The CEO’s Second Choice

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.Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.

“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.