Bringing the box down from the shelf, I carry it over with me as I sit by the fire. I take another sip of my whiskey, swishing the amber liquid around in my mouth, allowing the bittersweet sting of the alcohol to give me the liquid courage I need. I raise the glass to my lips once more and drain it of its contents before I go to open the box.
Taking a deep breath, I grab the key on my chain, inserting it into the locket on the front of the black box. With so much on the line and so much still left to do, I need a reminder of why I am on this wicked mission I have assigned myself. I need to feel justification for my questionable actions. I need to remember why I am here, despite the carnage that follows me. This box is a refresher on who I needed to eliminate to get one step closer to finally having all of her.
Chapter15
Sienna
I wake up to the ever-so-pleasant sound of kitchen cabinets being slammed, repeatedly. Feeling disoriented, I squint my eyes open as I am immediately met with a throbbing headache piercing through both of my temples. Between the hangover I feel, and the incessant slamming of cabinets Nessa is doing, it looks like this headache might be hanging around for a while.
“Sienna! Wake up, you are going to be late!” Vanessa shouts, taking a break from slamming the cabinets, and instead, moving on to what sounds like the utensil drawer.
“Okay, I’ll be right out!” I shout back. I finally sit up in bed, trying to get my wits about me as I go to grab my phone to see what time it is.
Fuck. Where is my phone?
I pop out of bed and start feeling around the mattress for what I did with my phone last night when we got back from the bar. Finally, I see it on the floor and realize I was too preoccupied with trying to get myself off that I never charged my phone last night.
I reach for my phone on the floor when the time flashes, illuminating the lock screen.
Shit.I have ten minutes until Eric is supposed to pick me up. I throw my phone on the charger to get at least a few minutes of charge while I run, still ass-naked from last night, to my closet to try to find something to wear.
I grab the first things I see, which so happens to be a black blazer and a pair of black dress pants. As I throw them on the bed, I realize I still need a shirt to go underneath the blazer. Heading back to my closet, I glide the hangers to see what will go with what I already have picked out.
Beginning to get flustered, I pick up the speed that I am sorting through my hanging clothes, and spot a sleeveless, silk blouse. I can’t even remember the last time I wore it. There is heavy black stitching through the teal shirt, along with a small purple pocket in the front with black polka dots. I’m not sure what the vibe is at Marked Inc. dress code-wise, but whatever, this will have to do.
Before I get dressed, I tap my phone screen again still on the charger to see how much time I have left. Five whole minutes. Dropping the phone, I throw on the outfit I picked out as quickly as possible before looking in the mirror to assess what to do with the rest of me today. To my surprise, my eyeliner is still intact from last night, which buys me some time.
As I go to put on some brownish-mauve lipstick, I hear Vanessa, yet again, in the kitchen, but this time, she is talking to someone instead of just aimlessly slamming cabinets and drawers.
I finish swiping the lipstick on, rubbing my lips together to spread the pigment throughout, as I open the bedroom door to figure out what the commotion is about.
As soon as I open the door, I see Nes and Eric so deep in their conversation that neither of them notice that I am now standing in the kitchen. I take two steps forward as my heels clack against the hardwood floor, which finally gets both of their attention.
“Good morning. Everything okay?” I ask as subtly as possible.
Before Nessa responds to me, she shakes her head, giving Eric an ice-cold look. “Yes, it’s nothing, just some family drama, that’s all,” Nes says, obviously lying. She forgets that I’ve known her long enough to know that she is a horrible liar. Thankfully, she has a better ability to detect lies, which helps her at work. But her telling lies? Nope, horrible at it.
I look to Eric, hoping that whatever mood he was in from last night when he dropped Nes and I off has dissipated. But judging from the scowl he is currently wearing on his face; I’m going to venture a guess and say that’s a no.
He ignores me and looks back to Vanessa, who is pouring herself a coffee to go. “Nes, I am sorry, I didn’t know. I swear,” he pleads.
“Eric, we will talk about this later, ok?” she says sternly. Nes grabs her things as she heads for the door. “I’m going to be late tonight, Sienna. I am working overtime tonight, so I’ll be home late.”
“Alright, no problem,” I reply, but she is already out the door. I turn to Eric, awkwardly, just as Nes abruptly reappears through the apartment door with an intense look of concern on her face. She briefly glances at Eric before bringing her full attention to back to me.
I break the tension. “What is it?”
She shakes her head. “Listen, Sienna, just be careful today. Promise?”
Caught off guard by her concerned look, I laugh trying to lighten the mood a bit. “You are so dramatic, I’ll be fine. Eric is going to be driving me today to work, stop worrying.”
Once again, she gives me a look of concern, although this time, her eyes widen a bit as she shakes her head. “I know, that’s what I am worried about,” she says without giving me the opportunity to reply, as she heads back out the door.
* * *
The car ride to the office is as to be expected: awkward as fuck. Eric and I have barely spoken more than two words to each other since we got into the car. I put my headphones on to distract myself from the deafening silence between Eric and I as we make our way through the crowded New York streets.
As we get closer to Marked Inc., I notice Eric’s gaze fixed on me through the rearview mirror, but he remains silent.
