Veronica looked at the TV Station through the car’s window. “I’ll go now.”
She was about to unlock the car’s door when Nick grabbed her wrist and tightened his hand around it.
Veronica turned around to meet Nick’s sharp eyes. Apprehension crept into her.
“Mr. Cage…”
Before she was able to finish what she’s saying, Nick wrapped a watch around her slender wrist. It’s the watch that Rachel took away.
She watched him as he helped her strap the watch and realized that Nick grabbed her wrist not to hurt her, but to put it on.
She can feel Nick’s rough palm against her skin.
“Don’t take it off again,” Nick said in a husky voice.
“Okay then. I will have it with me during the show.” She then withdrew her wrist from Nick’s grip but it didn’t loosen.
Her heart was pounding in her chest. The next thing she knew, Nick was already kissing her. He invaded her mouth with passion and in a punitive way.
Veronica felt dizzy with the sudden turn of events. She eventually let go of the kiss to gasp for air. Her eyes were misty and her face red.
Her whole body was resting on Nick’s sturdy arms. Nick touched her tender and soft lips with his finger. She pursed her lips and turned her face slightly away from him.
“So, you’re just going to say nothing?” His hoarse voice rang in her ears.
“What do you want me to say?” Veronica looked at him expectantly. She realized that he might want to talk about his family by the furious look on his face. “Is it about your family?”
“I am thinking about breaking them to pieces and turning their bones into dust.”
It seemed like Nick could still not get over the loathing that he has for his family. “Are you going to deal with them, or are you trying to punish me?” Veronica Parker lowered her gaze stabilized her fear and asked.
Nick closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened it and his gaze fell into her pale face. He said nothing in return.
Veronica decided to kiss him softly without looking into his eyes. She could not think of anything to appease the rage within him.
Moments after the kiss, she felt him relax a bit. He put his palm at the back of her head to gently push her and deepen the kiss.
Veronica was pressed against the broad seat while Nick hovered above her. She felt his fingers pulled her hair as the kiss began to get aggressive.
Her heart was racing and she didn’t dare to move at all. Her arms remained still in her side and she could not help grabbing the leather seat.
She felt dizziness took all over her body. She closed her eyes and gasped for air.
Nick lowered his gaze at her. “If I give them another chance, they might do something unforgivable again. If I don’t, my decision will be perceived as cruel. In fact, you don’t have to ask me what I’m going to do. I presume you knew it already.”
Nick lifted her chin so she can take a look into his eyes.
“Are you feeling aggrieved?”
“No.” She said with lips slightly trembling.
Veronica wondered if Nick really has to ask her about feeling aggrieved but was afraid to say it out loud.
She thought of Nick as a beast in an iron cage who has the capability to escape but still contemplating whether to get out of it or stay trapped. “What time do you get off work?”
Nick asked to change the topic which made Veronica felt stupefied. She had no idea why he asked such a question or did it have something to do with the atmosphere at that very moment.
“It depends on the recording. If it goes well, then I can finish on time.” Veronica stated.
“I’ll pick you up after work then.” He said nonchalantly.
Veronica felt silly with the inconsistency of their conversation.
One second she was terrified that Nick would swallow her whole then the next thing she knew, he was just talking to her casually and asking about work.
“Would you like to continue?” Nick asked in a hoarse and magnetic voice. He’s sitting cross-legged and his enigmatic eyes were boring daggers into hers.
Veronica was beyond shocked by his question. She was aware of the impending danger she’d get into should she stay longer in the car with him.
“No, I’m going to be late!”
She said in a hurry and got out of the car, afraid of being pounced by Nick.
She went to the office and sat on her desk. Her heart rate was gradually coming back to normal and she calmed herself.
Veronica realized how furious Nick is at his own father and he’s trying to take his anger on her.
She knew for certain that Nick could not just forgive and forget the matters between him and Kevin. She could not also tell him to do so for it may just fuel his anger.
Nick is the kind of man you definitely don’t want to mess with. She had no way out under his control and she could only rely on nothing but her luck.
Lucy knocked on the door and upon entering, she immediately noticed Veronica’s lips.
“Host Parker, your lips are red and swollen.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it. I ate chili a while ago.”
“Early in the morning? That is quite impressive.” Lucy mused at her.
Little did she know that Veronica was aggressively kissed by Mr. Cage which caused her lips to swell like that. Isabella sat alone at the tea table outside, looking at the amusement park under construction in a distance.
It’s almost done and soon enough, the children will be able to play happily there. Isabella’s eyes turned red at the thought of everything she had gone through.
She wondered why such things have to happen to her despite being a good person. The cell phone suddenly rang.
She was startled and can’t help to feel a bit anxious due to her fragile mental state.
Upon seeing the caller ID, she refused to answer the phone call first.
It was none other than Tom Parker. He was the man who threatened her to send the video to Veronica and upload it to the internet for everyone to see. Isabella has been innocent all her life and she could not let that video ruin her.
She was not aware of what Tom wanted her to do. Despite her hesitation, she pressed the green button and answered the call.
“I already asked Veronica but she refused to see you. I did my best!” She said directly without waiting for the other line to say something.
“It has nothing to do with Veronica. It’s you that I want to see.” Tom said dryly on the other line.
“Why do you want to see me?”
“I miss you, of course. I’ll give you the address of the hotel and be sure to come. You’re aware of what I’m capable of should you disregard my request.” He said blatantly.
“Tom Parker. You…” She trailed off. She was so furious that the phone hung up already before she could finish her sentence.