The Billion's 2

Chapter 7

CLARICE'S POV

I waved at Pandora who's driving away. "At ease boys." I smiled at them but they both looked at each other and sighed. "Miss. She's a Vera. What if the boss knows?" "No one will know if you two didn't blab."

"But miss." I shushed them. "I know what I'm doing. I'll be careful." I smiled and turned to walk to the mansion. I was about to open the door when daddy opened it for me. "Princess? You walk home? Where's your car?"

"At school. It died on me." Daddy smiled. "I'm sorry. We'll buy you a new one. Okay?" He looks at the time and looked at me apologetically. "I'm sorry for the rush princess, but daddy has to go. I have a meeting with someone."

I nodded and hugged him before watched him entered his car. I sighed and turned to the front door. The first thing that greeted me was mommy's cigarette smoke. "Hello princess." I chuckled.

"Mommy you know you have a heart condition. Stop smoking for god sake." Mommy snickered. "Princess, you only live once. I saw the person who sends you home when I watched the surveillance camera."

I froze. Come on brain, think! What's your excuse for letting Pandora send you home? I know I can call for the driver if the car ever dies on me. But, all I want is to be alone with Pandora in her car.

"I won't tell your father about it. But do be careful. He has eyes everywhere and Timothy has such an influential family in town. Don't play with fire, Clarice." I smiled. "For some reason, I think a Vera will wipe them all off just like that." Mommy chuckled.

"Oh princess, Iris can do anything in this town. Everyone's afraid of her." That made me curious about her. "How can a woman do such thing to every evil man in this town, scared of her? How is that even possible?"

Mommy smiled. "All my life living in this situation, I saw things. A lot of things. And some of them was so vicious, I couldn't get it out of my mind." "Meaning?" "Iris knew as the Angel of Death."

I chuckled. "She sounds like a grim reaper." "Princess, this is not a laughing matter. She's one of the most wanted criminals in America. But none of the law enforcement ever has such strong evidence against her. Her work was such art, it's untraceable." We walked towards the stairs.

"She kills without mercy. There's no delay in her work. If you make a mistake, 'bang', you're dead. If you cross her boundaries, 'bang', you're dead. If you hurt her family, 'bang', you're dead."

We stopped in front of our family portrait that was hanging on the upper floor walls. "Your father tries to stay away from dealing with her but it seems like somebody is trying to betray us. Dealing with her is like digging for your own grave."

Mommy looked up at the portrait and smiled. "It seems forever since we're all together as a family. Daddy, mommy, you and your sister, Clara." "Well, they all been busy. There's no way that will happen. Even on Thanksgiving, we spent just the two of us."

"Your father and his business, your sister and her job. We should go somewhere and leave these two alone huh?" I chuckled. "That's a good idea. We should go to Venice, Italy. We could ride the gondola and so on."

Mommy laughed. "The next school holiday trip huh? You can ask Timothy to join us." I think for a second and shake my head. "I rather go somewhere with Pandora who treats me like a lady and not as an accessory."

Mommy turned my body and looked at me. "What did you say? Timothy treat you like an accessory?" I slowly nodded. "Why not just say something about it." I sighed.

"I did. He ignores me. But when I threatened that I will break up with him, he panicked and apologized." Mommy shaking her head. "Why did you accepted him back? You're not happy." I pointed at dads picture.

"He will kill me if I did." Mommy sighed. "Princess, your happiness is our priority. I'll smack your fathers head when he's mad for breaking up with him. Don't worry." I chuckled.

I excuse myself and went to my room. I placed my backpack down and went to my computer. I'm curious. I want to know so bad who's the real Vera group is. All I heard was stories that was so far fetched.

I need the truth. Who has the most accurate information rather than Mr. Google? "The Vera Group." I hit enter and in a matter of seconds thousands, no, millions of answer was there, in front of my face.

I moved my mouse cursor and hit the most relevant link. "The Vera Group, one of the most prominent crime ring family in Las Vegas." I scrolled down and something caught my eyes.

"Iris Vera or was known as Iris Billion was a member of Billion Group, the leading construction company in the world." Oh, she was once a normal woman. I close the tab and search for another member of the Vera.

"Pandora Vera." There's no much information about her. Something caught my eyes that made me click on the link. Ohh. When her parents died, Iris took her in huh. For a head of a crime family, she's quite noble. The good-hearted woman indeed.

