Sophia
The lit corridor outside Vince's office felt suffocating, the air thick with an oppressive tension that seemed to seep from the very walls. My footsteps echoed in the silence, each step weighed down by the heavy burden of the past few days. Vince and I had been skirting around something, a storm of unspoken words and buried emotions that neither of us seemed willing to confront. I wasn't sure if I was ready for what might happen when we finally did.
I was so lost in thought, trying to piece together the fragments of my scattered mind, that I didn't notice the woman until I nearly collided with her.
A sudden, firm grip on my arm yanked me back, halting my movement. My breath caught in my throat as I looked up into the eyes of the woman who had come looking for Vince earlier. A smirk curled at the corner of her lips, far from friendly.
"Well, what do we have here?" she drawled, her voice smooth as silk but laced with a venomous undertone that set my nerves on edge.
I straightened, pulling my arm free from her grasp, forcing myself to meet her gaze head-on. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there," I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
Her smirk widened, a flash of teeth that looked more like a predator's grin. She took a step closer, her perfume—intense and intoxicating—invading my senses. "No need to apologize, darling. I suppose you're not used to watching where you're going."
The sarcasm in her tone was unmistakable, and it took every ounce of restraint I had not to snap back at her. There was something about this woman that felt… dangerous. My instincts screamed at me to be careful, to get past her and get to Vince, but she clearly wasn't going to make it easy.
"I'm here to see Vince," I said, keeping my voice neutral, refusing to rise to her bait.
Her eyes glittered with amusement, but there was something else there too—something darker, more sinister. "You're already on a first-name basis. That was quick, Sophia Clark."
The way she said my name sent a jolt of fear through me. I hadn't introduced myself, but she knew exactly who I was. My mind raced, trying to figure out who she could be and why she seemed to know so much about me.
"And you are?" I asked, doing my best to keep my voice calm, though my heart pounded in my chest.
"Liliana," she replied, as if that one word explained everything.
I stared at her, trying to place the name, but it didn't ring any bells. If Vince had mentioned her before, I couldn't remember. "I'm afraid Vince hasn't mentioned you."
Liliana's smile widened, and there was a glint of satisfaction in her eyes. "Well, that's an oversight on his part. But I suppose there's no need for introductions when it comes to the past, is there?"
The way she emphasized the word "past" made my stomach twist with unease. I knew Vince had a history, just as we all did, but the way she said it made it clear that their connection was more than just a casual acquaintance. There was something between them, something that had left its mark on her—and perhaps on him as well.
"I don't see how the past is relevant to me in this situation," I said, keeping my tone even, though my mind was racing.
"Oh, the past has a way of sticking around, darling," Liliana said, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "It's funny how it can come back to haunt you when you least expect it." Her gaze raked over me, lingering on my face, then drifting down to my hand. Before I could react, she reached out and ran her finger along the back of my hand, her touch cold and deliberate.
I flinched at the contact, but she didn't let go, instead tracing a line up my arm, her nails grazing my skin ever so lightly. "You might want to keep that in mind," she added, her voice dropping to a whisper as she leaned in close, her lips almost brushing my ear.
"What are you trying to say?" I challenged, stepping back but holding her gaze. I wasn't going to let her intimidate me, not when I had so many questions spinning in my mind.
Liliana tilted her head, studying me with an unsettling intensity. "I'm saying, darling, that Vince has a tendency to leave things unfinished."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.
Her smile turned pitying, as if she were amused by my naivety. "Oh, sweet Sophia, you're smarter than that, aren't you? Surely you've noticed the way he looks at you. But let me give you a little piece of advice—Vince doesn't belong to anyone. Least of all to someone as innocent as you."
I bristled at her words, my hands curling into fists at my sides. "I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but I'm not interested. Whatever happened between you and Vince is none of my business."
She chuckled, a dark, throaty sound that made my skin crawl. "Oh, but it is your business now. Vince and I… we have a history, one that doesn't just disappear because he's found a new toy."
