CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO:SHATTERED TRUST

\-ARTEMIS- 

It had curved edges on both sides, a plain which needed a key to be inserted, and a body consisting of thick iron. I stared at her, waiting for her to explain why this was here. 

"It's a Mexican handcuff." Her voice soft "I got it at a club; I must have forgotten it there."

Her forehead was dripping, beads of sweat accumulating as she watched me draw out the cuffs from beneath the drawer. It felt icky, something like slime slipping out of it. 

"Did you... this morning... before I came to work?" I let out, unable to speak my mind out. 

"Just a round, I promise." She went on her knees. "Please don't kick me out."

It felt insulting having them go around sexing in my office. They could have done it anywhere but here; why my… My eyes caught sight of a black suit in my private closet. 

My private closet is the only place I keep spare clothes and suits. In case I had appointments and I wasn't putting on anything casual. I had placed all clothes properly; not one could have dropped from the hanger. 

I stood up, my head held high. I stepped out from behind the desk, heading for the closet to get the black suit in. 

My legs went numb all of a sudden, unable to respond to my calling. I tried forcing it, but it came crawling back to the ground, unable to leave the desired space. I looked down, only to see Kate's arm wrapped around it. 

"What are you doing on the floor?"

"Please don't fire me, Miss Artemis; I promise not to have any type of contact in your office ever again." She begged, her head bowed down. 

"You're forgiven, Kate."

She held on tight, not wanting me to move any further. What did she want exactly? I tried to harness her mind even though I couldn't. 

"Please, I'll do it." She begged. 

"You'll do what?" 

*Whatever you want. Put the suit back in the closet, hang your suits, get your coffee every morning…" 

"It's alright." I dragged my legs out, taking my time to get to the closet. She ran after me, her heels making clicking sounds. 

"Miss Artemis, Miss Artemis, Miss Artemis, your desk is right over there." She followed behind, her hands slightly making contact with my shoulder. 

"Don't touch me." I glared. 

She shrieked, trembling as she watched me open the closet. The suit had fallen off the hanger alright, but it had somehow become bloated like a puffed cow. 

I observed the material, yellow and black spots at the edge of the suit. It was a ceremonial suit, so there was no way it could have gotten spots unless it had been washed with something strong or had been dyed. 

No one dared touch my suit to dye it; Kate barely knew it was there. With a sigh, I grabbed the suit, pulling it up to observe it better. The spots that I had seen weren't there anymore, just the fibers that stood firmly and glowed under the light emissions. 

I wiped my eyes, hoping I hadn't been seeing things. Kate's hand was in her mouth at this moment, supposedly holding her from screaming. 

With a sigh, I grabbed the hanger, adjusting the suit back in. I could see hairs all over it, which made me scream in disgust. 

"Why is there hair all over?" I gasped. 

"Kate rushed to the closet, the doors in her hands as she attempted to shut it close. Beneath her stood a body, fair with no complications or spots. It was silky, smooth, and had this impulsive impression on me. 

I bolted towards the closet, pushing the door wide open. He rolled out of the closet, his legs arched as he plunged himself upwards. 

"Intruder!" I screamed. 

"Miss Artemis, it's me." His voice penetrated my ears. 

"Who are you?" I questioned. 

"It's me, Sheriff." He exclaimed. 

"Director?"

The doors locked, the keys jingling in my hand. They were both on their knees, pleading for a reconsideration while telling me several reasons why they shouldn't be fired. 

Sheriff, the director had crawled into my office along with Kate, twenty minutes before my arrival. According to Kate, they had gone wild on my desk till the very minute I walked into the office. Unable to escape, Sheriff had curled into the closet, waiting for the best time to leave. Unfortunately for him, I had been drawn to him by the suit that plunged out.

"Miss Artemis, I'm so sorry this happened once again. I just can't help myself whenever I'm around Kate. She's just so good." He pleaded, his two hands on the ground. 

"The both of you crawled into my office just to have fun. You left cuffs, and he... he hid in the closet and covered himself with my ceremonial suit. He left hairs there!"

"We're really sorry, Miss Artemis." Her head bowed. 

"You know what? You guys can get up and leave." Their eyes lit up. "On one condition."

"And what is that?" They chorused.

"You both will make sure that nothing, nothing at all, falters with the company. The company contracts, the financial account, the stocks, everything, and I must see the analysis every week." I retorted. 

"But that's impossible given the range at which we excel at the contract signing."

"Then get to work and quit fumbling all over with your ass all over the place." I let out. 

They jumped up, rushing towards the door like they were being chased. Kate turned the door, forgetting that I had the keys in the first place. 

"Miss Artemis." Her eyes spoke sympathy. 

"Here." I threw the keys towards them, a smirk on my face as they bumped into each other. 

Three hours had passed since the Kate and the director had scrambled out of my office. I had successfully finished the day's job and was heading home for a nice cup of coffee. 

Mom had promised to bake strawberry pie for dinner, and I couldn't wait to taste her cooking. Unlike my foster mom, who doesn't know how to cook and leaves the food to the side restaurants, she had skills to start up a classic restaurant with millions of meals to be sold. She was just lazy with the idea and loved her beauty sleep. 

"Hello, Mom." My voice a mixture of stress and anxiety. 

"Why are you out till 10 pm today, Artemis? You didn't tell me you were pulling an all-night at work." She said. 

"I'm not pulling any all-nighter, Mom. I can't miss your special pie for anything in the world. 

"Then why aren't you home yet?"

"I'll be home in a minute." 

"Okay. Have you heard about your sister, Artemis?" Mom's voice went soft, a worried impression lingering in her voice. 

"What about her?"

"She called this afternoon when I was at work to talk about this new work she found downtown. I have no idea why she would go downtown for a modeling business, but that's the least of my concerns."

"Then what gives, Ma?" I asked.

"Her voice, it sounded like she was in trouble. I think she needs our help, Artemis; I can feel it."

"She doesn't need our help, Mom. And the feeling you're getting is because you forgot to use your medications as instructed." 

"How can you tell?" She said in haste. 

"I know you, Mom. You only take it when Dad, Catherine, and I force you to use it." 

"Speaking about Catherine, she's also missing."