After I'm getting the information I wanted, I shut down my computer and stripped my clothes off. I put my clothes in the laundry basket and went to the bathroom. After a nice long shower, I went to my walk-in closet and choose a red sundress.

I walked out of the closet and grabbed my laundry basket. I went out to the laundry room. "Miss, I can do it for you." The maids smiled. "Oh no, it's okay. I can do it." They smiled and nodded.

"But to get the detergent for me." One of them smiled and handed me the detergent. I thanked them and continued with the task at hands.

***

(THE NEXT DAY)

"WHAT?!" I shouted over the phone. My parents both looked at me, wondering what's happening. I smiled and kissed their cheeks. Dad asked me with his eyes. I raised my fingers to asked him to wait.

"There's no need for you to pick me up. I can use my parent's car." I went to sit in my usual chair at the dining table and smiled at the maids who bringing my food out. "Meet at school. And don't f**k anyone while I'm not there or you will be dead."

I hang up and smiled at my parents who both have puzzling looks. "It's Timothy." "Sound like you both got married and had that usual fight," Dad said and eat his food. "You sound like you had it with him." Mommy winked.

"I am. I'm just waiting for the right moment." Dad placed his forks down and grabbed his cup of tea. He took a sipped and smiled. "Princess, if you're unhappy, just break up with the man. If he's threatened you, tell me, and I shall make his life a living hell."

Dad stood up and excuse himself. "I have some work to do." I smiled at him and watched him walked away. "See. Told yah your father will understand. Now, be happy, Princess. You deserve it."

I continued to eat my breakfast and we talked about school and my future plan. "Oh, I need to use the car." "Just go to the garage and pick anything. Except for your father's classic cars." I chuckled.

Classic car? Me? No way. I nodded and excuse myself when I finished my food. I grabbed my backpack from the nearby couch and went outside towards the garage.

"Jimmy," I called for the caretaker. "Jimmy, can I use the i8?" He nodded and gave me the key. I smiled and walked towards the car. This is one beautiful car indeed. I unlocked the car and went inside.

I reached for my sunglasses I kept inside my backpack and put it on. I turned on the car and started to drive towards school. I heard my phone ringing but I choose to ignore it. It's not safe, driving while on the phone.

I learned that from the hard way. I turned to the familiar road and drive towards the school compound. I parked at my usual spot. I noticed Timothy and his gang were waiting for me by his car.

I grabbed my bag and got out of my car. After I make sure I lock the car, I went to Timothy. He was about to kiss me when I stopped him. "Not now," I said but he forcefully grabbed my waist and kissed my lips.

"Don't embarrass me in front of my friends." He whispered and pulled away. If only he's not the supreme judge son, I'll kill him right here, right now! "You don't want to threaten me that way, Tim. I can destroy your reputation just like that." I whispered and fake a smiled at his friends.

What did I saw in him when I agree to be his girl? Why didn't I noticed how a d**k he was towards everyone? Why did I find bad boys such a turn on for me?! I sighed and regretted my decision about dating him.

We were about to walk to the school building when one of Timothy's friends stopped and asked us to looked at the school gate. "Pandora is here." Tim turned and scoffed. "How can someone that dumb be a Vera."

Dumb? He's the one who's failing all his classes and he called Pandora dumb? I sighed. "Why are you so jealous of her? She never did anything to you." Tim glared at me. "If you continued to glare like that, I'll pierce it with the twigs." I threatened.

He turned away and grabbed my waist. "Now, be a doll and act as if we're happy together." But I don't want to act like I'm happy. I want to be happy. Genuinely happy. But he's not going to give me that feeling.

All he cares about is his reputation. We went to class and seated at our usual table. Seconds later Pandora came in followed by Caspian and Grace. "I can't wait for our LA trip tomorrow." I heard Grace said.

Is she going to LA? "Relax," Pandora said before the teacher came in. The boring day of school just begun.

***

I smiled at the librarian and went to my usual spot at the very back of the library. This is where I spend most of my time at. Cramming the books for my future. Timothy followed me when we first dated, but he hates it and stormed out on me.

That time, I ignored him and continued to stay in my sanctuary. I noticed someone sitting at my usual bean bag. I cleared my throat and the person looked up to me. "Pandora?" She smiled.

