“It is a Rose Petal Heart necklace,” I explained to the police officer, “It is gold and features a rose petal attached in a circular band.”
Rocking back on my feet, I ran my hand through my hair. That necklace was an heirloom from Hardin's maternal side of his family. I should go bury myself six feet now.
I watched as the officer wrote the details. “When was the last time you saw it?”
“This afternoon. Before I left the hotel,” I explained.
“What did you do when you left the hotel?”
“I checked out an open bar, then bought a cup of mojitos. I followed the map to the beach, and that's where I realised I lost the necklace.”
“Don't worry, Miss. We'll do our best to find it. Please, write your details.”
“How long do I have to wait?” I asked as I filled the form he gave me. I capped the pen when I finished and watched him expectantly.
“Depends. It could be stolen, or you might have misplaced it. I will call you in a week if we have found it,” he said.
Numb, I nodded. What was I going to do? Why was I going to tell Hardin?
“Brie!”
Victor's arms engulfed my body into his. I leaned against his chest and wrapped my arms around his waist. “I messed up.”
“Hey, it's going to be okay. We are going to find it. Perhaps, we could post it online—”
“No!” I cried and pulled away. “Hardin would find out.”
“Well, you would have to tell him.”
“He can't know!” I pleaded. “He would be furious. That is an heirloom.”
“All the more reason to let him know now.”
“We'll find it before then.” I turned to the officer and asked, “Right?”
The man frowned and pulled off his cap. “Hopefully.”
The three days and no news came from the officers. I called them to inform that I would leave the country. There was no update on the missing necklace. As Victor and I boarded the plane, I fingered my necklace-free neck. What was I going to do?
“Relax,” Victor said, and gently squeezed my palm.
As soon as the plane touched down in Lilaria, anxiety got the better of me. I snapped and bristled at anyone who came close. Victor was not exempted.
My phone buzzed with several notifications, which reminded me of the slow internet in Varadero. I fished it out as I pulled my luggage behind me.
“Whoa.” Victor pulled me to his side and apologised to some stranger.
I did not look up from my phone but glared with disgust at the tabloid on my phone. Last week, it was about a celebrity who sexually assaulted some girls. Now, it streamed with news about me.
“Argh!” I squealed with frustration.
“We are stepping outside. Could you please stop looking at your phone?”
I ignored Victor again until my phone got snatched away. “Hey!”
“Why do you keep... Oh. Oh! What the hell?!” he screeched, startling the surrounding people. “Why would anyone post stuff like this? You should sue them?”
Yeah, right? In this twenty-first century, anything uploaded on the internet, whether it be true, classified as right of expression. It is bullshit personified. I do not understand how someone would take his time to sit and write such horrible rumours.
Like I said earlier, today's hottest is about yours truly and my harem of 'boyfriends.' According to the new post by bloggers AnonDuo, Victor is my new boyfriend and we went on a lovers’ holiday together. Apparently, I cheated on my five-year boyfriend, Hardin. To top it off, it lay my low chances of having a child as dessert to hateful viewers. Just nice.
“Let it go, Victor. You know you have a game to pitch tomorrow.” I tugged on his arm and quietly took my phone.
Whether they wanted to believe it, Victor remained my closest male friend. It didn't matter if he was younger than me or used to date me.
A panicked look crossed his face as he searched for his phone in his pockets.
“What is it?” I asked.
“I have got to call her.”
“Who?”
“My girlfriend.” His phone finally showed up in his palm while I looked up at him with shock.
“You are not wearing the necklace,” Hardin noted, staring at my neck with a questioning look.
Hardin had stopped me from leaving the meeting hall once the meeting with the management was over. Levi, the last to leave, trained a hard look at Hardin.
Wistfully, I reached for my neck with my hands before snatching them away. Keeping a blank and professional look on my face, I said to my ex-lover, “Why would I need to wear it? After all, there is nothing between us any longer.”
“Brianne,” he sighed and reached for my hands, “We need to talk.”
I snatched them away, mostly out of guilt for misplacing his mother's heirloom. “This is neither the time and place for this. Mr Kingston, you've said it yourself. Leave personal business outside the office. I hope you can abide by your own words.” I made for the door.
“I believe you have done enough for Atlantis.”
I froze, my hand hovering on the door handle while the other cradled brown files. “Excuse me.”
“As soon as you leave this room, please pack your things.” With a cold hard glare, he continued, “You are no longer needed here.”
“But why?! After ten years, you just want to kick me out?!”
“Yes.”
The air felt too cold. Not cold because of the air conditioner, but ice cold because of the fear I'd dreaded coming true.
Anger lurched in my belly like a volcano ready to erupt. “I lived for Atlantis. My blood, sweat, and tears contributed to this place. You can't take this away from me.”
“You laze on your job, take long breaks from work, never punctual, filled with arrogance, disobey my orders as your boss,” he roared. “It is my fault I have been too lenient because I had feelings for you. Now, I must take responsibility and not let you and the rumours circulating about you damage Atlantis' reputation. Leave, Brianne Delmont.”
“You will regret this, Hardin Kingston. I will make you regret this decision.” With the force of an angered bull, I slammed open the door and stormed to my office.
Screw him! Screw the stupid necklace. Screw Atlantis.
I packed all my things into several boxes and prepared to take them to my car. I raised my head at the click of the door and glared at the smirking newcomer.
Arms folded across my chest, I sized her up. “Hello, Theresa. Have you come to gloat?”
