I turned slowly, my breath catching in my throat. There, in the dim light, I saw a fleeting glimpse of the masked man. His presence was unmistakable, even in the shadows. His eyes met mine for a brief moment, glowing an eerie red that sent shivers down my spine. Am I hallucinating?
Margaret, oblivious to the silent exchange, continued towards the door. I hesitated, torn between following her and confronting the masked man. Is he the one who we confronted late at that night?
Before I could decide, the masked man vanished into the darkness, leaving me with more questions than answers.
Meanwhile, I glanced at Margaret and followed her line of gaze and saw Alec approached the security room but didn't enter. Instead, he gestured to someone inside. A figure clad in a suspicious all-black suit emerged, and Alec spoke to them in hushed tones. I raised my eyebrows to see who he was talking with, then glanced at Margaret, who was watching from a distance. She decided to get closer to eavesdrop.
Just as she was about to reach them, a security guard intercepted her. "Excuse me, ma'am, this area is restricted."
I clenched my jaw, determination hardening my resolve. I couldn't let this go unanswered what is it with Alec and the masked man? Quietly, I moved forward, my footsteps barely making a sound on the cold, stone floor. The corridor seemed to close in around me as I approached a narrow, secretive passageway that I knew would give me a better view.
Peering through the narrow gap, I strained to see who the Alec was talking to. The dim light made it difficult to make out details, but I could hear the low murmur of voices. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to catch snippets of their conversation.
Doubt gnawed at me—could Alec be involved in something sinister?
As I focused, I finally caught a glimpse of the person Alec was speaking with. The figure was dressed in black, their face partially obscured. My anxiety spiked, but then I noticed something that made me pause. The man in black had a badge clipped to his belt, a symbol of authority. He seemed to be from some official agency.
Relief washed over me, easing the tension in my shoulders. Alec wasn't conspiring with the masked man; he was talking to someone from the authorities. How come I doubt him? Whatever they were discussing, it seemed to be officially about my security. I took a deep breath, my suspicions about Alec momentarily put to rest.
I heard Margaret trying harder to get the access, "I'm part of the exhibition staff. I left something important in there and need to retrieve it." She showed him, no she literally shoved it in his face, her staff identification card which was hanging around her neck.
The guard eventually nodded. "Alright but make it quick."
Margaret slipped inside the security room, her heart pounding. The dim lighting and eerie silence added to the tension. She looked around but found nothing—no sign of Alec or the mysterious figure. The room was empty, and there were no clues as to where they might have gone.
Feeling a mix of frustration and unease, Margaret knew she had to report this to me. Something was definitely amiss, and she needed to figure out what was going on before it was too late.
The unsettling feeling of being watched lingered, casting a shadow over the evening. I glanced over my shoulder, searching for any signs of a hidden observer, but Alec's message abruptly diverted my attention.
"Tell your secretary of a so-called best friend to stay away from my business, or I swear…" His threat trailed off ominously. I sighed, the weight of his words heavy on my mind, and ready to hurry back to the studio area before Margaret could notice anything amiss. But then I saw Margaret heading southward. I hit my forehead in frustration. This girl! She will get me killed. Damn it!
Margaret, unable to shake her suspicions, decided to confront Alec. She approached him as he was about to leave the security room.
"Alec, why did you refuse to let us handle this together?" Margaret asked, her tone edged with suspicion. "You know how important this is to us, and you told Evelyn to enjoy the feast?"
Alec turned to face her, his expression calm but firm. "Margaret, I understand your concern, but there's nothing to be suspicious about."
Margaret narrowed her eyes, not entirely convinced. "It's just that this whole situation feels off. Why did you gesture to that person in the black suit? Who is he?"
Alec sighed, his patience wearing thin. "I'm not here to handle every query you throw at me."
Margaret, her suspicions still simmering, couldn't hold back any longer. "Okay, just clear it to me that where were you when Evelyn was going through rough patches? Struggling to make a name for herself. You suddenly appear, acting like her protector?"
Alec's expression darkened, and he growled with barely contained anger. "Margaret, you have no idea what you're talking about. Don't you dare interfere in my life."
Margaret stood her ground, her eyes blazing with determination. "I'm not trying to interfere, Alec. I'm just looking out for Evelyn, just like you claim to be. But your sudden involvement and this whole situation are raising too many questions."
Alec took a step closer, his voice low and threatening. "Stay out of it when you still can, Margaret. This is between Evelyn and me. I won't warn you again."
The hall seemed to close in around them, the tension thickening with every passing second. Just as Alec decided to leave, a sudden noise from the hallway made them all turn sharply, their breaths held in anticipation.