Apocalypse Fighter

Chapter 29 - She Dares!

“Thank you. But that is too luxurious for a baby. Take it back, please.” Richard said emotionlessly. 

“OK, since you don’t like it I will change it for another one tomorrow. This one is only $100,000, not fit for your boy anyway.”

Vera put it back around her neck naturally, as if she had not heard or seen anyone’s surprised expression. 

Janet Dudley winked and said, “Vera, how did you know we were holding a party? You don’t talk to any of us anymore, your old classmates, since you moved to Washington. Why did you come here?”

“Janet… it’s interesting that you seem to be mocking me when you are just an office clerk. The fact is, I am on a different level to you guys now. I am Deputy Secretary to the Mayor, why would I take the initiative to contact you?” Vera’s voice was dripping with contempt.

“What? The Deputy Secretary to the Mayor? You…”

Janet’s face went from surprised to deeply embarrassed. Of course, she knew that Vera was more important than she was, and how much Vera must have put in to get such a lofty position. Janet knew then how different she and Vera were.   

Seeing Janet had been cowed by Vera’s dominance, Lily Sawyer patted her on the shoulder and said peacefully, “Congratulations on your job, Vera. But you never answered how you knew about this party?”

“Well… when I heard Richard moved here a few days ago, I sold two of my houses in Washington, and yesterday I bought a villa in this Villa Zone. Do you see the place across the street? That’s mine. As of today, Richard and I are neighbors! You should come to my house after the party. Oh, and by the way Richard, there seems to be some kind of problem with the pipes in the new place. Would you mind taking a look?” 

Vera spoke casually as if it were a totally innocent request. However, the hot, lustful look in her eyes showed exactly what she wanted. Everyone could see she was trying to seduce Richard.

“Vera! Aren’t you taking it a bit too far? Mary and Richard have a baby! Why you are doing this?”

Lily was sensitive, and like everyone else was keenly aware of the purpose of Vera's visit. This woman had been obsessed with Richard before. Now she wanted to get even with Mary by breaking up her and Richard’s happy family!

“I don’t care what you say. What I couldn't have my whole life, no one else can, I...” Vera was suddenly interrupted by Richard, who came very close to her and stopped her talking with a mildly aggressive stare.

“You said you like me and would do anything to get me, right? Well now is your chance to prove it. Why don’t you jump out of the window? If you did I would be very happy.”

“What? What are you talking about? We’re on the third floor. How could I…”

All of a sudden, Vera closed her mouth. She seemed to realize all of a sudden that she never had a chance. The gentleness in Richard’s eyes was gone, replaced instead by coldness and contempt. She felt suffocated.  

Before coming, Vera had speculated over and over how Richard might react. After several years, people could change a lot, they could become greedy, realistic, stupid, or impractical. Vera felt that with her wealth and status, she could play Richard easily. She’d never considered that he might respond so coldly. He was not the same guy anymore, that gentle guy that never knew how to refuse people, that guy who had begged her not to leave him. What happened to him? How dare he do this to me?     

“Richard, I’m not brave enough to jump out of the window, but is she?”

Vera pointed angrily at Mary, who looked like a frightened deer, holding Steven close next to Richard.

“Oh, she would! Trust me Mary would do whatever was necessary.” Richard said calmly. He looked at Mary, full of trust and love. 

In the fifth year after the doomsday, Mary had jumped from a building to protect Richard from mutant creatures. She had sacrificed herself for him like that more than once. She suffered severe injuries sometimes and the pain was constant torture. But Richard never heard a word of regret from her. Mary loved him so deeply that Richard swore to protect her with his life. 

As for Vera... Richard knew from the beginning how she was. She was a woman who loved herself more than anything in the world. Any love she had for anyone else was selfish and heartless by nature. And he had to admit that it was quite nice to have the chance to make her see that he didn’t want her.