I recoiled at her insinuation, the anger rising in my chest. "I'm not anyone's toy," I snapped, my voice shaking with barely controlled rage. "And if you think you can just waltz in here and scare me off, you're wrong."
Liliana's smile faded, her expression turning cold. She stepped closer again, her hand brushing against mine, her breath warm against my cheek as she whispered, "You should be scared, Sophia. You have no idea what you're getting yourself into."
I didn't back down, even though every instinct in my body was screaming at me to run. "I'm not scared of you," I challenged, my voice trembling but resolute.
"Oh, darling," she murmured, a wicked gleam in her eyes. "You really should be. Speaking of being scared, I was at the gala, you know, the night you went unconscious. I watched as Vince carried you, his face pale with fear. Terrified, actually. It was the first time I'd ever seen him like that—in shock, vulnerable. I've known Vince for years, Sophia, and believe me, that man doesn't scare easily."
I froze, the memory of that night flooding back. I had been overwhelmed, the room spinning, and then darkness. But I had no idea Vince had reacted like that. "He was… scared?" I whispered, the disbelief clear in my voice.
"Terrified," Liliana confirmed, her voice a purr. "It was almost… endearing. But you see, Sophia, that's exactly why you should be afraid. If someone like Vince, who is always in control, could lose it over you… imagine what that means. For him, for you."
My heart pounded in my chest, her words wrapping around me like a vice. "What do you want?" I demanded, my voice barely above a whisper, the fear and anger warring within me.
Liliana's smile didn't waver, but her eyes darkened, the playful malice replaced by something far more dangerous. "More than you might think," she replied, her voice low and menacing.
She stared at me for a long moment, her eyes narrowing as if she were weighing her options. Then, with a smirk, she reached into her purse and pulled out a small, sleek business card. "Here," she said, holding it out to me with a flourish. "In case you ever need a reminder of how the past can be useful. Or if you find yourself in need of someone who knows a thing or two about your… deceased family."
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. My breath caught in my throat as I took the card from her, my hand trembling ever so slightly. She knew something about my parents—something I didn't. My mind whirled with questions, but I couldn't bring myself to ask them. Not yet.
"What do you know about my parents?" I demanded, my voice barely above a whisper, the fear and anger warring within me.
Liliana's smile didn't waver, but her eyes darkened, the playful malice replaced by something far more dangerous. "More than you might think," she replied, her voice low and menacing. "But that's a conversation for another time, don't you think? After all, you have a meeting to attend to with Vince."
"I'm not done talking to you," I insisted, my heart pounding in my chest. "If you know something about my parents, then you need to tell me."
She laughed softly, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Patience, darling. All in good time. But for now…" She leaned in again, her lips brushing against my ear as she whispered, "Be careful who you trust, Sophia."
With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, her steps echoing down the hallway like the ticking of a clock counting down to something inevitable. I stood there, frozen, the weight of her words pressing down on me like a lead blanket.
Liliana knew something about my parents—something she was holding over my head. And the way she had spoken about Vince… there was something there, something unspoken but potent. It was clear that whatever history they shared wasn't over, and I was caught in the middle of it.
Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to move, to push aside the fear gnawing at the edges of my mind. I had a meeting to attend, and I couldn't afford to let Liliana's cryptic warnings distract me. But as I reached for the door handle, a cold sense of dread settled over me.
The corridor was still, but the shadows seemed to lengthen, stretching out like dark fingers intent on pulling me into their depths. I glanced back down the hall, but Liliana was already out of sight. The haunting echoes of her words lingered in the space between us, mingling with the oppressive silence.
I shook my head, trying to clear the lingering sense of menace. I had to focus, had to keep my mind sharp. But as I turned the handle and stepped into Vinces' office, the chill of Liliana's warning remained with me, a constant reminder of the darkness that seemed to be closing in.