XIX.
Opening the front door,she paused. Lying on the welcome mat was an envelope, a plain, white ten-by twelve envelope.
Automatically, she looked around for whoever could have left it. The hair on the back of her neck stood up. Cautiously, she dipped down and picked it up. It had no writing on the outside. With fingers that had suddenly gone clumsy,she opened the clasp. She tilted the envelope and let some of the contents slide out into her hand. Annie's eyebrows drew together as she stared at a handful of ten-by-ten photographs that seemed to be taken up close, considering the brightness and sharp contrast. A sudden realization of what they were coursed through her body like an electric shock. Her frame shook violently and her breath wrenched into a gasp.
She saw Kaden holding Cani in his arms with a very bright smile on his face as he made his way into the family house. There was Cassie,who was holding a sleeping Shane in her arms. Then Ana and Bell walking side by side holding each others hands. There was Merry taking Brown eyes for a walk.
There was one of the Aggy and Tina emerging from the car with their stuffed bunnies in their arms. Then William who seemed a little bit stressed as he made to open his car door. And there was Ella too. She looked to be sleeping,except for the oxygen mask over her face.
Ella was sick?
Finally, there was her parents,who seemed to be on a red carpet event of some sort. They were holding hands and gazing lovingly at each other. But what really had her legs shaking was the red 'X' mark drew over each of their pictures.
A fury,the likes of which she'd never experienced before,engulfed her and she released a broken sob. She flipped through each photo faster and faster, her shocked gaze riveted to her family image,which was taken in different places but so close to them. Each picture she looked at only increased the panic that started in her gut and twisted up through flesh and bone into something almost seething with malice.
Annie backpedaled into the house and slammed the door. The photos fell from her suddenly numb hands,scattering onto the floor of the foyer. Annie backed away from them,her back hitting the door with a thud. She closed her eyes against the knowledge that her family was in danger allover again. And now, she was at loss at what to do.
Don't they all deserve happiness after so many troubles? Is it her own turn now? Would she lose everyone she ever loved?
Fear gripped her and her breathing increased, her heart pounding from the adrenaline that pumped into her system. Tears filled her eyes as she bent down and quickly picked up all the pictures,her hands trembling with rage. She began to shove them back in the envelope,but discovered something else inside.
A single sheet of paper with block letters on it read, "Dear,Annie. Don't ever try to call your family and tell them about this or even contact them. And don't tell that rich Casanova of yours. If you do... Well, you don't want to try me. You ruined my life. Now I'll ruin yours. Wait for further instructions. Also,you can travel to Santiago for now." It was signed, "Revenge."
She gritted her teeth,a feeling of dread washing over her. She slid the paper back into the envelope and closed the clasp. With unsteady steps that grew firmer,she went into her kitchen to get a plastic bag and dropped the envelope into the protective covering.
She took a few moment to calm herself. All she wanted to do was don her T-shirt and shorts and run off the jumbled,intense motion clawing through her. It took her few moments to regain her equilibrium and then remembered why she went outside in the first place.
Wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her hoodie, she made a determined effort to keep her features smooth and even,just in case the bastard was skulking somewhere nearby. Annie made her way out of the house and went over to Merry's house. The door was opened at the first knock and Brown Eyes was on her in the blink of an eye.
Annie let out an amused laugh as she sank to her feet. Pushing the worry in the back of her mind,she let him lick her over the face.
"He is energetic," Merry mused. "He missed you too."
"Yeah,I know." She ruffled his head with a smile. "I am going to miss him more."
Merry blinked. "Are you leaving already?"
She shook her head as she rose to her feet. "No. I'm traveling to Santiago for a bit. I am some things I need to take care of. And I should be back within a week or two."
"Brown eyes can stay here. I will clean up for your return too."
"Oh,Merry." Annie moved to hug her. "Thank you so much." She blinked back the tears threatening to spill. "I won't let anything happen to you."
Merry pulled back with both of her hands cradling Annie's face. "What do you mean,dear?"
Annie sniffed. "I will miss you."
"Oh,dear."
Annie let herself to be pulled into her embrace as Brown Eyes sat at her feet gazing up at her, pink tongue lolling out if his mouth. Those pictures flashed through her head again,which made her tighten her grip around Merry. They were both her family too.
Nothing would happen to her family. Not if she had a say about it.
<<<<< >>>>>>
"How was the last two weeks?" Dr. Marek asked as Jovon made himself comfortable on the visitors chair.
