In the dim light of the bedside lamp, Lucas blinked his eyes. Awareness returned, and he came back to reality. It was a pleasant realization to wake up and find himself still with Velia.
Lucas let out a long breath and slowly untangled himself from Velia’s embrace. He carefully tried not to wake her prematurely.
Velia looked peaceful and tired as she lay on his chest, holding him close. Lucas had to struggle to free himself from the intimate entanglement. He also wanted to avoid waking Velia before the right time.
Velia was exhausted. Her serene face in deep sleep showed signs of weariness.
Lucas planted a gentle kiss on Velia’s forehead as a gesture of apology. Then, he slid out of bed, leaving Velia covered with the blanket, and reached for his phone on the nightstand.
Instead of rushing, Lucas checked a couple of things first. There were emails and messages waiting for him. He quickly read through them before replying.
After putting his phone back in its place, next to Velia’s phone, Lucas paused and realized something. They had not exchanged numbers.
Should I do it?
Lucas picked up Velia’s phone and considered it. He pondered briefly before making a firm decision.
Of course.
*
Ricardo came in looking disheveled. Days passed with anxiety gripping him. He could not enjoy meals or sleep. Panic consumed his thoughts, thanks to Merita’s threat.
Calm down. At least, there’s something good here. Even though Velia doesn’t know where she lives now, the important thing is that she will return to work.
Ricardo acted quickly. Being familiar with Sandra’s character, he did not want to take any risks. At least two plans were already forming in his mind.
First, Ricardo could take advantage of Velia’s living environment. Knowing her address was a big step that could provide Ricardo with many options. He could plan various scenarios, including a robbery.
Second, Ricardo could exploit the tower construction project. Work accidents were common occurrences.
Unfortunately, it seemed that Ricardo now only had one definite plan. Honestly, it was not a pleasant situation. He could not feel at ease without a backup plan. Past failures made him reluctant to take risks again.
It’s okay. Everything will go smoothly. Boy can handle everything.
The ringing of his phone startled Ricardo. Indra’s call made his eyes widen instantly.
“Hello, Mr. Davis,” Ricardo greeted hastily. “How’s it going? Any good news for me today?”
Ricardo held his breath and listened attentively to every word Howard said. Then he let out a long exhale.
“The summons letter has been sent to the respective email address. Tell her to check it, and she can start working again on Monday.”
An indescribable relief surged through Ricardo’s chest. He repeatedly expressed his gratitude before ending the call.
Ricardo stood up and went outside, giving instructions to his deputy, who happened to be engrossed behind a computer.
“Vonda, call Mecca. Tell her to come see me right away.”
In less than ten minutes, Mecca was sitting in front of Ricardo. She waited, observing Ricardo’s beaming expression.
“So, here’s the thing.”
Ricardo rubbed his hands together. He smiled, but strangely, it did not make Mecca feel at ease. Ricardo’s smile seemed to imply the opposite.
“I have good news. The HR department has processed Velia’s recall. The email has been sent, and she can start working again on Monday.”
Dismiss any uncomfortable feelings that hold Mecca’s thoughts hostage. The news delivered by Ricardo left her in disbelief.
“I-Is that true, Sir?”
Ricardo nodded. “Of course, it’s true. Have I ever lied to you before? Oh, of course not. So, you better contact Velia now. Tell her to check her email and get ready to return to work.”
“Alright, Sir,” Mecca nodded repeatedly. “Thank you for your assistance.”
Ricardo puffed up his chest like a hero. He smiled proudly and nodded with authority.
“Of course.”
Ricardo smiled meaningfully and watched Mecca leave, feeling lighter than before.
Soon. I just need to wait a little longer.
Back at her desk, Mecca did not immediately resume her unfinished work. Instead, she quickly contacted Velia. She could not wait to deliver the news.
The call connected, but something was off. The voice of an operator was heard briefly before the line disconnected.
Mecca ended the call and immediately redialed. Unfortunately, the operator’s voice was heard again.
“How strange,” Mecca whispered, ending the call for the umpteenth time. “It’s not like Velia’s phone to be inactive. Is something happening to her?”
Mecca hoped her ominous thoughts would not come true. If it had to do with the man currently involved with Velia, there was nothing she could do. She could only take a deep breath and calm herself.
I’ll try calling her again later.
*
There was something wrong with Velia’s phone. The screen was dark, indicating it was inactive. No matter how hard she pressed the power button, it was useless-it just would not turn on.
“Hmm, that’s strange.”
Lucas emerged from the dressing room. He looked sharp in the outfit Velia had chosen for him that morning.
“What’s wrong?”
Velia jumped, startled by Lucas’ sudden presence and the gentle gust of his kiss on her temple. Nevertheless, she replied.
“My phone, Luc. It won’t turn on. I charged it last night, but this morning it suddenly won’t start.”
Lucas glanced at the phone in Velia’s hand. “Is it broken? Hmm, I just wanted you to save my number.”
“You’re right,” Velia muttered, feeling flustered. Her concern about the phone was distracted by something more important. “I haven’t saved your number yet.”
“If you’re going back to work later, I’m sure you’ll have to contact me once or twice.”
Velia understood the implied meaning clearly. She nodded. It was only right for her to keep Lucas informed.
“I know, but what do I do now?” Velia asked, showing him her phone. “I can’t even turn it on.”
Lucas took Velia’s phone from her. “Forget about this. It’s better for you to get a new one. Do you mind waiting until this evening? I’m sure Vlora knows the preferences of women these days.”
“I don’t think I need to buy a new one. Actually, this phone is still good.”
“If your phone is still good, it wouldn’t be in this state.”
Velia felt uneasy, but what Lucas said made sense.
“It seems you’re right.”
