After that Anna didn't go down. She took her time and went to the terrace. From there she could see the bustling city at the foot of the mountain.
Those neon lights, dazzling buildings and never ending liviliness only made her feel worse.
She felt exhausted.
She suddenly couldn't help but miss her island.
"Hey." a warm greeting came from behind, from a familiar man.
Cladded in black, he looked intimidating but his actions towards her are in contrast, gentle and loving.
It's obviously Aiden, her first love and most probably could be the last love as well.
"Are you fine?" he asked, placing his warm hand on her back. Transferring the heat to her cold body.
"I am okay. Just exhausted." Anna truthfully said. She has many people around her. Many.
All of them are caring and respectful towards her. But what's the use?
There is no trust and reliability there. There is no peace.
She has to stand on her guards everytime and it's exhausting.
No matter how powerful and capable she is, she can't walk on eggshells everytime, right?
"You need a way out, don't you?" Aiden asked as he placed his coat on her shoulders.
If it was a few years ago, he could have hugged her and gladly became her human warmer but it's no longer the case.
So, he could only do this.
"There are some things which you can never outrun. Some things never give you a way out." Anna said, still looking at the bustling city.
He still knows her the best!
"Don't outrun them, Anna. It will only make you exhausted and at last you will cave to that pressure." He told her.
"That's true." Anna sadly smiled, making his heart ache.
"Just escape from reality for a few days, Anna. And when you go back, you will be reinvigorated to face it again." Aiden said.
What Anna said right now, didn't give him a precise understanding but it indeed gave him an abstract idea of what she is facing.
She is facing something toxic. Something she wants to run away from but at the same time she couldn't let it go as it is too precious to her.
He is no stranger to it. He has been in that place and he still is!
"A getaway?" Anna asked.
"Yes." Aiden said, looking at her flawless face. She is beautiful and flawless but exhausting and exasperation are obvious in her eyes.
"Not possible for me." Anna said, after giving it some thought. There are people keeping an eye on her. She can't escape those eyes and still enjoy the weekend.
"I can take you out for this weekend. Two days under the radar and no one will get to know where you are. No one will be able to contact you and if I must, I will provide an alibi as well." Aiden said.
"Weekend with you?" Anna asked.
She must agree that she is very tempted.
When they were dating, all their getaways were amazing. She had all the fun and went on many adventures as well.
Aiden never said no to whatever she asked. They made many memories. More than anything, he provided her the peace and joy which she badly wants right now.
"Won't it hurt you?" Anna asked.
After all, it would remind him of the past. It will hurt him more than it hurts her.
"If I say no, would you believe me?" he whispered to her, his hot breath making her cheeks flush.
Anna gulped and fisted her gown to control her nervousness. She closed her eyes but recomposed herself and opened her eyes.
"I don't." she could only let out a whisper.
"Let's do one thing. Let's put aside our past. Let's pretend like strangers who just met but want to spend a weekend together. How about it?" he asked, not minding their close proximity.
If someone sees them like this they could easily infer that their chemistry is mind blowing and that something is going on between them.
When Anna heard his idea, she had mixed feelings but at last, her desperation for some peace and his warmth won her over.
Just for now, she will be selfish.
"The idea is not bad. But, I don't want anyone to know that I am out of the city." she said.
She actually doesn't want anyone to know that she is going out with Aiden.
"That will be taken care of. But you need to put in some effort as well." Aiden said.
He can take care of others but not Allen and his people who are looming around Anna.
He doesn't know what the problem is. He doesn't know the ins and outs. Only Anna knows.
So, he can't promise her about Allen. She has to sneak out and the after arrangements will be taken care of by him.
Anna understood the underlying meaning. As she badly wants some time away from those guys and Aiden is willing to help, she will do her best to distract them for two days.
She has her own ways.
"I will. So, where are we going?" she asked.
"Let the weekend start with a mystery. You will get to know when we arrive there." he whispered to her.
"When will we be leaving?" Anna asked.
"If missus- cough- miss is willing, we can leave just after this event." he told her. He almost called her missus, which he used to call her in the past sometimes but he quickly retracted.
"I am willing. In fact, this is the perfect time to leave." Anna answered, trying her best to ignore what he almost called her.
"I will make arrangements to keep your tracks under the radar. You do your part." Aiden said.
"I will inform you where to meet me." after saying that Anna walked away.
After seeing her disappear, Aiden left too.
He actually didn't expect that she would agree to his idea. He was just giving it a shot and it just worked out.
Her unrestrained and spontaneous answer gave him an idea of how desperate she is to escape reality.
But what is the reality she wants to run away from?
All he knows is that the secretary is just her cover. Whatever she is going through, whatever is hiding beneath her ordinary facade is something stressful and probably dangerous too.
But it doesn't matter.
If she needs something which he could provide, he will do his best.
—---------
"Justin, I want your help." Anna spoke into her phone as she stopped at the secluded part of the balcony.
"I want you to help me distract Aiden for two days." she added.