Chapter Thirty-Nine
Lorenzo slowly drove out of the alleyway and onto the main road, turning away from the club in an effort not to attract the paparazzi's attention. However, an SUV with tinted windows is not exactly a discreet car. The paparazzi were scrambling to get in their cars and on their motorbikes. Lorenzo hit the gas. The city passed by in blurs. Aliannah held Ivan’s hand so tight that it cramped, and Michelle was clinging onto her other arm. The paparazzi were gaining on them.
“Fucks Sake Lorenzo! MOVE!” Ivan roared.
Lorenzo swerved into an underground car park before coming out to another exit. He repeated this across multiple multi-storey car parks until he lost them all. Once the coast was clear, he headed back to their building.
“Sir, I need you all to jump out fast when we get there. I will continue to duck and weave through different car parks in case they have tagged the car.” Lorenzo didn’t take his eyes off the road as he spoke.
“Belts off now,” Ivan ordered as they turned onto their street. The girls followed his command. They would have five seconds to exit the car when it stopped. Lorenzo pulled up outside the building, and the three of them jumped out double quick. Lorenzo hit the gas again and sped off. They ran inside. They did not stop until they were in the penthouse. They collectively let out a breath. For now, the paparazzi did not know where Ivan and Aliannah lived.
Ivan pulled up the street cam footage on his phone. Minutes after Lorenzo sped off, a flurry of motorbikes and cars followed, flying down the street. Ivan let out a breath of relief as none of the convoy came near the building. He dialled Lorenzo and told him to take the car to a shop and have them search for the tag. The girls stood in the lounge, shaking.
“What the fuck Ivan…. Is this how life is to be? A never-ending media frenzy?” Aliannah raised her voice louder with each word. She was spooked.
Ivan ran a hand through his hair. “We will figure this out, darling; I will speak to marketing tomorrow.”
“Marketing?! What am I? Some fresh-cut piece of meat you are trying to sell?” Aliannah's breathing became erratic as her anger escalated.
“No, never, it’s a media shit show out there. Marketing would know how to handle it best, that’s all” Ivan took a step towards her. Aliannah took a step back, shaking her head.
“Mich, let’s go” She took Michelle by the hand and shut themselves into the dressing room, leaving Ivan speechless and alone.
“He’s just trying to keep you safe, honey.” Michelle pulled out her phone and called Gavin to let him know she was safe.
“I am not a prized pig. I don’t want to be caged or put on display. I just want my normal life back” Aliannah leaned against the wardrobe door and sank to the floor, shaking her head. Michelle joined her on the floor.
“The media will get bored soon; you have got to remember Ivan’s status as a single man was highly sought after. They just want to get to know you. Who is the woman who stole Ivan’s heart?” Michelle squeezed Aliannah’s hand in comfort.
A while later, the girls got changed into some loungewear and headed to the kitchen. Gilda was not there because it was so late, so the girls made themselves some cereal.
“You can never underestimate how good Coco Pops are!” Michelle groaned as she tucked in.
“You can say that again!” Aliannah chimed in.
*DING*
The girls looked at each other at the sound of the elevator pinging. Gavin was not off work yet. He wouldn’t get here for a while yet. They armed themselves with the spoons from their Coco Pops and tip-toed towards the kitchen door. They were about to open the door when someone on the other side opened it. The girls screamed. Igor jumped back.
“Fucking hell! Calm down, you two!” he rubbed his ears from the ringing their screams left. Ivan appeared seconds later with a gun in his hand. The girls screamed again.
“You two need to stop creeping around!” Michelle shouted at them before storming back to finish her Coco Pops. The two men began speaking in Russian.
“Stop it.” Aliannah turned to face both of them. They were surprised by her tone. “Don’t speak in Russian to hide whatever is going on from us,” she waved between Michelle and herself.
“Sorry, Darling, force of habit.” Ivan stepped into the kitchen and tucked the gun into the back of his waistband.
