My Words Are Law

Caught in the spiderweb (1)

Their aunt had barely recovered, and yet another fever seemed to be waiting in line. Every time Rosa returns from work, the bags under her eyes appear darker. It was clear she's pushing her recovering body to the limits. Another week passed, and she came home with a sprained ankle and a swollen cheek.

Amaryllis stood frozen, just in time to see her come out of a familiar car.

Just like before, her boss drove her home. However, he wasn't as cool and composed as he was back then. Sparks of rage mixed with frustration almost seemed to ripple around him as he argued with his stubborn employee.

"Would you PLEASE listen to me just this once? Have you still not realized what could have happened had I not been there? Are you out of your mind? You know very well what his reputation with women is, yet you met with him in a-" He came out, following after her with a barely controlled voice, veins popping out of his neck from the effort.

Rosa cut him off, "I was only doing work."

"Work?" The man scowled. "Tell me that meeting wasn't forced on you."

Rosa stopped walking and looked at him as if he was being ridiculous. "There's no such thing. It was my call to take it or not."

He stared at her for three whole seconds and waited for her to retract her words. When she didn't, the ugly expression on his face worsened as he huffed in disbelief. He brushed back his fringe and made a roundabout until he finally stood before her again.

"Don't bother to report unless you send a complaint about this incident to HR."

Rosa tipped her chin up to look at him incredulously. "You can't do that-!"

His eyes narrowed down at the woman. "As a matter of fact, I can." With that, he stepped back inside his car, slamming the door loudly and leaving Rosa, who now resembles a rock more than a human, as she gazed at the heavily tinted windows with a pale face.

Amaryllis, who heard everything, scrambled to hide behind the fire exit once her Aunt recovered from the shock and had started to go up the elevator while limping. Soon after, her back slowly slid to the ground helplessly.

Rosa's gaunt face haunted her dreams night after night like an ominous premonition ever since the fever. And now this...

A loud ringing leaked out of her pocket as soon as the elevator doors closed. The crisp sound made her heart almost jump out of her chest as she closed her eyes.

There's only one person who'd call with such great timing. Amaryllis struggled to get the phone out and, with a sigh, pressed the green button after a brief contemplation.

"...Hello." She spoke first. "Can we...- Last time, you were busy, but... Is now a good time to meet..?"

~~~

"The usual, please," Amaryllis uttered soullessly, still preoccupied with the earlier conversation she had with Chryses. He looked rather well... A little messy, but still healthy and robust, and still ambiguously dangerous.

"Why the ugly look on your face? All the young'ons look like shit today." Hana, the owner of the cafe, who is also Tobias' elder sister, raised a brow as she handed her the tray with her sweet-smelling coffee and a slice of vanilla cake. "And what happened with that arm? Were you bullied again? Should I call Mariam to give them a good lesson?" The elegant lady's serene face turned fierce in the blink of an eye.

Amaryllis let out a weak, amused chuckle. "No. This is just an accident. Nobody would dare bully me now because of Tobias. Don't worry."

"Are you sure? Because Mariam's free right now-" She momentarily walked to the door hidden by a partition wall before shouting, "Mariam!!! Get your ass down here!"