8. Maria
“Pull up here.” Nathan points at a corner store.
I slow down the car, but don’t stop quite yet. “We should get out of the city.”
“I know, but we need some supplies. Food and toiletries.”
I hesitate, but know he’s right. “Okay, but I should go in. You’re too recognizable.”
It’s obvious that he doesn’t like what I’ve said, but he also can’t argue it. And so I park at the curb in front of the store.
“Sure. Be quick, though,” he says, glancing around nervously. “And take cash. We can’t use cards right now.” He pulls some cash from his wallet and hands it over to me.
I step out of the car and hurry into the store. My heart is pounding, not only because of the adrenaline from our sudden escape but also because I’m alone with my boss in a situation I never imagined we’d be in. I grab a basket and fill it quickly with bottled water, some snacks, and toiletries — essentials to tide us over for now.
As I make my way to the cashier, I can’t help but glance outside through the window. For a split second, I think I see one of the men who were after Nathan. I blink and look again, but he’s gone. Fear is playing tricks on me; I must be imagining things. Still, I quickly pay for the items and hurry back to the car, feeling uneasy.
“Here, let me put these away,” Nathan says as he takes the bags from me.
“You didn’t… see anyone?” I ask. “While I was in the store.”
He stares at me. “Someone like who?”
I shake my head. “Nothing. I’m just freaked out, is all.”
As I drive out of Manhattan, headed for Long Island, Nathan pulls out his phone and contacts a team of security specialists. He puts the call on speaker so I can hear both sides of the conversation as he gives he details and explains the situation.
“Listen, I need your help. Someone tried to kidnap me tonight, and my assistant and I are on the run,” he tells them urgently.
“Understood, sir. We will work with the police to take down this threat. But for now, you need to lie low and out of sight,” the man on the other line advises.
“But I want to help. There must be something I can do,” Nathan protests.
“Sir, the best thing for you to do right now is to wait it out in hiding. Your safety comes first,” the specialist replies firmly.
“Fine,” Nathan concedes with a sigh, ending the call. He runs his fingers through his hair, clearly frustrated by the situation. I can understand why; being forced to step back from running his business must be hard for him.
“Hey,” I say softly, placing my hand on his arm. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll get through this.”
“Thanks, Maria,” he replies, giving me a small smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
But as we continue driving, I can feel our connection growing stronger. This crazy, unexpected turn of events might have thrown us together, but it’s also revealing new facets of our relationship.
Traffic hums around us as we make our way out of Manhattan, and I can’t help but glance over at Nathan. He’s clearly upset about having to leave his business behind, especially with the new building just being approved.
“Look, Nathan,” I begin tentatively, “I know this is hard for you, but no one will forget about you or your projects. You’re… well, you’re kind of unforgettable.”
He chuckles softly, and the sound warms my heart like hot cocoa on a snowy day. “Thanks. That means a lot coming from you.”
As we cross the bridge toward Long Island, the city lights twinkle beneath a velvet sky, almost as if they’re reassuring Nathan that everything will be okay.
“I really appreciate you taking me to your family’s place,” he says suddenly, his voice sincere. “And I promise, I’ll pay you for it.”
“Pay me?” My eyebrows knit together in confusion. “No. You don’t have to pay me anything. I’m doing this as your friend, not because I want something in return.”
His eyes widen slightly, as if the concept offends him. “But?—”
“Seriously, Nathan,” I interrupt, my voice firm. “No money. No favors. Just two people helping each other out.” I gesture between us, hoping to drive home my point. “Besides, I have a feeling that you’d do the same for me if the tables were turned.”
He studies me for a moment, weighing my words. Then, slowly, he nods. “You’re right. I would. Thank you.”
“Anytime,” I reply with a smile, my fingers tapping rhythmically against the steering wheel as we continue our journey.
As the city disappears in the rearview mirror, I find myself thinking about his gratitude and my own willingness to help him. It’s strange how being thrust into danger can bring people closer together. But there’s no denying the bond that has formed between us.
With each rotation of my tires, I feel the walls around my heart crumbling just a little more — and for the first time in a long while, I’m not afraid of what lies on the other side.
I glance over at Nathan, who’s fidgeting in the passenger seat. His eyes are glued to the rearview mirror, scanning for any signs of danger. I admire his determination, even as fear gnaws at the edges of my own thoughts.