“Why, yes,” she replied with a lopsided smile.She looked quite the villain when she does that. Theresa does put Cruella to shame. Except Cruella had more fashion sense that this person standing in front of me.“Say whatever you want to say and get out,” I growled. I tapped my foot on the floor and drummed my fingers on the table.“Do not worry too much about Hardin. I will take good care of him in your absence.” She brushed her hair over her shoulder with her left hand. Like a cat, I got enraptured with the bright glint on her finger.I ground my teeth and glared at the diamond ring on her finger. That should have been mine.I forced a small smile onto my lips. “Congratulations, future Mrs Kingston.”Theresa frowned for a moment. She must have expected a tantrum. She stepped in front of the door and spat, “Try to be less arrogant, will you?”
Maybe this was not a good idea.A week had passed, and I resolved I planned to do the right thing. But now, I was not so sure. I had only good ideas that resolved things perfectly. This, however, felt messed up. I am going to meet a stranger who shared a few words with me over the phone. How did this stranger even get my private number?!I gripped the steering wheel while I eyed the restaurant with outdoor seating. I probably should have texted Victoria my whereabouts, just in case something bad happened.But as my best friend always says, when in doubt and fear, wear sunglasses. Sunglasses helped contain your emotions.I pulled open the compartment and took the stylish sunglasses I bought myself some weeks ago. My view of the world turned grey as it stayed firm on my face. Grabbing my purse, I stepped out of my car and made for the restaurant called, Beaumont.“Reservation for E. P?” I
I grinned at the man and said, “Hello.” I closed the file and got to my feet, putting my palm forward for a handshake. “Miss Brianne Delmont.” His palm was interestingly smooth as he gripped my palm. Hardin's were coarse from hard work. I remembered massaging his palms with healing ointment after a long tiring day. Shaking off my nostalgia, I put some distance between the man and I. Looking away from his piercing gaze, I asked, “What is in it for you? You would not help without getting something out of it.” Edward peeled off his suit jacket, revealing an austere white shirt and green tie underneath. His shoulders heaved a bit as he sank into his seat. “I want just one thing; the end of Atlantis.” “But the organisation is an ant compared to yours,” I said, with my arms folded. “But there are other men deserving of you,” he quipped. “Have you been spying on me? How did you get my private number?” His eyes twinkled as his mouth quirked at the corners. “I have many sources.” Or h
An alien invasion could happen right now and I'd be glad. Anything could happen as long as I do not have to wake up at five in the morning again.I trodded out of the elevator and into the twenty-first floor. The time on my wristwatch ticked six oh one as I sat in my new chair.“You are late.”Seething, I took notice of the well-dressed man leaning against the CEO's office door. “Good morning to you, Mr Paxton.”“Punctuality is key to unlock greatness in the business universe,” He continued, ignoring my greeting.Not interested in silly little talks, I noticed the post-it notes and files on the desk. One post-it said, bring Mr Paxton a cup of black coffee with lots of cream and two teaspoonful of sugar in the morning.Really?“I should go get you your coffee.” I got to my f
“No.”“Excuse me?”“No.” His cold gaze intensified and I shut down the urge to shiver. Tilting my head higher, I stepped closer to him and said, “I will not send you the documents and the location for the photoshoot.”“Why is that?” Edward asked.“When do we start plotting my revenge? I feel like I'm doing free labour here.”“But I'm paying you for your 'free labour'.” Rolling his eyes, he pushed me to the side and sat at my seat. His fingers repeatedly clicked the keys on the keyboard as he stared at the monitor screen.“Atlantis' stock keeps rising every week and we are doing nothing. I feel like a fool right now. I trusted you to help me but I'm working myself to death for you. I haven't had a proper meal in a while,” I said, slamming my hands on the table
The silver barred gates drew open and Paxton drove us past it. Tall palm trees arched and covered the moon. The streetlights bathed the road with a warm glow.“I was nine the last time I came here,” I said, keeping an eye out for the monkeys I once saw.“You were?” He asked.“I do not remember what I came here for but I recall it was hot and boring.”Slow music danced to my ears as we rode closer to the mansion. It remained as large as I remembered. Paxton pulled to a stop in front of the building and got out of the vehicle. I did the same, drawing stares from the people around. Drawing my purse to my side, I took my sweet time walking around the car to Paxton's side. He curtly held out his arm and I held it.The mint green dress I had on swished around my feet as I walked up the stairs to the house. Uniformed servants greeted
“That,” He whisper yelled, pulling me by the arm. “Was that all you could come up with?”After declaring myself as Paxton's girlfriend, the parents stared at us with wide eyes and faked laughs. They were not the only ones who got shocked tonight. Paxton chuckled and gritted an agreement that I was his girlfriend. Once his parents left us, he led me away to the guesthouse.Once inside, he sent every person out and shut the door. He slowly turned after locking the door. “Do you know what happens when you declare yourself as my girlfriend?”“Partly.” Actually, I did not know and I do not care. “We could break up tomorrow morning. No stress,” I clapped my hands and bobbed my head.“You do not know, do you?”“What is the big deal about it? Besides, should you not be more concerned Tonia you are s
“I would rather break up.”His question and my quick reply lived rent free in my head for the rest of the day. His cold looks never slipped throughout the day. Paxton got harsher by the minute, barking orders and ignoring every person around him. Nico had to ask if I hit a sore spot. I am pretty sure I did not. Something about his mom made him that way.“Will you sulk all day?” I said, giving his desk a gentle knock. “Mr Paxton, can I have your undivided attention?”His unfocused gaze finally met mine. His eyes darkened as he clenched his fists.“Why are you looking at me like that? Do you want to get rid of your mom and me? I have an idea that would solve this.”“Talk.”“I will be your girlfriend. Just one more time until tomorrow morning. Your mom seems to be the type that n