My road to freedom

The mall visit

Chapter 7: The mall visit

Onnica's POV 

Bzzz... 

My head was buzzing. I had this splitting headache and I couldn't concentrate on what I was doing. I was busy sorting out documents Mr. Vercetti would need at court the next day. I mistakenly put a file in the wrong folder and I cursed loudly. 

"What's with you?" Lisa asked, busy applying nail polish. 

"Nothing. Late night", I mumbled. 

She raised her eyes, "You seem to have a lot of those these days". 

How on Earth would she have known if I had late nights every night? She'd only started talking to me a few days ago and suddenly she knew me? 

"Work", I said standing up. I gathered two folders from my desk and headed to Max Vercetti's office. It was 11h34 and he still wasn't in. I walked into the office casually. Since he wasn't there, I wasn't holding my breath and it felt good. I placed the folders on his desk. I suddenly felt weak so I took a seat on one of the chairs facing the main chair. When I was certain that I was stable enough to walk, I stood up. Max's office had this magnificent view of Monte Carlo and I was tempted to just stand at the window and stare. I did just that. The air that was coming in helped clear my head and the headache was slowly disappearing. 

"No Gia! I won't let you go the mall on your own. Since Nicky doesn't seem to be here, I'll just grab my documents and we can head home", I heard Max's voice. 

"...But uncle..." 

That was definitely Gianna's voice. I could hear them so clearly, they were only a few feet away. The door was closed so they couldn't see me. My eyes darted from the road outside to the door, just at the time when it opened and a good-looking Max and Gianna walked in. Gianna stared at me and didn't try to hide it. Max did not look surprised at all. I on the other hand was so embarrassed I wished the ground would swallow me whole. 

"Oh, there you are Onnica. When I passed your desk, I thought you weren't in. Problem solved. Aren't you glad to see Onnica, Gia?" 

"Of course I am", Gianna mumbled. She didn't look glad at all. 

"I came in here to drop off these", I said shakily, pointing at the two folders on the desk. 

"Thanks. You are the best", Max said. 

Gianna looked at Max impatiently. Since it did not look like it concerned me, I flexed my legs in the direction of the door. 

"Um Onnica, could you do me a favor?" Max asked. 

I smiled, "sure". 

"Could you please take Gia to the mall? I can't let her go on her own. Don't worry about your work, you are excused". 

My smile mentally dropped. ...The mall? I rarely went to the mall! I nodded stiffly. 

"Thank you", he said and handed me a bunch of notes," I'd give you my card but trust me, you have a monster right there". 

Gianna stuck her tongue out at him. 

"No "thank you"?" he asked, his eyes narrowing. 

Gianna smiled," Thank you Uncle Max, you are one in a million". 

They hugged. I stole that moment when no one paid attention to me to look at Max. He seemed really happy. Gianna was one girl who never had to worry about his attention. She got enough of it.  

"Okay, out you go and leave me to my work. Be safe", he said. 

Gianna and I made to leave when he said," Onnica, you can take my car. You do know how to drive, right?"