Chapter 5

I made my way to Trevor's office like a runway model. On my hand is the cake while on the other is my dainty clutch. I didn't pause to stop by at his secretary's table and thank goodness she didn't stop me like last time because I can't promise to be nice even if I'm walking on cloud nine now. I'm not nice and never will I. Maybe I'll become nice when I can have Trevor Scott all for myself.

I opened the door and saw him on his swivel chair again typing on his laptop. He stopped what he's doing and faced me. A knot formed on his forehead.

"What are you doing here again? I told you I'm busy this week so I can't go to see you. Let's just reschedule next week, Jill. Please." He put his attention back on his computer.

"It's okay. I just came by to say sorry for what happened the last time I'm here. That was really mean and it was inappropriate for me to act that way. I'm sorry." I sat on the chair in front of his desk and placed the cake on my lap. Von looked up to me.

"You should not be saying sorry to me. Sandy deserves your apologies."

I gritted my teeth at the mention of her name but I stayed still and smiled. I can't possibly let him know that I don't have any plans of saying sorry to that woman. Never! But for the sake of my act, I should at least appease him. 

"Yeah, I know. I'll go to her after this. I also don't know what came to me for me to say those things to her. Maybe it's because of my mother's nagging but regardless of what my reasons are, I know it's still wrong to lash at her." I acted as if I was really sorry. Von seemed to buy it because his face became softer. 

"Sandy is a kind woman. I'm sure she'll forgive you."

"I hope so." I stood up, smiled, and showed him what I brought. "I brought you cake. Chocolate flavor. It's your favorite."

"I just had my lunch. You can leave that in the pantry," he said dismissively.

I tried to hide my pain by smiling.

"Okay." 

After setting the cake on the counter, I think of another idea to make Von eat. I glanced at the percolator and the coffee brewing machine. A bright idea flashed in my head.

"Bingo."

I started making him a cup of coffee. I secretly took out the vial and poured three drops of liquid into the coffee. 

"I made you a coffee, Von. Here." I placed the cup on his desk and waited for his reaction. 

"Thank you. You can leave now."

I bit my lips at the sudden pang of pain in my heart. That surely hurts as hell.

"You should taste it first before I go so that I can add whatever it's lacking. Maybe it's too sweet or bland or whatever. Come on. Sip on it."

Von lets out an exasperated sigh and picked up the cup. I beamed when he took a sip on it. Yes. Mission accomplished.

"Is it okay? No sugar needed? Hmm?"

He shook his head. "No, it's good. Thank you. You better leave now, Jill. I got lots of things to do."

I did not care anymore about his tone at me because I'm too happy that I got my plans successfully carried out for today. 

"Sure. I better go." I turned to his side and kiss him on his cheek. "See you later, Von."

With a grin on my face, I opened the door but not before turning my back to stare at him. Von noticed it. 

"What is it again?"

"Nothing. I just want to remind you that I'll be in my pad next week. In case you wanna know."

Von nodded and then buried his attention back to his laptop. 

"It's the last time I'm taking this cold treatment from you, Von. The next time we see each other, you'll be crumbling on your knees begging for me to love you," I muttered before closing the door behind me. 

I dialed Laurie when I'm on the expressway. She answered at the first ring. 

"Laurie!" I exclaimed. "He took it! When will it take its effect? Hours? Days?"

"Jill, stop hyperventilating. According to my friend, it'll take a few days. Just wait and see," Laurie giggled. 

"I know, right. Wait, where are you? Care for a full body massage? My whole body is shaking in anticipation so I have to shake it off for now until the inevitability will happen."

"I'm at a salon getting ready for another date for tonight. I can't come with you. Sorry."

"It's okay. You did something more to me this time. Rest assured that I will tell mom to renew the contract of your dad's company."

"Oh, thank you Jill. You are really a God sent angel, sweetie. Gotta hang up now. I need to redo my hair."

"No problem."

I decided to just go home after calling a body and spa salon to send me their best masseurs. I toss my bag to the floor and throw myself to my king-sized bed. It felt so good to see that things are finally falling to their right places while I'm here with open arms ready to receive them all. 

I opened my eyes and looked around my lush room. The high ceiling with expensive chandelier dangling from above, the state of the art decor and curated art pieces hanging on the walls, a plasma TV, and my walk-in closets. Everything speaks of money and abundance but I can't seem to be contented. They are not enough for me. I want something. I want someone who loves someone else.

"But I will have him no matter what happens," I consoled myself.

