Rodriguez's House
Rodriguez leaned back in his leather chair, the weight of his world pressing down on him as he flicked the ash off his cigar. The dim light of the living room cast long shadows across the polished wood floor, and the faint hum of a classic jazz record filled the air. His right- hand man, Gino, sat across from him, a look of unease flickering in his eyes as they discussed their latest business move.
Just then, the clicking sound echoed , and Rodriguez's gaze shifted. There she was- Veronica his wife-dressed to the nines, her hair cascading down her shoulders, a fitted dress hugging her curves in all the right places. She was a vision, and for a moment, it stole the breath from his lungs.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, a mix of curiosity and authority lacing his tone.
She paused, a flicker of hesitation crossing her face before she quickly masked it with a smile. "Just heading out to meet a friend," she replied, her voice light, almost too rehearsed.
Rodriguez narrowed his eyes, the gears in his mind turning. "A friend? Dressed like that?"
Veronica shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "You know how it is. It's a special occasion.
"Don't wait up." She tossed her hair over her shoulder, but he could see the tension in her posture, the way her fingers trembled slightly as she adjusted her purse.
Rodriguez felt a familiar tightening in his chest. The kind that came when something didn't add up. "You sure that's all it is? You don't need to hide anything from me, Veronica."
She shot him a look, her eyes sparkling with something he couldn't quite place. "Of course, Rodriguez. I'd never keep anything from you. It's just a girl's night out."
He studied her, the wheels turning. Something was off. Maybe it was the way she didn't quite meet his gaze, or the urgency in her movements. He wanted to believe her, but instinct told him otherwise.
"Alright," he said slowly, forcing the tension down. "But be careful. You know how things can get."
"Always," she said, her smile bright but her eyes darting away.
As she stepped outside, he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd just let something slip through his fingers-something dangerous. Gino shifted in his seat, sensing the shift in the air. "You don't trust her?" he asked quietly.
Rodriguez exhaled sharply, watching her silhouette disappear into the night. "Trust is a dangerous game, Tony. Especially in our world."
He took another drag from his cigar, his mind racing. "Have men follow her up" He had to find out where she was really going-and who she was meeting.
HealZone Hospital
Veronica adjusted the sunglasses perched on her nose, glancing in the rearview mirror as she drove. The familiar streets twisted and turned around her, but something felt off. A black sedan had been tailing her for a few blocks now, and a chill crept down her spine. She shook her head, trying to dismiss it. Maybe it was just a coincidence.
As she pulled into the hospital parking lot, her heart raced. She had told Rodriguez, she was going to meet a friend, but the truth was far more complicated. She couldn't let him know she was here-this was a delicate situation, one that could explode if the wrong people found out.
She spotted Someone walking nearby, her carefree demeanor a stark contrast to Veronica's rising panic. Without thinking, she parked the car and rushed over, grabbing other woman'sher arm before she could say a word. "hey darling, I know I'm late sorry"" she said, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace.
The person looked confused but intrigued. "Uh, who are you? Let go of my arm."
"Please, just for a second," Veronica urged, leaning in closer than she normally would, forcing a warmth into her tone. "Can you just act like we're together? My husband's-he's... he's suspicious. Just a little longer."
"What are you talking about?" Savannah asled, it was Savannah who was still working in the hospital and was going to get her food but this woman who she doesn't know came out of know where, her eyes darting around as she tried to piece together the situation. "What do you mean 'suspicious'?"
Veronica kept her voice low, glancing over her shoulder. "Just play along. Please. It's important. I'll explain everything later."
Reluctantly, Savannah nodded, though her brows furrowed in confusion. They stood together, and just then, the black sedan pulled into a parking spot nearby. A man in a dark coat emerged, his demeanor cold and calculating. Veronica felt her stomach drop as he approached them.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, eyeing her with suspicion.
She straightened, forcing herself to act natural. "Just meeting a friend. Who are you to question me though?" she replied showing who the Boss was, echoing the lie she'd told her husband, injecting a casualness into her voice that felt forced.
The man's gaze narrowed, skepticism dripping from his tone. "I'm doing what I'm ordered to do." He added "In this hospital? That's interesting. Who exactly is she?"
Veronica's heart raced. This was a dangerous game she was playing. "Just...just someone I know, my special someone" she stammered looking with loving eyes at Savannah which made her disgusted, Veronica hoping her uncertainty didn't betray her.
He didn't buy it. Pulling out his phone, he tapped a message to his boss, his eyes never leaving her. "I think Boss should know."
