Stranger in my Ass-Chapter 224

Olivia’s POV

The moment the gates were behind me, I ran.

Not a casual jog. Not a brisk walk.

A real race.

My bag bounced against my hip, my pajamas flapping around my legs as my feet pounded against the pavement. The cool night air burned my lungs, but I didn’t care. I was out. I was actually OUT.

The estate road seemed impossibly long, stretching endlessly into the darkness. My heart hammered in my chest - both from exertion, and from the sheer terror that someone would notice I was gone. That Maxwell would somehow appear out of nowhere and drag me back.

But nobody came.

Nobody stopped me.

Finally - FINALLY - I reached the main road, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

I looked around desperately, praying for a miracle.

And there it was. A taxi, its yellow light glowing brightly in the darkness.

I practically threw myself into the road, waving my arms frantically.

The taxi slowed to a stop, and the driver looked at me with concern.

"You alright, kid? It’s pretty late to be out running around in pajamas."

"I’m fine!" I managed between gasps. "I just... I need to get to..." I rattled off my address to him.

"That’s pretty far. You sure you’re okay?"

"Please," I said, and I must have looked desperate enough because he nodded and gestured for me to get in.

The moment I was in the backseat, I collapsed against the chair, my entire body trembling with relief and residual adrenaline.

I did it. I actually did it.

I escaped Maxwell Wellington.

The drive felt both endless and too short. Every time we passed another car, I ducked my head, terrified it might be someone from the mansion. But we made it to my apartment without incident.

I paid the driver, adding a generous tip for the late-night rescue.

"Thanks," I said. "You have no idea what this means to me."

He smiled. "Whatever you’re running from, kid, I hope you find what you’re running to."

I watched his taillights disappear into the night before turning to my apartment building.

Home. I was finally home.

I took the stairs two at a time, my key already in my hand. When I burst through the door, I found Kira in the living room, surrounded by suitcases and piles of clothes.

She looked up, her eyes going wide with shock.

"Olivia?! What the hell are you doing here? It’s almost two in the morning!"

"I could ask you the same thing!" I gestured at the chaos around her. "Why are you packing? I thought you quit?"

Kira sighed, sitting back on her heels. "I did quit. But Damien convinced me to do one last job - a three-day trip to New Delhi. It’s the condition for him releasing me from my contract without complications."

"A trip?" I stared at her. "With Damien?"

"Yes, with Damien. It’s work, Liv." She narrowed her eyes at me. "But you still haven’t answered my question. What are you doing here at two AM in Oliver’s pajamas?"

"I escaped."

"You what?"

"I. Escaped." I dropped my bag and threw myself onto the couch. "Maxwell told me today that we had to go to Tokyo tomorrow. That I had to accompany him. But I couldn’t do it anymore, Kira. I just couldn’t. So I drugged the security guards and ran."

There was a beat of stunned silence.

Then Kira burst out laughing.

"You’re joking," she said between giggles. "Please tell me you’re joking."

"I’m dead serious!" But I was starting to laugh too, because now that I was safe, the absurdity of it all was hitting me. "I bought sleeping pills, put them in beer, shared drinks with the guards, and bolted the moment they passed out."

"Oh my God." Kira was doubled over now, tears streaming down her face. "Olivia Hopton, I can’t believe you actually did that. You drugged Maxwell Wellington’s security team!"

"They’ll be fine! The pharmacist said it was safe!"

"That’s not the point!" She wiped her eyes, still giggling. "Maxwell is going to lose his mind when he wakes up and finds you gone."

The thought sobered me slightly. "Yeah. He probably will."

"So what now? You’re just... done? You got your salary and you’re out?"

I pulled the cheque from my pocket, unfolding it reverently. "I got my cheque. Nothing is holding me to Maxwell anymore. I’m free. Finally free to go on vacation."

Kira’s expression softened. "I’m proud of you, Liv. That took guts. I’m happy you’ve learnt a thing or two from me."

"I have a good teacher."

She giggled, gesturing to the suitcases. "So, what’s your plan? You mentioned something about a vacation?"

"Yes!" I perked up immediately. "Gabriel and I are going on vacation tomorrow. He’s been so sweet about everything, and he needed a break too, so we’re going somewhere together. Just as friends, of course. Separate rooms and everything."

Kira’s smile faltered slightly. "A vacation? You’re going on vacation without me? After getting your salary? But that wasn’t the plan."

