His Destructive, Toxic Love

Aside from her eight hours of sleep, Eliza spent sixteen hours a day delivering food.

"Hey Eliza, you've got an order from Grandview Villas today. They're having a birthday party tonight and ordered over twenty thousand dollars' worth of food. Your delivery fee is two thousand bucks. Remember to pick up the meals at 5 PM."

The caller was the owner of a small catering business.

In Eliza's month of delivering food, the owner had always looked out for her, giving her big, lucrative orders.

"Got it, Lana. I'll be there on time."

This was the biggest order Eliza had received since she started delivering food. A two thousand dollar delivery fee was a lifesaver for Eliza, who was struggling financially.

At five o'clock, Eliza picked up the meals that Lana had packed.

"Lana, could you give me the contact's number?"

Lana sent Eliza the phone number and handed her a raincoat. "Eliza, the weather looks bad. It might pour later. Ride carefully and head straight home after the delivery."

"Got it."Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Eliza put on her helmet and took the raincoat from Lana. "Bye."

"Be careful on the road."

"Will do."

Grandview Villas were located in the suburbs, about thirty miles away. It would take over an hour on her electric bike.

Halfway there, it started to drizzle.

This was nothing new for Eliza; in her month of food delivery, she had faced all sorts of weather. Her attitude changed from discomfort to adaptability. As long as she could make money, she feared nothing. When she arrived at the gate of Grandview Villas, the rain had intensified.

She called the contact. "Hello, your order has arrived. Could someone please come and collect it?"

"You're the delivery person, right? Bring it in to Villa No. 78."

"Oh, okay."

Eliza navigated her way and found Villa No. 78. Worried about the meals getting wet, she took off her raincoat to cover the packed food.

She called the contact again. "Hello, I'm here. Could you please come out and collect it?"

"Just a moment."

Inside the villa, one could see the girl in the yellow vest standing outside.

"Casper, doesn't that delivery girl look like Eliza?" Nova asked, standing on the second-floor balcony.

Casper was standing beside her and immediately told his staff to wait. "Have her wait outside."

"Yes, Mr. Casper."

Nova gently nudged Casper's arm, worriedly watching Eliza standing in the rain. "Casper, it's raining outside. She'll get soaked." "That's the job she chose," Casper replied.

He turned and walked inside, sat down, and lit a cigarette, placing it to his lips. From his seat, he could clearly see Eliza's plight. Nova shrugged and said no more. "I'll go check on the fruit preparation."

The rain grew heavier.

Eliza couldn't wait any longer, and called the contact again. "Hello, when will someone come to collect the food?"

"Sorry for the inconvenience. Please wait a bit longer. Everyone's busy, but someone will come out soon."

"Please hurry. I'm worried the meals will get ruined."

She tucked in the corners of her raincoat again and sought shelter under the eaves to avoid the rain.