night I found her husband with his secretary, but I could sense the tension at work. I knew something was brewing behind the scenes.
Stella gave a stagnant pause before answering. “No. I’m not okay. But I will be.”
“I’m always here if you need anything,” I said. And I meant every word. She didn’t reply, but I could feel the promise settle between us.
That’s when I saw my opportunity arise. Katy, the influencer, broke away from Jake and Audrey, veering for a bathroom around the corner. I’d recognised her immediately since she was the one who created and broadcast the Runaway Girl hashtag. She was a beautiful woman—a shame she was monstrous in real life.
Tallying the odds, I knew my best bet was to corner her alone. One-on-one was definitely better than going up against three. Especially since they were all delusional.
Stella quietly agreed and placed herself on mute so she could listen and record everything that transpired. For me, it was an added security in case I ever went missing.Or if I had the sudden inclination to cut a bitch.
Sneaking into the bathroom behind Katy, I checked that we were alone before I flipped the lock.
When she came out of the stall and saw me standing by the sink, Katy didn’t look surprised, just smug. Which pissed me the fuck off.
“What have you done to Ethan?” I seethed.So much for cool, calm, collected. My pulse quickened, anger causing my heart to pummel in my chest.
Katy settled beside me, washing and drying her hands as if she didn’t have a care in the world. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I took a threatening step forward. “Watch it. Ethan taught me how to throw down.”More so in between the sheets… But she didn’t have to know that distinction.
“I’d be careful if I was you,Runaway Girl. Unless you want the whole world to know who you are.”
I snickered. “Is that it? You’re going to release my identity? Do it,” I said with gusto before leaning into her face. “Yeah, you might gain some traction online and boost your reach, but I bet I can steal that. I’ll gain more followers than you within the first twenty-four hours.”
I didn’t care for social media, and sure as shit didn’t want my name released by that cretin. But I knew I hit a nerve when her face morphed into a cruel grimace.
“Not with the photos I’ve got of you! No one would respect you if I released those since you just look like the typical fame whore.”
“The hypocrisy is mind-boggling, truly,” I sighed. “And I don’t appreciate thelewdaccusation.”Hah, Dad will be proud.
“I don’t care. Our plan worked. Now, you don’t want to test me, Alicia. These photos can bring about your demise, not just Ethan’s.”
A shrill giggle snapped through the air, the noise making us flinch unaware. I slipped the phone out of my pocket and raised it between us, the loudspeaker on full volume. Stella had unmuted herself.
