Blending With The Veggies

"Please...Please, Mr. Reeves." I pouted as I beg the old butler to let me explore outside.

Mr. Reeves looks at me hesitantly. I know he wanted to allow me out but Axel's order is restricting him from doing that. "As much as I wanted to let you into the city, I can't. It's Master Montblac strict order." He told me with a sigh.

"But I've been in this city since last week, but I still didn't get a chance to go out and explore," I whined and slumped on the couch. 

It's been a week since that mafioso took me on top of the Eiffel Tower just to see the sunrise, but that was also the last time I've seen him. He left urgently even before we could explore the city because of that brunette! Just thinking about it makes my blood boil. He ditch me for that hot babe and imprisoned me inside this luxurious mansion.

Eiffel Tower, Paris.
One week ago.

"Thank You," I said while admiring the great view from up here. "Where are you taking me next?" I asked eagerly.

"You said that if we make it out alive you'll give me a tour around the c-" I didn't even get to finish my sentence when Axel clamps my mouth shut using his hand. He put his finger to his lips telling me to stay silent. We both get up from our sits and look around the area.

"Show yourself." He ordered coldly.

Suddenly, a figure showed up from the corner. I saw a woman wearing a spaghetti strap dress coming out of the dark. She has a long wavy blonde hair and a pair of green eyes. Even though I'm a woman, I found myself attracted to her beauty. She's gorgeous.

The women smiled seductively at Axel. "Still sharp as always. You never fail to impress me, Boss."

Boss?

"What are you doing here Dianara?" Axel asked impassively.

The woman approaches Axel with a smile and clung to his arm. "Did you forget what's the date today?" She said.

What's the date today anyway? Is she his girlfriend or something? It's not surprising since Axel and Dianna look great together.

My eyes landed on her hand which is clinging to Axel's arm. He didn't even bother removing it. 

I noticed that the blonde shifts her gaze towards me. "Too bad I have to cancel your date with him because he is coming with me," she said.

What the hell? I started to get irritated. I don't know if it's because of this person called Dianara or the man standing at her side, Axel.

"It's okay. I can go by myself," I said. It's not like I can't explore Paris without Axel on my side. Besides, I can tour around the city without restrictions if I'm alone.

The blonde smiled widely upon hearing what I just said, "That's a great idea!"

"No," Axel said flatly making me look at him like he's grown another head.

"What?"

Axel shoves the girl off his arm and approached me.

"You're not going. I forbid you to go out of the mansion until I return. That's an order." 

My temper rises upon hearing that. "I'm not your minion to get ordered like that!" I snap back at him. How dare he!

"You've become one the moment you agreed to my proposal."

"That's not fair!"

"Didn't anyone told you not to make a deal carelessly with someone?" He paused.

I glared at him.

"Because not everyone is fair." He finished.

"C'mon. Leave her alone already. She's a big girl. She can take care of herself," Said Dianara mockingly.

Even though she's mocking me, I find myself agreeing with her. I'm not a little girl anymore. I can take care of myself.

Suddenly, from a distance. I heard roaring sounds of a chopper.

"Our ride has arrived," Said Dianara with a smirk.

The blows of the wind suddenly become stronger until the chopper materializes into our view. One of the guys on the chopper throw two ladder ropes down. Dianara grabs the other rope.

I stared at her as she settles herself on the ladder.

"Let's go, Axel," Dianara shouted.

Axel turns his back on me and starts to grab the other ladder.

Wait, what about me?

"Hold on! Where will I go?" I shouted.

Axel turns his head towards my direction. The chopper started to move away and Axel only looks at me impassively, unlike Dianara who's sticking her tongue out towards me.

I just stared at them as their figures started to blur and disappeared.

"A combination of a jerk and a bitch. What a wonderful couple," I said to myself bitterly. Now, I'm alone once again. 

'Hey, Isn't that what you really want? '  I told myself. 

I nodded as if I'm talking to someone.  

I look around the area. It seems like I'm the only one here left. Oh, wait. If Axel left me here then that means I can explore the city alone.

I jump excitedly at the thought. Before I can even go to the exit, Mr. Reeves appeared with 6 men in black suits behind him.

"Ms. Tasha. The car has arrived," He announced making me silently groan.

Montblanc's Mansion, Paris.
Present.

"Why don't you go with me?" I asked hoping that he'll  agree. As much as I want to roam around the city alone, Axel won't allow it without his trusted butler.

"I'm so sorry my lady but Master Axel specifically told us not to let you wander the city without him at your side." Said the old butler.

I cringed. Why do I need to go with him? Why not let me out alone?

'Because he doesn't trust you.'

Right. Maybe that's it. But why can't he just let me go? It's not like I'm a big help obtaining the stone he's looking for. I can't even remember what happened.

Come to think of it, how come I can't remember a thing? 

I try my hardest to remember the events that had occurred inside Mr. Alastair's Mansion but whenever I do so, my head started to throb like crazy.

I started to ruffle my own hair.

"My lady, are you okay?" Mr. Reeves asked worriedly.

"Uh..ha ha. Yes, I'm fine." I said. I'm pretty sure I looked like a crazy woman doing that to myself.

Ugh! It's all Axel's fault. He's a hindrance to my adventurous spirit. Forbidding me to go out of this mansion is the same as trapping me in a bird cage just like way back home.

Isn't that one of the main reasons why I ran away?

