A Very Sticky Situation (Completed)

25: Images

Ana's POV

Ambling to my vehicle in a floor-length print gown, I juggle my bag as I tiptoe out of the balcony after quietly closing and locking the door to avoid being observed by anyone.

God, please let Joe be sleeping, I say a silently pray as I don't want him to sight me while I sneak past my car, why you may ask? I've been kept hooked up in this house for days without permission to leave.

After Glory had let them in on the fact that I broke down in tears in the middle of a wedding vow session I've been assumed emotionally unstable and a hazard to myself and my surroundings. Not their exact words but you get what I mean as they've not let me step an inch from the veranda for three days straight.

I struggled to let them see I'm a manager and have work to do but all that fell on deaf ears. Even Glory whom I hoped to intercede on my behalf proved useless in a time of need.

I have an antenatal appointment with Helena today so I'm trying to leave unnoticed, the Uber I ordered should be calling any moment from now so I can meet him some blocks away from this building.

I'm sure you can see the extreme measures I've put in place which just proves how desperate I am to see beyond the compound gates. Fate happens to be on my side as I'm already halfway to the exit, just a little steps more to the freedom I crave so much.

"Ana?" Joe's slightly rough voice calls through the ajar louver of his own flat, stilling my movement.

"Shit," I grunt as I pretend not to hear his bid while I speedwalk to the metal barrier.

"Ana, what are you doing?" He inquires, his words louder and more pronounced as it seems he's come out of his abode.

I refuse to reply, my hands quivering as the iron of the padlock makes noise the instant I aim to unlock it with my key.

"You know you should have used the thumbprint feature," he mocks and I groan, my orbs dashing to view the lock hanging unnecessarily on an iron bar, its position of no significance in my mission.

"Fuck," I grit, as I realize in my haste and fear I didn't think straight or recall that the new gate I installed not long ago works with fingerprint or automatically, except when latched from behind if there's no one home.

"Where are you going that you need to disappear without informing I or Oluchi about your whereabouts?" He implores, now standing at my back, prompting me to face him glaring at me, bare-chested and arms folded.

"I was planning to call you the second I'm out of here," I murmur, the German floor becoming a matter of interest to my vision.

"For real?" He interrogates, tilting his head.

"I don't know," I groan out in defeat as it dawns on me that my plan to escape the embankments of my own home appears to have crashed to my feet.

"But seriously where are you headed? You didn't even bother to take your car," he notes, catching sight of my car sitting in its spot.

"I didn't want to alert your attention, I thought I could go unobserved," I sigh lifting my gaze from the floor, up to the wide multicolored shorts on his hips, his bare torso, till I'm peering directly at him.

"And how did that work out for you?" He taunts, tongue in cheek.

"Stop mocking me," I grumble, my cheeks blooming in embarrassment at the situation.

"Fine, fine," he laughs, not able to contain his humor. "You still haven't answered my question of where you are going and why you didn't tell anyone."

"I didn't let a word out because you both have kept me locked up like a handicap, I'm only pregnant, not mental or crippled," I state, my chin raised in defense.