Chapter 19: Act of kindness/ pissed enemy
Kathe kept tossing on the bed during the day because her conscience kept blaming her. Unable to close her eyes, she carried her phone and dialed Jark’s number.
Luckily, the call was answered on the second ring.
"Hello, ma’am."
Thompson’s voice came through the phone, making Kathe displeased.
"Why are you with Jark’s phone?"
"Oh, boss is attending a meeting right now, but I will let him know you called," Thompson suggested. He knew how well Kathe disliked him. It seemed she hadn’t forgiven him since the wedding incident.
"What if it’s an emergency?"
"What type of emergency?"
"Fire emergency," Kathe replied, already getting impatient.
"Fire... what...?"
"Please give the phone to your boss."
Kathe was getting annoyed just by listening to his voice.
"Okay, I will."
Thompson replied as he hurried inside the meeting room. The moment he went in, all eyes were on him because of the way he barged in.
"Sorry," he quickly apologized to the board members as he leaned and whispered words to Jark’s hearing.
"Fire?" Jark asked, and he nodded.
"The meeting is dismissed for today. I want a fresh review tomorrow. Leave."
The members all breathed out in relief. They made sure to thank whatever had made the boss dismiss the meeting because they were already getting scolded.
"Give me the phone."
Thompson handed the phone to him. Kathe was patiently waiting for him over the line.
"Did the house catch fire?" Jark asked.
Kathe’s brows got knotted together.
’Who on earth wishes for their house to catch fire?’
"No, it’s a fire burn."
"Fire burn?" Jark asked, this time sitting properly on the chair.
"Are you hurt?"
"It’s not me, fool. I don’t welcome accidents," Kathe replied, clearly annoyed.
Jark rested back on his chair. Thompson noticed how relaxed he looked after Kathe confirmed that she wasn’t the one who got burned.
"Then who got burned?" Jark asked, ignoring her earlier words.
"Rhea. She got burned in the kitchen."
"Oh."
That was the only reply Jark gave. Kathe leaned her ears tightly to the phone but didn’t hear any response from him again.
"Just oh? She’s your friend, for Christ’s sake," Kathe asked.
"Oh, am I supposed to say something?" Jark asked back.
Thompson couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
’If only madam knew that boss rarely cares.’
"Whatever. I’m calling to ask you, as her friend, to get her healing medicine that will help her with the burns plus scars."
"I will send Thompson to do that."
"Okay, good."
Kathe was about to disconnect the call when Jark’s voice came through the phone again.
"Is that the only reason you called?"
He didn’t know why he asked that, but he felt like he was expecting more.
"Yes, that’s all. Wait... it’s past two now. Have you had your lunch?" she asked, because lately she had been the one reminding Jark when to have his meals.
"No, I haven’t."
"Then get something to eat."
With that, she disconnected the call.
On the other end, Jark kept staring at the screen as a smirk curled up his lips.
"Boss, should I call for the meeting again?" Thompson suggested.
"No need. It’s my lunch time. Get me something to eat," Jark replied, dropping the phone on the table as he leaned back on the chair, his eyes closed.
"Okay."
Thompson nodded and left.
.......................................
Kathe kept staring at the open space. She felt so bored at home, as she missed her mom’s cookies. Though her relationship with her dad wasn’t something to brag about, yet she missed him deeply, especially when she would stay up all night waiting for her dad’s arrival so that she could serve him his meal.
As she was thinking, an idea popped into her brain, and a wide smile spread around her face.
.......................................
"I will make sure I kill that bitch... ouch!"
She threw away the wool she was using to clean her wounds.
"Disgusting."
Rhea spat out, looking at her skin.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Come in."
Rhea’s back was facing the door, so she couldn’t see the person who walked in.
"Miss Rhea."
Thompson called out to her.
"Thompson, what are you doing here?"
She wasn’t expecting Thompson.
"I was asked to give you this."
"Who sent it?"
"Boss sent it."
Just hearing "boss," Rhea knew that it was Jark who sent it. Her ruined mood was quickly fixed as she collected the cream box from Thompson. As she was about to open it, something clicked in her mind.
"How did he know that I was burned?" she asked carefully.
"Madam informed him."
"Grandma?" she asked as her smile widened more.
"No, it was Mrs. Kathe."
The moment she heard the name Kathe, all the smile on her face vanished.
"You can take it back. I don’t need it."
She tossed the box on the floor.
Her action made Thompson frown a little.
"Though it was madam that informed boss about your accident, boss had to cancel his meeting just to get you the medicine. But since you tossed it away like trash..."
He bent down, acting like he was about to pick it up.
"I will just return it back to him, letting him know that his care wasn’t needed."
"No, you won’t do that."
Rhea quickly picked up the box before Thompson’s hand could reach it.
’If Jark had sent it to me, that means he cares deeply about me.’
"Let him know that I will apply the medicine."
"I will."
He left the room with a grim face.
’He had convinced Rhea to pick the box not because Jark cared, but because of Mrs. Kathe’s effort in informing the boss. That showed how kind she was.’
The old lady walked out of the shadows the moment Thompson left. She had come to give Rhea the medicine box, but finding out that Kathe had already done that made the old lady place Kathe on a higher pedestal.
The old lady looked at the medicine in her hand and walked away with a smile.
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"How is his condition?" the masked lady asked over the phone.
"I don’t think he will last for a month."
"Did he disclose any information to Jark?"
"He said he didn’t."
"Kill him. Let’s make the path easier for him."
"I have done that already. I poisoned his water."
"Why poison?"
"Do you think he’s that stupid to come here without leaving extra proof outside? If we happen to kill him, most of our secrets will be exposed. But the poison I gave him will kill him slowly, making it seem like he died from Jark’s torture. After all, he was disposed of like a rag back to us."
His words made sense that she couldn’t help but admire them.
"Okay, just make it faster."
She disconnected the call in frustration. Everything was supposed to go through her plan, but it seemed Jark had his own plan all along.
"He should celebrate his victory for a few more days before I strike back."
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