Chapter Twenty Six

Chapter 26

In the dead of night, Jemima lay restless, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts that refused to let her drift into slumber. Tossing and turning in her bed, she surrendered to her insomnia's grip. An unsettling feeling crept over her, urging her out of bed. Wrapping her robe tightly around her, she ventured out of her room, the door protesting with a creak as she entered the dimly lit kitchen.

Yawning, Jemima lazily poured herself a glass of milk, a routine she knew all too well, even though its sleep-inducing effects seemed futile. Chuckling to herself as she sipped the lukewarm liquid, she pondered the mystery of its supposed calming properties.

Just as she contemplated returning to her restless bed, a glimmer in the darkness caught her eye. Curious, she followed the shine to Jay's whiskey bottle. A mischievous idea sparked in her mind.

Aware of Jay's allergy to ginger, Jemima's eyes scanned the kitchen for the spicy root. Determined, she planned to add a dash of ginger to his whiskey, a mischievous prank forming in her mischievous mind.

Before she could execute her plan, a sudden voice shattered the silence. "What are you looking for?" Vanessa's unexpected presence startled Jemima, causing her to bump her head against the unforgiving cabinet.

"Shit!" Jemima cursed sharply, groaning in pain as her head connected with the cabinet.

"Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry Jem, I didn't mean to startle you," apologizing profusely, Vanessa rushed to Jemima's side, concerned for her well-being.

"I'm fine," Jemima assured Vanessa she was fine as she rubbed her throbbing head, trying to ease the pain.

Curiosity piqued, Vanessa whispered, "So what are you doing here so late at night?" questioning Jemima's late-night kitchen visit. Caught off guard, Jemima struggled to explain, her words laced with a hint of secrecy and mischief.

"Uh well, I could sleep and decided to come to the kitchen to get some," Jemima said, not disclosing the entirety of her true intentions.

"Is that why you're clutching Jay's whiskey bottle and rummaging through the cupboard?" Vanessa probed, her eyebrows arched inquisitively towards the whiskey flask in Jemima's grasp. Jemima pressed her lips together, a whirlwind of excuses swirling in her mind.

"Oh, it belongs to Jay? I genuinely had no clue! I just fancied pouring some milk in it and having a sip for the thrill of it," Jemima fibbed, her expression shifting into a mask of contemplation, silently praying Vanessa would let the matter slide.

Vanessa persisted, "then why the search through the cupboard?" A muffled grunt escaped Jemima, drawing a cautious gaze from Vanessa.

"Why are you lingering out here?" Jemima deflected, avoiding the probing question, her gaze shifting to Vanessa with one hand casually on her hip and the other propped against the kitchen island.

Just as Vanessa was about to respond, a cat leaped outside the kitchen window, emitting a loud purr that captivated their attention, offering a welcomed distraction for Jemima.

The feline's presence intrigued Vanessa and Jemima, prompting them to observe it. They exchanged a knowing look and dashed up the stairs to Jemima's room, laughter bubbling between them like a cherished memory from Jemima's past.

Jemima and Vanessa shared a fear of cats, always anticipating an imminent attack, leading them to flee whenever one crossed their path.

"Looks like you're still a scaredy-cat," Jemima teased with a playful pun, lightly nudging Vanessa's shoulders.

"In your case, the feeling's mutual," Vanessa chuckled, her smile fading slightly. Jemima silently hoped the whiskey flask topic wouldn't resurface.

The night enveloped them in a shroud of secrets and unspoken truths, the air thick with tension and curiosity. Vanessa's question hung in the air, a thread waiting to unravel the hidden mysteries between them.

"Jem, can I ask you something though?" Vanessa's voice quivered with anticipation, her eyes a mirror of skepticism fixed on Jemima.

"If it's about..."

"It's about Jay!" Vanessa's interruption sent a jolt through Jemima, her pulse quickening as she braced herself for the impending revelation.

"What about Jay?" Jemima's voice betrayed her curiosity, a silent plea for Vanessa to delve deeper into the enigma surrounding Jay.

As they treaded towards the bathroom, each step echoed softly, a rhythm to the unspoken questions lingering between them.

“I want to use the restroom, why are you following me?” Jemima's whisper carried a hint of suspicion, her gaze locking with Vanessa's in a silent exchange of unspoken intentions.

