Chapter Thirty Four

Smell

Feel

The past two hours have seen this happening. Her scent is present. I can feel how close she is. I feel. Why not focus on this instead? I've been debating whether or not to speak to her for three days. She seemed to be observing me from here in my head. I sensed her behind me twice. Did she even realize how enraged I am with her?

No

"Jesus!" My eyes landed on a distant, shocked-looking Jessie. What has become of her? Her widening eyes were frozen in place, but where? God, this is not an issue. She is having a birthday celebration, but she is already in a bad mood because Rose is not present. She is distressed and hurt. Her hormones are already having trouble because she is a mother. Now she's a major issue for me. Sebastian and I are not on her point after all; she's giving us a tiny creature.

"What happened, Jess?" When I realized who she was looking for, my sentences came to a stop. What in the world is Rose doing here? Why the hell is she wearing that dress?

"What are you doing here, Rose? Are you a waitress? But I believed you were employed elsewhere. You are, hence, poor. I'm truly sorry." What in the world is happening here? Why is Jenna not keeping her mouth shut? My eyes are already looking to Theo for solutions.

"J.. Je.."

"Hey Jess, come on, everyone's been waiting for you." Before she began, a woman entered.

"Happy birthday, Mam." She wished Jessie well and then turned to go while crying bitterly. Holding my hand, Jessie stands frozen and dumbfounded. How about me? Am I alright?

"She'll be here in a minute." I tell that woman while dragging Jessie along with me. She collapses in my arms, her body frigid.

"Why is she that way? She doesn't appear good. Her face. What has become of her? You told me about her employment, so why did you lie to me?" Shit, Rose is once again causing a problem.

"No, Jess; it's part of her work. See, nothing in this universe is small. She is free to do anything she wants because she left the company. She is only worn out. Simply go and have fun." I must manage her, at least for the time being. What the heck happened to her during the last few days, though?

So why do they both have such a strong bond, you ask? Rose is crying for Jessie as much as for herself.

"I'm doing fine. Simply unwind and delight." Leaving her a message for Sebastian. While I searched everywhere, I discovered her among people.

"So once more, you cause an issue." She appears unwell. Why does it seem like she has lost weight and her face is so pale?

"Please leave me alone, Mr. Ronald. I lack the strength to fight." With a sorrowful heart, she left. She always made a distance, but today she finds this distance to be very taxing.

Jessie simply flashed a phony smile after that. Together with Rose, her grin was gone. When it's cake-cutting time, she's looking for her in-crowd.

"Please Jess." I encouraged her by whispering in her ear, but it seems like she is waiting for me. She and I both find it distressing to see her friend in that situation.

"Everyone is waiting, Jess. Do," and then a smile spread across her face. Rose is the object of her attention, who is likewise standing far away and grinning. My sister finally sliced the cake. Why is her relationship with Rose so close?

It's time for me to think now. What took place after I was there? What has become of her? Her body and face are so dejected. She entirely avoids me at the gathering. She always walked away as soon as I tried to speak with her. So she's hiding something from us?

"This was a check-and-mate call. She was fired from her job, and then I threw her out of the apartment. Well, you own me." After the party, Mom contacted me from her apartment, where Jenna was also seated and drinking with us. I had a sneaking suspicion that Mom had done something after our brief talk. So here is the evidence.

"What?"

"I spilled coffee on me, ruining a Gucci suit. It's my preferred outfit. If I know that today's work involves drama-making, I wear something else. Although she makes an effort to persuade the boss, I despise her looks." I had a firm hold of the glass. Why do I not despise her? What I desire is this. Why should I suffer if I can make her suffer? Why do I think her circumstances are not favorable? This is retaliation, baby." Now that she is actively looking for work on the road, the day when we will see her on the street asking for money or extending her legs in search of a guy is rapidly approaching." Both of them began to chuckle, but my entire body was cold, and every hair on my neck rose up. How could she? She's my own. How did I allow them to touch her? I took a bottle in my hands and drank one glass after another until my thoughts ceased. Yet, dammit, it still goes on.

"Why, Ronald, don't you seem happy?"

"Hey, honey, how about we go out and have some fun?" She is nothing in this world; eat. Theo leaves her alone, and what the hell is he doing?

"I have work to complete."

"But.." I can't just watch her go wild. I must help her. Taking my coat, I left them to continue conversing. I sit in the dark on a chair after entering my apartment. Finally, I have some free time to consider and gather my ideas for her. As I was typing, I asked Theo to come. Why does he conceal it if he works for me? Why did he tell me a lie?

"Sir." I am aware of what I will do.

"Do you recognize this?" When it hit my hand, his eyes widened dramatically. He arrived right away. He instantly stepped in front of her and kneeled down.

"Sir..."

"Theo, shut the fuck up. Explain this."

"Gun." He answered.

"It's a Russian handgun that's more lethal and strong. I never considered a time to come when it's a trigger set on you. You misled me. I was betrayed." Pointing directly at his head, I stood up from a chair. His face suddenly had an intense color that represented the dread I liked the most.

"Well, I'm not sure, sir. I was told to stop talking by Ms. Rose. She is my security, but I don't know she lost her job. Her behavior was nonexistent, and she also pretended to be returning from work." His speech is honest, yet trembling. Oh, she performed so brilliantly. Well done, baby.

"When?"

"Yesterday." I sat down when I got back.

"When I first arrived here, I was quite close to your dad. He assigned me your duty. In exchange, you gave me yourself and your loyalty. I saved you when there was no one else. But I had no idea that you had abandoned me for Rose as well. Well done, Theo." I threw the rifle in his direction, and he caught it as his face grew confused.

"It's yours; add it to your collection." Here, the face brightened.

"It's mine?"

"Sure, you own it. For you, I purchased it. Your deeds make me happy, so thank you. You have her trust as well. Yet, Theo, you now have the power to turn things around from bad to better if you know how." He bows.

"Make sure she has a job and adequate food. I showed her the way to our club and restaurant."

"But sir, we don't have a bar or a nightclub." We both fell silent for a moment.

"Then purchase any." A smile and another nod.

"Take her here right away."

"But, sir, I believe she is sleeping." Again, nothing.

"I'm in the mood."

"Indeed, sir."

Rose, it's now your turn to be punished.

"Let's rock and roll, baby."