Chapter 2 Vera Anderson

Royce's POV

When I finally woke up, it was already 10:00 in the morning. I had a severe headache, so I retrieved a pain reliever from my medicine cabinet and returned to bed. However, despite my attempt to rest, sleep eluded me. My mind kept returning to the conversation with my parents from the previous night. They had asked me to take Reid's position, indicating that they had faith in me and believed I could handle the responsibility. The thought brought a smile to my face, as it was the first time my parents had shown such confidence in my abilities.

Shaking my head, I closed my eyes briefly. Suddenly, my brother's phone came to my mind. I realized that I needed to take it to a repair shop to have it fixed. As soon as my headache subsided, I got out of bed and swiftly grabbed a towel before heading to the bathroom for a shower.

Afterwards, I chose a checkered polo shirt, paired it with blue jeans and sneakers, and placed my brother's cellphone in my pants pocket. I went out of my room and headed to the kitchen to pour myself a cup of coffee. Although food was already laid out on the table, my morning appetite was lacking. I was certain my parents had already left for work. My mother held the position of Chief Financial Officer at a lending institution, while my father served as the Founder and Chairman of a real estate company in Washington DC.

It was evident that we belonged to the upper class. Both my parents hailed from affluent business families, so a knack for business seemed to be ingrained in their blood. This was a trait Reid inherited, but not me.

Being born into a privileged family had fostered a carefree attitude within me, as I questioned the necessity of work when we already possessed material wealth. I held the belief that our parents would eventually pass on their vast riches to Reid and me when the time came.

After finishing my cup of coffee, I retrieved my black leather jacket and draped it over my shoulder. However, a sudden realization struck me—I had left my car at the bar the previous night so I had to use another vehicle from the garage. Fortunately, I had the keys to a Porsche Cayenne, since I used it before purchasing a new car.

I pulled out of the driveway and headed towards a Cellphone Care Center. Upon arrival, I parked the car and quickly exited. Taking long strides, I hurried towards the entrance door. The building housed numerous cellphone shops, causing me to feel a sense of confusion as to which one I should visit.

As my eyes scanned for the best shop, I unintentionally bumped into someone in the hallway. "Oh, I'm sorry Miss.” I bent down and helped her pick up pieces of documents scattered on the floor. Those were her biodata, TOR, and application letters. As I read the information— VERA ANDERSON The woman glanced at me while organizing her documents into a folder. I couldn't help but notice her beauty, with her long eyelashes and enticing, kissable lips. Her dark brown wavy hair cascaded down, perfectly complementing her innocent and angelic face. She exuded an aura of a goddess, captivating the admiration of those around her. I found myself getting lost in her eyes as we locked gazes.

"I apologize once again, Miss," I managed to say, feeling a sense of familiarity with her, though unsure if we had met before.

"It's alright. Thank you," she responded with a gentle smile before standing up.

"Um, my name is R—" I began, but she departed before I could finish. It seemed she held no interest in me, and it bruised my male ego. I watched as she made her way out, my eyes following her until she disappeared from my sight.

Vera Anderson.

The name sounded familiar. I whispered it to myself, intrigued by the connection it sparked within me.

As I continued towards the cellphone shop, thoughts of the woman I unexpectedly encountered in the hallway consumed my mind. Her name echoed repeatedly, leaving me curious and captivated. Vera Anderson... "Good morning sir, how may I help you?" the mobile attendant asked me, showing her cutest smile. Temporarily setting aside my thoughts, I retrieved my brother's damaged cellphone from my pocket. Handing it to the mobile attendant, I inquired about the possibility of repairing it. The attendant passed it on to the technician for assessment. After a brief moment, the technician informed me that there was no guarantee of a full repair due to the damaged circuit board. Nevertheless, they would do their utmost to fix it. Leaving the phone in their care, I provided my contact information and made my way back to where I had parked my car.

Once again, thoughts of the woman I unexpectedly encountered resurfaced in my mind. I rubbed my forehead, attempting to recall if we had crossed paths before. Suddenly, it hit me like a revelation—I remembered her!

Vera Anderson.

She was the woman I had kissed three years ago. A smile formed on my face as I reminisced about the moment her cheeks turned from pink to red when the lights came back on. It seemed she was blushing, perhaps indicating that it was her first kiss. I couldn't believe there was still someone who hadn't experienced such a thing. I playfully thumped my head with my hand, amazed by this realization.

I was undeniably attracted to her at the time, particularly when I saw her wearing that blue halter swimsuit. It was evident she felt self-conscious, yet she looked incredibly alluring. During the kissing game initiated by Alexa, I had meticulously familiarized myself with the area where Vera stood, even estimating the number of steps required to reach her. Despite the lights being turned off, my night vision watch came to the rescue, guiding me towards her as she attempted to evade my pursuit.

The moment I kissed her, my heart fluttered inexplicably, especially when I sensed her response. However, it was merely a game, nothing more. So why did I feel a twinge of guilt when I saw her blushing cheeks? I contemplated following her to the dressing room, but hesitated, uncertain if it was appropriate. Consequently, I remained in my place.

I only managed to learn her name, but never had the opportunity to get to know her further. After that party, I never saw her again. Yet, just a few minutes ago, our paths unexpectedly crossed once more.

Vera Anderson.

The woman who made my heart flutter for the first time.

I tried to push those thoughts aside, as I was certain she didn't remember me, especially that kiss, considering how swiftly she had left. It seemed she had no interest in knowing my name. But that was alright; it had been three years, after all.

Leaning over, I securely fastened my seatbelt and drove down the driveway, heading towards the hospital where Reid was undergoing treatment. I felt a strong urge to make it up to him, as I had only visited him once since his admission, carrying a lingering sense of guilt. I had been prioritizing my time with friends rather than my family. Although we had housemaids and some of my father's trusted employees taking care of him, it felt different when it was his own family looking after him. While my father's staff would watch over him during the day, in the evenings, it was typically our housemaids. Occasionally, our parents would take over when they weren't occupied with work. However, this time, I was determined to dedicate a few hours solely to my brother.

Pressing down on the accelerator, I increased the car's speed. An unexplainable anxiety washed over me, as if something terrible might befall Reid. I couldn't quite pinpoint the reason for this feeling, but it was likely a result of my overwhelming guilt towards him, causing me to overthink the situation. After a speedy fifteen-minute drive, I arrived at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Making haste, I headed towards the elevator that would take me to the exclusive 10th floor, reserved for VIP patients and those who could afford premium amenities. Stepping out of the elevator, I noticed a few nurses and medical attendants bustling in and out of private rooms during their daily rounds. Continuing down the corridor to the right, I suddenly caught snippets of hushed conversation. Intrigued, I cautiously approached the source of the voices, taking care to remain unnoticed. However, there were no security guards in sight. Where could they be? With caution, I inched closer to the closed area, straining to make out the conversation.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of a doorknob being turned. Acting swiftly, I sought a hiding spot, ensuring my movements were silent. Peering out discreetly, I observed Uncle Sam, along with my brother's attending physician, exchanging a sneering smile as they made their way towards my brother's room.

An unsettling feeling washed over me, compelling me to uncover the truth at any cost. For now, I needed to be cautious with my words and feign ignorance of their encounter in the closed area. After all, I had no knowledge of the nature of their discussion. However, if it pertained to Reid's condition, why did they hide away somewhere else?