I pushed a button on my wall and minutes after, our maid brought me a tray of fruits and a tall glass of celery juice. She also informed me that the staff of my favourite salon is already downstairs. 

"Tell them to wait for me in the massage room," I instructed the helper while munching my daily dose of vitamins. 

"Yes, ma'am."

I took off my clothes and donned a white robe. I put my hair in a bun and went down. The staff were already finished setting up the room when I arrived. I laid on my stomach on the massage table with nothing on. The smell of scented candles and oriental oil relaxed me and I found myself falling into a deep slumber. 

I woke up to a sound of panic voices which was followed by a series of banging on the door. Pissed because someone dared to disturb me, I raise my hand to stop the woman from massaging me. 

"The robe," I ordered her. She helped me put it on. Still kinda angry about the commotion, I flew the door open to see Laurie in a heated argument with one of my helpers. She noticed my presence and urgently approached me. 

"Hey Laurie. I thought you're in a salon preparing for your date? Why are you here? Don't tell me the man ditched you. Oh come on! That never happened for a year now. Hey, hey! What are you doing?"

She did not answer me. She just continued to pull my arms as we climb the grand straircase. 

"Hey, Laurie. What's happening to you? Why are you acting weird?"

"Not this time, Jill. You should get dressed first before I tell you. I don't want you speeding away in your car with only a robe on once you hear what I have to say," she said in all seriousness.

Fear gripped me instantly. "Now you're scaring me like really. What is it Laurie? Come on! Spill it already! I hate suspense, damn it!"

"Then get on your clothes as soon as possible so that I can tell you! Go!"

I immediately went to my walk-in closet and pulled out the first thing my hand sees. I never bothered to check if my top matches the bottoms. All I want now is to know what Laurie wants to say. I'm dying to hear it.

"Okay, my friend. Spill it out. Tell me everything you wanted to say. I'm having anxiety with the way you look at me." I sat on my bed and eyed Laurie who is seated on a chair beside my vanity mirror. She is fidgeting on her seat. 

"Where is the vial? Can I see it?"

Wondering what could be the connection of the vial to her horrid face, I got up to pick my bag on the floor and gave her the vial.

"Gosh Jill! It's almost empty! What did you do?" She shot me a scared look while inspecting the small bottle.

"Is it? Well, I know it will be. I poured it on the cake I gave to Von and then I put three drops of it on his coffee. I could have put all the potion into his coffee but I'm afraid he'll smell through it. Why? Is there some sort of consequences if I do that? I thought it's better that way. The more amount of potion he will consume, the more effective it will be. Am I right Laurie?" I said it with a bit of anxiousness.

She put her hands on her mouth and frantically shook her head. "Oh gosh Jill! That's not the case!"

"Then what is it?! Stop killing me with your suspense! Tell me!" I screamed.

"I was on the way to my date when I passed by at Trevor's office to give him the proposal about a new venture but when I arrived, everything is in chaos." She paused.

"And?" I asked impatiently.

"I saw Trevor in a stretcher."

"What?!" I erupted. "What happened? Is he okay? What hospital did they go to? Come on, Laurie. I need to see him. I need to know how he's doing."

"I think you have more problems to think other than rushing into him."

I looked at her confused with what she said. "What do you mean? I didnt.." My eyes widened when I realized what she meant. "No way! Did you mean to say that this potion is the reason for Von's illness?"

Laurie stood up. Obvious frustration on her face. "Maybe no but the greater possibility is yes. My gut feel is telling me, Jill."

"But you didn't tell me that it's poisonous if given in big amount. Gosh, Laurie! What do I do? If Von  discovers that I poisoned him then it will be the end of our relationship. How can you be so careless?" I lashed out at her. 

"I also don't know, okay? And this is not the right time to put fingers to whomever we would like to blame. What we need to do now is to get rid of the evidence. Throw that vial out."

I ran to the bathroom and emptied the vial into the toilet bowl. I flushed them, wash the vial and throw it onto the trash can. 

"Done. Now we need to go to the hospital. I have to see for myself that he is doing okay. He also has to see me there so that he will not think of any ill things towards me." 

I grabbed my bag and Laurie by my hand and walked out of the door. Laurie contacted an employee in Von's office to ask for the location of the hospital. The drive took longer than I expected. Both of us were biting off our nails to know what really happened. 

When we arrived, the personnel informed us that Von has already been discharged and had gone home. When I asked who accompanied the patient out, he didn't say anything because of confidentiality issues. I asked him to describe the person and he clearly described Sandy. 

I went home seething in jealousy.