Twisted Ties

Heavy words

CHAPTER FOUR

Heavy Words

The word echoed in Stella's ear. She just stood there, unsure of what to do, as she watched Vincent Vercetti's lazy eyes on her.

“Miss Raymond, if you want your job, you'll do as I say. So strip”.

“Please sir, I-i can't do such a thing. It's against my job”.

He took his phone, to call his bodyguard, waiting at the door, as she stopped him.

“I'll do it”, she said with shaking hands, as she started to take her things off one by one. She unbuttoned her top revealing her cleavage.

“Stop”, he said, “ And come closer”.

Moments like this, she wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole. If she thought their stares were deadly, then she wasn’t ready for their words.

Stella’s throat felt dry, she could barely bring herself to look at him , her gaze kept dropping to the floor, to the edge of the desk, to anywhere that wasn’t their eyes. Vincent’s stare was heavy, but remained unreadable, like he was breaking down the last wall of protection she had without saying a single word. The seriousness in his expression made her stomach knot.

What was he thinking? What would he do?

The thick brunette, however, didn’t bother to maintain the silence. Her eyes flicked up and down Stella’s frame with open disgust, then her lips curled like she’d just stepped across something nasty.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she said, her voice laced with disgust. “This is what works here? How does she get in looking like that?” She doesn't even have a good body? She gestured loosely, as though Stella’s entire existence was an offense. “That shirt looks like it was borrowed from a mascot, and that skirt, darling, did you pull it out of a donation bin?”

Stella flinched but stayed quiet, gripping the files tighter against her chest.

The brunette’s smirk widened. “Oh, don’t go all shy now. You weren’t shy watching us, were you? Standing there gawking like some desperate little perverse b***h, pathetic.”

“I—I wasn’t…” Stella started, but her voice betrayed her.

The brunette cut her off before she could even form a straight sentence. “Don’t lie, I can see the look on your face, you enjoyed it. Gawd, it’s embarrassing, do you get your thrills spying on people? Or is this just what you do when no one pays you attention at home? Your own form of pornographic binge watching?”. The brunette laughed as she watched Stella squirm under their sight. “You are going to entertain us, with that useless body of yours”.

Her words were sharp enough to sting, every word hit Stella in places she didn’t even know she was vulnerable.

“You’re not even dressed like you belong in this building,” the brunette went on mercilessly. “Your hair, did you even brush it this morning? And those shoes? Please," she paused, dramatically lifting her hand. "They’re practically begging to be dumped, no wonder he didn’t even look at you twice.”

Stella’s hands shook uncontrollably as she fought to hold in the tears. She wanted to say something, anything, but her tongue felt locked. She just shut her eyes tightly and stared at the floor, clutching the files tightly and hoping it would end soon.

“Enough.” Vincent’s voice burst through before she could lay another wall on Stella's back, it came with the kind of tone that made both women still instantly. The brunette’s jaw tightened, but she leaned further against his desk, pouting slightly.

Vincent's eyes were fixed on Stella when he spoke. “What brought you here?”

She swallowed, trying to form words. “I… I came to… um… drop off some files from earlier.”

“Then drop them off,” he said casually, almost as though he was daring her to step forward.

Her feet felt like dumbbells, but she forced herself forward, each step heavier than the last as she avoided both their stares. She placed the files on the polished surface of his desk, her fingers brushed the cool wooden surface slightly before she quickly pulled away.

Vincent didn’t blink, and he wasn’t looking at the files, just at her. The brunette, too, her gaze followed Stella like a stubborn stain, heavy with contempt, as if her very presence was a personal insult.

Stella turned on her heel, eager to escape. She was nearly out the door when Vincent’s voice stopped her cold.

“We’ll discuss this tomorrow.”

She knew he wasn't talking about the files, the thought made her chest tighten. That single sentence told her this wasn’t over, not by a long shot.

She quickly picked up her clothes and things that had fallen off while she was stripping, she scurried off, and didn't look back, as quickly as her hands and legs could take her, she rushed and packed up all her stuff, locked her office and left without another glance. The moment she stepped into the hallway, her body moved on instinct. She held her bag tightly as she headed for the exit with quick, focused steps. Her mind felt crowded, every thought tripping over the next.

By the time she made it outside, the sun had already dipped low, masking the city in its deep orange shadows. She caught the 7 pm bus and stared out the window the entire ride home, avoiding her own reflection in the glass.

It was just before 7:30 when she stepped through the front door of her father's apartment. Her mother was there, seated in the living room with a cup of tea in hand. The look on her face when Stella stepped was a mix of surprise and relief.

“Oh my dear, you’re home. I thought,” She trailed off, studying her daughter. “I thought you might not be coming back tonight.”

The words hit Stella in the chest. She could see the hurt in her mother’s eyes, the kind she had been too stubborn to acknowledge yesterday in her voice.

All thoughts of Vincent and the brunette were pushed to the back. Stella dropped her bag and crossed the room in two steps, then said in a soft voice. “Mom, I’m sorry for ignoring you earlier.”

Her mother smiled faintly and shook her head. “Don’t bother apologizing. You’re here now.”

Stella smiled a genuine smile, probably her first all day, as they embraced, the warmth of it eased the knots in Stella’s chest she hadn’t even realized were there.

They moved to the kitchen table, and her mother stopped. "How was your first day at work, my dear?"

Stella gulped; she had dreaded this moment. She couldn't tell her about her situation with Vincent, so she kept it light. "It was just there, not so eventful, first day things. I met a friendly coworker, Tessa is her name, she showed me around, and I must say, the inside is more fascinating than the outside," she exclaimed at the last part.

"That's good to hear," her mother replied, "anything else?" She asked, probably sensing her hesitation.

"Nope," Stella said casually. She felt bad having to lie to her mother, especially as she stared into her expectant eyes, but she couldn't bring herself to say everything.

Her mother stared at her with a smile. “Okay, if you say so. By the way, we have a visitor.”

Stella blinked. “A visitor?” Stella asked, and they barely had visitors, so the news came as a shock.

Her mother just smiled. "Yeahhh, and it's someone I'm sure you were looking forward to seeing.”

“Who is it then?”, she asked her mum.

Before her mother could reply, a voice spoke from behind her. “It’s me, dear sister.”