Forbidden Passion

Phoebe was down for the count, barely able to get a word out. One morning, right after the meeting, Brandon summoned her to his office. Phoebe knocked and walked in.

"Take a seat," Brandon said, giving her a quick once-over. Once she was settled, he got straight to it. "I heard Theodore's been MIA for a few days, and you've been running the show with the VP?" Phoebe coughed a bit, her voice all raspy. "Yeah."

Brandon's face scrunched up. "You look like crap. Have you seen a doctor?"

"I just grabbed some meds, no biggie," Phoebe shrugged.

"You kids never learn. You wait till you're half-dead before seeing a doc," Brandon grumbled, then switched gears. "So, Theodore's been with a teacher at the hospital?"

Phoebe's lips tightened. "It's Vanessa's mom."

"Unbelievable!" Brandon snapped. "He's ditching work to babysit someone else's mom, and you're just letting it slide?"

Phoebe just stared at the floor, not saying a word.

Brandon, seeing her all meek and quiet, got even more ticked off. "Phoebe, you're his wife. Grow a backbone. If you keep acting like a doormat, of course, he's gonna walk all over you." After getting chewed out by Brandon, Phoebe left his office feeling like she'd been hit by a truck.

That night, Phoebe was burning up with a fever. She was sprawled out on the couch, half-conscious, when the doorbell rang. She didn't budge.

Then came the banging on the door, so loud it cut through her fever haze, even with a pillow over her head.

Phoebe dragged herself off the couch, using it for support, and shuffled to the door.

When she opened it, there stood Vanessa and Ruby. Phoebe frowned, her voice barely a whisper, "You sure you got the right place?"

Just as she was about to shut the door, Vanessa jammed her cane in the gap and waltzed in with a grin. "Nope, Theodore sent me to grab some clothes for him."

The cold air hit Phoebe, making her throat itch and triggering a cough.

"Why didn't he come himself?" Phoebe asked, her voice strained.

Vanessa didn't even bother taking off her shoes, just stomped right onto the living room carpet. She spotted the cat tree in the corner, where Ollie was hissing at her, and a look of disgust crossed her face. "He couldn't leave, so he sent me," Vanessa said, not missing a beat.

Phoebe's emotions were all over the place, and she shot back sarcastically, "Anyone would think it was his mom who was sick, not yours."

Vanessa didn't even flinch. She just smiled and said, "Who knows, maybe soon my mom will be his mom."

Phoebe's fists clenched in anger.

Suddenly, she started coughing violently. Ruby, standing nearby, saw Phoebe's face turn beet red, like she was about to hack up a lung. Instinctively, she reached out to help. Phoebe jerked away, her icy stare cutting through Ruby. "Don't touch me!" she snapped.

Ruby froze, her hand hanging in the air.

Vanessa saw the whole thing and sneered, "Ruby, why are you pretending to be all nice? She doesn't give a damn."

Ruby's fists tightened, and she hissed at Vanessa, "Vanessa, knock it off."

Vanessa watched Phoebe, who was hacking so hard she looked like she might keel over. She bit her lip, itching to push Phoebe's buttons more but worried it might blow up in her face.

Vanessa had come without giving Theodore a heads-up. If he found out she was stirring the pot, all the effort Sophia had put in for her could go down the drain.

With a smug look, Vanessa said, "Ms. Ziegler, since you're under the weather, I'll pack the clothes."

As Vanessa made her way toward the master bedroom, Phoebe stepped in front of her, her eyes icy. "Vanessa, that's mine and Theodore's room. Even if you're dying to take my place, wait until you actually marry him." Vanessa sneered, "Oh really? We'll see about that."

Phoebe gritted her teeth, shooting daggers at Vanessa before turning and coughing her way to the master bedroom.

Ruby watched Phoebe's defeated figure, her heart aching to tell her the truth-that Theodore hadn't sent them for the clothes. Vanessa had eavesdropped on Theodore and Lawton's chat and decided to come mess with Phoebe. But Ruby couldn't spill the beans.

Vanessa had her under her thumb, and Ruby couldn't risk crossing her.

Vanessa sauntered over to the cat tree, glaring at Ollie, the cat Phoebe and Theodore had raised together. Jealousy burned in her eyes, especially since Ollie had the nerve to hiss at her.

Hearing Phoebe's coughing echoing down the hallway, Vanessa knew she had some time. She suddenly lifted her cane and swung it at Ollie's head.

Ruby's eyes went wide with shock, too stunned to even scream as she watched the cane come down.

Ruby thought, 'Is Vanessa out of her mind?'

Ollie sensed the danger and sprang away just in time, dodging the crutch. It crouched on the cat house, hissing at Vanessa.

Vanessa, missing her target, swung the crutch again, cursing, "You're just as worthless as Phoebe."

Ollie, now fully enraged, dodged the crutch and leaped at Vanessa, swiping at her face.

Vanessa, terrified, dropped the crutch and covered her face, feeling a sharp sting on her hand and the brush of the cat's tail against her cheek. She screamed in pain and fell to the ground.

Ollie, having landed its attack, stood triumphantly on the cat tree, showing its claws to Vanessa.

Ruby watched Vanessa's self-inflicted disaster with a hint of satisfaction. Just then, Phoebe's muffled cough echoed from the hallway.

Vanessa glared at Ruby, who was just standing there, and snapped, "Don't just stand there! Help me up."

Ruby, seething but too scared to speak up, quickly went over to help Vanessa and put the overturned cat food bowl back in place. Phoebe's voice came from behind them, "What are you doing?"

Vanessa turned around, mockingly looking at Phoebe. "Your nasty pet scratched my hand."

Phoebe quickly walked to the cat tree. Ollie jumped into her arms, meowing pitifully.

Feeling Ollie's fear, Phoebe gently stroked its fur. "Don't worry, I'm here. They won't dare hurt you."

Then she shot a cold glare at Vanessa. "If you're done packing, take it and get out. I need to rest." Vanessa, having gained nothing, took the cane from Ruby.

As she passed Phoebe, Vanessa hissed, "Phoebe, next time I come here, it'll be your turn to get out."