“Why are you carrying anyway?” Aliannah raised a brow.
“Igor thought he had been followed, but the car moved on. I have just posted extra guys downstairs.” Ivan walked to the fridge and pulled out a six-pack of beers. He set them on the table before handing one to Igor.
“Won’t all the extra guys send a ‘We are over here’ message loud and clear?” Michelle cocked her head to the side inquisitively. Aliannah nodded in agreement.
“No, this is an upper-society building. High security is normal for a place like this,” Igor said as he uncapped his beer.
They sat around the kitchen talking about the new security protocols and who would be posted where.
“Darling, I don’t know if it will be safe for you to return to work on Monday. Is there any way Mr Wright can assign you some work-from-home duties until we get this sorted out?” Ivan dared to ask. Michelle looked away.
“I will not hide. I have worked my ass off for this job.” You could almost see the steam coming from Aliannah; her anger was raw.
*DING*
The men pulled their weapons again, and the girls rolled their eyes.
“Is this going to happen every time the elevator dings?” Aliannah asked. Ivan and Igor held up hands for silence. Aliannah scoffed.
“Whoa… guys, it’s just me…” Gavin approached with his hands up. The men put their guns away again.
“Where you followed?” Ivan was aggressive in his tone.
“Eh, I don’t think so. Sure, why would anyone follow me? I’m just club staff?” Gavin shrugged as he wrapped his arms around Michelle tightly.
“It doesn’t take a genius to link you to Michelle and Michelle to Aliannah” Igor rolled his eyes. Gavin bobbed his head side to side as he contemplated the truth of Igor’s statement.
“There is far too much testosterone in the air right now; I’m beat. I am going to bed. Gavin help yourself to anything you want in the fridge.” Aliannah stretched and left the kitchen.
The next morning, Aliannah was woken by Michelle diving on top of her, squealing. Aliannah did not miss this. Aliannah rubbed her eyes and sat up.
“What is all the screaming, Mich? There is no mysterious Mr I anymore?” Aliannah laughed as she pushed Michelle over to the side.
“Get dressed. We are going to a very important meeting.” Michelle was bouncing on the bed now.
Aliannah looked at the clock. It was 9 a.m. Where could they possibly have to be so early on a Saturday? She looked to the other side of the bed. Ivan wasn’t there, but his side had been slept in, and there were fresh peonies on the nightstand beside her with a note in the centre.
I’m sorry I have been so intense; forgive me, darling – I
“It is so cute that he still sends you little notes. I wish Gavin would be romantic like that , ” Michelle sighed, “Anyway , the big boys have let Gavin join their little club for his security expertise , so that means we get our girls' day. Chop! Chop! Get your ass up. We have places to be!” Michelle clapped her hands, and Aliannah jumped up. She grabbed a quick shower and got dressed, stopping by the kitchen on her way out to grab a Danish pastry. Three security men were at the elevator, each looking as mean as the other.
“Right, we are going shopping; which one of you goons wants to be stuck on that detail?” Michelle stood there with her hands on her hips, sizing up each man. Two of the men looked to the third. He stepped forward.
“Ladies, my name is Oliver; I will be your ‘goon’ for the day” Oliver winked at them and gestured towards the elevator, “After you ladies.”
Michelle handed Lorenzo a piece of paper as they got in the SUV. Lorenzo nodded and drove them to the location on the paper. Aliannah looked at Michelle with a brow raised. Michelle smiled back, very pleased with herself. Twenty minutes later, the SUV came to a stop outside a boutique. Aliannah's eyes went wide. It was Fleur’s Bridal Boutique. This place was so exclusive that it was impossible to get an appointment.
“Mich, what are we doing here?” Aliannah’s jaw dropped as her mother exited the store.
“I had Ivan put in a call to get us in. Don’t look at me like that! You should be delighted to reap the benefit of his stature. Come on, let’s get inside!” Michelle linked her arm, and they walked towards Aliannah's mother.