'It's all your fault, Tasha. If only you didn't make a deal with a devil.' I told myself at the back of my head.

I don't have a choice! It's not like he'll let me go if I didn't agree with him. I just took the safest option.

I sighed at that thought.

I look out the window and saw another big building at the side of the mansion.

"Mr. Reeves. What's inside that building?" I asked while pointing at the building.

"That's the mansion's garage." If there's a garage then there are cars. I smiled at the thought. 

"Master has a habit to collect cars ever since he was young so we gotta make some space to where he could keep them."

Now, all I have to do is to know my escape route. Escaping through the front gate is not an option since it's heavily guarded by guards. The back gate is also heavily guarded. I look outside and see a lot of men are patrolling around the area.

I slumped down on my sit once again. How will I ever escape? I don't want to stay here any longer. I can't wait for Axel to return. I need to do something.

'He didn't even bother checking you out if I'm still alive.' My mind says bitterly.

'Yeah, because she's busy with that blonde.'  Just thinking about them makes me feel irritated.

What if he returns next year? That thought horrifies me.

Noooo!

Suddenly, I heard a truck engine outside. I stand from where I am sitting and look out the window just to see if what's going on outside.

"What's that?" I asked Mr. Reeves.

"That's the truck that supplies crops and vegetables inside this mansion. They're here to restock."

 A thought hit me.   

"Where's it from?" I asked curiously.

"I believe it's from the main city. They roam around the city to supply goods. I gotta go my lady. Just call me if you need my services." He said and walk out the room. 

The information that the old butler just told me is my ticket way out. I immediately ran towards my cabinet and change my shirt into forest green. I need to blend in. I smiled slyly while thinking of my plans. After I'm done changing, I immediately sneak outside my room towards the kitchen.

Mia, the cook, saw me while I was sneaking into the kitchen. She startled me by greeting me while I'm under the table.

"Good morning, my lady." She greeted. "Do you want to eat some breakfast?" She offered.

"Uh...no. I'm all good." I said awkwardly.  "And please, stop calling me, my lady. I told you it's Tasha."

I've know Mia for almost a week now. I happen to meet her when I was sneaking inside the kitchen just to look for something to eat for a midnight snack. She, as a cook, has a tendency to stay in the kitchen up until the late hours just to study the dishes she'll prepare for the next day.

"Okay." She giggled. I know she's mocking me when she called me my lady earlier. She knows that I hate it so much. "Then what are you doing under the table?"  She asked curiously.

"Nothing. I'm just taking something I drop," I lied. 

She looks at me suspiciously. She didn't believe a thing that I'm saying but she just shrugged and drop the subject.

"Whatever you're up to, I hope you won't get in trouble because of it." She said worriedly.

Even though I only knew her for only a couple of days it felt like I already know her for years. I feel good just talking to her. It's like I know I can trust this lady. It's been a while since I've found someone I can call a friend. 

I smiled. "Don't worry and thanks for reminding me." 

She smiled back. "Oh well, I'll start preparing breakfast so just wait here," she said and ran off somewhere.

"Wait!" Before I could even stop her, she's already gone. 

 Sorry, Mia but I had to do this.  

I saw a sticky note on top of the table so I decided to write a short letter about my whereabouts. 

I'm bored so I don't want to stay inside this mansion for the whole day. I promise I'll be back.   

-Tasha

I stick it into the fridge and took a container of ice cream inside.

"Yum!" 

I'll eat it as I sneak my way to the  truck. I saw a few man carrying big sacks. When they're not looking, I took that as a chance to sneak my way inside the truck. 

I squish myself into the sacks of broccoli and other green leafy veggies. Once I'm settled down, I heard a few people talking. I can't really understand what they're talking about since they're speaking inaudibly but I know they're not speaking in English. I can understand French a little because it's a mandatory for us in the royal family to speak other languages.

"Allons-y!" Said the man and close the truck door shut. I heard the truck engine roared and starts moving.

This is it! Next stop is the gate. I just hope that Mr. Reeves didn't realize I'm missing before this truck can even get out of this lair. They'll suspect that I'm inside this truck!

Again, I heard a few man talking outside. Suddenly, somebody opened the door of the truck.  

"Done. You can open the gate now." Said the someone. Probably Axel's guards. I heard he close the door shut. Relief wash over me. Thanks to my shirt, I can blend in with the veggies.

Now, the next plan is...how do I get out of here? I scan my surroundings. It's a little dark in here. The gaps in the wall gives a little light inside. 

I don't have a choice but to wait until they open this door.

I waited for a few minutes until I heard the sounds of honking vehicles. I'm positive that I'm already inside the city. After a few minutes, the truck stops. I heard the workers opening and closing their doors.

Now's my chance!

The plan is, once again, blend in with the veggies and sneak my way out once they're gone, but luck is definitely not on my side because the moment they carried one sack that happens to be where I'm hiding, I've become exposed. 

The man stared at me wide eye.

"Bonjour!" I greeted awkwardly. I stand up to where I'm sitting and started to walk out of the truck.

The man carrying a big sack is still frozen on his spot. Poor man. Maybe he's too startled to even speak. I took that as a chance to run.

"Merci and....oh yeah...salut!" And I scram off.

♚ End of Chapter 18 ♚

Just a quote for today that I found On Facebook.

Life is like a camera...
FOCUS on what's important.
CAPTURE the good times.
DEVELOP from the negatives.
And if things do not work out...take another shot.