Chapter 13
Joy did not think twice about going back to work. If anything, she missed it, and she also wanted to keep her mind occupied as it continued to flood with thoughts of the Blue Moon village, Jude specifically. His blue-green eyes trying to sit comfortably in her thoughts, she wouldn't let them.
"That's not it!" A voice yelled from down the hallway of LUNAR, Joy's fashion house, as her sneakers kissed the floor.
"She said she wanted cerulean blue for the dress and turquoise blue for the shorts." Joy recognized the nasally voice before she even reached the fabric room. She lingered at the open door, watching with narrowed eyes as her assistant argued with Tanya.
"Well, she's not here, is she?" Tanya drawled.
"What does it matter what she wanted?"
"But we're doing this show in her honour," the assistant stood firm. "We should do what she wanted. This is her company not yours."
Tanya took a threatening step close to the assistant, her lips curving into a sneer. "Hana, do you like your job?"
"Y-Yes," she quivered.
"Then I suggest you stop talking."
"I thought her name was Lana," Joy mused, making her presence known. Tanya whipped around, her eyes popping out of their sockets. Joy stepped further into the room, smiling softly at the few ladies who were sitting at their stations. Their mouths were hanging open, and a few even curved into smiles.
"J-Joy?" Tanya quaked, taking a step back.
"My best friend," she responded with a smile. "How have you been?"
Tanya's mouth opened and closed, failing to produce words.
Joy glanced at her assistant, whose hands were covering her mouth, tears dampening her eyelashes.
"Go to my office, I'll be there in a moment," she instructed her. "The rest of you can take a break."
When the room's only occupants were the two of them, Tanya moved closer, hugging her. "I can't believe this. I saw you fall off. We looked for your body for days... Is it really you?" Joy pulled her hands off, staring at her with a smile still stuck to her face.
"I thought you were dead. We all thought you were dead." Tanya wiped a few tears from her eyes.
"When we were in high school," Joy started, looking around the room. "You joined the drama club because you wanted to boost your confidence. You got the lead role on your first audition and even won an award for it. I thought to myself, 'Wow, she's really good at pretending.' It was very impressive back then, just like it is now."
Tanya wiped the rest of her tears away, composing herself. "What do you mean?"
Joy bobbed her head up and down and turned around, her eyes meeting Mandla's. Her lips rose into a wider grin. "And here's the man its all about."
"J-Joy?" He stuttered, stumbling close to her. "My love? Is it really you?"
"Drop the act it's embarrassing. You should take acting lessons from your lover over here."
"W-What? What do you mean?" He moved even closer, trying to hold her.
She stepped back, out of his reach. "Whatever she told you was a lie Joy. I'd never do that to you. I mean, with your best friend? What kind of man would I be?"
"She didn't tell me anything," she took the bracelet out of her jean pocket, "I found out."
Tanya subconsciously rubbed her wrist and Mandla glared at her.
"And it's been confirmed." She threw the bracelet at him and it hit his chest.
"Baby listen-" Mandla started, but Joy raised a hand to cut him off. She turned to Tanya, "baby listen," she told her and began to step out of the room.
"Joy," Mandla grabbed her arm and she stopped. Her eyes flashed a bright yellow, but she was staring straight so neither of them noticed.
"Touch me again and I will make you regret it," she spoke in a low, calm voice and he let go of her. "You have the nerve to cheat on me with someone I called my sister. Then, you ask my father to invest in your company. You want to give me meaningless excuses, thus wasting my time. What should I do to you?" Her eyes, now back to brown, glared at him with an anger he had never seen coming from her. She glanced at her watch.
09:57
"I want both of you out of my building in the next three minutes."
The building's security guards appeared at the door and she stepped out, heading for her office. A stray tear dripped from her eye in the confines of the elevator and she wiped it away, raising her chin.
Her office was still untouched, probably her father's orders which Tanya had the decency to follow.
"Is Melania here?" Joy asked Lana as she sat at her desk.
"No ma'am, she was only here a few days ago. I overheard her speaking to Tanya about a trip to Bali."