Savannah shifted nervously, glancing between Veronica and the man, her earlier confusion replaced with alarm. "Is everything okay?" she asked, concern etching her features.
Veronica's mind raced. She needed to think fast. "Everything's fine," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Just...a misunderstanding. Right?"
But as the man continued to watch her, she realized how quickly the walls were closing in. The facade was slipping, and she had to act before it all crumbled around her. With a quick, pleading look at Savannah, she knew they had to improvise-together.
Brew Haven café
Once they get away from that big guy. Veronica quickly tugged Savannah towards a nearby café, the weight of the encounter pressing down on her. They settled into a booth, and Veronica took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly. "Thank you for helping me. I owe you big time."
Savannah, still processing, leaned forward, her eyes searching. "Who are you? What was that all about? Is your husband toxic? You can go to the police; I'll help you!"
Veronica couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head. "No, no. It's nothing like that. Everything is fine, I promise. It's just... it's complicated. I've been planning to reveal some truths about him. I didn't tell you everything, but..."
Savannah's expression shifted from concern to curiosity. "But what?"
Veronica leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I need your help again. My husband wants to meet you. That man who was following me saw us together and told my husband. He wants to know who I was with."
Savannah's eyes widened. "Wait, what? He wants to meet me? Why?"
"Because he thinks I'm hiding something," Veronica said, panic bubbling in her throat. "And if I don't introduce you, I don't know what he'll do. You're the only one I can trust to help me get through this."
Savannah hesitated, the weight of Veronica's request hanging in the air. "This is insane. I don't want to get caught up in whatever this is. Plus I don't even kown you, why would I even help you?"
"I know it sounds crazy," Veronica pleaded. "But if you don't help me, I really don't know what will happen. Please, I need you."
"Give me one reason why should I help you?" she added "And why would you fucking trust just anyone with anything like this?" she continued "I'm sorry but are you dumb?"
Veronica eyed her not because she called her dumb because If Veronica see this from Savannah's Perspective, she would say the same thing and now she was looking for a reason, "You would help me because my husband man saw you with me and he won't just let you be alone and I know you're a good person" she answered half smiling at her with twinkling eyes.
Savannah shook her head "How can you tell I'm good person, I can kill you just now" Veronica laughs out loud "If you wanted you would have done that on our way to the cafe it was only just us, throughout the deserted journey" this time Savannah eyed her up and down and got up from her seat shakimg her head, just as savannah got up this made Veronica a little tensed so she immedaitley goes infrot of her before Savannah could take another step and get on her knees.
"Please please just this once, help me please" Savannah was shocked by this sudden action the people in the cafe was looking at them mostly at Savannah with disgusted eyes beacuse they thought she was rude, yes they thought she was the villain here when it was quite opposite, it's funny when people can judge from afar.
"Get up!" Savannah tammered with serious tone "Please help me please" she again plaede with both hands joing "No I can't", this sudden action took Savannah totally off guard.
"Please please please, I'll do anything you say but please help me" Veronica took a hold of Savannah's leg making her more embarassed the people around started talking about Savannah action, "Let go!" Savannah said but Veronica didn't let go just took a great hold of her with more pressure and closer, Savannah become unsteady, "Okay, let go now" Savannah agree Veronica looked up at her with her teary eyes.
"What did you say?" Savannah shook her head "I'll help you, now let go!" Veronica wasn't sure if she was telling truth "You promise?" Veronica again questioned and Savannah looked at her in disbelief like this grown ass woman is acting like a small kid "Yes, now let go it's hurting" she let go and stood infront of her with all smiley face "It's alright everyone, she is my best friend, we are good" she informed the peope in the cafe who had their all attention to them, so Veronica thought to clear out evrything as everyone giving glares to Savannah without any solid reason.
'I need some to think though" Veronica confusedly looked at her "I'm a surgeon, I need to get to the work" Veronica nodded "Alright, here's a my card" she took a business card from her purse and extended it towards Savannah "Take it, and call me whenver you are free, I'm always available for you" and she winked at Savannah.
Savannah felt totally disgusted by her wink, nodded in agree but Savannah's expression softened after a while, a mix of concern and determination crossing her face. "Alright, but you need to be straight with me about what's going on. I can't walk into this blind."
"Deal," Veronica said, relief flooding through her. She knew this was only the beginning, but having Savannah by her side gave her a glimmer of hope in an increasingly dark situation.
Author's Note :
Happy Reading<3
Take a good care of yourselves<3
See you tomorrow:)
Have a good day/night <3<3