4

“It is a Rose Petal Heart necklace,” I explained to the police officer, “It is gold and features a rose petal attached in a circular band.”

Rocking back on my feet, I ran my hand through my hair. That necklace was an heirloom from Hardin's maternal side of his family. I should go bury myself six feet now. 

I watched as the officer wrote the details. “When was the last time you saw it?”

“This afternoon. Before I left the hotel,” I explained.

“What did you do when you left the hotel?”

“I checked out an open bar, then bought a cup of mojitos. I followed the map to the beach, and that's where I realised I lost the necklace.”

“Don't worry, Miss. We'll do our best to find it. Please, write your details.”

“How long do I have to wait?” I asked as I filled the form he gave me. I capped the pen when I finished and watched him expectantly.

“Depends. It could be stolen, or you might have misplaced it. I will call you in a week if we have found it,” he said.

Numb, I nodded. What was I going to do? Why was I going to tell Hardin?

“Brie!”

Victor's arms engulfed my body into his. I leaned against his chest and wrapped my arms around his waist. “I messed up.”

“Hey, it's going to be okay. We are going to find it. Perhaps, we could post it online—”

“No!” I cried and pulled away. “Hardin would find out.”

“Well, you would have to tell him.”

“He can't know!” I pleaded. “He would be furious. That is an heirloom.”

“All the more reason to let him know now.”

“We'll find it before then.” I turned to the officer and asked, “Right?”

The man frowned and pulled off his cap. “Hopefully.”

The three days and no news came from the officers. I called them to inform that I would leave the country. There was no update on the missing necklace. As Victor and I boarded the plane, I fingered my necklace-free neck. What was I going to do?

“Relax,” Victor said, and gently squeezed my palm.

As soon as the plane touched down in Lilaria, anxiety got the better of me. I snapped and bristled at anyone who came close. Victor was not exempted.

My phone buzzed with several notifications, which reminded me of the slow internet in Varadero. I fished it out as I pulled my luggage behind me.

“Whoa.” Victor pulled me to his side and apologised to some stranger. 

I did not look up from my phone but glared with disgust at the tabloid on my phone. Last week, it was about a celebrity who sexually assaulted some girls. Now, it streamed with news about me.

“Argh!” I squealed with frustration.

“We are stepping outside. Could you please stop looking at your phone?”

I ignored Victor again until my phone got snatched away. “Hey!”

“Why do you keep... Oh. Oh! What the hell?!” he screeched, startling the surrounding people. “Why would anyone post stuff like this? You should sue them?”

Yeah, right? In this twenty-first century, anything uploaded on the internet, whether it be true, classified as right of expression. It is bullshit personified. I do not understand how someone would take his time to sit and write such horrible rumours.

Like I said earlier, today's hottest is about yours truly and my harem of 'boyfriends.' According to the new post by bloggers AnonDuo, Victor is my new boyfriend and we went on a lovers’ holiday together. Apparently, I cheated on my five-year boyfriend, Hardin. To top it off, it lay my low chances of having a child as dessert to hateful viewers. Just nice.

“Let it go, Victor. You know you have a game to pitch tomorrow.” I tugged on his arm and quietly took my phone. 

Whether they wanted to believe it, Victor remained my closest male friend. It didn't matter if he was younger than me or used to date me.

A panicked look crossed his face as he searched for his phone in his pockets.

“What is it?” I asked.

“I have got to call her.”

“Who?”

“My girlfriend.” His phone finally showed up in his palm while I looked up at him with shock.

“You are not wearing the necklace,” Hardin noted, staring at my neck with a questioning look. 

Hardin had stopped me from leaving the meeting hall once the meeting with the management was over. Levi, the last to leave, trained a hard look at Hardin.

Wistfully, I reached for my neck with my hands before snatching them away. Keeping a blank and professional look on my face, I said to my ex-lover, “Why would I need to wear it? After all, there is nothing between us any longer.”

“Brianne,” he sighed and reached for my hands, “We need to talk.”

I snatched them away, mostly out of guilt for misplacing his mother's heirloom. “This is neither the time and place for this. Mr Kingston, you've said it yourself. Leave personal business outside the office. I hope you can abide by your own words.” I made for the door.

“I believe you have done enough for Atlantis.”

I froze, my hand hovering on the door handle while the other cradled brown files. “Excuse me.”

“As soon as you leave this room, please pack your things.” With a cold hard glare, he continued, “You are no longer needed here.”

“But why?! After ten years, you just want to kick me out?!”

“Yes.”

The air felt too cold. Not cold because of the air conditioner, but ice cold because of the fear I'd dreaded coming true. 

Anger lurched in my belly like a volcano ready to erupt. “I lived for Atlantis. My blood, sweat, and tears contributed to this place. You can't take this away from me.”

“You laze on your job, take long breaks from work, never punctual, filled with arrogance, disobey my orders as your boss,” he roared. “It is my fault I have been too lenient because I had feelings for you. Now, I must take responsibility and not let you and the rumours circulating about you damage Atlantis' reputation. Leave, Brianne Delmont.” 

“You will regret this, Hardin Kingston. I will make you regret this decision.” With the force of an angered bull, I slammed open the door and stormed to my office. 

Screw him! Screw the stupid necklace. Screw Atlantis.

I packed all my things into several boxes and prepared to take them to my car. I raised my head at the click of the door and glared at the smirking newcomer.

Arms folded across my chest, I sized her up. “Hello, Theresa. Have you come to gloat?”