Chapter 24 - An Unauthorized Gift
1898 Words
Newhaven Apartment — Evening
By the time Elsie reached her apartment, she was still dazed.
Her feet carried her forward, but her mind seemed to have remained on the street outside Veyr Group.
She closed the apartment door behind her and leaned against it.
Her heart was beating far too quickly.
She stared blankly at the wall.
What had just happened?
One moment, she had been crossing the road.
The next, a car had come straight toward her.
And then—
She was pulled to safety.
Elsie blinked.
She still couldn't process what had happened.
A loud ringtone suddenly buzzed through the apartment.
Elsie jumped.
“Ah!”
She looked around frantically.
Her phone was ringing.
Where was it?
She checked her handbag.
Nothing.
Her coat pocket.
Nothing.
The other pocket.
Still nothing.
“Where are you?”
The ringing continued.
She lifted a cushion.
Nothing.
She checked beneath the sofa.
Nothing.
She opened her handbag again and began removing its contents one by one.
Wallet.
Keys.
Notebook.
Pen.
A packet of tissues.
A granola bar she had forgotten existed.
No phone.
The ringing stopped.
Elsie froze.
She stared at the mess surrounding her.
“Traitor.”
Then she remembered.
She had been holding it when she entered.
She turned toward the entrance.
Her eyes landed on the shoe cabinet.
Her phone was sitting there.
Elsie stared.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
She hurried over and picked it up.
The screen showed a missed call.
Livia.
Elsie looked at the time.
Should she call her back?
Or have dinner first?
She looked toward the kitchen.
Then at the phone.
Then back at the kitchen.
Her stomach made the decision for her.
“Food first.”
The phone rang again.
Elsie immediately answered.
“Hello?”
“Elsie!”
Livia's concerned voice came through the phone.
“Are you okay?”
Elsie blinked.
“Why wouldn't I be?”
“I heard there was an accident outside Veyr Group today. Are you okay?”
Elsie slowly lowered herself onto the sofa.
“Oh.”
“Don't ‘oh’ me! I saw it on the news and immediately thought of you.”
Elsie hesitated.
“You thought of me?”
“Of course. You work there, don't you?”
Elsie rubbed her forehead.
“I was there.”
Livia fell silent.
“You were there?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I was going to, but I only just got home.”
Livia exhaled sharply.
“Tell me exactly what happened.”
Elsie hesitated.
“Well…”
She began explaining.
She told Livia about leaving Veyr Group, deciding to walk for a while, reaching the crossing, and then hearing the screech of tires.
She explained how the car had lost control and swerved toward her.
“And then,” Elsie continued, “I basically stopped functioning.”
“You froze?”
“Completely.”
Livia inhaled sharply.
“And then?”
Elsie paused.
“Someone pulled me back.”
“Someone?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Elsie stared at the floor.
“Mr. Veyr.”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
“Wait.”
Livia's voice suddenly sounded suspicious.
“What did you say?”
Elsie frowned.
“Mr. Veyr.”
“The Mr. Veyr?”
“Yes.”
“The cold and ruthless CEO of Veyr Group?”
Elsie sighed.
“Apparently.”
“Zavian Veyr?”
“Yes, Livia.”
Another silence.
“I think my phone is malfunctioning.”
“Why?”
“Because I just heard you say that Zavian Veyr saved you.”
Elsie shrugged even though Livia couldn't see her.
“He did.”
“How?”
“He pulled me backward.”
“You mean he actually touched you?”
Elsie thought about it.
“Well, technically, he grabbed my arm.”
Livia made a strangled noise.
“Elsie!”
“What?”
“That's the man who looks like he could freeze a room just by walking into it!”
“I know.”
“And he saved you?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
Elsie stared at her phone.
“No, Livia. Maybe I imagined the entire thing while standing in front of a speeding car.”
“Don't joke about that!”
“I'm sorry.”
Livia exhaled.
“I'm just glad you're okay.”
Elsie's expression softened.
“Me too.”
A pause followed.
Then Livia's voice became suspiciously playful.
“So…”
Elsie immediately recognized that tone.
“No.”
“I haven't said anything.”
“You're about to.”
“You know, it's interesting.”
“What is?”
“Out of everyone in Newhaven, you somehow managed to get rescued by Zavian Veyr.”
Elsie groaned.
“Please don't start.”
“I haven't started.”
“You're starting.”
Livia laughed.
“Fine. I'll stop.”
A beat.
“For now.”
Elsie smiled despite herself.
The conversation continued for several more minutes, consisting mostly of Livia teasing her and Elsie denying that anything remotely interesting had happened.
By the time they hung up, the heaviness that had followed Elsie home had considerably faded.
She looked at her phone and smiled.
“Livia really is impossible.”
She stood and headed toward the kitchen.
Dinner first.
Then a shower.
Then she would prepare everything for tomorrow.
It had been a strange day.
But perhaps tomorrow would be normal.
At least, that was what Elsie thought.
The Next Morning
When Elsie woke up, sunlight streamed through the curtains.
She blinked sleepily and sat up.
For a moment, she simply stared at the room, trying to remember what day it was.
Then something on her dresser caught her attention.
Elsie froze.
