76
-Eri Jones-
“Really! You're off to Canada?” I chortled through the video call with Suzy and Rose. “I'm happy for you. Your love life's blooming.”
“She's also meeting his parents and apparently, she's nervous.” Suzy added.
“Oooo, your relationship is going at a fast rate.” I teased, winking at her, while she returned it with an eye roll.
A side of her lips upwards. “He didn't say it in a way that meant marriage.”
“Nobody mentioned marriage. Is that what's in your mind?” Suzy chuckled at Rose's flustered expression.
But Rose didn't reply.
Or maybe she did, and I didn't catch it, because Don caught my attention as he sauntered into the room, a smile planted on his lips.
“Hey beauty.”
I returned the smile, then told the two weirdos on the other line, “I've got to go.”
“Hmm mmh,” I could already hear the trading words before Suzy continued, “I think someone's prince charming just walked in to sweep her off her feet.”
Before I hung up, I heard Rose's laughter.
What weirdos they are.
“How's everything going?” He landed beside me on the bed, staring at me with love.
“Good. You off to work?” I asked, certain that was it from how formal he was dressed.
“Yeah, I don't think there's much resting for me if I want to make the company a trillion dollar company.”
That earned an eye roll from me.
Would he ever stop saying that?
“I'm coming with you.”
He gently pushed me back to rest when I attempted standing up. “No way. You're staying home and safe till June's found.”
“And what will I do at home? Who knows, she may walk into the house like she did last time.”
Something swept past his expression. “Oh, I checked that out a few days back.”
The tone he used was soft, it confused me a little.
“And?”
“Well, it was Hane who planned it all. She was the one who gave her access to the house, and when she saw me coming, she ran into the room to find a way of escape for June.”
Hane.
The sound of her name made me grimace.
Just thinking about her felt like a hard stab in the back.
That betrayal.
Hopefully she rots in jail for what she did.
How on earth could one be so professional in acting. No way would I have thought she was terrible.
That was enough thinking about her.
I had many other important things than her to think about.
“And how're the plans on finding June going?”
He sighed. “Apparently, Jenny's not talking which isn't helping the situation.”
“Jenny? Isn't she in jail?”
“No, you remember the contract you signed when you first started working with me.”
The contract.
Woah, I'd totally forgotten about that.
It actually reminded me of the first time I started working with him. How I'd assumed he was some kind of Mafia boss.
If this wasn't a serious topic, remembering that would have made me chuckle.
Instead, I asked, “she signed the contract too?”
“Yeah, which is why she can't be arrested.”
That wasn't what we needed at the moment.
I didn't need some personal assistant to start acting loyal. My safety was more needed than that.
“Can I talk to her?” It came out so boldly, I suspected I could be a detective.
His brows pulled in confusion. “Jenny?”
I nodded. “Maybe she'd answer me if we talked woman-to-woman.”
He stared at me like I was losing it. “I think the police can do their best in extracting the answer from her.”
“We don't need to extract it from her. We need her to willingly give it to us.”
“I can't let your life—”
“Don, please let me do this.” I cut him off, staring at him so softly, I was certain he'd fall for it.”
Sitting in the same room with a girl I'd never said a word with.
Yep, certainly weird.
I just stared at her where she sat on the sofa across from mine, and there was no denying how pretty and personal-assistant like she looked.
Although she didn't return my stare, it didn't seem like she was intimidated or felt any ounce of fear.
More like no word was coming out of that mouth of hers.
“I apologize if I sound rude,” she started, ignoring the fact a worker just dropped a cup of hot tea on the table in front of her, “but why am I here?”
I managed a welcoming smile. “As I said when I called, I just want to talk.”
“Okay?”
Not that we were delving into the important conversation, I straightened.
“Listen, I know you don't like me and all and you wouldn't want to talk because of the contract you signed,” with a throat clear, I continued, “but I want you to know that all this is placing a huge danger on not only marriage, but on my life also.”
Her gaze didn't soften.
“Try to put yourself in my shoes,” I continued either way, “I've almost died three times because of June. All this is scary. I'm human too, and just the thought of her still being out there only scares the heck out of me. All because of some obsessed girl. Don't you admit she's a psycho?”
“No.” I hadn't expected her to say anything so that had come as a surprise.
“No? As in, no you don't think she's a psycho.”
Her gaze swept past the paintings on the wall of the high class restaurant we'd gone to.
“I do admit June may be a little off sometimes.”
Off? Mentally derailed you mean.
But of course, I couldn't say that no matter how I wanted to.
She was finally talking after we'd been sitting together for ten minutes. No way was I going to stop that.
“But she's my best friend. Always has been since we met six years ago.” She sounded so sincere, one might think there was any good in June.
“She's nice to every single worker in the house. Donates to charity. Visits the orphanage once a month.”
That did not sound like June.
“I've always liked her since we met.” She sighed, her gaze landing on one specific painting. “The only time things went off was when she fell in love with Don.”
It felt weird hearing someone else call him Don and not Mr Jones, but I ignored it.
“She loved him so much, she never wanted to leave him.”
Certainly not love, but obsession.
Her gaze softened for the first time today and she turned to her cup of tea.
“She loved him with everything in her, but he didn't feel the same way.” She but her lower lip, then continued. “It used to hurt me as much as it hurt her, because every time, I'd have to end up seeing my best friend depressed all because of him.
“At first she thought getting married might make him realize his love for her, but then things seemed to only worsen, till the point she couldn't hold it anymore. She was searching for a means of escape.
“And then, the day you two met in the wedding hall, you told her to do what'd make her happy so she decided to run away.”
I recalled that.
Was that why she’d said I was the reason she left?
“When we both left for Dubai, I was happy she'd finally find someone else and be happy.”
She sighed. “But then she found out you got married to Don and her life took a new turn.”
Sheesh, that must've been rough. I can't imagine how her psychopath self would've reacted.
“She was really mad and quickly hired Hane.”
“And you never tried to tell her to move on?” I asked calmly, just in case she might assume she'd said too much and stop.
“June has always been nice to me.” A soft huff left her lips. “She gets me everything I want. But then, the only times she ever shouted at me was when I told her to move on.
“So I decided to just be the personal maid who'd be there for her no matter what. Good or bad.”
She sighed, staring at anywhere but me. “I know I shouldn't be telling you this, not because of the contract, but because she's my best friend.”
Hopefully she doesn't stop.
I decided to test my luck and ask the one question everyone wanted to hear.
“Can I ask you one more thing?” My heart was racing a little faster in case she got angry and left after my question.
Finally she stared at me. “Sure.”
“Can you tell me where June is?”
I noticed how her face fell, and her gaze returned to the already cold tea.
After a few minutes, I was certain she wasn't going to talk, but then;
“To tell you the truth, I don't know.” It was so low, I was lucky to have caught it.
“You don't?”
“That is why I'm telling you this.” She turned to me again. “I want her to be safe. I'm worried.”
“So you have no idea where she might be?”
“No, and I need you to find her because it isn't just one soul you'd be saving, it's two.”
“Two?” I stared at her in surprise.
What was she saying? What was going on?
She turned to stare at her purse that lay on her hand. “Yes, June is pregnant.”
“Pregnant?” How was that possible? What was going on?
Wait, who was the father? It can't be Don. But she's only obsessed with Don, who else could she sleep with?
There was no way Don could be the father, right?