As soon as Vincent stepped out of her new room, Elena reached out to Alejandro.
"The thing we planned, you can go ahead."
For the first time in months, she slept without any worry.
****
It wasn't until two days later that Vincent decided on the date for the vacation. It was a typical Thursday morning when he announced, as Elena walked into the kitchen to him massaging Claire's feet.
"I'll be free this weekend. Why don't we leave first thing tomorrow morning?"
Her heart skipped a beat.
Tomorrow was the day she would be going over to his rival.
Struggling to give away anything, an awry smile graced Elena's face. "Must we leave tomorrow?"
Vincent eyed her with a bored look, "I'm only free this weekend. And so is Claire. You have to make time." He stated, leaving no room for arguments, then turned to his best friend turned mistress.
"That's fine with you, baby?"
Claire was the new 'baby'? How magnificent!
As much as she tried to hide it, Elena could see the contented smile on Claire's face. She was getting bolder by the day.
"Maybe we should listen to Elena.” She pouted. The plane's full, so I won't be able to get a ticket anyway."
Vincent dismissed the theory like it was a bluff, "That won't be a problem. Elena got two tickets for both of us. You can use hers."
Elena shook her head slowly, disbelief crossing her face.
How come she never noticed she was this worthless?
Vincent gauged her reaction, "Don't overthink like you always do. I paid the change of date fee yesterday, and there were no extra seats on the plane. It is for your good. Didn't you say you felt choked yesterday?" He said curtly, quoting the exact words she said when she refused to have dinner with them last night.
Then opened his wallet and pushed a small envelope towards her. It was a 10-hour train ticket for Paris.
"I got you this. You'll be able to actively breathe in enough fresh air while taking in the view. Do you object to it?"
Object to it? How could she? He just made her work a lot easier.
"Of course not." She kept up the act, "Claire can have my ticket. I'll meet you both there. Can I go in now?"
Seeing that he had gotten what he wanted, Vincent didn't spare her another glance, waving her way.
His nonchalance didn't get to Elena.
The first thing she did when she got into her room was to pull out three boxes. One for all the expensive gifts he'd gotten her. One for her wedding gown, ring, and every other thing that made her Mrs Lopez, and the last one for the things she'd be taking with her—her things.
Sorting out the boxes wasn't as hard as she expected it to be. Elena relived every memory she had shared with her husband for the past five years, yet her joy level remained high.
All that remained was to update Alejandro so she picked up her phone,
"Leaving tomorrow. Are you ready? Is the plan to fake my death all set?" She questioned making sure everything was intact.
"Yes. Be at the airport by 10 am tomorrow." He grunted before disconnecting the call.
Alejandro's coldness didn't make her feel bad. Coming from a man she expected nothing of, it felt better than coming from her husband.
Early the next morning, Elena acted like all was fine. Bringing out her bags and preparing a car that would take her around the train station.
Vincent glanced at his watch.
"It's 8 am, so I'll see you at the hotel by 8 pm. If you're late, I won't foot your travel expenses!" He boomed and Claire stifled a cough.
"Better still, get lost and never return."
Elena's eyes trailed behind their car waiting till it blended with the scenery.
“I'll grant your wish this time.” She said to herself.
Immediately, she placed a call to the hotel she had booked.
"Is that a La France place? I'd like to cancel my reservation for the luxury couple suite."
The receiver paused, "Are you sure, ma'am? Since it's abrupt, you won't get a refund."
"Don't worry." She smiled. "I won't be needing it."
There was no way she would let her money go to waste on those two.
Vincent might not know because he never really paid attention to her career but she wasn't broke and was doing very well for an artist.
And with that, she ended the call; handing over a long list of the things she'd like her bodyguard to move out.
The things she had bought with her own money.
She was going to erase every trace of herself from Vincent's life.
"I'm expecting some new furniture,” She lied to quench his suspicions, “... so the removal company will be here soon. Make sure all these are taken out. There are two boxes in my room labelled Claire and Charity. See to it that they're sent accordingly."
The confused guard could only stare.
Wasn't his boss's wife going on a trip? Why was she clearing up her stuff?
Nevertheless, he began to do as she instructed.
At exactly 9 o'clock, Elena walked out of the gilded cage she had spent five years in, pulling her suitcases behind her, not to the train station, but to the airport.
"All 10 am passengers for Paris; the plane would be taking off in thirty minutes. I repeat, all 10 am passengers for Paris; the plane would be taking off in thirty minutes." The speaker boomed as she headed for the first-class suite with an easy grin on her face.
She would definitely be going to Paris.
Not just with Vincent and Claire. Or for the same reason either.
And hopefully, when she returned,
Mrs Lopez would be dead to the world.