"As expected," she muttered. "My dad?"
"He's in Singapore."
"I guess life really just goes on, huh?" She huffed a laugh.
"I prayed every day that you weren't dead." Tears glistened in her assistances eyes. "I really wanted you to come back."
"I wanted to come back too, but now I'm not so sure."
"What?"
"Nothing. Get ready. I'm sure the news about my return has spread a bit now. Reporters will be here any minute."
***
The news about Joys return caused a buzz, reporters and fans swarming outside her building. It spread all over, with acquaintances and business partners contacting her. Her company's stock rising. She conducted meetings, held charity events and attended luncheons, her life slowly going back to the way it was, but something was missing. She felt an inexplicable sense of emptiness, especially when she would return home, captured by her thoughts.
"Why do I feel this way Rieka?" She sobbed and sniffed, pacing back and forth in her living room.
'You miss them. You miss him.'
"No, I don't. There's got to be an explanation. A more logical explanation," she scratched her head. "I think it's the lack of sleep. I'm failing to sleep because of the nightmares. I should see a doctor."
'Or you just miss him and you should go to him.'
"Or," she stretched the word. "I should go to a doctor."
'Just admit it. You'd rather be there than here. You'd rather be with him than anywhere else.'
"No, you would rather be with him, not me. You."
'Has your dad called?'
"Stop it, you know he's still in Singapore." Her voice quivered and she ran a frustrated hand through her plaited hair.
She rubbed her chest, feeling constricted, her breathing becoming shallow. She sat down, rocking herself back and forth. Tears burned her eyes and she stood up again, pacing back and forth. She rubbed her face with both hands, and inhaled deeply, then exhaled. The next deep breath took too much effort, and she felt like she was choking, sinking to the floor as she gasped for air.
"Help," she choked. "Help me." She felt her entire being tremble. "Please, please, please. I need you please." She felt herself lose consciousness, being plunged into darkness.
***
Jude shot out of his bed, sweat trickling down his neck. His eyes glowed a deep blue in the darkness of his room in the Enclosure. He clenched and unclenched his fists, using his wolf vision to glance around the room. Khaya was sleeping peacefully on the other side of the bed and Jude felt his body relax, though his heart still pounded. He placed his hand on his chest, rubbing the sweaty skin.
'It's her.' Ash muttered.
'Stop it Ash.'
'She's in danger. We need to go and save her.'
'You're being paranoid, she's fine.'
'She needs us.'
He stormed out of the room, heading for the door. Reid had placed two Combatants at the door of the Enclosure to keep an eye on Jude. When they saw him approaching they used their spears to block his path, slightly bowing their heads.
"Move," he growled.
"Apologies Jude, but Reid said to keep you indoors." One of the Combatants spoke.
"I don't care what Reid said," he gritted. "Let me through. Unless you want me to wipe the floor with your faces." His eyes flashed an electric blue.
"That won't be necessary." Reid spoke from behind the Combatants, stepping into the Enclosure. "You guys can go." He told them and they bowed their heads before heading towards the huts further into the village.
"Reid I need to go and see her," Jude started.
"Then what?" He raised a questioning brow. "Will you be able to convince her to come back after everything that happened? And will you be able to tell her the rest?"
"I can try."
"I don't want you to try Jude. Will you be able to tell her?" He pressed.
"Yes."
Reid's eyes narrowed, analyzing his brother. "I don't trust you." He began to walk away.
"Reid please." He followed him, grabbing his arm. "Please."
"You don't even trust yourself, why should I trust you?" He shrugged his hand off.
"We will find another way to stop Rollin and Una, we don't have to involve your mate."
"Then Just let me go and see her."
"By doing that you will raise suspicion. Rollin has his eyes on us. He already suspects that Joy is real and with us. If you start making weird movements he'll find out."
"What's the real reason Reid? Because nothing you are saying makes sense to me."
Reid's eyes flashed white and he ran a hand through his hair. "I've said what I want to say Jude. You're not going anywhere."