Chapter 3 An Angel Came To Save Me

• Maya felt her heart galloping in her chest. She slipped away, crawling across the floor and hiding behind the counter without realizing there was anyone there. When her eyes met those of the unknown woman, her body tensed and the color drained from her face. Even her breathing seemed to pause for a moment.
• “What are you doing here, girl?” Just as she finished speaking, two powerful men came through the door. The woman hesitated for a moment before raising her eyes to the two men standing in front of her.
• She quickly pulled herself together and, spinning on her heels, plastered a smile on her face.
• “What would you like to drink on this warm afternoon, boys?”
• “We saw a woman running into your store,” the man said unceremoniously. Where is she?”
• Maya closed her eyes so tightly that she could feel her head hurting. She cringed and raised her eyes to the woman, begging her not to give her up.
• “I have no idea what you gentlemen are talking about,” she broadened her smile. Would you like something to drink?”
• “Don’t be silly, woman,” one man pounded his fists on the counter, startling Maya. I know what I saw, so tell me where she is before things get complicated for you.”
• The woman’s face paled as the man approached her with a menacing expression.
• “That woman is Joseph Lee’s fiancée, and we need to find her immediately.” She could feel the breath escaping from the man’s nostrils. ”If you’re hiding her, the punishment will be on you, too.
• It was at that moment that Maya considered her cause lost. The woman would give her up because there was no reason for her to keep her hidden. They didn’t know each other.
• “Why didn’t you say it was the Lee family?” she smiled again, and Maya braced herself for the end. “She came into the store, but I threw her out right away. She ran the other way.”
• The man looked at where the woman was pointing and found the story too strange. However, he didn’t have an opportunity to question her, so he immediately turned on his heels and ran at speed towards where she was pointing.
• Maya could only breathe when the men’s hurried footsteps were no longer audible. When she looked up, she noticed the change in the woman’s expression. Maya frowned, confused. Why had she decided to help me after all?
• As soon as she no longer saw the men, the woman grabbed Maya by the arm and dragged her to the back of the stores. They both looked upset, and when the woman looked at her, she looked furious.
• “How can you put me in such a situation, girl?”
• “I’m sorry,” Maya said, her voice cracking.
• “Joseph Lee’s runaway bride,” she reviewed her from head to toe and saw that she was indeed well-dressed. “How did you manage to run so fast in those heels?”
• “I don’t know.” Maya looked down at her feet and realized that her legs were shaking. I couldn’t marry that man, so I ran away.”
• “You did the right thing.” The woman took her by the arm again and led her upstairs.
• They stopped in front of a door. The place was so small, but it seemed like a perfect hiding place, where no one would find her.
• “You can stay here until nightfall, then you have to leave.”
• Maya felt a knot choking her throat. She shook her head in agreement, although she had no idea where she was going. She hadn’t thought about the possibility. Her escape had been hasty, hastily decided in the heat of emotion. Maya hadn’t even thought about the consequences of her rebellion.
• “Do you have anywhere to go?” Maya’s eyes widened at the question: “You know you can’t stay in the city because if they find you, you’ll be ruined.”
• Maya’s blood stopped circulating through her body. That woman seemed to know the Lee family well and what they could do to those who betrayed them.
• “Nothing could be worse than marrying that man,” she continued. ”The city says horrible things about them and how they managed to build that entire empire.”
• The woman wasn’t helping matters. Every time she opened her mouth to say something, it got worse, stirring up feelings in Maya’s heart. She took a deep breath, watching as the woman opened the door and invited her into the small room.
• “There are clothes in the closet,” she pointed to the place. ”I’ll see what I can do to help you.”
• “Why are you helping me?”
• The woman remained silent, and her expression softened. Maya knew that by deciding to help her, the woman had put herself in a difficult position and hoped that no one would ever know.
• “You were brave to stand up to that damned family.” There was hatred seeping from her lips: “So I’m going to help you get out of town. Joseph Lee deserved that punishment.”
• “I’ll be eternally grateful to you for that,” Maya sighed, grabbing the hand of the woman who looked younger than her.
• “Don’t overdo it,” she rolled her eyes. ”I need to get back to work. I’ll talk to you later.”
• “Wait,” Maya anticipated,” at least tell me what your name is.”
• The woman standing in front of her swept her bangs back with her auburn hair and gave her a dubious, slightly threatening look. She cleared her throat awkwardly before saying.
• “My name is Sophie,” her eyes involuntarily wandered around, ”but that doesn’t mean we can be friends.”
• After her words, Sophie pivoted other heels quickly and left the room, closing the door behind her. Maya stood paralyzed, just listening to the woman’s footsteps moving quickly away down the stairs until she disappeared.
• When she was finally taken by the silence of the old, messy room, Maya accepted what was happening. Her heart raced as she accepted that she was now lost. She let her body flop onto the old chair behind her and covered her face with one hand.
• She stayed in that position for hours while the day dragged on outside and her stomach groaned with hunger. She even thought about regretting it. Not only that, but she was going to marry a rich man and live a comfortable life, as well as help her family, but when she remembered that she was going to marry a stranger, the regret drained away.
• Frustrated, she faced reality and realized that she wouldn’t know what to do. She got up and walked in circles for minutes until her legs got tired.
• “Where was Sophie? Had the woman gone away and left her locked in that place?
• She heard footsteps returning, and, when the door opened again, Sophie grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out.
• “You’re in a lot of trouble, girl,” Maya moaned in fear or pain, not even she knew, ”your face is already in all the newspapers, and the town treats you like a criminal.”
• “And what crime have I committed?” Maya’s heart beat faster.
• “None for me, but if I leave you here for another day, I’ll be the one committing a crime,” Sophie stopped in front of the store exit.
• The street was almost deserted, and Maya had no idea how many hours she had spent inside that car. Her throat went dry when she heard what was going to happen next. She turned her eyes to Sophie, apprehensive, and waited for her to throw her out.
• “Here’s your ticket to Arizona,” Sophie widened her eyes. “My cousin will be waiting for you. I got you a job at the same hotel he works at.”
• “What?” Maya shook her head wordlessly. “Why are you helping me?”
• “I don’t have time to explain right now.” Sophie opened the store door and watched the movement outside. ”Take it as an act of kindness.”
• Maya gave her a quick glance before looking outside.
• “Get in the car and go to the bus station,” Sophie pushed Maya out towards the car, ”my cousin will tell you when you arrive.”
• Sophie’s large, heavy hands placed Maya in the car, and, before she knew it, the car was already in motion, giving her no chance to say goodbye or thank you.