He shrugged. "I haven't had the nightmare,so that's better... I guess?"
Dr. Marek smiled. "An improvement,if I say so myself. So,what brought about the change?"
"I don't know." He said. "Maybe it's because I have been taking the break you suggested. I have been busy planning thinking about Anniversary plans to dwell on the it."
"Anniversary?"
Jovon nodded. "Annie's parents fiftieth wedding anniversary is coming soon and she wants to plan a surprise party for them. So she asked me to help with the planning and it's been interesting so far."
"And I guess the planning is responsible for that smile on your face?"
"I wasn't smiling." Jovon adjusted in his seat. "I have a question for you."
"Hit me."
He cleared his throat twice before speaking. "Is it possible to want to protect someone without liking them than necessary?"
"It is. Why do you ask?"
"Nothing." He got to his feet. "I am going out of the city for a few days to see my family. That should make up for the vacation."
Dr. Marek got to his feet too. "Okay. I'll see you when you get back. Also, can I see this Annie you speak of?"
Jovon narrowed his eyes at him. "Why?"
He shrugged. "Just because."
"That would be when we get back from Santiago. Besides, she doesn't know about this side of me yet,and I would rather it stay that way." He shook the other man's hand. "I have a flight to catch. See you later."
As he walked out of the office, Jovon kept asking himself why he even brought up Annie in the first place. And now he couldn't stop thinking about the glint in Dr. Marek's eyes when he said her name.
Suddenly, Jovon wasn't too keen on bringing Annie here. And he told himself that it was because that doctor was handsome and was older than her and he could probably hurt someone like her.
It certainly had nothing to do with a green eyed monster.
<<<<< >>>>>
Aaron halts at the foot of the steps leading up to the plane and leaped out of the Maybach Laundalet to open Jovon's door. They have a brief discussion, before Jovon came to open her door. Then without a word to her, he led her up the stairs into the plane where three people,two of them dressed in a white type of uniform,and the one who happened a lady was wearing a black pencil skirt and a crease free white shirt.
Each of them had a smile on their faces.
"Welcome aboard,Mr. Phim." The older of the two men said with a grin.
"David." Jovon nodded as he shook hands with him. Then he turned to her. "Annie, this is David Beckham and beside him is James Shekiri. They are our pilots for today." Then he gestured to the lady. "That is Emilia Best. Our server for the flight."
“Delighted to meet you,” gushed Emilia as a light pink colour appeared on her cheeks.
Annie smiled kindly at her. After all—Jovon didn't like her that way.
“All preparations complete?” Jovon asked them both as Annie glance around the cabin. The interior is all pale maple wood and green leather. It was lovely.
Another young woman in uniform stands at the other end of the cabin—a very pretty brunette.
“We have the all clear. Weather is good from here to Santiago.”
“Turbulence?”
“Not before Washington. There’s a weather front that might give us a rough ride though.”
“I see. Well, I hope to sleep through it all,” said Jovon as a matter-of-factly.
“We’ll get underway, sir,” David said. “We’ll leave you in the capable care of Emilia, your flight attendant.”
Jovon glanced in her direction and
frowned, but turned to David with a smile.
“Excellent,” he says. Taking Annie's hand, he lead her to one of the sumptuous leather seats. There were about twelve of them in total.
“Sit,” he said as he removed his jacket and undid his ash coloured jacket. They sat in two single seat facing each other with a small, highlypolished rose-coloured table between them.
“Welcome aboard, sir, ma’am.” Emilia was at their side, offering them both a glass of white wine.
“Thank you,” Jovon said, and she smiled politely at them and retreated to the galley.
“Cheers to Anniversary plans.” Jovon raised his glass to Annie's, and they chink.
Annie raised the glass to her lips and took a sip. “Chardonnay?” She asked.
“The same.”
“The first time I drank, I was fourteen.” She grinned. "Mom and Daddy were out and my brothers were in their room. I snuck into the cellar and took a whole bottle. I drank half before Aunt Grail caught me there. I was grounded for two weeks and my phone was seized."
“What a rebel you must have been then.”
She laughed. "You don't even know half of it."
"Oh,I do." He returned her smile. "Buckle up.”
Annie grinned and did as she was told.
As the plane taxied out on to the runway, They sipped their wine, grinning inanely at each other. Annie couldn't believe that she was going to see another part of America without even paying for it.
Who knew he had a private jet?
