“Wait. What am I even doing? How can I be tracing a scent in a house where no one comes to? It will definitely be air freshener or a shameless maid.”
With that, he turned and left.
‘Phew! That was close!’
Nelly waited until the coast was clear before she cautiously made her way back to her room. She asked a servant to get her a bottle of wine. She needed to process what she just heard. Does her father actually have another child? A male? Who is his mother? Judging by his physical appearance, she was about seven or eight years older than him. It meant that Nathan had the child when her mother was alive! He cheated on her mother? And to think that this illegitimate child had the nerves to threaten her father.
But…
What was he saying about the company finances?
“For goodness sake, I was there yesterday and there was no trace of bankruptcy. Or was I deceived?”
She remembered the lapses she spotted and Michael’s answer to it: “Well, yes, I understand your doubts ma. But this account was carried over to another month because of certain issues that occurred in the accounts department at that time. Everything is sorted out now and the company is running smoothly,” Michael had answered.
“It all seemed genuine. If there was anything fishy, I could have discovered it. I should have found out in no time!”
Then, she remembered another thing Ethan mentioned. Easton. The last thing she wanted was any involvement with the Landers family.
“Does this mean that my father’s health has connection with Easton, Ethan and the company? And what is it that if Ethan blows up, it will take my father to jail?”
Nelly sipped her drink in deep thought. She had so many questions to ask but who would she ask? How will she get the answer?
Neuer was all smiles as her arranged the books on his shelf. Nelly’s call was all he needed to brighten his day and keep him going. He waited impatiently for a her to call back as she said. His phone rang and he made a dive for it, thinking she was the one. He was disappointed when he saw that it wasn’t his heart rob.
“Sir, there’s a lady at the gate. She’s says I should let you know that she’s here.”
It was the security personnel. Neuer had instructed him earlier that day that he didn’t want to entertain any visitors. Also, he wasn’t expecting anyone so all visitors should be politely turned out and asked to visit another day.
“A lady? I thought I made it clear to you that I don’t want any visitors today?”
“Yes sir, but she insisted.”
“Who’s that? What’s her name?”
“Tell him it’s his girlfriend,” the girl said and rolled her eyes.
“Sir, she said I should inform you that it’s your girlfriend.”
Ding!
Neuer instantly knew who it was. There was only one person who could introduce herself like that without mincing words. Vera.
“Tell her I’m busy. She can’t see me now.”
When the man relayed the message to her, her response was surprising.
“I’ll wait. I’ll go right in there and wait for him till he’s free to see me.”
With that, she walked towards the house like a lioness.
“Should I stop her sir?”
“Let her be,” Neuer replied dryly. He didn’t want her to make a scene at the gate neither did he want to expose his private life to his household workers. He would take care of her himself.
Five minutes later, he was standing halfway down the stairs. His visitor was comfortably seated on his couch, sipping an expensive wine and watching the television. She used to be his girlfriend, of course, she knew her way around the house.
“Vera,” he called.
“Ohh baby. You kept me waiting.”
She stood up and hurried over to him. She hugged him and stood on tiptoes to kiss him.
“Vera, stop.”
“Is this what you will say to me for coming this far just to see you?”
“Well, I didn’t invite you!” Neuer wanted to blurt out but he restrained himself.
“And when I got to the gate, I tried calling your number but it wasn’t going. That fellow at the gate embarrassed me by leaving me outside for too long!”
Neuer knew just why the call didn’t go through. After he got her text the last time, he blacklisted her number. He didn’t want anything to come between him and Nelly, his actual fiancée.
“Sorry about that. Why are you here?”
“Seriously? Why am I here? Is it a wrong thing to visit my boyfriend?”
“Vera, you need to watch it. There is nothing going on between us. You clearly told me that nearly two years ago. What makes you think you can just walk back in and have your place vacant and waiting for your return?”
This wasn’t a lie though. Neuer loved Vera so much that he was a shadow of himself after she left. He didn’t even believe he was going to get over her.
“That’s because I know that’s the case. Baby, I’ve already said I’m sorry. I was only foolish but I know better now.”
“I was busy before you came and I want to go back. You don’t have to return the wine glass. Just leave after taking the drinks, I’ll arrange the place myself.”
When Vera recovered from the shock, Neuer wasn’t there anymore. He actually walked out on her and was asking her to leave his house too!
Neuer shut the door behind him and felt his heartbeat. It was fast. Although he had gotten over her, he didn’t want to stay around her for too long. She knew him too well, his strengths and weaknesses and she could easily use them against him. He didn’t want to do what he wasn’t supposed to do.
The long awaited phone call finally came. His phone rang as he entered the room.
“Hello dear.”
“What happened? Why do you sound like that?”
Before Neuer could say another word, Vera knocked on the door and called loudly, “baby, I’m still here waiting for you.”