"Hello... is that you, Elara?" Ziva’s voice ca imdiately from the other end.
Elara went quiet for a small second, then gave a low hum.
There was a sharp intake of breath before Ziva spoke again, her words rushing out all at once. "Elara, God, where are you? I’ve been waiting for you to call since yesterday. Even if your phone isn’t with you, you should have just used Mr. Va–"
"I’m at Grandpa’s place," Elara interrupted gently. "I need you to co here now please. And Ziva... bring my phone. Also bring as much cash as you can lay your hands on."
"Cash?" Ziva muttered, confusion clear in her voice. "How much?"
"Everything you can withdraw imdiately. Just co quickly, please." Before Ziva could say anything else, Elara ended the call. She took a deep breath then walked back into Grandpa’s room and placed the phone on the locker.
When she returned to the sitting room, Grandpa had already moved to the porch, a newspaper spread open in his hands. Elara stepped outside and sat beside him quietly, her fingers absentmindedly playing with the flowers that had stretched into the balcony.
"Is there anything wrong?" Grandpa asked suddenly.
Her fingers paused on the petals. Then she shrugged casually. "Nothing. I was just thinking."
"About what?" he asked again.
Elara pressed her lips together before letting out a small sigh. "It’s nothing, Grandpa. I was just calculating things in my head."
He looked at her for a mont longer, his gaze unreadable, then he nodded and returned to his newspaper.
Less than forty minutes later, a car pulled up outside the gate and drove off almost imdiately. Not long after, the gate creaked open and Ziva walked in.
She stopped when she saw them sitting there, her steps slowing. Then she walked over and stood in front of Elara.
She looked like she hadn’t slept for days. She wasn’t like this yesterday. Her face now was incredibly pale and she has dark circles under her eyes.
"Elara..." she breathed, her eyes scanning her from head to toe as if searching for injuries.
"It’s alright," Elara said quickly, taking her hand. "Co. Let see that thing."
She led her inside and into her room. Even though it had been a long ti since she last slept there, the space was still neat, almost like soone still lived in it.
"What thing are you talking about?" Ziva asked as they sat on the bed.
"Never mind," Elara muttered. "Did you bring the money?"
Ziva nodded quickly and reached into her tote. She pulled out a banded stack of bills and handed it over. "This is what I have in my apartnt. It’s a lot... what do you need it for?"
Elara didn’t answer. She untied the band and counted the money carefully. After she had finished counting it, she gave a small nod in satisfaction, then frowned again. "Do you have any more on you? In your wallet... your ergency cash. I need everything, please, Ziva. I’ll pay you back when I return."
Ziva stared at her, worry filling her eyes, but she didn’t argue. She reached into her bag again, pulled out her wallet, and emptied every bill into Elara’s hand.
"That’s everything... how much do you need?" she asked quietly.
"This is perfect," Elara said. She placed the money back into Ziva’s wallet and clutched it tightly in her fingers. "Wait for here. I’ll be back in twenty minutes. Don’t leave."
She stood up and walked out of the room.
"Grandpa, I’m going out," she said as she stepped outside.
"What’s wrong with you? You didn’t even give your friend anything to eat or drink, and now you’re leaving her here alone," he said, glancing at her.
"I said I’m coming back," Elara replied softly and walked out through the gate.
She used a part of the money to take a cab back to the villa district. When she arrived, she passed through the gates without any trouble.
The house was just as dead silent as she had left it. The box and the envelope were still on the table.
She walked over and placed the money she had taken from Ziva beside the envelope.
For a long while, she just stood there, staring at the pile, her face completely empty. Then she turned and walked out, closing the heavy door behind her for the last ti.
When she got back, Ziva was already sitting beside Grandpa on the porch.
Elara’s steps wavered a little and her lips pressed together tightly as she looked at them.
When Grandpa saw her, he waved imdiately. "Co on, hurry up. She’s been waiting for you. What’s wrong with you, girl?"
Sothing in her body eased at that. Maybe because Ziva hadn’t said anything. They returned to the room and sat on the bed again.
"Where did you go?" Ziva asked, but not waiting for her to reply, she reached into her bag. "Here. Your phone. I managed to get it from the venue after everything."
Elara looked at it and sighed softly. "I should get another one soon."
She took it from her and murmured, "Thank you."
The phone had already gone cold. She pressed the power button, and the mont it turned on, the device practically froze from the sheer volu of notifications.
Ziva’s hand lifted slightly, hovering near Elara’s arm. Her face grew even paler. "Elara... maybe you shouldn’t check it yet. It’s very bad. The party video... the one where your dress slipped... it’s everywhere. And Relanie’s fans are protesting outside the agency. They’re saying you attacked her... that she was trying to help you when you pushed her."
Elara didn’t react. She gently pulled her hand away from Ziva’s touch, her eyes fixed on the bright screen.
"Let them talk," she said quietly, her thumb scrolling through the hateful comnts and breaking news headlines, her expression unchanged.
Photos of Relanie playing the victim filled the screen. After a mont, she locked the phone and looked up at Ziva.
Her eyes were cold...
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