A gift.
It was wrapped exquisitely in dark paper with a perfectly tied ribbon.
She hadn't put it there.
Slowly, she approached.
Her eyes narrowed.
“Okay…”
She looked around the room.
Nothing seemed out of place.
She looked at the door.
Locked.
The window.
Closed.
She looked back at the box.
“Who are you?”
The box remained silent.
Elsie took one cautious step backward.
Her imagination immediately went into overdrive.
Maybe it was a prank.
Maybe Livia had somehow gotten into her apartment.
No.
Impossible.
Perhaps it was a bomb.
Elsie's eyes widened.
She immediately took another step backward.
“That's ridiculous.”
She paused.
“But not impossible.”
She stared at the box.
“What if it's stolen jewelry?”
Her expression became increasingly serious.
“What if some thief broke into my apartment, hid stolen goods here, and planned to come back later?”
She shook her head.
“Too complicated.”
Then another thought struck her.
“What if it's a drug dealer?”
She gasped.
“What if they're trying to frame me?”
Elsie looked around the room.
“I don't even know any drug dealers!”
She lowered her voice.
“That's exactly what someone would say if they knew one.”
She stared at the package suspiciously.
“Okay. Stay calm.”
She began pacing.
Possible explanations.
One: prank.
Two: stolen property.
Three: bomb.
Four: criminal conspiracy.
Five: extremely confused admirer.
Six: someone had mistaken her apartment for someone else's.
Elsie glanced toward the darkest corner of the room.
“Ghost?”
She swallowed.
“No.”
She shook her head firmly.
“Absolutely not.”
But there was one problem.
There was no sign that anyone had entered.
No broken lock.
No open window.
Nothing disturbed.
Whoever had left the gift had done so without leaving a trace.
As if they had simply walked through the shadows—
and disappeared into them.
“...Okay. So either I'm dealing with a very professional thief...”
She swallowed.
“...or a ghost with excellent taste in wrapping paper.”
Elsie stared at the package.
“Okay.”
She folded her arms.
“If you're haunted, blink twice.”
Nothing happened.
She waited.
Still nothing.
Elsie nodded.
“Good.”
She exhaled.
“Very reassuring.”
Finally, curiosity defeated caution.
She carefully approached the dresser and picked up the package.
It was surprisingly light.
She untied the ribbon.
Opened the wrapping.
And froze.
Inside was a delicate necklace.
A fine golden chain held a small sun-shaped pendant surrounded by tiny luminous stones.
Elsie's eyes widened.
“Oh…”
She lifted it carefully.
It was beautiful.
Far too beautiful.
She turned it beneath the light.
“Who sends something like this?”
She looked around again.
No card.
No name.
No message.
Nothing.
Elsie frowned.
“This is suspicious.”
She stared at the necklace.
Then sighed.
“But pretty.”
She glanced at the clock and suddenly stiffened.
“Oh no. I'm going to be late for work.”
With no time to speculate about where it had come from, Elsie carefully placed the necklace back in its case and set it aside. She had to get ready and leave immediately.
She had no idea that only hours earlier, the necklace had been purchased for three million dollars.
And she had even less idea who had bought it.
The City Hospital —
A black car stopped before the entrance of The City Hospital.
Newhaven's most prestigious medical facility stood brightly illuminated against the night.
Its doctors were among the most highly regarded in the city, while its advanced facilities attracted patients whose conditions required the highest level of medical care.
Zavian stepped out of the car.
Dr. Reed, the hospital's dean, was already waiting at the entrance.
“Mr. Veyr.”
Zavian handed him the secured case.
“Formula 5.”
Dr. Reed accepted it carefully.
“We'll begin immediately.”
He looked at Zavian.
“Old Mrs. Veyr's condition remains serious, but this gives us hope. If Formula 5 responds as expected, we may finally have a viable path toward treatment.”
Zavian gave a cold, restrained nod.
“Do it.”
Dr. Reed nodded.
“Of course.”
They walked toward the elevators.
As the doors opened, they stepped inside.
The elevator carried them toward the VIP floor reserved exclusively for the Veyr family.
When the doors opened, Dr. Reed turned toward Zavian.
“I need to assemble the doctors immediately. We'll develop the treatment plan tonight.”
Zavian nodded.
“Go.”
Dr. Reed gave a brief bow.
“I'll keep you informed.”
He walked away.
Zavian entered the ward.
The room was quiet.
His grandmother lay motionless on the hospital bed.
Old Mrs. Veyr looked pale and weakened beneath the soft hospital lights.
Her face had grown thinner with illness, but the gentle features that had always made her presence warm remained.
Zavian stopped beside the bed.
For several seconds, he simply looked at her.
Then he pulled the chair closer and sat down.
His hand slowly reached for hers.
Her fingers were cold.
He held them gently.
The ruthless composure he carried everywhere seemed to disappear for a brief moment.
His eyes lowered.
“Grandma…”
His voice was softer than usual.
“I missed you.”
He tightened his hold on her hand.
“Get well soon.”
Silence answered him.
Zavian remained there.
And for perhaps the first time in a very long time, his eyes revealed something his face never did.
Helplessness.
And sorrow.
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