TEST DRIVE: A Night of Forbidden Desire

On Friday afternoon, the Development and Planning Department had an internal meeting. The topic of discussion was the accountability of the recently completed tower project, which had been completed about two weeks ago. There was an accountability report that needed to be submitted immediately. There was also a team evaluation for future reference.

It was exhausting for Vonda, not physically, but mentally. All because the team meeting forced her to face Andrew, whether she liked it or not. Yeah… the risk of being a moron, right? How could she have let someone like him on the team when they were dating? Fortunately, the other team members were sharp.

A female employee stood up and handed a folder to Vonda, who was sitting next to Max. She was Mecca Morris.

“This is the draft statement of accountability, Ma’am. Perhaps you’d like to review it before I submit it to Finance.”

Vonda took it and opened it as she said, “Thank you, Mecca.”

“You’re welcome, Ma’am.”

Max put down his pen after making the final notes on the document he had read. He closed the folder and looked around the conference table.

“Whose name is on the final project report?” Max asked.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

The question made Vonda turn her head. She wanted to answer, but a voice was heard first. Along with the raising of a man’s hand.

“I did, Sir.”

Max furrowed his brow. The man’s face seemed familiar. He asked reflexively, his eyebrows furrowed.

“You?”

“It’s me, Andrew. Andrew Phillips,” Andrew replied. “I wrote the final report. Is there a problem, sir?”

For some reason, Vonda held her breath at that moment. It was as if she was the one who was afraid. Just as Andrew had glanced at her after introducing himself to Max.

It was just a quick glance. But it made Vonda feel shaky. Fortunately, Andrew quickly looked back to Max. Vonda breathed a sigh of relief.

Is this just my imagination? Why is Andrew looking at me differently? Is it because of the car payments?

It took Vonda two deep breaths to calm herself. It happened just as Max spoke again.

“I’ve read the report. Please make the necessary changes. As for the evaluation section, it needs a complete overhaul. It’s not just about evaluating the implementation process, but more importantly, evaluating our cooperation with the contractor. That’s crucial for the next project. So, I want all of this to be settled by the next meeting.”

“Understood, Sir.”

The meeting ended shortly thereafter. They immediately put their materials away.

A short time later, Vonda and Max left the meeting room ahead of the other employees. As they walked toward their office, Max slipped a hand into his pants pocket as they turned into the hallway. He asked a question.

“So when are we leaving, Von?”

Vonda lifted her face slightly and looked out of the corner of her eye. “Maybe about six in the afternoon, Max. I’ll get ready as soon as I leave here. I’m afraid we won’t make it in time for the event.”

“Ah.” Max nodded, held out his hand, and opened the door to their room, inviting Vonda in first. “What time is the event?”

“Half past eight,” Vonda replied as she stepped inside. “So, for that…” Vonda turned to face Max as he closed the door behind him. “… how do we want to go? Separately, or…”

“I’ll pick you up,” Max interjected. “Besides, it would be quite inconvenient if we went separately. I don’t even know your address.”

Vonda nodded. “All right then. I’ll meet you at the apartment.”

That was her plan for Vonda’s home visit. When the clock was about five minutes from exactly five in the afternoon, they decided to leave the room. They simply checked out of the parking lot and drove straight home, each in their own car.

Arriving at the apartment about thirty-five minutes later, Vonda immediately got ready. As the shower water soaked her body, she realized how fortunate she was that her trip home had been without any traffic incidents. Although the traffic had not been too smooth, thirty-five minutes was a relatively quick time to get to the apartment, considering it was almost the weekend.

As she thought about it, Vonda thought about Max. He was even luckier than she was. Max’s apartment building was not too far from the office, compared to the distance between her office and her apartment building.

This fact was enough to prove that Max’s antique car business, which he had mentioned a while ago, was not just an empty venture. His apartment building was close to the central business district, indicating considerable value.

Vonda finished her evening shower in only ten minutes. She dressed modestly, as she would do her makeup at home later before the event.

The sound of the doorbell seemed to be a direct order to Vonda. She grabbed her moderately sized bag, made sure her phone, wallet, and a few makeup tools were in it, and then hurried out.

Max was waiting outside. “Ready?” he asked.

Vonda nodded, adjusting the sandals on her feet as she pulled the door of her unit shut.

“Let’s go.”

