Chapter 36: Chapter 36

My mouth dried up hearing the name of the mansion. I tried to keep a straight face, not letting him know how much this upsets me. Sinclair Mansion. The mansion that held all the answers to my questions. I have a feeling that this is going to be the place where my quest for revenge ends.

‘Is that so? I would like to see that place’, I gave him a smile which for once did fool him.

‘Really? You never mentioned it before’, he said nonchalantly.

‘I wish to see the place where you grew up’, I shrugged my answer. It’s as I said is one of the reasons. I want to see the place where he was unwanted.

‘As you wish’, he kissed me with a confidence that nothing in this world would stop him from getting what he wanted.

‘I like it when you say that. My very own genie’, I matched his passion.

I broke the kiss remembering something. ‘Before I forget, I have to tell you something’.

He looked inquiringly at me, asking me to proceed with his eyes.

‘I presume you may not have been informed about the bikers. They were shot dead in an encounter. Know anything about this?’, I poke him.

‘I do not bother with such trivial matters’, he replied unconcerned, with boredom etched on his face.

‘Strange, right? Dead within 24 hours. Justice served swiftly. Very swiftly. Don’t you think?’

‘Yes, strange indeed’, he said flippantly.

‘So… it appears to be safe to return to my home’, I feigned innocence.

‘So, it seems’, he replied with the same reflection of innocence I projected.

‘I should go back to my desk. It’s piled up with work. You may not know, but my boss is very strict and punctual about completing the tasks. I don’t want to face his wrath for neglecting my work’, I said mischievously biting my lower lip.

‘We don’t want that. He sounds like a tyrant. Are you sure you want to work for him?’, he asked feigning ignorance.

‘Oh…do you think so? Shall I quit then?’, I replied with my own question, appearing to think about it.

‘Never. You, Ms. Anderson, are irrevocably hired as my secretary infinitely’, he stated as a man-in-charge.

‘Infinitely?’, I asked amusedly.

‘Yes. Infinitely’, with that said we resumed our respectable work for the sake of it. I don’t know about Raphael, but I hardly am able to concentrate on anything.

***

The next day I woke up to an empty bed. It’s like a tight slap to wake me up from a romance induced coma. A sigh of defeat escaped from me. I thought things were going to be different after yesterday. Alas, I was once again left in the dust. He came last night as before…and he left without waking me up as before. My happiness plummeted into the ground with his desertion. He sure has a lot of power over your moods, said my inner diva drinking her imaginary coffee.

I wish he had that power on you too. At least then, I would be free to my musings, I responded to my inner me. Ya, I know… this train has left sanity and approaching bedlam with unimaginable speed.

I went to the office with lowered spirits. Which lowered furthermore when Miss queen B of Sinclair High School aka Vivian, just before lunch, entered Raphael’s office giving me a smirk. What was that about? Who knows! She too got a few of her screws loose just like you. Have you met before; you guys would have been pajama BFF’s! I told my inner queen. Oh, please, I have standards. Should I feel elated hearing this?

‘Ms. Anderson, my office. Now’, Raphael growled in the intercom.

Okayyy. This has something to do with Vivian. I can smell her nastiness from here. What did you do Vivian? I swear I will wring her neck if she spouts any lies to him.

I knocked politely (snort from inner B) and entered his office. ‘You called me? Do you need something?’, for instance dragging that bitch from your office? I wanted to elaborate but apparently couldn’t voice it. Chicken.

‘Sit down, Ms. Anderson. Vivian here has an interesting story to tell’, he said politely. Too politely for him. Warning bells rang inside me.

‘I have work piled up Mr. Sinclair. If you don’t mind, I don’t have time for her stories’, I tried to stand and leave.

‘Oh, but it is interesting Ms. Anderson. And I dare say your work can wait. After all, it was to me you report your work’.

Where was the romantic Raphael who declared his undying passion to me? Mine… Mine… Mine. Ya, right. Men.

I gave a huff showing my discomfort and turned my gaze to Ms. Chirpy Queen.

Vivian didn’t waste time spilling her story, her eyes shone with glee.

‘Last weekend, my friends and I visited a bar. You can imagine my surprise, when I found none other than you, talking to Rose. I wanted to say hi as we rarely see each other at the office.’

Oh no. Oh no. How did I miss her? This is not good. Soo not good. I don’t like where this is heading. May-day Mayday… Houston we have a problem.

‘To my utter shock, they were discussing Sinclair family’, she gave a fake horrific sound.

A deep choking sound emitted from my throat. Trapped. I can see myself on the noose, my hands tied. A decree was read by Vivian that I was convicted of high treason and hence must be burned at the stake.

She continued with her tale, raising me from my imagination, ‘Erica here was asking about your family to Rose. She was asking Rose does Mr. Nathaniel Sinclair have any nickname? Is your family living together? Who is more handsome, you or your brother? She even said she wished she was working for Mr. Nathaniel Sinclair instead of you’, she finished giving me a smile filled with triumph.

‘What do you say to this Ms. Anderson?’

This is going to be good. Popcorn, I need popcorn. Yes, Erica, what do you say in your defence? my inner diva promptly asked me while munching on her imaginary popcorn.