Jewelry Box
“Veil,” Anders called softly, touching her legs. She seemed to recoil from him, still staring at her ringing phone. This wasn’t how Anders had planned for the night to play out. He didn’t know what to do with a panicking woman and her ringing phone.
As if on cue, the phone stopped ringing and silence returned to the room. Veil was still panicking but at least, she could now see him. She tried to wipe the tears off her face, but her hands were visibly shaking.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Anders asked slowly, not sure how to go about this conversation.
“I’m not so sure,” Veil responded, shaking her head.
“Do you want to call back?”
Veil wanted to, but she needed Anders out of hearing. She already hated that he had seen her cry, and didn’t want him to see anything uglier.
“I want to get back to work.” Veil got off the bed and returned to the office, plopping on the seat. Once she was sure that Anders hadn’t followed her back down, she called the hospital back, dreading the news.
“Your father is fine,” were the first words the doctor said, immediately putting her mind at rest. “It’s your mother. She fainted while taking care of him. She’s obviously stressed trying not to think about the fact that if the surgery isn’t done, your father has little time left on earth. It’s getting to her.”
Veil sighed and shook the mouse on the table, lighting up the screen. “How’s my mother? Is she doing okay?”
“She’s stable now, but you should try your best so there wouldn’t be a reoccurrence.”
A sudden feeling of guilt overtook Veil as she ended the call. She had been so busy with work since she got the position that she barely had time to check on her parents. Getting the money for the operation was one thing, but she also needed them to know that she was present.
But that was hardly possible with how much Anders mandated that she was at work before him and shouldn’t close for the day until he did the same. Sundays were her only free days, and that was only if Anders didn’t call her in.
Veil spent the rest of the night working on the papers Anders asked her to. Her body ached but she made no move to get up until she was done with the task. By the time she lifted her head from the screen, it was already five am.
It was time to go home to change out of the dress, then return to the office. Veil hoped she would be able to get there before Anders did.
Grabbing her purse in one hand and her heels in the other, Veil went down the stairs into the living room. As she walked to the door, she heard an all too familiar voice behind her, making her stop in her tracks.
“The driver will take you home,” Anders said quietly, watching her like she would burst into tears in the next minute. “And you can take the day off. I’ll find someone to fill up your position for today.”
“But…”
“That was an order, Veil. Not a suggestion. Are we clear?”
“Yes sir!”
Veil didn’t know relief was the right emotion to feel, or worry. If Anders liked her temporary replacement more than he liked her, she wouldn’t have a job to return to tomorrow.
And she needed the job desperately to ensure her father got the operation he needed.
“One more thing.” Anders stretched out his hand, revealing a black velvet box she had no idea he had been holding.
“This is for you – for a job well done.”
Veil shook her head. Was this because she had cried a few hours ago? Did he take pity on her?
“I can’t accept this, Sir. It is…”
“Ms. Hart, I told you that I plan on making you mine, didn’t I?”
Perhaps it was the way he said it, or how his deep-set voice pulled her to him like in a trance, but Veil found her heart thumping wildly in its cage.
Swallowing, she looked away from him, unable to withstand the intensity of his gaze. Anders looked at her like a meal he wanted to devour, and it was weird that it made her feel good.
She should hate this man.
“If you don’t take it, you might as well not return to work tomorrow. I’m sure you can find a spot at some other company.”
“Mr. Roderiguez…”
“The ball is in your court.”
Veil didn’t think the balls were in her court for a minute. Anders was just a jerk that knew exactly what he was doing. He knew how much she needed this job, and that no one would walk away from such an envious position.
He was owning her in his way, but Veil didn’t want anyone to own her. She had too much to deal with.
Accepting the box, Veil nodded to him politely and walked out the door. She met the driver waiting for her out front and she got into the back seat. It was a quiet ride, as the driver seemed to understand that she wasn’t in a talking mood. Her mind was preoccupied with her parents, and how much time her father had left.
The driver brought the car to a halt in front of Veil’s house, and after thanking him, she went up the porch and into the living room.
“Fuck!” She muttered to herself, staring at her legs. How did she forget to return Anders’ slides? He would probably make a big deal of it tomorrow at work.
Plopping onto her couch, Veil stared at the black box in her hands. She opened it slowly, curiosity eating at her.
Veil gasped suddenly, her eyes widening in surprise as she stared at the jewelry in the box. It was the same as the one he purchased at the auction.
The same one that had cost twenty million dollars.