As they descended into the lobby, they seemed to share a look. It was the moment when Vonda and Max realized that a pair of eyes was watching them. It conveyed a sense of curiosity. Without waiting for any teasing, Vonda took the initiative to explain to Rika.

“My younger sibling’s engagement is happening. So, we’re on our way to my sibling’s engagement.”

Rika raised both hands and folded them in front of her chest, stroking her chin with one hand.

“Are you sure it’s your sibling who’s getting engaged and not you, Miss?”

Vonda rolled her eyes. “If I was getting engaged, I would have been home since yesterday.”

Rika just grinned in response while Vonda and Max walked out and got into the car. It was not long before the car was cruising down the street.

During the whole trip Vonda thought about a lot of things, weighing pros and cons, until she felt the need to explain some things to Max. She did not want him to have a heart attack later.

“Um, Max.”

Max, who was driving the car, looked away for a moment. He looked at Vonda before returning his focus to the road ahead. He asked in a single, succinct word.

“What?”

At first Vonda hesitated, but finally she decided to speak up.

“When we get to my house, don’t be surprised, okay?”

Max’s eyes looked at her again for a moment. “Surprised?”

Vonda nodded. “I’ve got five super active younger siblings, a mom who talks like a firecracker, and a dad who likes to crack jokes, even if they’re dry. So… before anything happens, it’s better if you prepare yourself mentally from now on.”

“You doubt my mental strength while I have a mother whose nature you know very well,” Max said with a chuckle.

Vonda nodded in agreement. “Ah, yes. You’re right.”

With one hand on the wheel, Max let out a brief sigh before continuing.

“Besides, we’ve talked about this before, haven’t we?” Max’s eyes flashed. “Your mom must be a lot like yours.”

Vonda pouted her lower lip. “I don’t know if that’s a compliment or the opposite.”

“What do you think yourself?”

“Well… actually, I feel like I have a lot of faults, too. So… being a bit like my mother isn’t so bad.”

“You’re a tough kid. It’s funny that you’re the one who says that to your own parents.”

A sigh escaped Vonda’s nostrils. A moment before, she remembered something and spoke up immediately.

“But you remember how toxic my home environment can be, right?”

Max nodded. “And then?”

“You will find out first hand how toxic my environment can be,” Vonda replied with a sigh. She adjusted her posture and decided to lean back against the seat. Her gaze was straight down the road. “My family may be a little crazy. Well, their craziness is similar to mine. But when it comes to the craziness on my mother’s side of the family… oh boy! That’s another story.”

Max’s brow furrowed as he heard Vonda’s explanation. “That intense?”

“Um.” Vonda nodded.

“Should I be scared? Or… do you have a strategy for dealing with it?”

“A strategy?” Vonda chuckled briefly. “With my mother around, it’s fine. We just have to come up with a strategy to deal with her annoying cousins.”

In fact, Vonda’s answer did not reassure Max at all. Having grown up in a comfortable environment, Max had no defense mechanism for dealing with annoying cousins, especially since Max’s cousins tended to be quiet. As a result, Max was confused as to how to handle the situation.

As the clock neared half past seven in the evening, they arrived. It was then that Max realized the truth behind Vonda’s words. That Vonda’s mother was indeed their strategy.

Not for nothing, but because their arrival was greeted with a remark that sent a shiver down Max’s spine.

“Hey, Vonda? Have you changed your boyfriend again? You’re not like Kania, who is loyal to her boyfriend. Always changing. When are you going to get serious? Are you stepping over Kania now?”

Vonda’s face turned as red as a cooked crab, while Max was still trying to figure out the best way to save Vonda’s face. But just then a middle-aged woman appeared from inside the house and said,

“It’s not Vonda who’s not loyal, it’s the boyfriend who’s not loyal. Why should my beautiful daughter be stuck with an unfaithful man? Besides, the matter of marriage has already been decided by God. If you want to blame fate, did you blame fate a few months ago when your young sister died before you?”

Max’s jaw dropped. His expression conveyed a multitude of emotions that Vonda could not decipher. There was shock, surprise, admiration, and just a lot of nanos!

“This is why I pray to God so often. When leftover materials don’t turn into people. See, this is the result.”

At that moment, Max looked at Vonda as if to convey his words.

Okay. I understand now.

Vonda could only nod slightly, grimacing.

Welcome to the jungle.

*