Looking at the clock on the wall, she saw it was 10:27a.m. She grabbed her bag and her mail from the last couple of days, and locked up. Since Dom said that he wouldn’t be back until around lunchtime and she had no car to get to Skylar’s, and Joey was at the bar, she decided to hail a cab. She needed to go home first and grab several of the items that were going into the bags. As she told the cab driver the address, her phone rang.
Pulling it out, she answered, “Hello.”
“Baby, just going to see someone about a client, then I’ll be heading over to pick you up,” Dom said.
“I’m not at the shop anymore. I’m heading home quickly then going back out.”
“I told you to ring me if you wanted or needed something,” he growled.
Bossy much!
“I know what you
told
me, but I’m a big girl. I don’t need to rely on you, all the time, Dom. I need to grab some things from home, then head back out.”
“Wait, I’ll pick you up and take you where you need to go.”
“Already left, Dom. I’ll call you when I get back home.”
“Don’t you hang up on me, Chantal?” he ordered.
“Too late,” she replied and hung up. She knew she was going to be in trouble for that one, but she didn’t care. This was her life and she could do whatever she wanted. Paying the cab driver, she exited the car and walked off towards her door.
The driver pulled away from the curb, but stopped abruptly, and called out to her. “Miss, you left your packages on the backseat.”
She chuckled to herself. This is what Dom did to her, made her forget everything else in the world but him. Walking back down to the cab, the driver handed over with a smile. “Thank you. Most cab drivers would have driven off.”
“Not I, miss. I don’t see the point in taking others personal mail. Plus, you never know it might be really important.”
“It’s only bills and clothing items for my store, you could have had great use for them with your wife.”
“Well, I would rather just go shop in your store than take them from you.”
Reaching into her bag, she handed over her business card. “If you ever decide to come in, whether by yourself or with your wife, ask for me and I’ll do a really great deal for you,” she said as she winked.
“Thank you, I’m sure you will see me there soon.” She watched as the driver drove away from her place. Shaking her head, she carried the packages and mail to her door. A small square brown package caught her eye. Opening her door, one handed, she eyed the package. Nothing came to mind as to what it could have been. Walking inside, she placed everything onto the hall table, and threw her bag onto the couch. Quickly walking down the hall to her home office to grab the items she needed, she heard her phone ring, again. Lifting it from her pocket, she checked the caller ID to see it was Dom. Hitting the reject button, she continued with what she was doing and walked back out. Her phone started up again and she ignored it. A text followed.
Holding the box with one arm, she read it.
Dom: Chantal, answer your goddamn phone!!!
Shaking her head, she grabbed her mail and her bag, and ran to her car. She had a feeling Dom would arrive soon. Throwing everything over on the seat beside her, she pulled away from her house quickly and drove towards Skylar’s. She tried ringing again, but still no answer. She hoped that she was home. She had not received a message saying she was going to be out, and they had discussed getting everything ready at her place for tomorrow’s event. Turning her car off, she leaned over to retrieve her bag. She saw the mail and the package, which she had thrown in the seat. Quickly going through her mail for the shop, she came across an envelope with just her name on it. She lost her breath. As she flipped it over, she saw it was the same as the other two letters she had received. With shaking hands, she opened it, and gasped at the words.
Chantal,
He is no good for you! He can’t give you exactly what you want or need. Only I can give that to you! Last time I will say this, you need to stop seeing him. I know you have fucked them both! He is corrupting your body and mind with his dirty ways. Do you have any idea what it does to me, seeing you in his arms, let alone using your body for his way! The gift I sent you is what you have done to me, being with him. We will be together soon, my love.
Xxx
Oh my god. She felt sick. Had someone been watching her with Dom and Joey? Sliding out of the car, she really didn’t want to open the package that was left, but curiosity got the better of her. Standing near her opened door, she ripped the end of it and pulled out a box that fit her palm perfectly, from inside. As she lifted the lid, she thought of everything that could possibly fit in a box this size. Once it was off, all she could see was something wrapped around something else. She started untwining the object, little by little started to show, and when she had halfway removed the ribbon, she realised what it was. She paled and dropped the box, screaming.
