Veronica's POV
It's been a month since the kidnapping. All along I've been watching what Jonathan does.
The outcome—
He's the same.
I stared at the white ceiling of my small apartment.
One month-thirty days. Seven hundred and twenty hours.
Not once did Jonathan ask how I truly felt.
Not once did he ask if I was in any pain after the surgery.
Not once did he ask how Janet was sleeping after the pastry incident or after my hospitalization.
Yet, to the world he was the perfect CEO.
Yes, perfect, cold, untouchable.
I slowly closed my eyes. Maybe the truth was so complicated after all. Maybe, I never was important to him.
Maybe, I didn't matter to him anymore.
A message popped up on my phone.
Remember to be on time—The Grand Cardinal Casino
I don't know why but I felt like something was not right, but I had no choice.
The Grand Cardinal Casino
Imelda was waiting with Jonathan as I got out of the taxi.
"Come on," she said, pulling me by my arm with Jonathan following me.
"Go," she said, shoving me into a room. "The dress is on the chair, change and come out."
They walked in behind me.
As I picked up the dress I was shocked.
"Jonathan??"
"Nicky," he said in a low voice full of guilt. "You're the server for tonight. All you have to do is serve them, okay honey?"
I let out a small laugh on hearing him call me 'honey'.
"Can you both get out so I can change?" I said.
As I came out, I was feeling uncomfortable as the dress was too small, had a low neckline and was almost backless.
Jonathan pulled me into his arms, making me feel safe for a moment.
For a brief moment, I forgot the humiliation I felt wearing the dress. The thought of wearing such a dress in front of strangers.
The lies.
The way he denied my existence in front of everyone.
Tonight his arms felt the same.
Warm. Protective. Familiar.
My heart was trembling dangerously inside of me.
But the moment lasted only for a few seconds. Because reality showed its true face.
And this reality had a name–Imelda.
"Okay," she said. "Now, me and Jonathan will enter."
Another server brought over a trolley.
"You leave," Imelda said. "Veronica is enough and no disturbance."
The other servers left, Imelda pushed the trolley towards me.
"Okay," now me and Jonathan will enter. We'll ring the bell, you bring the trolley in. Then do as you're told. And, brighten up will you, after all after tonight, you'll never have to worry about Janet's school fees or any other expenses."
As they went in, with Jonathan lowering his gaze from me, I laughed inside.
Yes, I was the only one worried about how to pay Janet's school fees , cause my living dead husband was busy pleasing Imelda.
Just then the bell rang.
I took a deep breath, and rolled the trolley inside.
Imelda was sitting along with a young boy who was feeding her grapes, while Jonathan was sitting along with a young girl.
On seeing me enter, he pushed her away. There were two other men who were flirting with other girls.
"Mr Sanders, Mr Reynolds, would you like some wine or scotch?"
"Wine." Reynolds said.
"Veronica," Imelda said. "Serve Mr Reynolds."
My gaze turned towards Jonathan who only lowered his gaze.
I swallowed my pride, reminding me I'm all who Janet has.
I rolled the trolley forward, and then got on my knees and poured some wine and gave the glass to Reynolds.
He took the glass with a wicked smirk on his face.
Jonathan drank another drink and was becoming drunk.
"I'll have a scotch." Sanders said.
I was watching Jonathan as I poured a glass and was about to give it to Sanders, but he pulled me by my arm.
"Oh, you're a plum girl." He snarled.
Imelda straightened up.
"Mr Sanders," she said. "She's a mother of a seven year old girl, please be soft on her."
"Imelda??!" Jonathan called out in a dizzy voice.
Just then Imelda went over to Jonathan and whispered in his ear.
Whatever she said, it made Jonathan say, 'No.
"Come here," Sanders said as he pulled me in and kissed me on the lips.
I pushed him and slapped him hard across his face. The girls and boy stood up scared.
"GET OUT!" Sanders yelled.
The boy and the girls ran out.
Imelda got up, pulling Jonathan to stand up.
"Mr Sanders…"
"I said GET OUT." he snarled.
"Yes..yes.." Imelda said as pulled Jonathan out, who could barely walk.
Seeing him leave me broke my heart into uncountable pieces.
Imelda looked back as she slowly closed the door, but Jonathan, he didn't look back.
Not even once.
The man who vowed to protect me at the altar, actually walked away leaving me behind in the arms of a man who was forcing himself on me.
A bitter smile appeared on my lips as I realized what my seven years of marriage were worth.
Seven years, reduced to a pawn used to entertain their client.
Reynolds followed them out.
Sanders threw me on the sofa, and pinned himself on top of me.
I struggled to free myself, but I was already weak from the surgery, and he himself was a healthy man.
All my efforts went in vain.
He rubbed his hand on my leg and then reached up to raise my dress uncovering the stab stitches.
He jolted back.
"What?" he snarled. "You're a defective piece? How dare they give me a defective piece?"
He pulled me off the sofa, making me fall flat on my stomach.
He removed his belt and swung it once.
The belt ripped deep into my skin.
He was about to swing it again, but it didn't reach my skin.
I looked sideways, and saw Jonathan was holding his hand.
"How dare you lay a hand on her?" He snarled at him.
"Jonthan?" Sanders said shocked. "You..you're stopping me for this woman? Do you know the cost?"
"This woman is my—"
"Jonathan!" Imelda came running. "Relax, do you think it's for real? How could I allow any harm to Veronica?"
"But he—"
"He didn't, and," she whispered to Jonathan. "It's for Janet."
He softened on hearing her name and went out.
After that Sanders hit me a few more times before he left me unconscious.
The next day I woke up in the hospital with Jonathan holding my hand.
He woke up as my fingers moved.
"Nicky!!" he said leaning over, worried all over his face.
"Are you okay? Do you feel pain anywhere?"
"The place I do, you can't do anything." I said in a cold voice.
"I know," he said in a low voice. "But I can call the doctor."
"Doctor?" I said. "What can he do for the pain that my heart got from you?"
"Nicky," he said, tears rolling down his cheeks. "I didn't know what she was up to. She only told me you'd serve. Otherwise…"
Just then Imelda walked in.
"Veronica," she said. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know he was such a man. I've closed the deal with him and will work only with Reynolds. Here (she placed a check on the side table), the check Imelda promised you. He apologized for his behavior."
As she was leaving, she stopped and looked back. "Jonathan?"
"You go along," he said. "I'll come over."
I looked at him with shocked eyes.
"Don't," he said. "Don't look at me with those eyes."
"That's it?" I said. "She's sorry and you're going back to work?"
"Nicky," he said, holding onto my hand. "Please try to understand. Once all this is over, I promise to love and care for only you and Janet."
I pulled my hand out of his hands and turned my face away from his.
"It's okay," he said. "I know you're angry right now. I'll head over to work. I'll come by to take you home in the evening."
As he left, I made up my mind.
"Jonathan, seven days are all you're getting."
Seven days. I repeated this in my mind.
Seven days to see whom he chooses.
Seven days to see if he would stand against Imelda for me.
Seven days to prove this marriage, I and Janet mean something to him.
And if he failed….
My fingers clenched the blanket in my hands.
This time…
I would take Janet and disappear from his world.