Chapter 410: Narrow Escape
Stefan didn’t let go of Genevieve. Not even when her sobs softened or when her grip on his shirt loosened.
His hand moved slowly up and down her back like he still needed to feel her to be sure she was real.
"I was so scared..." she tried to speak, but her voice broke again.
"Hey..." he whispered against her hair. "Hey... I’m here."
Genevieve nodded weakly against his chest.
Stefan pulled back just enough to look at her. His hands moved to her face and he touched it gently like it was the most fragile thing in the world.
He didn’t mind that there were tears on his face or that his expression was unguarded in that minute. He didn’t care about any of that.
"Look at me," he said softly.
Her blue eyes lifted to his. Red, swollen, and afraid.
"I’m here now. You’re okay," he said again.
This time, like he was convincing himself too.
She nodded. "I’m okay," she whispered.
Stefan let out a slow breath. Then he pulled her into a tighter hugger.
Like he was anchoring himself.
After a while, they both calmed down and Stefan guided her gently to the bed. He took off his shoes then got on the bed.
He sat in a comfortable position and pulled her down with him so that her back rested on his chest and he wrapped his arms around her waist.
As comfortable as the position was, Genevieve wanted to see his face so she shifted in his arms.
She turned, then faced him so that she was straddling him with her arms around his neck and her legs wrapped around his waist.
Stefan just stared at her for a long moment like he was content with doing just that all day.
He lifted a hand slowly and brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
His fingers lingered on her cheek.
Genevieve held his gaze.
Her eyes softened, but the fear was still in them.
"I still can’t believe you’re here..." she whispered. "I had no idea how I was going to leave here."
"I came to take you home," he said softly.
Home.
Her heart fluttered at the word. She’d never looked forward to going back to his place like she did in that moment.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the back of his neck.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. They just looked at each other. Then Stefan asked, "What happened?"
Her arms loosened slightly, but she didn’t move away from him. "I should be asking you that. Did you know this was going to happen? Was that the reason you asked me to get a suite at I-Global and make everyone believe I was staying there?"
He shook his head. "I suspected you’d be in danger, but I didn’t expect something of this magnitude." He paused for a moment. "I guessed everyone would expect you to be at I-Global Hotel considering your relationship with the Hanks now. So I wanted you to hang around there for show but stay somewhere no one else knows. Where is your phone? Did you turn it off?"
Genevieve shook her head. "I lost it. It was in the suite at I-Global Hotel. I felt bloated when I woke up this morning so I decided to hit the gym," she said, and that was when Stefan noticed she was dressed for workout.
"So you were at the gym?" Stefan asked, and she nodded. "Why was your phone over there?"
"Since I checked in there with my luggage, most of my stuff are over there. And I also wanted to use their gym over there because I was expecting someone," she explained.
Stefan frowned. "Who?"
"The lawyer. He called to ask if I was at the hotel. He said he wanted to deliver some documents that needed my signature," she shuddered and Stefan ran his hands down her arms, though his eyes darkened at the mention of the lawyer.
"What documents?" Stefan asked, watching her carefully.
"He didn’t give any details and I didn’t ask or think much of it either. I figured I’d see for myself before signing. I told him I could come to the office but he insisted on sending it over. He said he didn’t want to bother me since it was his fault for not making me sign them at his office yesterday."
"You told him your suite number?" Stefan asked, and she nodded.
"Yes. But I told him I’d meet whoever he sent at the restaurant. I figured since it’s close to the gym I’d work out while waiting for them to arrive, then come back here after I’m done," she explained.
"You didn’t tell him you’d be at the gym?" Stefan asked.
Genevieve shook her head. "I didn’t."
"So, you were at the gym when it happened?" Stefan asked and she nodded. "Who was in your suite, then?"
"The cleaner..." Her voice shook and she shut her eyes. "She came in while I was getting ready to leave for the gym. I got distracted and left my phone behind. I realized I wasn’t with my phone when I got to the gym, so I was going back to get it when the explosion happened. When I heard it was my suite, I quickly came back here." Genevieve’s lips trembled.
Stefan felt something cold settle in his chest.
If she’d not been at the gym...
If she’d not left her phone...
Genevieve opened her eyes slowly and looked at him.
Fear still sitting deep in her blue eyes.
"I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to reach you to let you know I am alive. I wasn’t sure who to talk to. I was so scared that someone might see me and give away the news that I’m alive and then they’d come for me." Her shoulders trembled.
Stefan nodded and leaned slightly closer. "Hiding yourself was the wise thing to do," he said firmly.
"I walked away," she whispered. "And someone else..." Her voice broke. "The cleaner..."
Stefan closed his eyes briefly. Then opened them. "That wasn’t your fault. You didn’t know that was going to happen," he said quietly.
Tears slipped down her cheeks again. "What am I going to do now?"
"We are..." before he could finish speaking, someone knocked on the door, and Genevieve jumped in fear.
"Stefan? Open up," Jamal called from outside the door.
Stefan held her close. "It’s Jamal. We came together. Don’t worry. No one is going to hurt you. I’m right here," he promised.
She took a shaky breath and nodded.
"I’m going to let him in, and together we’d make sure we get you back home safely. Dawn and the others would be relieved to know you’re fine," Stefan said and she nodded once again.
Stefan held her for one more second. His hand pressed gently at the back of her head.
"Stay here," he said softly when Jamal knocked again.
She nodded then got off his lap.
He stood up from the bed and went to get the door.
Jamal stood outside looking tired but serious.
"I got room 322. We can go—" Jamal started.
Stefan stepped aside. "Come in."
"Is everything okay?" Jamal asked.
Stefan exhaled. "Yes. Come in."
Jamal stepped in and Stefan closed the door.
Jamal’s eyes moved quickly around the room to know why Stefan asked him to come in. Then he froze when he saw Genevieve standing beside the bed. Alive.
For a moment he didn’t blink.
His brows pulled together as his mind tried to catch up.
He looked at Stefan. Then back at her. Then back again.
"...Genevieve?" he said slowly.
Stefan gave a small nod. "Yes."
"I thought—" he stopped, then looked at her again. "Wait... what? How?" His voice dropped.
Genevieve looked at Stefan, then at Jamal. "I narrowly escaped. I was at the gym."
"But someone was in the suite..."
"A cleaner," Genevieve explained.
Jamal stared at her then let out a deep breath. His relief palpable.
Without another word he walked over to where she was and pulled her into a tight hug that surprised all three of them.
He couldn’t imagine how he would have been able to console both Dawn and Stefan if Genevieve had truly been dead.
"Thank God," he muttered. "Thank you. Thank you for being alive," he said, holding her close.
Tears gathered in her eyes and she hugged him back.
After a while Jamal pulled back then he glanced at Stefan. "Did you know she was alive the whole time? How did you know she was here? Why didn’t you say anything?" He asked, getting upset.
"I didn’t know. I hoped she’d be here but I wasn’t sure," Stefan said, understanding why Jamal would assume he knew.
"Why would you hope she’d be here when she was lodged at I-Global suite?" Jamal asked, not understanding what was going on.
Stefan stepped closer. "Sit down. I’ll explain."
"Before you do that, I should give Dawn a call to let her know Genevieve is fine. Tom and everyone would need to know too. They’ve all been upset. Tom has been blaming himself for it," Jamal said, taking out his phone.
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