The CEO’ s second choice novel Chapter 21

　　Elena

　　I got up from the couch and grabbed my things before heading back to my room. Sebastian had no emotion on his face when I made that remark. This was for the best, I knew it was. The two of us cannot grow closer, not when my freedom was only 5 years away. My studies and my new life lay across the ocean, not in this villa where I felt trapped.

　　Passing Sebastian’s room, I see that he left it ajar and I could hear his shower going. My mind goes back to his well-built body that I spied this morning and I groan inwardly. This attraction would never be extinguished unless I did something about it. He needed to despise me again, go back to calling me fat and screwing his employees.

　　Wait, what? Did I really want him to go back to that woman?

　　I sat down on my bed and an idea came to mind, so I grabbed the laptop on my bedside table. This villa felt like an endless, snowed in prison, so I will escape to some sunny place. I looked up different places to visit where it would be sunny in February and found The Canary Islands to be a perfect fit.

　　Lush beaches and gorgeous forests, it would be ideal for a breakaway, so I booked a ticket to leave tomorrow. Would I tell anyone? That answer would be a resounding NOPE.

　　I saunter towards my walk-in and grabbed one piece of luggage that would not be too heavy for me to sneak out tomorrow. I will buy a new wardrobe when I arrive there, so it should be easy. Packing some essentials and a toiletry bag, I stuff it underneath my bed and feel excited for the first time in ages.

　　That night I could barely sleep due to the giddy feeling in my stomach. Sebastian would probably give me a scowl when I returned, it wasn’t like he would care if I left for a little while. We had only really started talking two nights ago, before that we barely took note of one another. This marriage could go back to that again for all I care. Yes, it was lonely, but it didn’t leave me feeling confused. I knew where I stood with Sebastian when he was ignoring me.

　　I closed my eyes and waited for sleep to take me, but all I saw was Sebastian’s lopsided, sexy smile haunting my mind.

　　***

　　6 am the next morning my flight leaves at 10 am. Sebastian had left early for work and now it was just up to me to get my bag downstairs. I wrote a note to Sebastian and left it on his bedside table; In it, I told him I would be back in two weeks’ time and not to worry. Not that he would anyway.

　　I pick up my luggage and handbag and slip downstairs, then I spot Ilse as she heads into the laundry room. Perfect. Grabbing the Mercedes Benz key from the foyer stand, I rush out of the villa and plant the bag on the back seat. Then I call the driver and ask him to take me to Canary Riverside Plaza Hotel. From there I would catch a taxi to London City Airport. The distances were crazy, but I had to throw the driver off my tail. I was a ball of nerves as we drove, hoping he would not see the lies written on my face.

　　When we arrive at the hotel, I tell him to collect me at 1 pm again and he drives off, and I am left knowing that I would be long gone by then. A taxi pulled up 5 minutes after my driver had left and I clambered inside, then I was off to the airport.

　　It was 9:30 when I arrived at the airport and my flight was already boarding. By 10 am, we were in the air and the ball of nerves in my stomach tightened. I was really doing this; I was on my way to The Canary Islands without Sebastian’s knowledge!

　　I switched off my phone for obvious reasons, but also because I knew it would be ringing nonstop if Sebastian caught wind of my actions. I then ordered mineral water from the hostess and exhaled slowly. The worst thing Sebastian could do was divorce me, and we all know he couldn’t do that. I was merely going on a holiday; it wasn’t like I was cheating on or betraying him.

　　For the next 4 hours I sit in complete silence until we arrive at Tenerife South Airport and I catch a taxi to Royal Hideaway Corales Suites. Last night I booked a one-bedroom villa suite for 2 weeks in advance and they were all too happy to have Sebastian Dumont’s wife there. I informed them about my allergy and asked them to let their staff know as it could be quite dangerous for me.

　　I had a whole vacation planned for myself; beaches, art galleries, national parks. Might as well spend the money I was married into.

　　As soon as I arrived at the hotel, they treated me like royalty. They waited on me hand and foot, and I hadn’t even arrived at my suite yet. I felt severely jet-lagged as soon as I reached my suite and chalked it down to stress, nerves and excitement.

　　Laying backwards on the bed, I breathed out a sigh of relief and a smile crossed my face. I felt a sense of freedom here, but I knew it would not last. Sebastian would catch me out on this soon enough if he hadn’t already. I did not use the black card he gave me to purchase the tickets and holiday, though. I used my own cards in my maiden name, so it would take him a while to get on my trail.

　　“Will your husband be joining you today, Mrs Dumont?” The lady at the front desk had asked me as she handed me my keycard. I shook my head and frowned at her, “No, he will not. Why do you ask?”

　　“Oh. Well, we assumed he would because it is Valentine’s Day weekend. We have a few special events planned for couples this weekend. If you would like a list, please let us know and we can slot you in immediately.” She had said, and I was honestly taken aback at this realization.

　　Crap, it would have been our first Valentine’s Day together as a couple. Did it matter, though? Would Sebastian have had something planned for us? I did not know if he was the romantic type or not, for Christmas he bought me jewels from Tiffany’s. Not a lot of thought went into what he had chosen, either. I gave him handcrafted platinum cufflinks with his initials engraved on them. Ah, not a lot of thought went into my gift to him then either.

　　I put the stupid holiday out of my head and look around for my cellphone, but could not find it. Eh. Shrugging, I slip into a sundress and sandals, grab my handbag and begin my vacation.