Back home, the haunting image of Rocco pressing against Avery while video-calling me churned in my mind, sending waves of nausea surging through me.
Unable to contain the disgust, I hurled my phone into the toilet. My hands trembled as I scrubbed them under cold water, over and over, until the soap dispenser was empty. Yet, no amount of washing seemed to cleanse the taint.
Rocco’s puzzled voice snapped me out of my frenzy.
“Valerie?”
His gaze fell on my water-soaked, pale hands, and he rushed to my side with visible concern.
“Why are you washing your hands with cold water? Your period starts tomorrow. What if your stomach hurts? Do you want me to worry myself sick over you?”
I pulled my hands back; my voice was as flat as the air between us.
“My phone slipped into the toilet. I couldn’t save it.”
Without hesitation, Rocco hurried to prepare a hot water bottle, his movements quick yet tender. He returned with a basin of warm water steeped in ginger slices. Squatting before me, he gently took my feet in his hands, his tone laced with indulgent helplessness.
“If it’s dropped, so be it. It’s just an old, dirty phone. Is it really worth you fishing it out? I’ll buy you a new one tomorrow, the best money you can get.”
“Oh, and tomorrow is your big sister’s baby’s one-month celebration. Mom wants us to join them for dinner.”
His gentle and caring demeanor felt like a cruel irony. My thoughts screamed questions I didn’t dare voice aloud.
What about you?
You’re tainted. Should I still want you?
That night, I woke with a jolt, pulled from restless dreams. The bed beside me was cold and empty. Once, Rocco would hold me through the night, swearing he couldn’t sleep without me in his arms.
I found him on the balcony, his back turned, whispering into his phone. His voice carried softly in the stillness.
Coming from the future world, my body’s functions, including hearing, were superior to those of this era.
Avery’s voice rang through the quiet night, sultry and teasing.
“Brother Rocco, I absolutely love the color of the new bag! It’s even prettier than the five you gave me last month.”
“That pastel blue,” she added coyly, “matches the lingerie you tore apart yesterday.”
Rocco’s reply was sharp, his patience clearly thinning.
“Enough. If every night with me earns you tens of thousands in bags, you’re making a killing.”
Avery, both aggrieved and alluring, pouted.
“Brother Rocco, it’s not about the money. I just adore how handsome you are and your… skills.”
“I miss you,” she whispered sweetly. “Can we video call?”
Rocco’s tone turned cold, cutting through her suggestion like a blade.
“No. Valerie is sleeping. If you dare disturb her, I’ll throw you out of the team.”
Avery refused to back down, her voice turning sweeter, dripping with coquettish allure.
“I got new lingerie tonight, white lace. I’ll tear it just for you. Don’t you love that?”
Rocco’s silence hung heavy, the tension palpable. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, rough with barely contained desire.
“I’ll head to the bathroom.”
“Okay. Oh, Brother Rocco, I saw another bag today…”
“Got it. You’re relentless.”
I slipped back to the bed, my heart pounding. Moments later, the faint click of the bathroom door echoed, followed by muffled gasps filtering through the silence.
Before I came to this era, my organization had funded my research, ensuring steady payments to support my work. Most of that money had gone straight into Rocco’s team.
Rocco had always prided himself on his independence, unwilling to lean on anyone, especially a woman. I hid the truth that I was his employer, communicating with him through a secondary account and signing contracts in secret.
I supported his work without question, sparing him the need to beg for funding. The data I requested was simple, leaving him plenty of space to focus on his personal projects, even if they didn't bring in a profit.
But since last month, Rocco has been requesting funds more and more frequently. Thinking it was for his research, I transferred the money without hesitation, never imagining it was to win over another woman.
I curled deeper under the blanket, my body trembling, but no matter how tightly I wrapped myself, the coldness in my heart remained unyielding.
Suddenly, the crystal bracelet on my wrist flickered to life, and a colleague's face appeared in a projection.
It was a communication device designed to connect with my colleagues from the future. To keep Rocco from becoming suspicious, I had disguised it as a bracelet.
