Getting The Safe

Lauren pushed open the heavy glass doors of the bank. Her heels called for attention against her own will as she walked into the building.

With one goal in mind, she went looking for Catherine. Today was the day she would finally see her safe, and she was in high spirits.

“Miss Sterling, this way please.” The assistant called from an empty space across the room. “Mrs. Catherine says to tell you it is ready,” she said, wheeling the metal box toward her. “She’s in a meeting, but she’ll be with you shortly.”

Lauren’s hands trembled as she reached out, brushing the cold surface. The weight of it made her fingers tingle. This right here in her hands was her mother’s legacy. She could have opened it at that moment but she decided to wait for Aunt Catherine before opening it. She had held her hand all the way and it was only fair for her to be there with her to witness that special moment.

“Are you sure this is everything?” Lauren asked quietly.

“Every item listed in the documents, ma’am,” the assistant replied. “We’ve verified it twice.”

Lauren’s eyes narrowed. “Check again,” she said, “I want to be absolutely certain.”

The assistant hesitated before replying, “I’d really love to, Miss Sterling but it’s not within my jurisdiction. If you can wait for Mrs. Catherine, she’ll attend to all your questions.”

Lauren crouched slightly, her hands moving over the safe. For a moment, she wanted to yell at the girl to just obey, but she bit it back. It wasn’t right and she knew it. Something like this would only sabotage the poor girl’s career.

She followed the assistant down the hall and was led to her lawyer’s office to wait. With every passing second, her apprehension grew. She tried to distract herself with reels on her phone, but her thoughts wouldn’t settle.

“Will you divorce him now, Lauren?” a familiar voice asked from the doorway.

Lauren looked up immediately. Catherine stood there with a gentle expression plastered on her face and her handbag securely tucked under her arm.

Lauren swallowed, then shook her head slowly. “No. Initially, I wanted to but I changed my mind. I married him and I’ll face the consequences of my actions. I’ll try to make this work.”

Catherine sighed softly as she stepped forward, stopping right in front of Lauren. “Very well then. But if you need anything or if he starts moving funny, don’t hesitate to call me immediately.”

Lauren nodded. “I won’t.”

The lawyer took a seat opposite her. “Are you ready?” she asked gently.

Lauren drew in a shaky breath. “Yes.”

Catherine nodded once. “Alright then. Let’s dig in.”

They walked back to the room where the safe had been placed and Lauren stood beside her lawyer as the woman entered the code. The lock fell loose and the door opened with a dull click.

Lauren froze. Stepping backwards, Catherine encouraged her to step forward and take her possessions but now that it was right in front of her, she felt a rush of so many emotions. Inside laid a carefully arranged collection of her mother’s things and these items carried the weight of memories and secrets.

There was her mother’s design book, its cover worn but still elegant. She had filled it with sketches and notes from a renowned lineage of designers. Beside it sat a deed to a jewelry company Lauren had never known existed. And nestled in a small velvet lined box were priceless gemstones; emeralds, sapphires, and rubies to be precise.

Lauren’s hands trembled as she reached out, touching each item with so much reverence. A lump rose in her throat and as she struggled to swallow, Catherine held her shoulders to offer some comfort.

“These… these were all hers?” she questioned.

“Every single one, Lauren.” Her lawyer assured her.

Lauren pressed the design book to her chest and her vision blurred. No matter how strong she tried to be, she couldn't hold back the tears anymore. She had waited so long for this… waited to feel close to her mother again. And here she was.

Her mother’s death still haunted her. The mystery of it still ate at her as she had never believed it was natural. Deep down, she was certain her father’s new wife had something to do with it but she just didn't have any evidence.

Old anger flared in her chest as she remembered the fight that had driven her away from home. That night, she’d confronted her father for remarrying barely three months after her mother’s death. The woman he chose had come with an eighteen-year-old daughter, only a year younger than Lauren and it had felt like an insult. It was a wound she could never forgive.

Thinking of them now, her anger boiled in her chest and her determination replaced her sadness.

She was going to find out the truth of what really happened, and why her mother’s death had been so strange.

She wiped her tears roughly and stared at the contents again. The jewels glistened under the bright lights returning a spark of happiness to her eyes.

The deed written in her mother’s name felt like a silent message and the design book filled with so many dreams and plans felt like a guide for her. Lauren clutched them all to her chest and whispered through clenched teeth,

“You wanted me to see this now… because you wanted me to be ready. I am ready, mom.”

She understood now. She understood why her mother had set this up for when Lauren was older. She had saved it for when she could protect herself and handle the ugly truths of life.

Catherine’s hand rested gently on her shoulder. “You okay, sweetheart?”

Lauren nodded, though her eyes still glistened. “Yes. I’m fine.”

They placed the jewels back inside, locking them safely once more. And as she stepped back into her quiet world, she carried the deed and design book with her.

She stood outside the bank, tilting her face up to the sky. The blue stretched wide above her, but her heart was heavy. Catherine joined her, clutching her handbag.

“Lauren,” she asked quietly, “are you sure you still want to stay married to him?”

Lauren looked at her lawyer and whispered, “Yes. I’m a grown woman and I'll deal with my choices.”

Catherine sighed, eyes filled with so much worry. “Alright then.”

Lauren gave a faint nod. “Thank you so much, aunty.”

Catherine patted her shoulder and then walked off, leaving Lauren alone in front of the bank.

As she watched the woman walk away, a plan struck my mind. She reached into her bag, pulled out her phone, and dialed a very familiar number.

.

“Hello?” came a voice from the other end.

“Hello, Sam,” Lauren greeted, her tone calm but edgy. “I have a mission for you.”

He paused for a second as if trying to process what was happening. “Lauren? What’s going on?”

“I want you to investigate the relationship between Julian Drake and Celine Hart,” she replied.

On the other end, Sam gasped. “What? Julian? Isn’t he your… your most cherished man?”

Lauren pressed her lips, saving it from falling into the temptation of saying she's a married wife. “I’m serious, Sam. I want everything. Their relationship. The competition Julian’s company is entering and the designs Celine submitted. Every single detail.”

Sam hesitated. “Lauren, this… are you sure you want to do this?”

“I’ve never been more sure in my life,” she replied. “Start today and report directly to me.”

“Alright,” he finally said. “I’ll get started.”

Lauren hung up, exhaling slowly. She adjusted her sundress and stared at her reflection on the glass door.

Staring back at her was a woman she barely recognized. She was strong and unyielding and most importantly, she was hungry for revenge.

Her lips curved into a smirk as she muttered under her breath,

“Since you both want to play, let’s see who the best player is.”