The Billionaire’s Betrayed Love

21: Doom’s Architect—My Wedding Ring

ALMA

I still hadn't changed my mind about the party; perhaps I was a coward and was scared to be seen at a fundraising gala where everyone who'd been harmful to my life would most likely be present there. Pardon me if I think the wisest option would be to stay away, or I might end up taking half of Linda's hair home after uprooting it from her scalp.

Well, the interview went a long way in calming the internet storm, as though some pretty opinionated people still buzzed around with rumors. I was just glad that all comments related to Velma remained neutral. That was the only thing that could tick me off. It was a beautiful Friday afternoon, and I wouldn't mind the sound of K-pop music blasting in the car as I drove down to Velma's school to pick her up.

Rodney had offered, too. You'd think it was a job he was getting paid for, but I wanted to go because it was my job, and I felt bad for imposing on him. Also, because, I mean, who knew? Carl Harrison might be lurking around like a vengeful spirit. I really hoped he wouldn't stoop that low because I had no problem dragging law enforcement into this.

Finally arriving at her school and confirming my identity with the security, it was a thorough process- always had been and one of the reasons why choosing that school had been an excellent idea on my part. They asked questions, like a ton, before letting the parents in. Now, that was top-tier, the kind of efficiency that interested me. Velma wasn't in her class when I got there. I had expected it as it was a few minutes past closing hours, and her teacher, as nicely as always, directed me to the playground and said it was Velma's second favorite place in the school.

"Oh, really?" I cocked my head, smiling. "So, what is her first favorite place in the school?"

"You wouldn't believe it?"

"With Velma?" I scoffed, "Anything is possible."

"I suppose!" She agreed. "The ninth graders' science laboratory. Ever since we took a tour around the school, Velma had picked that one spot as a source of interest, and she'd definitely offloaded all of her curiosity there. You should be prepared for when she asks to skip to ninth grade."

I burst into a peal of laughter, and so did her teacher. Yes, Velma was hilarious like that, and no doubt, she'd relentlessly try to find her way inside. I knew who else had that level of consistency and patience. "Thank you very much for looking after her. Have a nice weekend!"

"And you too," she responded, and I walked out of the classroom, heading to the field. As usual, there were a lot of kids running around and playing life away. It made me wonder what it'd feel like to be this way again.

Free of all worries of the world and happy. I scanned the field thoroughly before sighting Velma at the corner, but she was standing next to another kid, having this heated conversation that I wasn't sure I wanted to interrupt. The other kid was a guy with blonde disheveled hair, about seven or eight years old if I calculated right, and he seemed to be giving something to Velma.

I grinned hard that my cheeks had begun to hurt from staring at their little interaction. It was indeed sweet, and I wasn't going to deny my curiosity. Velma was backing me, so I couldn't tell what her expression was, but those gestures made me realize she was into it, whatever the discussion was about.

Could this be one of those first love moments? My heart swelled with pride, and I choked down the urge to become a cameraman that instant. It was a really adorable sight to behold, and I waited for it to play out until Velma looked back and finally noticed my presence. She said something to the other kid before she ran towards me, and I crouched to hug her, feeling her warm arms wrap around my neck.

"Sweetheart! How are you?"

Velma stepped back, grinning from ear to ear as she eyed me. "I'm fine, mom. Just a little mad. What about you, mom, how are you?"

Just a little mad? I glanced at the other kid who sat on the pavement and was now looking in our direction. "Did something happen, sweetheart? I thought you made a new friend?" I gestured toward the boy, as inconspicuous as I could, and Velma's smile faltered.

"A friend?" She rang like I'd just said the most absurd thing in the world. That tone sure snapped me back into reality. Okay, it wasn't a first love thing; point taken. "More like a pain in my throat! He's...rude and argued with me about something pointless."

"Oh, baby!" I exclaimed, hoping the boy wouldn't turn out to be a bully or anything of that sort. Velma has had her share of that in one lifetime. "What happened, love? Why did you two argue?"

"He gave me this." She took my hand and dropped something she was clutching in it. It felt like metal against my skin, and I tried to know what it was before she even removed her hand. "Then he said he didn't give it to me, that it dropped from my bag. I don't own any rings, mama?"

A ring? At first, I was tempted to laugh until I stared down at my palm, and memories burst through in waves. My breath was caught in my throat, and terror owned my eyes as I stared down at the dainty piece of jewelry that lay still in my hand.

The recognition slapped me in the face, and I almost dropped it. "Where..." my voice faded, and my head went faint, all the words vanishing into the far distance of my headspace. "Tell me...in detail how you got this ring, Velma."

She panicked, but wasted no time as she started to explain. "I was going to sit by the vending machine when he stopped me, the boy there, and handed me the ring. I said I didn't want it...because Mama told me not to take strangers' gifts, but he said that it was not a gift. He says the ring had fallen from my backpack, and all he did was help me pick it up. Not only did he do that, he also forced it in my hand, mama."

I panted as every word from her sank into my skin. What the hell was going on, and why did Velma suddenly have my wedding ring from seven years ago!? It was it because my initials were carved on the inside of it. A.J. The stone remained red and shimmery- it was hard to forget.