By the time arrived at the townhouse that morning,she had gotten her emotions in control and deposited Brown eyes after a bout of licks on her face and hugs from Merry. She almost didn't want to go,but Revenge gave her instruction to go. The very last thing Annie wanted was to annoy the bastard before she caught the culprit.
She wondered if he was watching her now.
Once they were airborne, Emilia served them yet more wine and prepared several dishes. And what a dish it was—smoked salmon, followed by roast part-ridge. Then a Latin dish of Rice and beans, coconut milk, tamales panades( fried maize shells with fish) and meat pies, stew chicken and garnaches (fired tortilla with beans,cheese, and sauce) all cooked and served by the ever-efficient Emilia.
“Dessert, Mr. Phim?” she asks.
He shook his head and ran his finger across his bottom lip as he looks questioningly at Annie his expression dark and unreadable.
“No, thank you,” She murmured, unable to break eye contact with him. His lips curled up in a small, secret smile and Emilia retreated.
“Good,” he murmured. “I’d rather planned on doing some catch up on some files.”
“Come,” he said, rising from the table and offered his hand. He lead her to the back of the cabin.
“There’s a bathroom here.” He pointed to a small door then lead her down a short corridor and through a door at the end.
The cabin is white and oak wood and a small bed sat in the centre of it,covered in gold and black cushions.
Jovon turned and pulled her into his arms, gazing down at her.
“I thought I'd rather have you for dessert.”
Holy Kamoly.
Annie gaped at him, her heart pounding away in her chest. Heat pooled in her belly as dirty images of them putting that bed into good use flashed through her head. And as Jovon bent his head towards hers, she let her eyes slide shut and tilted her head back to meet his lips.
Only that it never came.
When she opened her eyes,he was staring at her with mockery in his eyes. That and desire swirled in their depths.
"Unfortunately, I have to work." He dropped a quick kiss on the tip of her nose before releasing her with a laugh. "Go to sleep." Then he was walking out of the room.
Annie chucked a pillow at him,only that he chose to close the door that instant so it bounced off the door to the floor.
"Bastard." She cursed under her breath.
He got her aroused and left with some flimsy excuse for work as he always did and it was grating her nerves. This was the last time she would allow him do something like this to her again. She promised herself.
But first things first...
Annie toed her shoes off then leapt into the air,giggling as she landed on the very soft bed. She rolled around for a while before finally settling on her stomach with a content smile. After hatching a plan to know who that Revenge was and another one to get back at Jovon,she closed her eyes.
She'd save the world later.
<<<< >>>>>
Skylar leaned against the black Mercedes her companion drove to SeaTac. She swirled her own car keys with her index finger as they both watched the white plane, the name 'Phim Enterprise' etched on it's side in Golden letters, taxi down the runway.
"I wish I could wrap my fingers around that slender neck of hers and snap it." Skylar told her companion whose gaze remained on the plane even as it lifted off the ground.
"I want to do the same thing to Jovon too." He replied. "But I can't do that now. I hear that dishing pain out bit by bit is the best."
"Of course." Skylar grinned. "There's no fun in taking what you want at once. Slow and steady wins the race. Or in this case, Revenge."
They both laughed.
"May I ask why you want to destroy the infamous Ms. Mckade so bad."
Skylar's eyebrows furrowed. "For starters she always seem to snag the attention of the guys I want and it's annoying. Then she's a spoilt brat who doesn't know when not the butt in other peoples business. She ruined my chances of becoming a millionaire. She almost got me killed. My father disowned me because of her.
And I was sent out of the country too. She's the reason why Kaden isn't married to me. She's the reason why the love of my life is in prison right now. She and her happy little family."
"Hmm." He hummed. "Pity that a beauty like that would go to waste."
"Same goes for Mr. Phim." She tutted. "I hate that girl so much that I don't care who I hurt along the way. And it's good that you're going to help me,right?"
"Yes. Just as you will help me destroy that bastard." He scowled. "I almost had him once but that bastard escaped." He walked away a few feet from Skylar as he dug his hands into the pockets of his slacks. "But not this time. I will do a perfect job."
"With my help if course." Skylar moved to stand beside him. "I missed once,but that won't happen again." Her grin turned feral. "Skylar Anderson never misses twice."
He hummed in acknowledgment.
"Pity that he trusts you so much," Skylar told him as she pulled her Ban Rays over her blue eyes.
"Yeah." Lukas smirked. "Pity."
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