I sit gently in the car and glue myself to the door with a racing heart. He hasn't said a word for the past five minutes now yet it feels like we've been in here for hours.
We're still in the parking lot, not going anywhere-- at least that's a good thing, right? Is this one of those scenes in movies where the girlfriend is threatened? I've been expecting it for three years now but Grandfather-- as I've come to start calling him-- has been awfully quiet. Oliver has invited me for dinner with him three times and each of those times, he hasn't said a word directly to me. I wonder... What he wants now. The bodyguard at the front suddenly turns to me, handing over a thin envelope. I stare at him and then stare at what he's giving me. Is this a gift? I turn to grandfather who has his eyes closed and his head straight. I'm not even worth the attention, am I? "Take it." I jolt at the two words and quickly accept it with trembling hands. His voice is cold as ice and they hold a fierceness that commands my obedience, I'd rather not disobey. "I'm sure you've seen the news," he continues to speak and with each word, my ears are ringing and I can't take my eyes off the envelope. It's a cheque, isn't it? Which news exactly? I gulp, unable to ask my question or say a word in his presence. "Your relationship with my son has gone on long enough," his voice is levelled and calm but there's a scoff somewhere in there that's to my shame. "Oliver has only been with you to spite me and now that he's back to his senses, your time together is over. Unless you have plans to become a mistress, Miss. Rebecca Hoffman?" Oliver was with me... To spite him? He never mentioned something like that. What am I saying? He also never mentioned an engagement. "Never," I blink past the tears, willing myself not to cry, at least not in front of him. "Good. You're a young woman, you'll have many options. I'm surprised you could keep on going blindly with everything the news has to say about you." It's practically impossible to ignore when I'm always at the cover of every newspaper but the fact that he's seen them, I feel so exposed and ashamed. "Did you fall in love with him, Miss Hoffman?" The smirk in his tone cuts through me like a knife, mocking my foolishness. That tone of disdain and sarcasm makes my face feel hot in embarrassment and when he chuckles, I release a shuddering breath with my tears dropping onto the envelope. I can almost see his arched brow in my imagination. "That's unprofessional and unethical and..." A long pause. "A breach of the contract on your path." Beads of sweat break out on my forehead and I'm slowly turning to meet his judging eyes. He has a smirk on his lips, as if amused by the situation. How did he know that? "I see the funds that go into your mother's treatment and I raised Oliver from day one. He wouldn't move without a motive. How do you think the media would react if they knew you really were as they've labelled you? 'A gold digger'." My chest heaved with each harsh and heavy breath as my lips quivered from the shock. I read his threats loud and clear. Tears roll down my cheek and I'm unable to stop them. "I try not to concern myself with his business but he has always been engaged to Annie Quinn. Don't blame yourself. You two just belong to two very different worlds, Miss. Hoffman. I don't want to have to be the one to lecture you." And here I thought the engagement was sudden. My heart is crumbling like a wrinkled paper and each breath feels like a dagger poking my chest. This new discovery only leaves me in a devastated pit of endless turmoil. "That's a cheque to help you get your life together. You didn't finish college, did you? How do you expect to keep your job?" He's throwing shades at me, lining up my sins one after the other. I see where Oliver gets his cruelty from. His grandfather is no less of a cruel man. "Say, you return all the money my son has lavished on you, you owe him nothing but then there's your mother still lying in the hospital. I hear from the doctor that she's not getting any better." How did he get that information? Isn't a patient's report supposed to be confidential? Once again, he's showing me the power he holds. He can pull any string and my life will be a living hell. "Why waste good money on her when you can live your life abroad and resume school-" "I'm not wasting money!" I don't know when I scream, pouring out my frustration. "D-Don't refer to her as... A lost cause. She's the only family I have left." I squeeze the end of the envelope as more tears drop on it. The car is covered in thick silence. Oh shit! I finally snap out of it. The cheque is suddenly taken from me and I lift my head to the bodyguard and watch as he rips it apart. A little ray of hope shines in my heart. Is he giving me his permission to be with his son- "You got tears on it. You have to be careful. That was good money," he said, throwing my chances out the window. "Add another billion," he instructs as the guard rewrites the cheque and takes out another envelope from the armrest of the car. He's handing it over again and this time I hesitate, since I now know what it's for. "The date hasn't been decided yet but I trust you'll find yourself out of his life as soon as possible?" I've always imagined this scene and laughed over it. What would I do if his grandfather handed me a sum to leave him? Of course I'd say no but with my heart in shambles and Oliver's cruel words playing in the back of my mind, his evil smirk dangling from his face, I find myself reaching for the cheque. I've made up my mind to start my life away from him. "Yes," I need help getting away from Oliver. It's no use fighting for a love that was never mine to begin with.REBECCAI put the coffee on the table and looked around.Where was Victor?He called me a few