I felt a pang of guilt. "I know, I’m sorry. I promise we’ll go on a proper vacation together when you get back from New Delhi, okay? Besides, you’re traveling with Damien."

"Yeah, but..." Kira paused, then shook her head with a rueful smile. "You didn’t know that before you planned a trip with Gabriel. But it’s fine. You know why? Because I’m actually hoping you end up with Gabriel."

I looked away, not wanting to examine the complicated tangle of emotions that statement created. "Let’s just focus on packing right now."

"Deal."

We worked together, pulling clothes from my closet, debating what I’d need for a surprise destination. The whole time, we talked and laughed, giddy with the promise of freedom.

"Can you believe it?" I said, holding up a sundress. "I’m finally free from Maxwell. No more disguises, no more games, no more wondering what twisted thing he’s going to do next."

"And I’ll be free from Damien after this trip," Kira added, folding one of her blazers. "Then I just have to deal with Eddie."

"Eddie? Your stranger boyfriend?"

"Yeah. He’s been texting me, wanting to meet up. I need to end things properly before I can really pursue anything with Kennedy."

"Kennedy is so lucky to have you," I said sincerely.

"And Gabriel is lucky to have you," she countered.

I didn’t respond to that. Couldn’t. Because the truth was, I still had feelings for Maxwell. Even though I prefer running than confronting it.

We packed late into the night, eventually collapsing into my bed, talking about everything and nothing until exhaustion finally claimed us.

*******

The next morning came too quickly.

We both woke up to our alarms, groaning and swearing as we stumbled around getting ready.

"I can’t believe I have to be at Damien’s at six AM," Kira grumbled, "That man has no concept of reasonable hours."

"Welcome to my life," I said, applying just enough makeup to look presentable as Olivia, not Oliver. God, it felt good to be myself again.

We shared coffee and toast, a comfortable silence settling between us as the reality of our day ahead sank in.

"This is it," Kira said finally. "We’re really doing this. New Chapters and all that."

"New Chapters," I agreed, clinking my coffee mug against hers.

We left the apartment together, Kira heading to Damien’s penthouse in one direction, me heading to the airport to meet Gabriel in another.

"Text me when you land!" Kira called out.

"You too! And good luck with Damien!"

"Good luck with Gabriel!"

We waved and went our separate ways.

The airport was bustling with early morning travelers, all looking varying degrees of awake and caffeinated. I spotted Gabriel near the check-in counter, looking unfairly put-together in dark jeans and a casual button-down.

"Olivia!" He waved, his face breaking into a warm smile.

"Gabriel!" I hurried over, and he pulled me into a hug that felt safe and comfortable.

"You look good," he said, pulling back to look at me. "Rested?"

"Yeah, I slept great! Super great! Best sleep ever!"

He smiled, "Glad to hear that." Then he clapped his hands together, "Okay... are you ready for the surprise?"

"The vacation destination?" I bounced on my toes. "Yes! I’ve been dying to know where we’re going!"

Gabriel’s grin widened. "Alright, here it is: Tokyo!"

The word hit me like a physical blow.

Tokyo.

TOKYO.

"Tokyo?" I repeated, my voice coming out strangled.

"Yeah! I know, right? It’s incredible timing!" Gabriel was already pulling out his phone, showing me pictures. "I managed to book us into this amazing hotel in Shibuya. There’s this restaurant I’ve been dying to try... they have the best ramen in the city. And we can visit the temples, see the cherry blossoms if we’re lucky with the timing, check out the robot restaurant, go shopping in Harajuku..."

His voice was fading into background noise.

Tokyo. Gabriel had chosen Tokyo.

The same Tokyo where Maxwell would be. The same Tokyo I’d literally drugged security guards to avoid going to.

"...and I thought we could do a day trip to Mount Fuji if the weather’s good. Olivia? Are you listening?"

"Tokyo," I said again, still trying to process. "You chose Tokyo."

"Is that a problem?" Gabriel’s enthusiasm dimmed slightly. "I thought you’d be excited. You said you haven’t traveled much, and Tokyo is incredible. If you really don’t want to go..."

"No!" I said calmly. "No, it’s perfect. Tokyo is perfect. I’m just... surprised. That’s all."

What were the odds? What were the actual odds that Gabriel would choose the exact same city where Maxwell would be?

Out of all the places in the world - Paris, Barcelona, the Maldives, literally ANYWHERE else - he chose Tokyo.

The universe was laughing at me. Actively laughing.