"Hey." She patted the bean bag next to her. I sat on it and unzipped my bag. "You came here often?" I whispered. She shakes her head. "Just when I need to do some research." I smiled. Watching her, doing her work is such a happy feeling.

How sometimes she hummed a song while she's reading something, how she imagined her pencil was a drumstick and just tap her books freely. I felt something about her. Something I felt when I was with Timothy long ago.

"I heard you're going to LA tomorrow." She nodded and looked up at me. "How did you.. wait. Grace huh?" I nodded. The librarian clears her throat and shushed us. I apologized for my eyes and smiled sheepishly.

"She's really fierce," Pandora whispered. "Yea. She's like a T-Rex." She covered her mouth, holding her laughed. We both heard a buzzing sound came from her pocket.

She reached for her phone and unlocked it. "It's my mom." She whispered. "Sorry. I gotta go." I smiled. I wanted to ask for her number but I'm too shy. She was about to go when I grabbed her wrist. I took a deep breath.

"Can I have your number?" Her eyes widen. "For emergency purposes," I said instantly. She chuckled and grabbed my pen and wrote her number at my palm. "Don't forget to call me." She said and smiled before walked away.

I felt like I wanna jump and scream in happiness. I can feel my heart thumping so hard and fast right now. I can't believe I have her number! I have Pandora's number.

Seconds later I feel my phone vibrated and my happiness turns to the worst day ever. I clean up my stuff and keep it inside my bag. I walked out for eh library and wait for Timothy at the basketball court.

"Hey, Clarice." I turned to see Grace also waiting for her man. I waved and walked towards her. "Waiting for Tim?" I nodded. "Waiting for Caspian?" "Yes. He sent this text and all." "Tim sent me a text too."

We both wonder what's happening. Tim ends the practice and walked towards me. He wipes his sweaty forehead and smiled. "Hey, babe." I ignored him and turned away.

"Tomorrow we have a huge game and I want you all to be there to support us. It will mean to us if all of you can spread the words and together support our basketball team." Tim turned to me.

"And I really want you to be there. Please?" Did he just beg? He gave me his charming smile and took my hands in him. "Baby I'm sorry if I made you angry or something. I'm sorry about this morning."

I scoffed. "What if we say no? We also have our own activity yah know." Everyone looked at me. They all gasped. They all never heard me talk back to Timothy. "Babe. You have to. Besides, with you there, I can focus on the game more."

I know he's holding back his anger. "Fine," I said and smiled at him.

***

"Princess..." daddy greeted me when I got out of the car. I smiled and waved. "Hey, daddy." "How's that car?" I turned to it and smiled. "Amazing." Daddy chuckled. "You can have it." My eyes widen. "Really? thank you thank you thank you!!" I hugged him.

"We have dinner guest tonight so be sure to dress formally. Okay?" He said when we pulled away. "Oh. Okay. Is it a man or woman?" "A family. I have no choice but to say okay."

"Really? That's weird. Usually, people listen to you." Daddy chuckled. "Not everyone princess. Not everyone." I noticed he's worried about something. "Daddy. What's wrong? I never saw you so worried before."

"I'm not a princess. Just.." he smiled and patted my shoulder. "Just be the princess who made my life feel appreciated. Okay? Oh, by the way, your mother told me about Timothy. Should I kill him?" He forcefully snickered.

"No daddy. It will be a problem if we do that." He laughed. I excuse myself and went to the kitchen for a glass of water. "Princess." "Hey, mom." I went to the fridge and took a bottle of water.

"What are you doing here? No. let me rephrase that. Where's your usual cigarette and drinks?" Mom chuckled. She pushed her glass forward, telling me to pour the cold drinks for her. "I'm trying to have a healthy lifestyle."

I laughed. "Princess, that's not nice!" "It's just so weird to see you eat healthy mom. It's just weird." Mom threw a piece of her food to me. "Be supportive. Besides, I'm getting older. I need them."

I can't believe she actually just said she's getting older. I just froze. I looked at her. "Princess!" I just smiled. I don't want to joke about it too much. She might kill me with her glaring eyes.

"Mom. Who is this guest daddy mentioned?" Mom smiled. "Business associate." "Really? No name?" Mom chuckled. "Oh, princess. You will know when they came tonight." She winked before stood up and went to the wet kitchen.

What mom said really bugs me. What does she mean by it? I'm curious about it. I can't wait for tonight to come. I want to meet this mysterious guest.