Page 62 of Becoming Cinderella

I turn so my back is to the guards. I can’t risk them recognizing me and possibly kicking me out before I even have the chance to see Liam. How am I supposed to get past these guys? My knees wobble as a mixture of fear and panic fills me.

“Penn and I will try to distract the guards, you go to the eighth floor and start knocking on all the doors.”

I still feel nauseous but I give Jared a nod in understanding.

“Wait till our signal,” Penn says to me as she pulls Jared towards the guards.

The signal?

“What’s the signal?” I whisper at their retreating figures. “What’s the signal?” Now I’m really panicked. What if I miss this supposed signal and ruin my opportunity to talk with Liam?

My stomach dips like I’m on a roller coaster as I chew on my thumbnail, watching Penn and Jared start talking with the guards.

I can’t hear what they’re saying, but watch closely as Penn gestures towards the crowd outside. One of the guards looks over his shoulder at the group and Penn tugs on her ear but doesn’t look at me. Was that the signal? That must have been the signal. What if she was just playing with the diamond stud in her ear though?

Jared steals a look my way, looking at me like why am I still standing here before giving me a small shooing motion.

Okay, that definitely is a signal.

I quickly make my way for the elevators. I don’t run, even though I want to, because I know that will definitely draw attention.

Eighth floor. Just go knock on all the doors on the eighth floor.

“Hey!” Marcus yells when he spots me at the elevators.

This gets the guards attention who push free from Penn and Jared and hurry towards me. Blood rushes to my ears, causing a slight whooshing noise as adrenaline kicks in.

“Really Marcus?” I hear Penn exclaim as I click the elevator button several times like that will speed up its arrival.

“Come on, come on.” I glance back towards the lobby and see the two security guards closing in on me. Okay, so no elevator it is.

I see the sign for the stairs a few feet away from the elevators.

“Stop right there!” One of Liam’s security guards shouts as I push open the door into the stairwell. Adrenaline starts to flow through me as I take the stairs two at a time.

Eight floors. Sure, I can run up eight flights of stairs with two men chasing after me.

Except by the third floor my legs, and my lungs, are screaming for me to stop. What if Liam isn’t even staying on the eighth floor? What if Liam isn’t even here and is on set? The fact that his security detail is here has to mean he is here, because I don’t want to think of what it means for me if he isn’t.

I take the risk and look back. They’re half a flight away and a large green number painted on the side of a door says I’m only on the fifth floor.

These men have trained for situations like this; to stop people like me from getting to Liam. My calves burn and my heart is pounding. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m sprinting up eight flights of stairs or because I’m getting closer to seeing Liam. I see the eight painted on the wall next to the door and reach my hands out to try to reach the door sooner. The hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention as the two men close in on me.

“Don’t even think about it,” one says as I open the door.

“Liam?” I shout as soon as I’m in the hall. “Liam!”

The door doesn’t even close behind me before they push their way into the hallway behind me.

I knock on the nearest door when a large hand grabs my arm. I let out a grunt as I’m yanked to a stop.

“I need to talk to him.” I try to wiggle free. “Liam!” I start shouting again.

“Okay, time to go.” A gruff voice says near my ear.

I struggle as he tows me back towards the elevators. “I just need to talk to Liam!”

“Miss, I’m here to keep Liam safe from fans like you.”

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