minutes ago that he'd be here.I glanced at the time. It was a few minutes past 6pm. and I had to rush to the grocery store to get groceries for dinner. Mom already sent me a list of things she would need.My phone rang and I quickly picked it up, "Hey, Tania.""Hey, girl. How are you doing?""I'm alright. Just waiting for Victor to show up so I can get home and get some sleep.""That assistant guy? What's he doing over there?" she wondered."He's here on a business trip and he's supposed to give me some documents to sign. Some kind of shares split." Oliver had a big part of Arthur's and my father's share and now he was transferring it back.Well… some."You're splitting it?""He is the adopted son of Arthur and should have Arthur's share.""Didn't they both decide to give it to you?""That was before Oliver came into the picture. Besides, I can't just take it all. He's worked hard for that c
REBECCA:FEW MONTHS LATERI grabbed my coat off the hanger by the side of the door and threw it on, wore my boots and grabbed my bag pack. Gently and quietly, I tried to open the door-"Rebecca Hoffman, you come back here, right now!" my mother screamed from behind me and I yelped, turned around with a racing heart to find her glaring at me. She was still in her pyjamas and had on her hair net."Jesus, Mom! It's 8am. and we have neighbours," I tried to remind her but she only stormed towards me with her face in a pout and grabbed my hands."You're not leaving without breakfast, now sit!" She pulled me to a stool in the kitchen and she took out some pots."I'm going to run late," I whined. "I have class in about an hour and that professor is as strict as they come.""I'll come beat him up if you want."I rolled my eyes as she tried to make something simple and light while I drummed my fingers on the table. I pulled off my jacket and laid it to rest on the counter and scrolled through m
REBECCA"Is that why your mother is heavily guarded?" I wondered, making sense of it now as I took a step closer to him. "You've been associated with him. You used me-"He shook his head-"Say something," anything but of what use was it when the evidence stared me right in the face? He couldn't deny it. Not after what I've heard so clearly."I didn't…" he trailed off. "I didn’t use you… in the beginning, yes, I approached you because I was-""Oh my God!" I gasped and sobbed as the tears spilled over."But that was until I got to know you-""Yadda, yadda, yadda," Richard dismissed. "It's the same damn thing. You used her because she was close to Oliver and wanted to get closer to me. Well congratulations, it worked. You must be pleased with yourself now.""You know, the cops are fortunate to have you. Why don't you come work for me? I'll double-- no, triple your salary and we could start with you getting rid of that boy, Oliver for me. He's my adoptive grandchild and I can do whatever
REBECCAI stared at Theo in shock as the old man looked beyond pleased staring at him. Betrayed yet again? By everyone surrounding my life. I was betrayed by the one I thought would have my back."Why…?" I trailed off. I couldn't even cry or feel sorry for myself this time. "I trusted you-""You trust the wrong people," the old man said. "I tried to extend a genuine hand to help you but what did you do? You decided to bite a good hand. How does it taste now?" he glared at me but still had that look of triumph because he was clearly enjoying himself and his victory.I failed.Right at the edge of a breakthrough… I… "Why?" I screamed at him and Sophia gasped. I was immediately reminded that the two were still here and now they clung to each other as they trembled in fear."I can't believe I missed this spot," he sighed. "I searched for years and years for this yet you two idiots had this lying under your shop? Do you know what these are!" he screamed at them, instilling more fear and th
REBECCAMy father sure made a fool out of these people for fifteen whole years."Are you sure we're in the right place?" Theo asked again, refusing to believe his eyes and I looked at the picture my mother had confirmed."Yes," it was a coffee shop facing the Wright Company.How interesting was it that they all passed the place every day for fifteen years yet not one of them thought to come here to check."Wow. Okay. Let’s go in and order coffee? Or how does this work?" I looked at the key again and all that was on it was just numbers. "I guess we'll have to go in and find out." I opened the door and stepped out.We walked in together, and we walked right onto the front.The young woman behind the counter smiled, "Hello-" her eyes widened in realisation when she saw me but she was nice enough to shut her mouth and go straight to business. "What would you like to order?""Can I see the manager please?"She arched her brows, "Uhm… may I know why? Do you have a complaint? You can relay
REBECCA"Are you sure?" Theo asked over the phone and I shut the door and turned in the lock."Positive. I heard her discussing with Oliver while I was at his place then saw her pick it up from the ground."How could she have kept something like that away from me? She knew how much I was worried about her. I wanted to leave this damn country and the only reason we stayed back was because of her.I felt betrayed and this one hurt more than anything."Calm down. You're breathing too hard.""I can't help it. She betrayed me-""I'm sure she has her reasons. She wouldn't do that to you-"I tried to tell myself that but it sounded like a big fat lie and I didn’t want to delude myself. How could she trust Oliver more than me, her own daughter? After everything…"I'm gonna steal it," I whispered."What?""I need to know what's in that warehouse and I can't trust the fucking police. Help me, please."He took a while before he responded because he pondered on it-"You're the only one I have rig