Maya sat in her parents' living room, the soft hum of the television providing a comforting background noise. She was curled up on the couch, a blanket wrapped around her, as she sipped on a cup of chamomile tea. Sara was in the kitchen, baking cookies—a therapeutic activity they both enjoyed. It had been a few days since the incident at VISHO, and Maya was still grappling with the hurt and confusion that lingered in her heart.
Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, breaking her train of thought. She glanced at the screen and saw Levi Thompson's name flashing. Hesitating for a moment, she took a deep breath and answered.
"Hello?" Maya's voice was soft, almost fragile.
"Ms. Larson, it's Levi," Levi's voice was calm, yet she could hear the concern underlying his words. "How are you holding up?"
Maya sighed, her eyes glancing toward the kitchen where Sara was singing softly to herself. "I've been better, Mr. Thompson."
"I understand. This must be incredibly hard for you," Levi said gently. "I wanted to call you sooner, but I thought you might need some time."
"Thank you," Maya replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't really know what to think anymore."
"Ms. Larson, listen. Steven didn't mean what he said in the way it came out. There's more to this situation than you know," Levi began, choosing his words carefully. "He... he didn't want you to be at the office because he thought it would make things difficult for both of you. He didn't want to hurt you."
"How could he think that pushing me away would help anything?" Maya's voice cracked, the pain evident.
Levi paused, trying to find the right way to explain. "There's something going on, something that none of us can disclose right now. But please believe me when I say that Steven never intended to betray you or make you feel unwanted."
Maya's grip tightened on the phone. "Mr. Thompson, how can I trust him after hearing those words? How can I trust any of you?"
"I know it's hard," Levi said softly. "But Steven cares about you more than anything. He's been a mess without you, and he's desperate to fix things. There's a lot at stake here, more than we can say right now."
Maya was silent, processing Levi's words. The part of her that still loved Steven wanted to believe him, but the hurt and betrayal were too fresh, too raw.
"Ms. Larson, I can't ask you to forgive him right away. I just want you to know that there's more to the story. Please, don't shut him out completely. Give him a chance to explain when you're ready," Levi pleaded gently.
Tears welled up in Maya's eyes again. "Mr. Thompson, I don't know if I can. It's too much."
"I understand," Levi said softly. "Take all the time you need. Just know that we're here for you, and we'll support whatever decision you make."
Maya nodded, even though Levi couldn't see her. "Thank you, Mr. Thompson. I appreciate you calling."
"Of course, Ms. Larson. Take care of yourself, and if you ever need to talk, I'm just a phone call away," Levi assured her.
After ending the call, Maya sat in silence, Levi's words echoing in her mind. She wanted to believe there was a reason behind Steven's actions, but the pain of his betrayal was still a heavy burden to bear. She needed time, space, and perhaps a bit of understanding to find her way through the tangled emotions that consumed her.
In the kitchen, Sara peeked out, sensing that the phone call had been important. She wiped her hands on a towel and walked over to Maya, concern etched on her face.
"Who was that?" Sara asked gently.
"Mr. Thompson," Maya replied, her voice still shaky. "He was trying to explain... trying to tell me that Steven didn't mean it the way it sounded."
Sara sat down beside her, placing a comforting hand on her sister's shoulder. "Do you believe him?"
Maya shrugged, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I don't know, Sara. I really don't know."
Sara hugged her sister tightly. "Take your time, Maya. You don't have to make any decisions right now. Just know that I'm here for you, no matter what."
Maya nodded, resting her head on Sara's shoulder. The path ahead was uncertain, and the wounds in her heart were still raw. But with her sister by her side and the support of friends like Mr. Thompson, she knew she wouldn't have to face it alone.
. . .
Sara stepped into the café and instantly felt a wave of relief wash over her as she spotted Shonn. He greeted her with a gentle kiss on her hair and pulled her into a warm hug. "Hey, love," he whispered.
