The Chased Billionaire Heiress

Ariana paced back and forth in her small, dimly lit hotel room, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. Her heart raced as she struggled to steady her breathing. The uneasy feeling that had been gnawing at her all day had now grown into a full-blown anxiety. She wasn't sure if it was the impending trip to Mexico for her hunt for a new job, or something deep, something more profound that was causing this turmoil inside her.

" Please call me back, Dad, you are the only one who can help me out with this," Ariana muttered under her breath. 

She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was late, but not too late to make a call. The unease inside her urged her to hear her father's voice one last time before she left. She needed to tell him where she was going, to hear his words of reassurance, even if just to quell the growing dread in her chest.

Taking a deep breath, Ariana finally stopped pacing and pressed her father's contact on her phone. The phone rang once, twice, three times. Her heart pounded louder with each ring. She imagined her father, sitting in his old recliner in their cozy living room, the TV playing in the background, maybe dozing off after a long day. She could almost see him, his graying hair tousled, his warm eyes squinting at the caller ID before reaching for the phone with a smile. 

" What's keeping dad from picking up my call right now, given he is not busy right now? " Ariana whispered to herself. 

But as the rings continued without an answer, that comforting image started to waver, replaced by a sinking feeling. She waited, her breath held, until finally, the ringing stopped and was replaced by the cold, mechanical voice of his voicemail.

" A voicemail at this hour, not to mention my call? " Ariana cursed under her breath as her heart sank. She knew it was late, but her father was a light sleeper, always picking up his phone, especially when she called.

He always told her, "No matter what time it is, Ariana, I am here. Just call me." The fact that he had not picked up now made her stomach twist with unease.

" Please leave your message after the tone," the robotic voice instructed before the beep sounded.

Ariana hesitated for a moment, staring at the screen, her thumb hovering over the red button to hang up. But something urged her to speak, to say what she needed to, even if it was just to his voicemail.

"Hey, hello, Dad," Ariana started, her voice shaky. She cleared her throat, trying to steady herself. "It's Ari. I know it's late, and I am sorry to call you at this hour, but I just... I needed to tell you something and I believe you are the only one who will understand me. " Ariana stated.

She paused, taking a deep breath, trying to calm the trembling in her voice. "I am... I am leaving for Mexico tomorrow or maybe the next day. It's for that new job I told you about, the one with the marketing firm. I know it's sudden, and I didn't really have time to explain everything when we last talked, but this is a big opportunity for me. They need me there as soon as possible, so I'm flying out first thing in the morning." Ariana stated with her voice shakey, she bit her lip, her eyes welling up with tears she hadn't expected. Why did this feel so hard? It was just a job, just another step in her career. But there was something more to it, something she couldn't quite put her finger on a sense of finality, of something slipping away.

" I just... I wanted to hear your voice before I left," she continued, her voice softening. "I know you are probably asleep, and that is why you didn't pick up. But I wanted you to know that I am okay, and that you don't need to worry about me. I will be careful, I promise."

She paused again, wiping away a tear that had escaped down her cheek. "I know things haven't been easy for us lately," she said, her voice wavering. "With everything that's happened... I know I have been distant, and I am sorry for that. But I just want you to know that I love you, Dad. I love you so much." Ariana's voice broke on the last word, and she had to take a moment to collect herself. She could picture her father listening to this message in the morning, concern etched on his face, wondering why she sounded so sad. She didn't want to worry him, but she couldn't shake the feeling that this might be the last time she'd get to say these things to him.

"And... and please don't worry about me," she repeated, as if trying to convince herself as much as him. "I will call you as soon as I get to Mexico, okay? I will keep you updated on everything. Just... take care of yourself, Dad. " Ariana's voice broke down. 

"Anyway, I should go," she said, her voice barely above a whisper now. "I just... I needed to say this. I will talk to you soon, Dad. I love you. Bye."

She hung up the phone, the silence in the hotel room suddenly overwhelming. The unease that had been gnawing at her all day still lingered, but now it was mixed with a deep sadness, a sadness she hadn't expected to feel.

Ariana stared at the phone in her hand, wondering if she should have tried calling again, if maybe her father would pick up this time. But no, it was late, and she didn't want to disturb him more than she already had. She had said what she needed to say, even if it was just to his voicemail.

It was not long when the room service came knocking at her door and Ariana was confused by the sudden interruptions, since the room service had just finished serving her and the next thing was that she wasn't expecting a knock on the door.