Someone Like Hugh -Draft Complete And EDITING-

Chapter Two:

Hugh's POV:

I finished tying my tie and tucked it into the vest of my black tuxedo. I looked up at the mirror, feeling torn. Today was supposed to be the best day of my life, but I felt shattered and wary.

I stared at my spiked hair and green eyes in the mirror. I fought the urge to roll my sleeves up to my elbows and expose my tattooed arms. Today I was set to marry Joanna Jones, we had been together since we were practically 10.

Our parents pushed us together. While I grew to love her, I wasn't sure it was the right kind of love for marriage. She was sweet and kind. But I saw her as more of a sister.

When the strange envelope slid under my door with the pictures of her being intimate with another man I felt dazed. I didn't want to believe it was her. But it was. I recognized her tattoos.

I tightened my tie and slid on my jacket. I grabbed my keys and my phone. I picked up a little notepad from the desk and left the envelope and the pictures on the desk. I wrote "I can't do this." And signed my name at the bottom.

I took a picture on my phone of the pictures and the note and sent it to joanna, my parents, and hers in a group text. Then I quickly turned off my phone and left my hotel room.

I made my way to the employee elevator and pressed the button. The owner of the hotel had shown us this route in case we needed to evade the paparazzi. I slid into the elevator just as Joanna came running down the hall toward my room. Thankfully she hadn't seen me.

Guilt squeezed my heart at the sight of her in her gown, but it just wasn't meant to be. If she loved me she wouldn't have slept with another man. I reached the ground floor and made my way through the kitchen.

I couldn't call a cab, they'd call the company and see where I went. My only choice was to take off on foot and make it to a bank where I could withdraw cash. Then I could hide.

I slipped out of the kitchen and ended up in the locker room. I ran into a man roughly my size, preparing to change into his uniform. "Can I ask you a favor?" I asked him. "Can you go to my room and grab my backpack? Don't let anyone see you take it. Pretend d you're delivering room service and slip it under the cart. If you do this for me, this is yours," I spoke holding up a hundred dollar bill, it was the only cash I had on me.

The kid's eyes grew wide and he nodded. "Are you alright?" He asked.

"Not really, but I will be," he spoke.

Ten minutes later the kid returned with my bag.

"Did you run into trouble?" I asked him.

"Ms. Jones forced her way in when I opened the door. I grabbed your bag when she wasn't looking. I told her that you had ordered room service and I set it on the desk. I didn't mean to, but I saw those pictures. Keep your cash, I don't mind helping you. I'm sorry this happened on your wedding day," the kid spoke.

"Better now than later, I guess," I spoke sadly. "But take this, I insist." I spoke handing the kid the cash. I looked at his nametag. "Thank you Eric."

"You're welcome sir. If you'd like you can change here and I can make sure your family are kept busy so you can escape," he replied.

"Thank you Eric. What's your last name?"

"Waterman."

"Thank you Eric Waterman, I owe you, and I won't forget this," I spoke.