Trembling, she backed away from the box,
“Chantal.” She screamed again as someone from above said her name. She looked up and saw Nate standing there. “Are you all right?”
Shaking her head, she pointed to the box on the ground. As Nate moved to pick it up, she reached for his arm. “Don’t, Please,” she whispered. Who would send her such a thing? Her stomach rolled at what she saw in there.
“What is it?” Nate asked.
“Someone sent me a package at my shop. I thought it was one of the orders.” Oh god. Her body began to shake, tears streamed down her cheeks. “I think I’m going to be sick,” she groaned as she bent over, dry heaving. Nate stood beside her, rubbing her back but nothing came up. She couldn’t breathe; it felt like her lungs were constricting. Falling to her knees, she clawed at her throat and gulped as much air as she could, but it didn’t help.
“Chantal.” She only just heard Nate say her name, as she swayed. He caught her before she fell to the ground. “Come on, Chantal. Breathe, sweetheart,” Nate whispered to her. She heard someone else calling her name. As it became louder, she saw Skylar in front of her.
“Chan, what’s wrong,” she cried.
She couldn’t tell her why she was upset. No one should know what was in that box. But now that Nate was there, she would have to either tell him or show him, and then explain it all to him. She didn’t know where to start on that, since she had absolutely no idea who was sending the letters and now the package.
“Can you stand; we need get you inside, Chantal,” Nate said as he stood himself.
Nodding as she reached for his hand, she cringed as he picked up the box, and then both he and Skylar helped her indoors. The lid was back on the box for which she was grateful. Placing it on the table, he helped her to the closest chair. She did not want to be in the same room with that box.
Standing on shaky legs, she backed out of the room. “I can’t be in the same room as that.” She sobbed, pointing to the box.
Looking to the box and back to her, Nate asked, “What’s going on? And what is in the box?” She couldn’t tell him while Skylar was in the room. Her eyes flitted quickly to Sky and then back to him. He got what she was trying to tell him. “Baby, can you grab Chantal a drink, and maybe a blanket?”
Looking between them, Sky replied, “Sure, Nate.” She hurried off from the room towards the kitchen.
“Now tell me what’s going on.”
“I had several packages this morning at the shop. I didn’t think much of it, as I thought it was one of my orders.”
“Go on.”
“When I pulled up here, I went through my mail. I got this letter with only my name on it and no return address.”
“What did it say?”
She shook her head. “I can’t. Sorry Nate, but I just....” Her body began quivering again.
Nate walked up and wrapped his arms around her. “It’s alright. Where is the letter?”
“In my car,” she whispered back to him.
He let go of her as Skylar walked back in and handed her a drink. “Do you want anything else, Chan?”
“No thanks, Sky. This is good.” She smiled weakly.
As Nate moved towards the door, he turned around and faced her. “What’s in the box?”
Oh, crap!
There was no way she was telling him what was in there. Just the thought that someone would actually do
that
caused her to shiver. Raising his eyebrow at her, she mouthed
no
to him. Walking back to the table, he lifted the lid from the box. She shot off the couch, but knew she wouldn’t reach him.
“Nooo!” she yelled at him, but she was too late.
Once his eyes landed on what was in it, he growled, “Fuck.” Skylar moved towards him, but stopped when he raised his hand. “Stay there. I need to make a phone call.” He picked the box up and left the room.
Chantal raced after him as he left. “Please don’t, Nate. I know you’re going to call him. He has nothing to do with this,” she cried.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her into the opposite room. “Chantal, there is some serious shit going on here. He needs to know.”
“No. There is nothing he can do, Nate. It’s done. Please, please don’t say anything, ” she pleaded.
He frowned down at her. “Damn it, Chantal. Some sick fuck sent you a human heart with a knife in it! Who the hell would do that?”
“I don’t know who it is, but please, don’t ring him.”
“I want the letter you received.”
“You can have it; I don’t want anything to do with it.”
“Ok, I won’t tell him what is going on, but we are calling the police. They need to know what is happening here and find out who is doing this. If you receive one more letter and I find out, I’ll be letting Dom know about all of this, understand?”