“Of course,” Lucas added with a slight smile. “So, what’s our breakfast plan today?”
Breakfast went as usual. Enjoyable and pleasant. Two perfect ingredients for Lucas’s departure at nine in the morning.
At the same time, a middle-aged woman arrived. She greeted politely, and Velia welcomed her inside.
Her name was Diana Martin. At the age of 52, she still had a fresh and energetic appearance. She was the household assistant who came every day.
“Good morning, Diana.”
“Good morning,” Diana replied with a friendly smile. “How are you? Are you feeling well?”
Diana always asked about Velia’s well-being every morning. In the limited life she had now, she could at least find joy in that care. It somewhat filled Velia’s longing for warmth and attention from her parents.
“I’m well, thank you.”
As usual, Diana immediately started her work. She took care of the dirty laundry, cleaned, and tidied up. Meanwhile, Velia relaxed in front of the television, occasionally flipping through a magazine.
How boring. So, it wasn’t surprising that half an hour later, Velia got up and decided to cook something. She needed to find something to do to avoid getting bored, even though it was technically Diana’s task.
Time passed by. Unconsciously, Velia kept glancing at the clock once Diana had left. Now she felt truly lonely and could only hope that Lucas would come back soon.
Just as she hoped, Lucas arrived before the sun completely disappeared on the western horizon, bringing relief to Velia.
“Finally, you’re home.”
Lucas let Velia take over his work bag. “Were you waiting for me?”
“I-I…”
Velia stammered, feeling embarrassed.
“… made pudding for you.”
Lucas did not smile, but there was a different kind of smile flickering on his face. When Velia intended to head to Lucas’ workspace, he embraced her briefly, planting a fleeting kiss on her forehead.
“Your new phone is in the bag,” Lucas half-whispered. “I’ll take a shower first, and then we can enjoy dinner.”
Velia nodded obediently, like a small child following a parent’s command. While Lucas took a shower, she retrieved her new phone.
It was advanced, luxurious, and exuded a feminine charm-a perfect combination for a woman like Velia.
The phone was ready to use. Vlora had transferred her SIM card, and her email was already connected, along with the new number that had been saved.
Velia was greeted by various notification symbols filling the top of the screen. Among them was a message from Mecca, which she promptly opened. The message had arrived earlier in the afternoon, precisely at one o’clock.
Mecca:
Ve, are you okay?
Can I reach out to you?
There’s something important.
Velia:
How about tonight?
Maybe nine o’clock.
I’ll call you.
There was certainly a reason why Velia chose nine o’clock. Thanks to Lucas’s habits, she knew that after dinner, he usually continued working. At least she had free time until ten o’clock.
“Hello, Mecca.”
Alone in her room, Velia contacted Mecca as promised. She did not have to wait long. Practically five seconds after the call connected, Mecca picked up.
“Hello, Ve. You finally called me. Seriously. I’ve been restless all day because your number wasn’t active.”
“I’m sorry. My phone broke, and…”
Velia thought there was no point in explaining the phone’s damage or the fact that she had a new one.
“… um, what’s the matter? You mentioned something important. What is it?”
Mecca’s response caught Velia off guard. Her face conveyed disbelief, and she quickly pulled up the unread notification.
Mecca’s words were true. There was an email, and it was from the company.
“Oh, my goodness,”
Velia’s thoughts immediately turned to Lucas. She had to thank him.
“Ve.”
It seemed Velia had to hold back her intentions for a moment. Mecca’s tone suggested that their conversation would not be finished anytime soon.
“To be honest, your call put me in a dilemma. On one hand, I’m glad you can find a job again. But I can’t forget what Mr. Bell did to you.”
Lucas vanished from Velia’s mind. Now, it was the dreadful memory that filled her thoughts.
“M-Mecca.”
“Forgive me, but you haven’t forgotten what Mr. Bell almost did to you, have you?”
Velia swallowed hard. The dreadful memory not only resurfaced but also brought back her fear. Her body trembled uncontrollably.
“I-I won’t forget,” Velia replied, stuttering. “On the day I was fired, Mr. Bell tried to assault me. He tried to manipulate me with the termination.”
A brief silence followed. Velia lowered her head and found her fingers shaking intensely.
“Sometimes, I find Mr. Bell’s behavior strange. It’s like he’s overly determined to call you back. So, I hope you’ll be careful. If anything happens, I hope you won’t meet him alone. Take me or anyone else with you. Just don’t be alone, understood?”
“Of course. I’ll remember that. Thank you so much.”
After the call ended, Velia needed some time to calm herself down. The fear returned, and it was too difficult to control. It was only of Lucas’ name that Velia decided to leave her room.
She needed something to drive away the bad memories from her mind. She hastily prepared a cup of tea and some snacks. Shortly after, she knocked on Lucas’ workspace door and called out.
“Luc?”
Lucas closed his laptop and stood up. They approached each other as if drawn together, meeting in the middle.
Velia placed the tray on the table. “I’m all set-Luc?”
Her words were interrupted by a surprised gasp. Lucas suddenly rushed forward and embraced her tightly.
“Luc.”
There was something strange about it. Velia could clearly feel the tension in Lucas’s embrace. He was not his usual self.
“You belong to me, Ve. I won’t let anyone touch you.”
Velia was taken aback. Her heart seemed to stop beating. Fear quickly surfaced, and she asked hesitantly.
“Did I do something wrong?”
Lucas loosened his grip. He created a small distance to cup Velia’s face.
“No.”
However, the glare in Lucas’ eyes made Velia feel the opposite. There was a threat and a promise of death in his gaze.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Lucas assured, looking straight into Velia’s eyes. “I just want to kill anyone who intends to hurt you.”
*