She's Not Cinderella

An Unwelcome Visitor

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Adeline PoV

That night I fell asleep on the couch, and Nick had carried me to bed, and slept on the couch. It was a school morning, but I had woken up at 4, and had plenty of time to go. My bruises had gotten darker, and I was very jumpy. I felt like he'd be around every corner, but I tried my best not to think about it.

I was crazily, ridiculously grateful to Nick, and as a small token of thanks I had made him breakfast before going onto my phone, ignoring the calls and texts from Will.

Nick had told me that Payton Entertainment Group (P.E.G.) would supply me with a flat, and I was keen to get it sorted out, and not have to rely on Nick.

I rang the number I had saved under 'Blake'. The receptionist picked up.

"Hi, you've arrived at the secretary of Blake Payton of P.E.G., how may I help?"

"Hi, this is Adeline Christa. I would just like to know whether it's possible for... Living arrangements to be made for me ?"

"Living arrangements? Sure. Flat or house?"

"Umm... Flat please."

"Furnished?"

"Yes please.."

"How many bedrooms?"

"Well I'll be the only one staying there... So.."

"Three bedrooms." she confirmed out of nowhere.

"Um, okay," I said, feeling pretty useless.

"Location?"

"Central London, please."

I wanted to be somewhere busy, somewhere where I needn't be scared about being alone.

"Okay, we'll get that sorted for you. Also, Adeline, Blake told me to inform you he's arranged for an agent for you. There will be a limo waiting for you at the school gate."

"Okay, thanks."

I heard a few quiet mouse clicks.

"Actually, if you could get to the studio now, the apartment is ready..."

"Already?" I said disbelievingly.

It had only been, what, two minutes since I had asked!

"Yes. Where are you?"

"I'm at the house of Nick, one of the head cameramen..."

She paused.

"Oh, okay."

"And... Could you send some clothes, please?"

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I gawked at the massive building rising out of the earth.

All I needed was a simple apartment, but P.E.G. clearly didn't understand the meaning of simple. I was at the entrance to the Shard, dressed in a huge real mink fur coat, towering brown leather ankle boots and a dangerously short silk miniskirt - not my style at all, though I was thankful to be wearing clothes at all. The people from the company said that somehow they had transported all my possessions into my new flat within two hours, and I held the card-key in my gloved hand. Stepping into the shiny, modern reception I gasped, admiring my glossy surroundings that came out of a magazine. I stepped into a spacious lift which brought me up to my penthouse suite near to the top of the tallest building in England. Luckily I wasn't scared of heights, but my ears popped as I went up the lift and the views at the top made me a little queasy. But worse was yet to come. My apartment was absolutely beautiful. It was the perfect, modern, hi-tech apartment with wall speakers, huge windows, an over 50 inch 3D TV, a huge sparkling kitchen, jacuzzi, and many other crazy luxury things. But sitting on one of the plush cream sofas was just who I didn't want to see.