“Yes, thank you, Nate.”
“Don’t thank me yet, Chantal.”
“Since you have no clue as to who this person is, you need to act like nothing has happened. Do what you normally do. If he or she is watching you, you need to remain calm, like what they sent you hasn’t affected you, got it.”
“I’ll try my best, Nate.”
“Good. Now go back out there, I’ll grab the letter from your car, and head home. I’ll contact the police and get them to come out and take this with them. You will need to tell them everything, no holding back. I’m surprised Skylar let me in,” he mumbled.
“Ok, are you still coming tomorrow night??”
“Yeah, I’ll be there. I wouldn’t miss the opening, Chan.” What was the deal with Skylar and Nate?
When she walked back into the house, Skylar stood from the chair. “Is everything alright?”
“Yeah, Sky. Just a little hiccup. Everything is fine.” She hated lying to her, but Skylar didn’t need to know about the box with the heart in it. She had enough to deal with.
“Ok, if you say so. Your dress arrived yesterday. Do you want to check it out?”
“Of course, can’t wait to see what you picked.” Linking her arm with Skylar’s, they walked down into her bedroom. They spent an hour trying on their dresses and all different kinds of shoes and accessories. Momentarily, she had forgotten about the box and letters. Every time Skylar tried on a new pair of shoes or any jewelry, she would get upset and say nothing was going right for her. Either the shoes didn’t go with her dress, or the necklace and earrings didn’t match. She tried not to laugh at her best friend, but really couldn’t help it. Her outfit for tomorrow was already laid out at the end of the bed, her shoes sat on the ground, and the necklace, bracelet, and earrings were on the sink in the bathroom.
“I’m sure I still have those black diamante boots somewhere in my closest,” Skylar mumbled. She walked into her closest as Chantal’s phone vibrated in her lap. Lifting it up, she read the text.
Nate: The police are at my place.
Chantal: Ok, be over soon.
What was she going to say to Skylar?
Think, think, think!
“Sky, I think I still have boots and jewelry in the back of my car from last time we went out. I’ll grab them,” she yelled.
“Ok. I’ll be in here trying to find my damn boots,” she grumbled.
She quickly walked out of the room and out of Sky’s house, and made her way towards Nate’s. After knocking on the back door, she made her way in, calling out his name. “In the lounge room,” he replied. As she walked into the room, Nate and both the officers stood from their chairs.
“Miss Winters,” one officer greeted.
“Yes.”
“I’m Detective Jones and this is Officer Walker,” he said as he pointed to the officer beside him.
“Nice to meet you both,” she replied, as Nate moved and stood beside her.
“Mr. Jackson made a phone call to me saying that you have received something that we should know about,” Officer Walker stated.
She moved to sit down. She wasn’t going to be able to tell them what they wanted to know while standing. “I grabbed all my mail and packages as I left my shop today. I’m used to receiving packages so I didn’t think much on the one I got. When I arrived at my friend’s house next door, I was curious as to what it was and who sent it. No name was on the back, and the front only had my name, with no address. I opened the letter first.”
“Do you have the letter?”
She looked at Nate. “I have it.” He walked out of the room for only a second and was back with both the letter and box. Both of them had been placed in a plastic bag. A shiver went through her body, seeing that horrible box again. Nate handed the letter over to the detective. Both him and the officer retrieved rubber gloves and pulled them onto their hands. One carefully opened the letter. Once that was done, they both stood there reading it. Nate rubbed her shoulders as they scanned over the letter, talking to each other quietly.
“What happened after you read the letter?”
“I was shocked, it’s scary to find out that someone has been watching me, and not in a good way. After I read the letter, I opened the box. There was something sitting at the bottom of it wrapped in black ribbon. I slowly started to unwrap it.”
“What was under the ribbon?” the detective asked. Nate’s hand stopped moving on her shoulder. No words could come out of her mouth; she could not tell them what was in it.
“See for yourself,” Nate urged. He handed the other bag to them. Both of them looked at each other, opened the bag, and Detective Jones pulled out the box. She turned her head away, not wanting to see it again.