NOVEL NEXT Chapter 527: A bad feeling
When Lara walked out of the room for tests, she felt lighter by half of her weight. She had done well, all things considered, replying to every question to the best of her capabilities.
She had even attempted the answer to a question she had no clue of. Trying was better than leaving it blank.
She had just walked out of the exam hall and was turning her phone on when she had a bad premonition. As if hurrying out was the wrong choice. She just wanted to see her boyfriend and kids soon and tell them she did her best...
She rubbed her eyes, realising that she should listen to those feelings she couldn't understand. After living in a pack of wolves, she would discover part of her instinct she had buried under layers of human rationality.
She avoided the front entrance and used a backdoor to leave through an alley. It was stupid, but she would waste a few seconds only. Maybe miss the train, but another one would come in a matter of minutes.
She toured around the university, wondering what had pushed her in that direction. When she was close to the front entrance, she stopped because she saw the reporters in front of it. They were waiting for her, weren't they?
Oh, what a stupid idea! Maybe there was the child of someone famous taking the test that day. Sure, they would have assaulted her if they saw her coming out, making a scoop about her presence as well.
But there was no way the reporters knew about her test.
She shook her head but still avoided meeting them. Even though she was already on public ground, so they wouldn't assume she was going to the university, she didn't want to waste a single second with them. Explore more stories with empire
She reached the subway station and got on the train towards the company. She took out her phone and scoffed when she noticed there was no signal. The train was moving, so she had to wait for the stops to get some connections.
«What are the roads made of?» she murmured under her breath.
She got off at the stop right under the company - she had to cross the road and she was there. She received Nate's call while on the stairs.
«Hey?» she said. «I was going to call you, but the signal wasn't stable. I'm on my way.»
«Are you done, already? I'm on my way,» Nate was exclaiming with a hurried voice.
Lara chuckled, amused.
«I'm in front of the company. I'll be walking in, in about a minute.»
«No, wait, wait... I'll send Jack to fetch you, seriously.»
«I'm here, Nate.»
«Don't let them see you, okay? And stay on the phone with me.»
«Who?»
«The journalists.»
«Oh,» she moaned. So, they were there for her. But was it such a scandal, going to university? Well, just trying to, actually.
What scared the most, though, was that someone knew every her step. They hadn't seen her by chance: they had followed her! She had been dropped off by Nate, so there was no chance anyone would have gotten by his radar without being noticed.
«I'm sorry... I guess,» she said. Nate said not to hang up, so she felt better at saying words, no matter how useless.
«It's not your fault. I'm just concerned about your safety.»
«Should I go home?»
«I fear they'll be there as well. If they could dig up this, they can find everything. If you can't get into the company, I'll come down and we'll leave together.»
«I didn't know studying was such a scandal, though,» she chuckled. «I can't understand the press, really.»
«S-studying? Well, no. It's not a scandal indeed,» Nate said.
He didn't want to tell her about what the reporters wanted to know because she was far from him. Once safe and in front of his eyes, within his reach in case of panic attacks or whatever events, he would have explained the situation.
But, until then, she was safer in the dark. Just until he could be as close as to help.
«Secretary Jack should be there in a moment. Don't get out of the subway, okay?» he said, changing the topic and keeping her focused on the moment. «Do you see him?»
«Not yet,» said Lara, eyeing the entrance doors. A lot of people would cross it, in or out, but not one of them looked like Secretary Jack. Everyone was in a hurry, so she stood in a corner and waited patiently.
She felt a couple of long, interested stares, but she didn't give weight to them. Coincidences, she decided. Or, most likely, she was seeing what her mind wanted to see. The press was waiting for her in front of any important building of her life; it wasn't so strange she would think anyone was after her.
«Miss Clayton,» Jack said while running in. He was wearing his usual black suit, but he also had a female jacket and a small bag. «Hurry up: wear this!»
She wore the jacket and observed how Secretary Jack opened the bag and gave her a hat with a wig of blonde, wavy hair. She blinked, on the verge of laughing out loud.
She felt like a spy on a mission, but she accepted to play by Nate's rules. It was fun, after all. And she could keep that wig for all kinds of play, for later.
«Let's go,» Jack said, guiding her towards the car parking. There were fewer journalists there, and they didn't seem to pay much attention to the two getting in.
At first, Jack offered a pair of sunglasses to Lara. However, she knew she would attract more attention with those than without. She just covered her face with the bangs and prayed it was enough.
She stepped inside with her heart beating crazy. Every step counted like a hundred, using the last reserves of energy she had. The test had tired her completely, but going home was turning out ten times more difficult.