Chapter 14

Liz and Penne were arriving at the company, and the photographers were already at the door. They entered without giving any interviews. Liz sorted through her folders with documents she needed to take, chatting extensively with Penne. One of them had to go anyway. So, it was better for her to go to work. It came at a good time.

The secretary notified that Mr. Peter wanted to see her. She asked them to let him in. Upon entering the room, he hugged her and asked if everything was alright with her. "Yes, I'm fine. I was worried about you, Liz. You know I care about you and I don't want to see you sad." "Thank you, Peter! It's good to know I can count on a friend like you. But now I need some time alone. I have a lot of overdue work to catch up on." "Alright then, I'll leave you to it. If you need anything, just call and I'll come running." He kissed her on the cheek and left.

Liz asked the secretary to call her a taxi; she didn't want to drive and needed to do something. She asked Penne to check out a hotel room because she didn't want anyone to know where she was going. At least not for now. "Where are you going, Liz?" She replied that she was going to say goodbye to Henry's parents. She's worried about his mother. "In the meantime, please handle this for me. I really need you, my friend." Liz hugged her and left. The taxi was already waiting for her. The press was still outside. It was difficult, but she managed to leave with the help of the doorman. She gave the address and asked to be taken there, with the taxi waiting for her.

Upon hearing the car noise, Henry's mother came out, and when she saw it was Liz, she came to meet her and hugged her, leading her inside her house. "She told me Henry is coming tonight or early tomorrow. She doesn't know what happened. I came here just to say goodbye to you, whom I care for so much... I've asked Henry a lot to be careful with Zoe; he finds her too innocent, believes everything she says. It's not the first time she's caused us to argue. And I'm very tired. The press is like vultures on me. I need to get away for a while. The taxi is waiting for me outside. I love your son very much. But I can't live like this. I've always been very private; no one has ever read a note from me in the newspapers. Now I'm being pursued. It's not possible. I'm sorry. I'll give you news as soon as possible. My parents are nervous and worried about me. I'm sorry. I need to go now. I just wanted to ask you a favor. Please give this envelope to Henry for me. See you soon. Ask him not to call me for now; he can move on with his life. When he arrives. I don't want him on the road angry." "You're right, my dear." "Then I'm going." Liz hugged her and left.

The taxi dropped her off at her house, where she packed her suitcase, wanting to travel tonight, fearing Henry might arrive before and stop her. It was getting dark when Penne and Nick arrived home, and Liz was already waiting for them to take her to the airport. She said she didn't want to stay home; Henry could arrive at any moment. "Just take me there and you can leave me. Or I can call a taxi." Penne saw Liz was very nervous. "Come here, my friend. Nick and I are here for whatever you need." Nick nodded in agreement. "And let us know as soon as you arrive. Now let's take you, and we'll only leave you when you board that plane." "I could have taken a bus; then I would have spent more time on the road," Liz said with tears in her eyes. "I love you both. And you, Nick, take care of my friend, my sister whom I love." "You can count on it, my sister-in-law." The three hugged. And then they headed to the airport.

Peter, who was standing near the house, watched where they were going, because in the office he saw the folders arranged and empty drawers, suspected she was going to do this. So he followed Nick's car to the airport. When he saw Liz saying goodbye to Penne and Nick, he went up to Liz and asked where she was going. She replied that she was going on a business trip. Then he said, "Don't leave. Why are you running away? You haven't done anything wrong. They are the ones who need to." "Stay, Liz." She replied, "I need some time alone, Peter. And what are you doing here? Are you following me?" He replied that he was coming to see her because he was worried and saw they were leaving, so he followed them to see if everything was okay. "Well, goodbye, Peter. I'll be back soon." She looked at Penne and Nick and waved. She boarded the plane and departed.