The Betrayal Within

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Song of the Chapter: SexyBack by Justin Timberlake

Recap (Francisco’s POV):

“We have to go now,” Jasmine said. “Adam, you better do the same. Francisco…”

I smiled at the fact that she didn't know what to say.

“Love you,” I said.

“Love you too,” she answered.

“Ugh!” Paulene exclaimed. The call ended and an annoyed Adam looked at me.

“What?”

“You know that you have to buy a present for her, right?” He told me.

“I know. I have an idea.” He walked away and I looked back at my notes.

My mind went blank. I don't know what to give my girlfriend for Christmas.

One week later... (Christmas Eve)

Jasmine's POV

The snow fell down gently as I was looking at the pawn shop case.

It didn't make sense. How can Adam and Francisco stole a priceless antique? Maybe there were framed.

“Hey dude,” Paulene greeted me with a bottle of water in her hand. “You were looking at that screen for the longest time, so I gave you water to fill your eyeballs.”

“This doesn't make sense,” I muttered. “Their handprints were all over the necklace, but there's no video surveillance camera. It makes them prime suspects.”

“I don't know. But you have half an hour left until your shift ends. It's Christmas Eve.”

Paulene’s right. I should be relaxing.

“Have you bought Francisco his present?” She asked.

I sighed. “No.” I searched store to store to buy a present, but it was no luck. Either he already owned something or I didn't like it for a present. “It has to be something special.”

“Buy him a book so he can read,” she suggested.

I gave her a look. “Paulene, I'm being serious. This is going to be our first Christmas tomorrow and I don't want to be the one to mess up.”

“You know I don't like him, but my advice to you is to think from the heart. Maybe he doesn't want materialistic things or he just want you to be there. I'm not Santa.”

From the heart. What is the one thing that he wants both of us to do?

***

A little while later, I went back home. Paulene was going to come an hour and a half after me, since she came in later than usual.

I took a steamy shower with my playlist from Spotify blasting through the bathroom. It was a throwback Friday and all of the 2000s classics were back on.

The music followed to my room as I dried myself off and started to plan out my clothes.