Is this destiny?

~ Austin ~

Friday, November 29

Harriet is in the restroom of a fancy restaurant, gathering her courage for what she will do next.

Earlier that day, a maid brought one yellow minidress to her room and told her to be ready by 6 PM.

Harriet's heart pounded in her throat. It's happening! She should praise her parents' capability to persuade Lukas White to meet with her again after what happened the last time.

Based on the ultra-revealing minidress, she can only imagine to what lengths they promised that she will be obedient.

Harriet hid the envelope with her saved cash under the dress, low on her back, held in place with the elastic of her underwear. It's the only place, because her parents are checking contents of her purse, and that dress does not allow for any other hiding spots. The deep front opening reveals her cleavage so much that she can't wear a bra, and she has to resort to using nipple tapes. There is a horizontal opening which reveals her navel, and the back is exposed completely. If she bends, her panties will be shown as well… this short dress is not hiding anything. Luckily, it's so tight fitting that it flattens the envelope edges, so they are not sticking out and if she adjusts the ruffles right, the small bulge from that monetary insert looks like it belongs there.

Based on the quality of the material and exquisite embroidery, Harriet can tell that this is an expensive dress, but why does she look like a street worker?

She was not surprised that bodyguards escorted her to a private room. After all, she knows what is coming.

When Lukas saw her, he licked his lips lecherously and she did her best not to cringe.

"Is it OK if I use the restroom? I think I'm too nervous…", Harriet said with the sweetest smile she could produce while holding her belly before Lukas had a chance to get close to her.

Of course, bodyguards were one step behind her.

She grimaced and clutched her belly before going in. "This might take a while."

Her expression told them that her stomach is upset.

Luckily, they are two guys, so they waited outside.

Her idea is to escape through the window, but the misfortune is that she is not familiar with the neighborhood.

Can she blindly pick a direction and hope to escape successfully?

Back to present…

Harriet approached a lady who entered the bathroom.

"Excuse me, can I borrow your phone just for a minute? I left mine at my table and I need to check something urgently."

 "Uhm… sure…", the woman reluctantly agreed.

Harriet opened the map app and she was upset that there is no store that sells clothes nearby. Harriet needs to change out of this flashy yellow dress as soon as possible. Her eyes lit up when she saw that there is a secondhand store only three blocks away!

"Thank you.", she smiled when she gave her phone to the lady.

As soon as the lady exited, Harriet got out through the window while holding the sparkly yellow high-heeled shoes in her hands. Luckily, the window is on the second floor and she landed in a bush. Even if it's a concrete down there, she would jump out.

Harriet is aware that this is her last chance, and if she is caught, she will be out of chances.

Harriet dashed in the direction of the secondhand store as fast as her legs carried her.

She was panting heavily when she reached, and her eyes widened in horror when she saw the clerk getting ready to close the store. It was almost 8 PM.

"Please… can you keep the store open, so I get a change of clothes? I will pay for them and give you this dress and shoes as well.", she pleaded. "I will not be picky, I'm just looking for a t-shirt, pants and sneakers."

The older man reluctantly agreed. He could see that she is in some trouble and she is offering him a good deal.

He turned the sign at the door to 'Closed'. He does not want more customers, or whoever is after her.

Harriet was grateful that he helped her by pointing where different sections and sizes are. She would take forever to navigate in that maze.

The clerk didn't hide the fact that he wants her out of his store as soon as possible.

The man was obviously pleased with the dress she left behind. It's in great condition, and the quality is better than anything he has available. The man was unable to control his smile when she offered to exchange her crystal studded brand-name purse for any bag he has available that will go better with her new outfit.

He didn't mind calling a cab for her and he even gave her a baseball hat free of charge.

Harriet left the store in a simple off-white top, blue jeans which fit her surprisingly well, running shoes and a small backpack. She pulled her ponytail through the back opening of the baseball hat while waiting for the cab. Now even if she bumps into those bodyguards, they will need to take a second look to make sure that is Harriet.

In the cab, Harriet took in only small breaths, as if afraid that if she breathes too much she will be discovered or maybe summon some bad luck. She relaxed slightly only when she reached the airport.

Luckily, next flight for Los Angeles is only one and a half hours away, and they have seats available. Because Harriet has no luggage, she breezed through the check-in and security.

She had to use her ID to purchase the ticket, but she had no other options. With any luck, her parents took time to realize that she is missing. They can't track her with history of credit card purchases, because she paid for everything in cash. Even if they planted any trackers on her, they are left in that secondhand store, because she took only her ID, a micro memory card and cash from her purse, and out of her clothes she kept only her panties which she made sure have no suspicious bumps before putting them on. Hopefully, her parents will not call their contacts this late in the night in order to check if she is on any of the flights out of Austin.

Harriet sat in her economy seat and held her breath. She was on the verge of a panic attack when she heard that there is a delay with their departure. Only when that familiar shaking from a lift-off ended, Harriet allowed herself to take in a deep breath. She escaped from her parent's house… her second step is done.

~ Los Angeles ~

Saturday, November 30

6:23 AM

Harriet is in front of the apartment 5G, thinking if she should ring the doorbell or not. She triple-checked the address in her mind. Yes, this is Benjamin's apartment. But what if it's not? She knows where he is working… so if this is the wrong place, she will wait for Monday and look him up at work. Harriet wanted to call him, but she does not know his number, and her parents took her phone more than a month ago when her mother dragged her from Los Angeles to Austin.

She hopes that Benjamin is still waiting for her. What if he moved on?

Harriet's finger reluctantly hovered close to the doorbell button. She asked herself: 'You reached all the way here, are you going to back off now?'

After she pushed the doorbell button for the third time, she heard a grumpy male voice from inside. "Jesus! Coming! I'm coming! If you are selling something, I'm not buying! Do you know what's the time?! If it's a package, why don't you leave it at ... ? ..."

Harriet is confident that she never saw anything so eye-pleasing than the sight of Benjamin at the door. Stunned, staring at her… in his pajama bottoms and a white tank top undershirt, his hair messy… she obviously woke him up. Based on his stubble, he didn't shave since yesterday morning.

"Hi…", she greeted him shyly after a long silence.

"You said that you will help me, and… I need a place to stay.", her voice was barely audible. "Does your offer still stand?"

Harriet didn't expect to find herself in Benjamin's embrace. At least not so soon and without a warning.

Her arms wrapped around him and she held onto him tightly. She is not aware at what point tears started rolling down her cheeks uncontrollably. Harriet does not remember when was the last time she cried. Her parents never approved of her making unnecessary noise. But now, she could not stop… and she cried for a long time.

Right there, in Benjamin's gentle and firm embrace, enveloped by his warmth and his scent... she never felt so safe and so vulnerable and so alive.

Harriet didn't notice when he lifted her up and carried her to the sofa.

Benjamin sat down and held her in his lap, and he let her cry out all her grievances without a word.

He can tell that she went through a lot, and he didn't want to ask her where she was or what she was doing or why she didn't contact him for such a long time… she will tell him when she is ready. What matters is that his Penny came back to him. And this time, Benjamin knows deep in his heart that she came to stay.

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