5. Chapter 5
Veronica
When I met Becca to look at apartments, what I thought would be a day of looking at a variety of options turned out to be just one in downtown Veridian Bay.
It was a take it or leave it situation, so I took it.
There’s a bellman, and security monitors the areas.
It has a decent closet, but if I need more space, I can use the spare bedroom as storage.
Cam was right; there is a beautiful view of the city.
The large window will be perfect for my babies.
I was able to furnish the place to my liking.
My cousins offered to pay for my furniture, so I let them.
Why spend my money when I can spend theirs?
They have more of it than I do. Now that I have my own place, I need a job.
The only thing is, I’ve never worked a day in my life.
I have good people skills, I can throw a great party, I give a hell of a blowjob, but I doubt that I can put that on my résumé.
During my visit with Mom today, she offered to help me while I “find myself,” but I declined.
She looked well; it seems the new medication is helping manage her symptoms. My brothers were there as well.
Serena wasn’t able to attend the family dinner; she was with Yuri, who I was friends with when I was younger.
Our families would vacation together when her parents were still married.
Then one summer, things changed. By that time, Ian was spending more time with Caleb, while Gabe would join us for a couple of days on and off.
As I got older, I realized he wasn’t there to spend time with the families; he was there for Yuri.
Even at a young age, I knew what people in love looked like.
I saw it with my parents and in the way Gabe looked at Yuri, but she used him and broke his heart.
Since then, my brother hasn’t been the same.
It’s something I haven’t forgiven her for.
After that summer, the families stopped vacationing together.
Ian told us about his upcoming trip with Serena, so Gabe will be taking his place at Kayde Investments.
I’m happy that Gabe will be home more. I miss him.
He wasn’t always so serious, but I guess it comes with the territory of being a lawyer.
On top of that, he has a degree in economics.
No wonder he’s always stressed. The thought of sitting behind a desk all day gives me anxiety. Good riddance.
I loved spending time with my family tonight, but like all the other times we were in the same room, I felt inferior to my siblings, hell, to my entire family.
Having my small two-bedroom apartment is only step one of a new me.
I brought a stack of mail with me because I’d forgotten to change my address from my parents’.
I grab my favorite red wine and a slice of chocolate cake.
It’s still early, but I decide to stay in for the night.
Looking at the end table, feeling domestic, I search for my letter opener.
I’m going to assume it’s all invitations to parties because everyone knows how much I love a good time.
Damn, I can’t find the letter opener, so I grab the pocketknife I carry, courtesy of my brother. I use the sharp blade and slice through the top of the envelope. The image of Ian’s face if he saw me using a very nice and expensive weapon as a letter opener makes me laugh.
I open a couple, and, just as I thought, they’re invitations to some local events.
A black envelope stands out; there is no return address.
Strange. I open it and turn it over, shaking it.
The contents are stuck. I put my hand inside and grab what looks to be a small card.
Pulling it out, my stomach drops. My hand trembles as I stare at a photograph of myself, nude and smiling.
I’m holding it for what seems like hours, but it’s only seconds. I remember the night this was taken.
“Sweetheart, do you love me?”
“More than anything,” I tell him.
“That’s what I like to hear. Now show me how much you love me.
” He pulls out a small bag from his jeans pocket.
I see it’s full of white pills. “Now open that mouth of yours.” He removes a pill from the bag and puts it under my tongue.
“It’s going to dissolve faster, and you’ll feel good in no time,” he tells me as he begins to caress my thighs.
“Baby, this is going to be so much fun. You’re going to make me feel so good. ”
I feel the effect of the alcohol and the pill flowing through me. It feels warm. So warm.
“Let me take a picture of this beautiful body?” he asks.
My eyes widen at the idea of posing naked.
I’ve always been self-conscious of my body.
But I love him, and he loves me. I know I can trust him, and I want to make him happy.
“Do-do you promise not to show anyone?” I ask as his hand continues to caress my inner thigh.
Making his way to my pussy. I don’t know what that pill was, but it makes my skin feel hot.
“I promise. You can trust me, sweetheart. Fuck, your cunt is going to feel so good. I’m going to make you feel so good.”
“O-Okay.” My voice is low and unsure. But I want to show him how much I trust him and how much I care about him.
That was the first time I let him take a picture of me and the first time I took a pill, but it wasn’t the last. Fuck, I let him do whatever he wanted because he made me feel special. Like I was the only person who existed for him. And I wanted to make him feel loved. He had no one, just me.
In a panic, I tear the picture into pieces as if getting rid of the evidence will erase the memory.
I grab my phone and call Berenice, but no answer.
Fuck…I run to my freezer…I need something.
It’s the only way I can cope with the memories, by forgetting them.
Pretending it was another person. I grab the clear liquor and uncap the bottle, not bothering to use a glass; I just drink it straight.
I know this won’t be enough. It never is.
I send my driver a message, telling him to pick me up.
I need to get out of here. I feel the warmth of the liquor flow through my veins.
Going into my closet, I grab the first dress I see.
A pink low-cut dress, with thin straps, which I’ll pair with some bright-pink heels.
The tiny dress accentuates my large breasts and ass.
I get ready in record time and head downstairs. I already know where I’m going.
The great thing about being me? VIP access anywhere.
Tonight, I picked my cousin's club, my favorite, but there's another reason I didn't tell them I’d be stopping by.
Berenice hasn't called back, so I'm solo tonight—maybe.
First thing, I head straight to the bar where Ruby's working.
She sees me and waves me over. As I lean in for a hug, I flash the stranger behind me.
When Ruby started working here, I gravitated toward her.
Not only does she make amazing drinks, very heavy on the liquor, but she’s a girl’s girl.
It’s public knowledge that Caleb tried to fuck her, but I know it was only a test because I’m very observant, and I know he belongs to someone else.
He’s just too afraid to admit it. I scan the club; there are no signs of him or his second in command, Felix.
“They aren’t here at the moment.” Ruby catches me looking around. “They’re at an off-site meeting.” She places one of her famous mojitos in front of me. I don’t take a sip; I down the entire drink. Chasing the buzz from earlier.
“Settle down there, Vee.”
“Another one, please. I just need it tonight. Please,” I admit.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No.” I’m quick to answer.
“All right, one more for now. I don’t want to lose my job for enabling you.”
I hate how that sounds. As if I have some sort of problem. Do I enjoy letting loose? Yes. Is it a crime? No. What my family members do is. But I don’t tell her that.
“I’m just here to dance,” I tell her. It’s a half-truth.
I came here to drink and dance, but also because I know for a fact that a waitress here has connections to some pills.
People I’ve partied with have purchased from her, and I still follow them on social media.
I know I should tell my cousins—they are against drugs—but one more time won’t hurt.
I also know they will tell my brothers, and they’ll make a big deal out of it.
It’s not like I do it all the time, just once in a while.
And after what I received earlier, I need something, anything, to help keep those memories away. I’m desperate to forget.
I gravitate toward the center of the dance floor.
Who needs a dancing partner when the music is this good?
Closing my eyes, I let the beat guide me.
The liquor works its way through my system.
I can feel the weight of countless eyes on me from every direction.
I finally open mine, scanning the crowd to find the waitress, Angel.
I think that’s her name. I see Ruby laughing from behind the bar.
To think I wanted to fuck her when I first met her, but I’m glad I didn’t. She’s becoming a fast friend.