Veronica's POV
At first I thought things would change, but it looks like it was only my illusion. Jonathan did stay with us for a few days, but went back to his mansion saying he still cannot announce my or Janet's real identity in public.
But what hit me more was the fact, he still made me work for Imelda and still made me work as a server at their parties.
At this point, I didn't even feel angry anymore.
It was strange, yet I felt light.
The same things that once made me cry, feel angry, or even want to scream at times..
Now were only making me feel tired.
No pain. No tears.
It felt like my emotions had shut their doors.
"Veronica," Imelda said as she came over to my work desk. "Today's party is going to be a close-client get together. For this party she transferred ten thousand dollars to your account. Remember, be on time and take care of the details."
Later on that night, I went to the Club Aura Gardens and went to box five seven. After making sure all arrangements were in place, I went to change into the server dress.
I was standing alongside the other servers when Jonathan arrived with Imelda in arm along with the so-called close-clients.
Sanders was one of them.
My breath stopped for a brief moment.
Not in fear, but in shock.
I was shocked as he was supposed to be in jail.
Jonathan said he would protect me. He said he would send him to jail.
Yet–
The same man who assaulted me, was laughing and drinking as if nothing happened.
Slowly, I lowered my gaze.
What and from whom was I expecting anything from.
As they sat, we began to serve. The other servers saw I was avoiding Sanders, so they took over to serve him.
But as they say a trash can never smells nice.
"Hey," Sanders said, grabbing me by my arm. "I see you're avoiding me. Are you still angry with me?"
"Sanders!" Jonathan yelled at him.
A smile spread on my face. He's going to stand for me. But the smile faded away as soon as it appeared.
"She's a server," he said. "Why are you demoting yourself by tangling with her?"
I was already broken inside, but I was still holding on. After hearing him, I broke into uncountable pieces.
Not because of the harm Sanders forced on me.
Not from the humiliation I faced at the casino.
Because of Jonathan.
Even now, even after all that happened–
Here I was, a server, serving in a party my assaulter was invited to.
"Yes..yes.." Sanders said. "I really forgot my level. She's just so beautiful.."
"Mr Sanders," Jonathan said. "Remember behind that beautiful face is a widow."
Sanders threw the glass of wine that I had served on the ground and pushed me down as well.
My hand hit on the broken glass making my hand bleed.
"Take her out." Imelda said, annoyed. "Don't spoil the mood of the party."
The other servers were going to take me away, but Imelda called out.
"Wait," she said. "Return the money I sent. You failed at your work."
I stopped and transferred the money back.
"Now can I leave?"
I didn't wait for any dignity. I didn't wait for any fairness. All I wanted was to leave the hall.
"Yes, go and wait by my car." Imelda said. "I have to discuss work for tomorrow."
I came out and stood by her car. In a little while it began to rain, so I called her to tell, but she told me to stay there or she would deduct this month's salary.
They came out after two hours.
"Nicky??!!" Jonathan said, worried about seeing me drenched.
"Oh, you said it's raining!" Imelda feigned. "I'm sorry I didn't hear you."
"What's the important work you wanted to talk about?" I said, trembling from the cold.
"Oh, that." Imelda said. "I will be late tomorrow, so just take care of my office."
"Just to tell me this," I said in an angry voice. "You made me stand here all alone in front of your car for two hours."
"Jonathan," Imelda said, hugging onto his arm. "Is she angry with me?"
"No," he said. "How can she be angry with you? Okay. Nicky, go home and don't catch a cold."
I stood there watching him enter her car and driving off.
"Go home?" I said to myself. "How?"
Finally after walking for five hours, I finally came home.
Each step that I took felt heavier than the last one. Not that I was exhausted. But the same question was playing in my mind over and over again.
Why am I still doing this?
No matter how many times I asked, I just couldn't get the answer.
I was surprised to see Jonathan sitting on the sofa.
"Nicky?" he said, getting up. "You're soaking wet. Didn't I tell you to—"
"Go home!" I said, yelling. "How? I don't have any money to take a taxi."
"What?" he said. "Don't you have any money left from last month's pay?"
"I would," I said in a little low voice laced with anger. "If I didn't have to pay the hospital bills, school fees–."
"What?" He said. "But I—"
"Imelda only pays me one hundred a month," I said, spitting venom.
"She clearly told the hospital, they are not to take money from you as you are her assistant."
"Yes," I said. "The nurse also said Imelda said, 'He just feels sorry for her, but she, meaning I, should have some self-respect, taking money from another woman's fiance. So, I didn't take money from another woman's fiance, and paid myself."
"Nicky," Jonathan said, coming over. "She didn't mean it that way, and why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you?" I said. "Did you know Sanders was going to be one of the so-called close-clients?"
His gaze fell onto the floor.
I laughed out hysterically.
"Nicky!" he said. "Please don't scare me!"
"Scare you?" I said. "What can scare you?"
"No," he said, pulling me into his arms. "Nicky, please forgive me. I love you. I know this time is not easy for you. It's not easy on me as well."
Just then my hand touched his—he was hot.
"You have a fever?" I said, worried.
"Yes," he said. "I've had a fever the whole day. But, I'm away from you. Who'll take care of me? I'm only waiting for this project. Once it's done, I'll announce to everyone you're my wife and Janet is my daughter."
"Okay," I said as I made him sit on the sofa. "Wait, I'll get you some medicine, and make some tea."
After giving him the medicine, and making sure he drank the tea, I went into the kitchen to make dinner.
It had been a while since we ate as a family. Janet was happy as Jonathan fed her, and I was happy just seeing them happy.
"Daddy," Janet said, innocently. "Why does mommy call you Mr. Rollings outside, and not honey like my friends mother's do?"
Pin drop silence fell in the room.
I didn't get up and leave. I didn't look up as I didn't want to see his expression.
As I already knew— he couldn't answer.
"Daddy?" Janet asked again.
"Eat your food dear," was all that he could say.
No explanation. No truth.
I thanked him inside as at least he didn't lie to her.
I closed my eyes for a brief moment then his words fell into my ears.
"It's for the project."
"Maybe I am overthinking everything. After all, he is saying it's only until the project. Where I've endured so many years, a few more months can't harm." I said in my mind as I was cooking.
But in reality I wasn't overthinking it, I was over-delaying the decision I should have taken years ago.
I was about to go over and call Jonathan, but overheard his conversation with Imelda on the phone.
"Don't worry," he said on the phone. "I just have to say a few nice words, and she forgives me. Yes, I took the medicine you gave me. But Imelda, please we can't have Sanders in the same place as Nicky. You bailed him, fine. But he always troubles like this. If he keeps on doing like this, I can't lose Nicky. Yes, I know. I'll get her to apologize to Sanders, but please. She is my wife, and yes I know."
"Make me apologize to him!" I said in a barely audible voice. "Jonathan, just when I start to trust you, you make me regret."
As I heard him speaking, I didn't cry, nor did I feel angry.
I just understood that nothing is going to change.
Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.
I picked the marker from the calendar board I had in the kitchen and put a cross on today's date.
My hand didn't tremble and I didn't have tears welled up in my eyes. No hesitation.
"One day down, six more to go." I said. "Jonathan, this is the last thing I can do. Now it's up to you to siege or leave."