Secrets Unveiled
1061 Words
The blinds let the early sun softly glow across the room. Jenny lay in bed, her heart racing with both exhilaration and fear. Leonard had left for an early conference, giving her a few valuable alone hours. Though the weight of it all pulled tightly on her chest, she realized she had to decide quickly.
Jenny's mind flew while she got ready for the day. She had been hiding from Leonard a secret that was increasingly difficult to live with. Every second she spent with him just heightened her emotions; the idea of betraying his confidence was intolerable. Still, the lure of the life-changing heist hung before her like a luscious carrot.
Jenny was startled from her thoughts by the doorbell. She rushed to respond, then came upon a messenger carrying a gift.
Glancing at his clip, the courier asked, "Ms. Jenny?"
She answered, signing for the package and carrying it inside: "Yes, that's me." She set it on the table and gently opened it to find a little box within. Her breath stopped when she raised the lid to expose a lovely diamond necklace. Attached with neat handwriting was a note. Leonard wrote.
"For the lady that really caught my attention. Leonard,"
Jenny grasped the necklace and tears filled her eyes; her feelings were a maelstrom of shame and delight. She realized she had to come clean about her background and inner conflict—that she had to speak with Leonard. Her phone buzzed with a message from an unidentified number before she could move, though.
"Your secret is known to me. Either Leonard finds out or meets me in the old warehouse on the docks at midnight.
Jenny read the mail and her blood raced cold. One could not know about her past. And why were they menacing her now? She understood she had to go, even if it meant entering a trap. She had no choice.
Jenny watched midnight nervously, the hours passing slowly and each minute dragging on. Her mind racing with options, she walked the room. She understood she could not share the message with Leonard; it would only endanger him. She was supposed to manage this alone.
Jenny left the home and headed for the docks as the clock struck twelve. The moon was buried behind heavy clouds, the evening dark and chilly. Ahead, a reminder of a time long past, the old warehouse loomed. Jenny's pulse thumped as she got closer; her footfall echoed in the stillness.
Inside the warehouse, the air smelled of wet decay and was hardly illuminated. Jenny's gaze strayed about in quest of action. Jenny's breath seized in her throat as a man emerged from the darkness.
Her voice shaking, she insisted, "Who are you?"
Approaching closely, the man revealed himself as tall with a scar across his cheek. "My name is Victor." Let's call it a vested interest in your past.
Jenny tried to locate the name in her racing head. " What do you want from me?"
Victor grinned, hate shining in his eyes. "I want you to pilfer something for me. Leonard's office has a keycard. If you don't, I'll see to it he discovers all about you.
Jenny's gut turned over with wrath and terror. "why should I trust you?"
"You have no choice," Victor said sharply. "Your secret is secure; do as I say. Fail and you go without everything.
Jenny's head whirled the next morning. She had no idea what Victor wanted the keycard for, or even how she might acquire it. She knew only that she let Leonard know about her history. She had to shield him, even if it meant violating his confidence.
Leonard saw she was uncomfortable throughout breakfast. Concern written on his face, he questioned, "Is everything alright, Jenny?"
Jenny made a strained smile. Just a tad fatigued, that is all.
Leonard grabbed her hand in his across the table. " You know you can tell me anything, right?"
Jenny's tummy turned over with guilt. She nodded then squeezed his hand. "I understand. Thank you, Leonard.
The day dragged on, every minute an effort to keep appearances. Thoughts of the keycard, of Victor's threat, of the love Jenny had for Leonard dominated her head. She understood she had to act, but the idea of turning on Leonard hurt at her heart.
Jenny spotted her chance that evening as Leonard worked late in his study. Her hands shaking, she dropped inside his office looking for the keycard. Her heart thumping in her ears, every second stretched out an eternity. At last she located it, buried in a drawer.
The study door creased open just as she was ready to go. Jenny stopped, her breath seizing in her throat. Leonard stood in the doorway, hurt and confused eyes ablaze.
"Jenny, why are you doing?" His voice almost above a whisper, he asked.
Jenny staggered to find the words as panic shot through her. "I... Leonard; I can clarify. Kindly allow me some time.
Leonard's face grew tough as he moved forward. Then, explain. Why are you sinking about my office?
Jenny tried to talk but tears flowed down her face. "It's not what it appears to be. I felt threatened. Someone wants me to steal this keycard; they know about my background. Should I not, they will tell you everything.
Leonard's look softened somewhat, but the hurt persisted. "Why not have you visited me? We could have confronted this together.
At his words, Jenny's heart cracked. "I did not want to expose you to risk. I reasoned I could manage it alone.
Leonard inhaled deeply, his gaze fixed on hers. Jenny, we are a team here. Whatever transpires, we will face it together."
Locked in a tight silence, they stood there until the front of the house crashed loudly. Jenny and Leonard looked at one another, their instincts alert. They moved fast, Leonard grabbing a bulky object from his desk for defense.
Tension thick in the air, they slithered down the hall. Victor and two other men were sorting through their belongings as they neared the bend. Leonard's jaw clenched, then he moved forward, elevating the object in his hand.
"Get out of my house," he said, his voice calm and strong.
Victor turned, a nasty sneer flashing over his face. "Hey, Leonard. just the man I was looking forward to seeing.
- Writer
