Chapter 69
Everett fiddled with his tie, a sneer tugging at the comers of his lips.
Unaware of the underlying tension, Derick only noticed Everett’s smile in the rearview mirror, so he ramped up the flattery. “Mr. Everett, women love those little gestures. If you pay more attention, you’ll definitely win your wife back…“”
“You talk too much. I’m docking $2000 from your salary this month” Everett replied, his gaze icy, like an autumn chill sweeping away fallen leaves.}
Derick was stunned into silence.
What just happened? Instead of a raise, he got a deduction?
Feeling slighted, he glanced again at Everett in the mirror, only to see a cold, stem face that screamed approach at your own risk” Swallowing his hurt, Derick accepted his fate.
He really should’ve kept his mouth shut. What was he thinking, throwing around unsolicited advice? Sometimes, silence is golden.
–
Selena’s pitch to uncover the truth about a pharmaceutical company peddling fake drugs got the green light, and the pay was good. So, she spent the next week chasing the story down.
From dawn till dusk, she battled wits with adversaries. On the last day, she camped out in front of Jimmy’s mansion, the manager involved, hoping to catch him red–handed with evidence of bribery
It poured rain all night, but she held her ground, raincoat on, eyes peeled
Thankfully, persistence pays off, and in the early hours, she spotted Jimmy politely seeing someone out.
She knew him–a guy from the mayor’s office.
With a wry smile, Selena’s hands stayed steady as she snapped pictures of their chat and handshake.
By the time she returned to Moon Bay, daylight had broken.
At the sight of Selena soaking wet, Ava gasped, “Maam, where have you been? You look like you’ve been through a storm!”
Too exhausted to explain, Selena mumbled as she trudged upstairs, “I need to catch up on sleep. Don’t wake me
She anticipated a long, deep sleep.
“Wright, I got it Ava replied, then called out something else as Selena headed up
Dizzy and half–asleep, Selena barely registered what Ava said, just waved her hand in acknowledgment as she disappeared up the stairs
After a quick shower, she collapsed into bed, dead to the world. No one could drag her away from her reunion with the sandman.X
In her sleep. Selena felt like she was tossed into a fumace, surrounded by flames, sweat pouring off her as if she were melting.
Fighting to wake, she cracked her eyes open to a pitch–black room, unable to see her hand in front of her face.
Her breath was searing, her body slick with sweat, and swallowing felt like needles stabbing her throat, contorting her delicate features in pain.
A fever–explains why she felt so awful!!
Instinctively. Selena tried to get up and call someone but dizziness and weakness pinned her down. Her voice was hoarse, barely a
croak.
After regaining a bit of composure, she reached for her phone, grateful she’d charged it beforehand. Checking the time, she was shocked to realize she’d slept through the entire day and it was now 11 PM the following night!
The fever must’ve knocked her out cold.
She was about to call Ava when she recalled Ava’s words, “Malam, my son is getting married, and I need a few days off to help with the wedding.”
Selena paused, biting her lip with a sigh of resignation.