“Sorry, I’ll wait out here,” Vanessa's murmured response held a weight of unspoken understanding as she stationed herself by the bedroom, leaving Jemima to confront her thoughts in solitude.

Jemima's weary sigh echoed in the confines of the bathroom, a moment of respite before the impending revelation. The tap's flow masked the silence, a temporary shield from the impending truth.

“So, you were saying?” Jemima's weariness seeped into her words, her gaze drifting to the ceiling as the fan's whirring hum filled the room, a stark contrast to the turmoil within her.

“Why is there so much animosity between you and Jay? I want to know, please,” Vanessa's plea pierced through Jemima's defenses, a plea for honesty amidst the web of secrets.

Jemima hesitated, the weight of past grievances heavy on her shoulders. Against her better judgment, she chose to unravel the tangled past, each word a step towards the truth that lay buried beneath their shared history.

“It all started three years ago when we were sent on a mission to London. The US president, Ronald Thump. was there for a retreat but he had authorised the building of a power plant close to a school that radiated harmful chemical, causing severe health issues to the kids. The President’s notice was drawn to this but he ignored it and paid heavy sum of money to cover up his tracks. Godfather was not happy with this and summoned his top assassin and mafia boss to go and assassinate the President,” Jemima narrated, pausing to catch her breath. The tale unraveled like a twisted thread of fate, each revelation a knot in the fabric of their shared history. Jemima's voice quivered with emotion as she recounted the night veiled in darkness and deceit, a moment etched in her memory like a scar.

Vanessa's touch offered a fleeting respite, a silent gesture of understanding amidst the storm brewing within Jemima's heart. The unspoken bond between them spoke volumes, a language of solace in the face of turmoil.

As Jemima's words danced on the edge of vulnerability, tears threatened to spill, a testament to the raw emotions that lay beneath the surface.

“While in London, Jay and I got along very well and I started developing feelings for him and he for me or at least that’s what he told me. He did ask me to be his girlfriend and I agreed, it was really stupid I know but I liked him a lot. The night before the assassination, he came into my room, it was dark and all so I couldn’t see his face but I smelt his perfume. He wanted us to spend the night together before the big day and I agreed so he spooned me but I couldn’t sleep because of my insomnia. I got up and turned on the light to search something and I saw it was not Jay,” Jemima continued narrating her story, tears welling at the base of her eyes now.

The truth hung heavy in the air, a palpable tension that bound their souls in a shared moment of revelation. Jemima's voice trembled with the weight of her confession, each word a step closer to unveiling the mysteries that lurked in the shadows of their intertwined destinies.

Vanessa's embrace cocooned Jemima in a sanctuary of empathy, a haven in the tempest of emotions that threatened to consume her.

Jemima's voice quivered with emotion as she recounted the chilling encounter, "I screamed bloody murder, and the guy immediately got up, startled. I tried to bring out my dagger, but he stopped me and forcefully planted a kiss on my cheek before leaving with a smirk on his face. Scared, I went to go and find Jay and tell him what happened. His cabin was dark so I turned on the light and saw him making out with another girl.”

Vanessa's eyes widened in shock, her heart heavy with Jemima's pain. Tears cascaded down Jemima's cheeks, her anguish a tangible presence in the room.

"I never confronted him about it," Jemima confessed, her voice laced with sorrow. "The next day, the mission was nearly a flop. Each of us was lost in our thoughts, haunted by the events of the previous night. I left London for New York, never speaking to him again, letting the bitterness fester between us."

“Oh Jem!” Vanessa muttered, her eyes laced with sadness. Tears streamed down Jemima’s face, her pain palpable.

Vanessa's sympathy enveloped Jemima like a warm embrace, offering solace in the face of her unspoken turmoil. "I'm sorry you had to go through that," Vanessa whispered, her touch a gentle reassurance.

As the weight of Jemima's words settled in the room, Vanessa sought clarity, "So technically, you and Jay are still in a relationship if you both never broke up?" Jemima's gaze met hers, a realization dawning in the silence between them.

"I guess we are," Jemima admitted, the truth hanging heavy in the air, a knot of unresolved emotions binding her to a past she couldn't escape