When Vera opened her eyes, it was already dawn. Her heart skipped a beat. She turned her head to the other side where Cassian ought to have been but he wasn't there.
Then she heard the shower was turned on which meant he was in the bathroom. She flung away the bedspread covering her naked body and quickly wore her clothes while ignoring the ache below.
Her panties had been torn apart last night so she couldn't wear them. She grabbed her things and fled out of the room, covering her face on her way out of the building. She flagged a cab down and entered without thinking. When the distance between her and the building was at least considerable, only then did she breathe out in relief.
She rubbed her forehead, feeling the headache coming and sighed. Vera shut her eyes and only one question floated in her mind. Why did this have to happen?
Inside the bedroom, Cassian had finished showering and had stepped out. Vera's absence was what he noticed instantly. He looked around but knew better not to search for her because it would be fruitless.
Her purse and stuff were gone which meant she ran away. He ran his fingers through his hair and went for his phone. His fingers moved urgently on the screen and a call was put across to a number.
"I need to make some enquiries about the lady you sent to me last night."
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Vera entered her bathroom and removed her clothes. She stared at herself in the mirror, unable to understand what she was feeling. Her mind was in chaos and her emotions? They were all over the place.
Bitemarks covered her body. Her lips were swollen and the memories of last night flashed in multiples in her head. It felt like she had gone back in time...to the time when she was in love with Cassian, when she thought he did all those things to and with her because he felt the same way.
She sighed and turned on the shower, letting the coldness soothe her sore muscles. Last night was wild for her. There were no positions he didn't make her do while f*****g her soul out of her body until she could no longer scream.
She held her ass cheeks, still feeling the impact of his handprinted slaps on them. Then when she remembered how she had climbed on him as a final show and guided his c**k into her slippery hole, she cringed and quickly turned off the shower. There was no need to think about him and what had happened.
Desperation led her to that and that was it. It wasn't her fault that he was good at manhandling a woman's body which was why he was surrounded back in college.
Nothing would ever bring her close to him and may their paths never cross.
A notification from her phone disrupted her thoughts. She picked up her phone and saw that it was a message. Vera clicked to read the content. It was a credit alert of a hundred thousand dollars to her account. Then another message dropped in from Madam Sylvie,
"You did well. It was lovely working with you. Let me know when you are available to do more."
Vera smiled, not because of the message but that she could now pay her bills and afford her brother's surgery. She rushed to her wardrobe, picked a shabby gown, grabbed her purse once more and headed to the hospital as quickly as she could.
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Vera signed the forms at the billing desk with her hand steady and her face neutral. The woman across the counter was busy counting out the cash she had brought with a careful expression.
"Balance cleared." She announced. "Surgery is confirmed for Thursday. Check-in is at six a.m."
Vera nodded and smiled gratefully. "Thank you."
She walked down the corridor to Reid's room. He was awake and staring at the ceiling. He lowered his gaze when she came in and she smiled at him. Reid had her mother's brown eyes.
"You look like you didn't sleep." He said.
"Good morning to you too." Vera chuckled, a bit relieved that he could at least talk for today.
"Good morning, sis." He answered with a croaky voice while she kissed his forehead and patted his hair.
"I have good news. You're getting your surgery. It has been confirmed for Thursday." She sat in the chair beside his bed, put her bag down and looked at him directly. "You're all paid up. Don't ask me how."
He paused and finally responded, "Okay. I won't." Then another brief silence, "Thursday." He repeated.
"Yeah. It's by 6 am so I'll be here by 5."
"Hmm." It was useless convincing his sister not to bother about coming and should instead rest well. She sat with him for two hours, talking about a show he'd been watching and some more of his favourites which she made sure to note down. She laughed genuinely whenever he said something funny and prayed that he would be able to do the same soon.
After noticing how tired he was, she exited the room. On her way back, she opened her phone.
The job applications she had showed up never responded to her. For the older ones, they rejected her because they'd found who they were looking for. Why was it so hard to even get a low entry position in these companies?
She kept her phone back inside her purse. The following morning while preparing for her work, an email arrived at exactly seven forty-three.
'Dear Ms. Calloway, thank you for your application to Kinggs Meridian Group. We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected for an interview for the position of Executive Personal Assistant to the CEO. Please find attached details for your interview scheduled for..."
Vera made sure to read it twice. She looked at the salary range listed at the bottom of the email and sat down on the kitchen floor.
Kinggs Meridian was a big company name. She didn't even remember applying for this job but did it matter? She jumped up to her feet and screamed happily.
Things were finally working in her favour.