Carl couldn't have given it to her, right? I didn't even remember where I misplaced it, but how did she get it? I looked up ahead only to see that the kid was already on the move with a woman- his guardian, perhaps.

"Excuse me!" I yelled as I tried to catch up with them while holding Velma in my arms. "Excuse me, please!"

The woman looked back at me, and nudged her glasses back to her nose as she squinted her eyes as though she tried to recognize who was standing before her. Then, that glimpse of recognition flashed in her eyes. I could immediately tell that she knew me or had probably seen me somewhere, but I didn't share the same sentiments. She was clad in a beautifully styled one-piece, jet-black suit, and I was tempted to ask who her designer was.

Well, I would, if this ring sorcery wasn't gnawing at my sanity.

"I'm so sorry to stop you, but I have something to ask your son," I relayed breathlessly as I stood before her. "It's just...child's play, but I want to be sure of where he'd seen the ring. My daughter says he gave it to her, but he...argues that he's seen it drop from her bag, so if you don't mind, I'd...like to confirm again."

My heart was pounding in my chest.

"Oh!" She turned to her son and pulled him forward. "No problem. Daniel, can you answer the lady and tell her where you've gotten the ring?"

"The girl asked me too!" Daniel ranted, his voice feisty. I immediately saw why he and Velma would have failed to communicate. "I already told her that I saw the ring drop from her bag when she walked past. I didn't give it to her."

Right? It'd be very unusual for it to behave and land in his hands. Hell, he was probably not in existence when that ring was created. "And you...didn't see anything else? Just that it dropped from her bag?" I pushed again, my voice growing more and more urgent.

He shook his head. "No, I didn't. It must have been in her bag."

"No, it wasn't!" Velma argued.

"Was, too!"

"Was not!"

"Kids!" Daniel's guardian, whom I was guessing was his mother, interrupted. "It doesn't have to be an argument so decorum." Her voice was firm, and like clockwork, they listened to her. She then turned to me. "I doubt any of these two know the actual origin of the ring. If it's too much of a bother, then why don't you ask the school? Maybe they know, or they've seen something?"

And risk being tagged a mad woman, no? I sucked my teeth. "It's just..." this ring is actually mine, but from five years ago, and I have no idea how it got my daughter's hand, and I suspect my ex-husband, who has the sickening tendency to stalk my child, who's also his daughter.

Yeah, that was wild. I gulped hard and continued. "I'd speak to the school then, thank you. I'm really curious as to how she got the ring." I ruffled Daniel's hair. "Thank you for being so observant. Perhaps you two can be friends?"

"No!"

"No!"

They both yelled, and we giggled. "I think they're going to become best friends!" Daniel's mother added, then she stretched out her arm to me. "Beverly Davidson. Nice to meet you. I mean...it's proof that today isn't entirely a shitty day."

Having no idea what that meant, I took her hand and shook it firmly. "Alma Jenkins. It's my pleasure, and thank you for your patience. I know these two will be seeing each other around."

Beverly, with a smile and a curt nod, responded. "For sure. We got to run. Hey, I hope you find the Lord of the Rings." She pointed to the ring steepled between my fingers and chortled, the corners of her eyes squeezing a little as she laughed.

She seemed fun, and I liked her already. I laughed, too. "I'd be sure to inform you." We said our hasty goodbyes, and rather than go to the school authority as I'd said, I walked to the car instead, frustrated to the core.

"Did you just make a new friend, mama?"

"I suppose?" I shrugged, still blindsided by the thoughts of the ring. "What about you? Do you think you've made a new friend?"

She immediately shook her head. "I just have two. Rodney and Carl. I can't find Carl, but he's a good friend. I won't resent him."

My heart skipped a beat, but I managed to keep a steady expression as I helped her into the car. What if this was another one of Carl's ploys? "You shouldn't resent him..." I was already doing that for you, mi amor.

"Right? He promised to find me again, and he seems like an honest person, so I can just wait, right, mama? Honest people always do what they say? I want to show you what I've learned more about paintings," Velma ranted. "He's easy to learn from, and he says I'm quick to learn, just as Rodney says!"

If Carl's neck was this steering wheel and my hand continued to squeeze around it like this, then he'd most likely end up in the ER. I faked a smile and helped her with her seatbelt, all while picturing how hard I'd slam my hand into his face the next time I saw him.

I ignited the engine; then, my phone chose to ring at the same time. It was an unknown number, and I was hesitant to pick up for a while until they called again, and I brought the phone to my ears. "Hello?"

"Did you get it? Did you get my present, sister?"

Oh, fuck. I exhaled deeply and immediately remembered how Linda had said she'd send me a present after the interview. The ring was from her?

"Guessing from how silent you are, you must have gotten it then. I didn't know how hard it was to plant things into a kid's back, but you got it, and that's all that matters. I just wanted to see for myself how well she's doing, and of course, thank you for the interview."

The silence thickened, and it took a while to register everything in my head. Linda had come around Velma?? "Linda, I will kill you the moment you-"

"Oh, save it. I'd be watching you, dear sister, and my beautiful nephew. I didn't realize how green her eyes were until today." She scoffed. "Reminds me of someone I know."

The line disconnected immediately, and my brain totally blanked out. Velma wasn't safe here.