“Once we get to my family’s place, we’ll be safe,” I reassure him, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Thank you, Maria.” Nathan’s voice is quiet but sincere. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you. I do hate that I’ve drawn you into this, though.”
As I’m about to respond, a pair of headlights appears behind us, growing brighter and more aggressive by the second. My heart leaps into my throat as I grip the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles turning white.
“Wait, is that…?” Nathan trails off, his eyes widening with alarm.
“Stay calm,” I say, though fear has taken hold of me. I press down on the gas pedal, trying to put some distance between us and the car tailing us. But it only seems to encourage them, as they speed up as well.
“They’re getting closer!” Nathan exclaims, gripping the door handle tightly.
“Can you call the security team? Tell them what’s happening. Surely they can help us?” I clutch the wheel, keeping my gaze on the road.
“Right, right,” he stammers, fumbling with his phone.
In the meantime, I take a deep breath and force myself to channel every action movie I’ve ever seen. I swerve around a slower-moving vehicle, cutting it close enough to hear the horn blare in protest. Nathan’s phone slips out of his hand as he grabs onto the dashboard.
“Got it!” he shouts, managing to snatch the phone from the floor. “I’m calling them now.”
I weave in and out of the traffic and the car behind us continues to gain ground, attempting to ram into our rear bumper. My heart races, but I refuse to let panic win. Our safety depends on my ability to stay focused.
I’m only dimly aware of the conversation Nathan is having. It’s like he’s at the other end of a long tunnel, and I just hear a jumbled whisper. I’m too focused on driving, too focused on losing the car behind us.
“They said they’ve got people nearby. They’re on their way.” Nathan’s voice cracks.
“Good,” I manage, cutting off another car in order to take an exit that leads off the bridge. The tires screech beneath me as I swerve onto the ramp, narrowly avoiding a collision.
Nathan curses as we miss the other car by mere inches.
“Almost there,” I whisper, more to myself than to him. My foot presses harder on the gas pedal, the engine roaring in response. “So where is this security team?”
“Apparently they can’t get here fast enough,” he says through gritted teeth.
I take a deep breath, already knowing that we’re on our own. No way can this security team get to us in time.
“You’re doing great, Maria,” Nathan says, his hand reaching over to squeeze my arm gently. “We can do this.”
His words act as an anchor, grounding me amidst the chaos. With newfound determination, I navigate the winding roads of Long Island, leaving the would-be kidnappers in the dust — at least for now.
As we finally reach my family’s property, a cabin a couple blocks from the beach, I allow myself a small sigh of relief. We made it, despite the close call. But I know that this is just the beginning, and the road ahead is still uncertain.
“Thank you,” Nathan murmurs, gratitude shining in his eyes. “You saved our lives tonight.”
“Like I said before,” I tell him softly, offering him a shaky smile, “that’s what friends are for.”
I pull into the driveway and kill the engine, but neither of us moves to get out. Adrenaline races through me, and it feels like I’ve melted into the seat.
For a moment, we sit in silence, the weight of our situation settling around us like a heavy fog. My heart hammers in my chest, a reminder of how close we came to disaster. I shiver and wrap my arms around myself, trying to ward off the chill that has nothing to do with the temperature outside.
“Are you okay?” Nathan asks, his dark eyes searching mine for signs of distress. “You were amazing back there.”
“Thanks,” I whisper, my thoughts racing a mile a minute. How many more close calls like this do we have ahead of us? How many more of them can we survive before we run out of luck?
“Maria,” Nathan says softly, bringing me back to the present, “I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you for this.”
“It’s not like you’re the only one in danger, but thank you.”
His sincerity tugs at my heartstrings, and I know without a doubt that I would do anything — even risk my own life — to help him. I’ve always believed that turning your back on someone in need is the worst thing you could do. And since those men probably know I’m Nathan’s assistant, it seems like we’re in this together whether we like it or not.
“We’re a team, remember?” I say.
“Right,” he agrees, offering me a small smile. “A team.”
“Besides,” I add, “I couldn’t just let you face those thugs all by yourself. You’d be lost without me.”
“True.” He chuckles, some of the tension leaving his shoulders as he playfully bumps my arm. “You’re the brains of this operation, after all.”
“Exactly.” I grin, suddenly feeling a renewed sense of determination. We may be in a dangerous situation, but we have each other, and that’s not something to take lightly.
“All right, team.” Nathan claps his hands together. “Let’s figure out our next move.”
“Sounds good.” I nod, ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead — together.