CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Chapter 418: No luck

Before everything else, Nate needed to make Lara sit and relax. She was too tense, and she felt attacked by Ebony's words.

He couldn't decide whether to bring her into the HR office or his own, where she would have been safe from the whole world. Lara pushed him away and walked out, pressing her head between her hands and keeping her breathing stable.

She just murmured a few words before disappearing.

«I'll be back soon,» she said, still conscious of how her disappearance could break Nate's heart.

She had confirmed that she would come back. She just needed a few minutes alone. Maybe, a few hours.

In the company, her cubs were safe. There was someone who would take care of them if she didn't make it in time to pick them up from kindergarten. She could very well afford to disappear for the day.

Running away didn't cross her mind, but she had felt the need to say it to Nate so he wouldn't consider that option. For some reason, her heart hurt at the thought of Nate misunderstanding and feeling abandoned.

But, once she had settled his worries, she continued to walk and left the building. No one stopped her at the reception, so she reached the street and scoffed, annoyed.

It was so damn hot outside. Maybe, not the best day to roam around.

Where could she even go in that mood? She felt afraid, unresting, and angry at the same time. Why? For what? She had no clue.

Just like every time she had a similar mood, she turned her feet towards the centre and walked - better said, marched - away. She didn't even feel the hot sun on her head, the sweat running down her back, and the ache caused by the new sandals.

All she did was walk fast. When she reached the centre, she recognised her hidden destination. In the end, every time she had some kind of struggle, she would end up there. It had started as an attempt to overcome her fears, and it became more a habit than a therapy. She was in front of Doctor Mason's study.

She pressed the button to ring the bell, and she walked in when it opened automatically. She wasn't expecting Doctor Mason to actually have time; last time, it had been pure luck.

However, she was there already. She could make an appointment for that same week. Maybe, after talking it out, she could stop being afraid of that woman's words. Ebony hadn't said anything too extreme, after all.

She would have got back and talked with Nate. Maybe he could explain what that woman meant. Also, maybe, they finally knew the source of her panic attacks... Even though it was still a mystery what that meant and how they were supposed to stop it. Especially this last part.

She was going to talk with Doctor Mason about it, first. Maybe, with a little help, she could stop being afraid of everything and focus on the bright sides of events.

For example, no matter what, she had her cubs. They would be with her forever, in the end.

Once reached the study's door, she knocked. Doctor Mason's secretary opened, and she frowned when she saw Lara. She was expecting someone else, likely. However, her usual, formal smile returned to her face after a couple of seconds. It wasn't the first time Lara Clayton went there without an appointment, after all.

«I'm sorry to tell you that Doctor Mason is busy for the rest of the day today,» she said. «You should come another time or make a phone call to set an appointment, Miss Clayton.»

«Sure,» Lara sighed. She wasn't hoping to be lucky twice, after all. «Can the Doctor meet me tomorrow or the day after?»

«It's a packed period. There is a spot in two days, though. At lunchtime.»

«Lunchtime is perfect,» she murmured. The emergency couldn't wait, while some food wasn't as urgent - all things considered. She could skip lunch or eat early that day, but she needed to figure out what was wrong with her. Why couldn't she just accept everything Nate offered? Why did she always find something that would stop her from taking yet another step?

She wanted to be happy and for Nate to have the mate he deserves: someone willing to go to great lengths for him just like he would do for her.

However, something was stopping her every time.

«I will come back in two days then,» she said.

She turned her back to the secretary and reached the door. Before opening it, hand on the handle and back straight, she turned back once again.

«Can't the doctor meet me even later today? Like, at the closing time... I won't need a whole hour. A few minutes would be enough.»

«It's impossible today, miss. I'm sorry.»

«I see. Bye, then, see you in a few days.»

She reached the gate and pushed, almost setting foot on the street she had come from. However, before she could resume her walk, a flash blinded her. She covered her eyes and noticed how many others followed. She was being photographed. At that, by people so close to her. She could spot a couple of mics pointing in her direction, but she didn't move her arms away from her face.

In front of the entrance to the building, the press was trying to get any word from Lara. They took pictures, asked many different details about her reasons to be there... They could guess, though, she figured.

She stepped back and closed the gate, returning inside. She couldn't get out just yet, and she wasn't positive there was a back exit she could use. She couldn't go back and bring trouble to Doctor Mason; for example, if someone else saw her.

She was stuck there, between the hallways of the building and the siege the reporters were carrying on. Standing there, she felt lost for a single second. Then, she found her phone and dialled a number.

No matter how much she felt alone, she wasn't! Some people would help her without delay.