"Hey," she replied, hugging him tightly before they settled into their usual spot by the window. The familiar setting was a small comfort amid the chaos in her mind.
Shonn could sense something was off. "What's going on? You seem worried," he said, taking her hands in his.
Sara sighed, glancing at their intertwined fingers. "It's about Maya. She's really struggling after what happened with Steven. She's not herself lately."
"What happened?" Shonn asked, his concern evident.
Sara took a deep breath. "About a week ago she overheard Steven and Levi talking, in his office. Steven was basically telling Levi that he couldn't have Maya in the office anymore. He said it was too hard for him to have her around."
Shonn frowned. "That's pretty harsh. How did she react?"
"She confronted them right away. She told Steven he betrayed her and that he never loved her. She left the office in tears, went home, packed her things, and moved back to our parents' place. She's been a mess since then."
Shonn shook his head, feeling a mix of anger and sadness. "I had no idea. Levi hasn't said anything to me, but he's been acting strange. I overheard him saying that boys are coming over tonight."
Sara looked puzzled. "Do you think it has something to do with Maya?"
"It's possible," Shonn said, thinking it over. "Levi's usually pretty tight-lipped about work stuff, especially with me. But I think there's more to this."
Sara sighed. "What should we do?"
"I'll try to find out more tonight," Shonn said, determined. "I'll see if I can pick up any info from their meeting. It might be tricky, but I'll do my best."
"Thanks, Shonn," Sara said, leaning in to kiss him. "I just want to help Maya. She deserves so much better."
"We'll figure this out together," Shonn promised, holding her close. "We can't let her go through this alone."
. . .
The room buzzed with tension as Levi, Kevin, Ethan, Liam, and Steven gathered in Levi's spacious living room. The place, usually filled with warmth and camaraderie, now felt like a pressure cooker ready to blow.
Steven perched on the edge of his seat, his frustration palpable. His usual confidence was replaced with a mix of anger and despair. The others exchanged worried glances, unsure of how to tackle the elephant in the room.
"So, how are things with Maya?" Kevin asked cautiously, breaking the silence.
Steven shook his head, lips pressed into a thin line. "I can't reach her," he admitted, frustration evident in his voice. "Every time I try, it feels like she's slipping further away. It's killing me."
Ethan leaned forward, concern etched on his face. "Are you sure there's no way to get through to her? Maybe she just needs time."
Steven let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through his hair. "Time? I've had years. And now that I finally have her, her stupid ex has to ruin everything." He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.
At the staircase, Shonn sat quietly, eavesdropping on the tense conversation. He had always been good at blending into the background, a skill that served him well in moments like these.
Liam cleared his throat, shifting the conversation. "Have you dealt with that guy yet? What's his name again? Emmett Owen, right?"
Levi sighed, his expression darkening. "He's just threatening for now. I'm trying to handle this amicably, but if that bastard doesn't back off, things could get ugly."
"Can I just kill him?" Steven muttered through gritted teeth, his voice low and dangerous.
"Don't be stupid, Steven," Kevin admonished, though his voice held a note of sympathy.
"You guys don't know what I'm going through. What Maya's going through," Steven said, his voice cracking. "I've loved her for years, and now, when I finally got her, that bastard is ruining everything." His eyes glistened with unshed tears, a sight that made the room fall into a heavy silence.
"We'll figure it out," Ethan said, though his words lacked conviction.
"I can't relax. It's worse than all those years I waited for her. Maya hates me now, and it's killing me." Steven's voice was barely a whisper by the end, his emotional turmoil clear.
Everyone looked at Steven, their hearts heavy with sorrow. They had never seen him so vulnerable, so broken. At the staircase, Shonn, thinking the conversation was over, began to quietly make his way back to his room. But just as he was about to retreat, he caught Liam's words, "We still have a chance. The video hasn't reached anyone yet. I doubt Emmett will do it soon."
Shonn froze, his heart pounding. A video? What were they talking about? He leaned closer, his curiosity piqued.