"Miss Carter, do you need something?" The two security guards at the door straightened up when they saw her come out.
"I just want to use the bathroom," she said casually, tossing out an excuse.
"There's a private restroom in your room," one of them pointed out.
Seriously? They even had the bathroom locked down? Ashley frowned. No, this might be her last shot to get away from that man. As long as she could get out of Impervale, there was still hope. She didn't believe Charles had control everywhere.
Thinking fast, she added, "Actually, I just need a bit of air. It's really stuffy inside."
"The young master said you're not allowed to leave the room," the guards replied, clearly troubled by the request.
"I'm really not feeling well. If you're that worried, you can just come with me," she said, letting out a light cough to back it up.
The two guards exchanged a look, then reluctantly nodded.
So she led the way, with both guards tailing her from about a meter away.
How the hell was she supposed to make a run for it like this? Ashley glanced at the two men behind her out of the corner of her eye. She was in terrible shape. Even if she were at full strength, she'd never outrun two guys built like linebackers.
Looking ahead, she spotted a public restroom not far away and headed straight for it.
The guards stayed outside once she entered the women's room.
Inside, Ashley scanned the place quickly. Most restrooms had a supply closet somewhere.
Bingo. In the last cubicle, tucked against the wall, she found all kinds of cleaning gear-and even a cleaner's uniform hanging on a hook.
She changed into the outfit, pulled on the mask, then pushed the mop cart out like she belonged there. Passing by the two guards outside, she kept calm and walked right through.
They didn't even flinch-didn't expect her to pull off a quick change and sneak out like this.
Turning a corner with the cart, Ashley finally ducked out of their line of sight.
No time to waste. She glanced back quickly to make sure no one was chasing, then bolted towards the elevator.
Two bodyguards stood outside the door, and after a couple of minutes with no sign of Ashley, they started to get suspicious. One of them called over a nurse to check inside, only to find her nightgown dumped on the bed.
"Sir, call for you," George handed the phone over to Charles after answering it.
"What? You actually let a living person vanish under your noses?" Charles had just gotten into the car to head to the hospital when he took the phone. The second he heard the update, his face darkened with fury.
"I'm sorry, sir," the bodyguard muttered, clearly knowing he screwed up.
"Sorry doesn't fix this," Charles snapped, then paused for a second and asked coldly, "How long has she been missing?"
"Just two or three minutes, max. We think Miss Carter slipped out in a janitor's uniform," the bodyguard answered after glancing at his watch.
"Lock down the entire hospital now! Get more men there. I want her found. No excuses!" Charles barked into the phone, then tossed it to George who was sitting in the passenger seat. "Step on it!"
"Yes, sir." The driver, Oscar, didn't dare waste a second, flooring the gas.
In the rearview mirror, George could see that Charles was anything but calm-his brows furrowed and his eyes sharp like a storm was brewing.
Looks like they've realized she's gone. Ashley had just taken the elevator down to the first floor when chaos greeted her-men in sunglasses weaving through the lobby.
Crap. The main entrance is definitely not an option.
She quickly scoped out her surroundings and ducked into an emergency stairwell nearby.
After burning up with fever for a whole day and night, her body felt like it could collapse at any second, legs jelly-like and strength barely holding. But she didn't have the luxury of stopping. She had to get out.
Stumbling along hallway after hallway, she finally spotted the service exit at the hospital's back. There were fewer guards there, and luckily, she managed to slip by and dart out.
"Hey, you there! Hold up!" a bodyguard standing a dozen meters away called out when he spotted a suspicious figure.
No way she could let them see her face. Heart pounding, Ashley picked up her pace. Her head spun dangerously, like she might pass out any second, but she kept herself moving, faking calm when she had none.
That's when she caught sight of a car parked not far ahead.
Like spotting a lifeline in a raging sea, she stumbled toward it with everything she had left in her.
