《The baby swap》Chapter 20: Paparazzi (part 2)
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My body was in panic, my mind yelling for me to move, but somehow I couldn't.
I was too late.
Ready to embrace my death, my eyes began to close.
Seconds later, I started to wonder if I had died and somehow hadn't felt a thing.
I heard the sound of screeched tyres, bringing me back to reality.
I opened my eyes to see the van just a meter away.
'I'm alive!' my mind finally registered.
A smile formed on my face whilst my hand rubbed my belly.
How did I miss the van? I could have sworn I hadn't seen a single car.
I made a mental promise never to put my child's life in danger again.
The door to the van opened as I prepared myself for a major scolding.
Instead of a frightening, angry drive. About eight people got out of the van, each with a camera around their necks.
That's when I noticed the big bold letters on the van that read: E-way news.
I was almost bumped by the paparazzi!
As I was about to escape, they surround me and started taking pictures.
I shielded my face with my arm as the cameras continued flashing.
I turned in all directions with no way out.
That's when I felt the last bit of strength that was holding me together slowly come apart.
My eye were whelmed up with tears and I felt my knees weaken.
After a near-death experience all they could do was take pictures. What was wrong with people? As long at it paid people didn't mind tramping all over others.
I heard the sound of screeched tyres, grabbing my attention.
A meter away, a car stopped followed by it's door opening.
"Get in!" The driver yelled.
I wiped my tears to see Tom in the driver's seat.
I thought he was annoying the first time we met but right now I couldn't be any happier to see him.
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I pushed past the crowd with all the strength I had left and rushed into the car.
Immediately after I closed the door, the car drove away before I could even put my seat belt on.
Throw the ray view mirror, I noticed the paparazzi still taking pictures.
"Are you okay?" Tom asked, his eyes glued to the road.
His New Zealand accent suddenly sounded like an American one.
I nodded trying to wipe my tears away.
I put my seat belt on and removed the sunglasses.
I held myself into a hug, still a bit shaken.
All I could think about was Alexandra and his words, he warned me that something like this would happen.
Thinking Alex was trying to control me, I refused to listen.
I should have at least given him the benefit of the doubt considering we are from completely different worlds, he surely knows a lot about this.
At least he was stubborn enough to let Tom stick around. I didn't know what I would have done if he hadn't came to my rescue.
My phone rang, bringing me out of my thoughts.
I stared at the screen to see my mom's name pop up.
She was the last person I wanted to talk to, considering my face was on every tabloid, she must have already been aware of the situation.
I ignored her call as my phone continued to ring. After several minutes of none stop ringing, I finally put it on silence.
"Where should I take you?" Tom suddenly asked.
"Home," I managed to say.
"Sorry ma'am, I can't do that." He answered.
He took his eyes off the road for a second, handing me his phone.
On his phone screen was a video footage. It was a live stream of my front door.
There were about ten paparazzi, all waiting with their cameras.
I could even see some of my neighbors standing outside of their doors, wondering what was going on.
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"You have a live stream footage of my front door?" The words escaped my lips.
"For your own protection," he answered, his eyes still on the road.
He sounded just like Alex.
I began to wonder what else he was keeping from me. By now I could, without a doubt tell he was speaking in an American accent, surely the New Zealand thing was a lie.
"Is your name even Tom?" I asked with distaste.
"It's Walt," he answered, still maintaining a professional tone.
I rolled my eyes, slouching into the seat as I started to think of a place were Tom/Walt should drive me.
Surely I couldn't go to my parents house. Mom was probably dying from embarrassment from this whole scandal.
From a distance, I noticed a fresh-up store at a gas station.
"Could you please stop there?" I asked pointing at the store.
Walt did as I asked, he parked the car next to small stores' entrance.
As I am about to leave the car, Walt stops me in my tracks.
"Wait," he says. "I don't think it's safe for you to leave the car."
He had a genuine look if concern.
"It's okays," I answered. "I just need to get a few things."
Since I dropped and left those tabloids in the middle of the road, I needed to replace them. I needed to know how big of a scandal I was involved in.
"It's okay, I'll get everything for you. I was ordered to protect you with my life." He said adamantly.
"Okay," I answered pulling my arm away from the door. "Can you please buy some tabloids, every single one with my face on it." I insisted. "As well as a sandwich, which ever one they have and a bottle of water." I said reaching for my purse.
"You don't have to pay, the boss gave me his card incase you needed anything." He said with a small smile.
I watched as he walked away into the store.
The reality of me not having nowhere else to go sinked in.
I've never had to deal with such a situation like this. But Alexandra surely has, he'd know what to do.
I never thought I'd ask him for help but, this was for more than just my pride. I didn't want to put my child's life in danger, he did insist I call if I needed anything.
I sighed searching my contact list for his number. I saved his number the same day he gave me his business card.
After haven founded it, I pressed onto his number and called.
I had my phone against my ear as I listened to the ring.
After five tries, I finally gave up. He never answered.
So I left a voice mail:
"Hi Alex, it's Zoe. I didn't give you my number but I'm sure you have it anyways." I rumbled. " Please call me back as soon as you can, I need to talk to you." I said.
I called his number twice more but, he never answered.
He must have been busy. The downfall of being rich was that you always had a lot to do, although for the past week he seemed to have a lot of free time.
I finally gave up after noticing Walt return to the car.
He entered, placing a plastic bag between us.
He turned the key and drove away out of the lot.
"Everything's in the bag," he informed me.
I opened the plastic bag. Two chicken sandwiches, two bottles of water and five tabloids were in the bag.
I opened the small rectangular plastic box and took the sandwich.
Whilst my one hand feed my mouth, the other was paging through the tabloids.
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A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter.
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