Lisa
In the rearview mirror, the house appeared as a dark shape against the night sky.
And in the depths of my mind, I was full of thoughts on how persistent: Evelyn was pursuing.
Evelyn's words felt like satin-covered blades to me, sharp and deliberate, yet cloaked in an air of elegance.
She sat back on her chair, holding a glass of wine, her gaze fixed on Sam and me.
I recalled how her other guests had gone to the lounge, leaving the three of us alone at the dinner table.
"You probably believe I can't see," Evelyn finally said, her tone gentle yet filled with spite. "Or even more foolish."
My stomach was churning, but I maintained a neutral expression, taking a sip from my glass to conceal the tremor in my hand.
Sam, on the other side, remained gentle and calm as always, leaning back in his chair as if this were merely a trivial annoyance.
"Evelyn," commented, his voice as smooth as the wine she sipped, "what are you saying?"
She angled her head, her grin sharp and subtle. "You understand precisely what I mean."
Her gaze shot to me, intense. "You and Lisa." "This small… setup you possess."
My heartbeat quickened, but I wouldn't turn my gaze. If I even slightly recoiled, Evelyn would notice. And if she noticed it, she'd never release it.
"I'm not sure what you believe you've discovered," I replied, my tone unwavering even with the noise blaring in my ears.
"However, Sam and I are united." "That's the conclusion."
Evelyn leaned in, placing her glass down with a gentle "clink" that seemed more pronounced than it ought to be. "Lisa, you might have persuaded Sam." Perhaps even some of my friends this evening.
But I am different. "I can tell when a person is not being truthful."
Sam straightened up, his voice more decisive now. "Evelyn, that's sufficient.
She disregarded him, her attention fixed on me. She continued, "Allow me to suggest for you, my dear."
"Oh, I should allow you to suggest for me? Sam yelled at the moment.
If you want to step into my world, you need to be prepared for the outcomes. Evelyn said.
Untruths often begin to fall apart, and as they do, they take everything else with them.
I held her gaze, not willing to retreat. "Appreciate the suggestion," I replied, keeping my tone indifferent. "I'll remember that."
Evelyn smiled slyly, rising elegantly from the table. "Excellent." Shall we head over to join the others now?
"It would be impolite to make them wait."
Sam and I shared a quick look before we entered the lounge with her, where music gently filled the atmosphere.
Evelyn's keen attitude transformed into cultivated friendliness as she navigated the room, seamlessly captivating her guests.
Yet, from time to time, She would turn her gaze to my direction, serving as a quiet reminder of her previous caution.
And then, to emphasize her point further, Evelyn extended a hand toward Sam with a gentle smile. "Join me in dance," she said, her voice playful yet sounding authoritative.
Sam paused for the slightest instant before grasping her hand.
They walked to the middle of the room, where the guests had cleared a space for them.
Evelyn's grin remained steady, yet her gaze toward him—lacked affection. As my gaze remains fixed on their dance steps.
I observed them move to the rhythm, feeling increasingly like an outsider than before.
But then, Evelyn turned her gaze toward me, her smile growing as though she had just recalled something funny. "Lisa," she shouted, "come and join us."
The room fell silent. All eyes were on me.
I compelled a smile, moving ahead, even as my heart raced. Evelyn reached out her hand to me, and before I could come up with a reason to decline, she drew me into their dance.
The three of us swayed in a deliberate, clumsy pattern, Evelyn's hold on my wrist secure yet not hurtful.
She moved in closer, speaking softly so that only I could hear.
"You won't be able to maintain this indefinitely," she murmured. "The fissures are already becoming apparent."
I remained silent, unsure if I could trust myself to. Instead, I concentrated on the music, allowing it to overshadow the chaos in my mind.
As we continue to enjoy the music at the moment.
Few minutes later, the song concluded, and Evelyn let me go with a grin that showed every tooth.
"Thank you, my dear," she said gently before turning to engage with her other guests.
Sam seized my arm as I retreated, speaking softly. "Are you alright?"
"I'm okay," I replied promptly, even though I really wasn't.
A tingling feeling coursed through my skin where Evelyn's fingers made contact, and her voice resonated in my thoughts.
We stayed for an additional hour, but I hardly absorbed the conversations taking place around me. Evelyn's essence remained in the recesses of my mind, an enduring specter.
The next morning, I tried to wipe away the events of the night before from my thoughts.
Work became a much-appreciated diversion, and I dedicated myself to it wholly.
My tiny office was messy yet cozy, the soft hum of my laptop providing a calming backdrop.
I was writing a proposal when a loud knock at the door interrupted my focus.
"Enter," I said, not taking the time to glance up.
The door groaned as it opened, and loud footsteps stepped into the room. "Lisa."
The sound of David's voice made my stomach drop. Gently, I glanced up, and there he stood, propped against the doorframe as if he owned the spot.
His suit was costly yet wrinkled, his tie a bit crooked.
"What are you doing in this place?" I inquired, my voice sharp.
He grinned, moving deeper into the room. "What?" "No friendly reception for a longtime companion?"
"We're not friends," I stated assertively, rising to create some space between us. "And you ought not to be here."
David overlooked me, his gaze sweeping the room before returning to focus on me.
"News reaches me that you're living with Sam McAllister now." "That's a significant advancement for you." He said and continued looking at me.
I folded my arms, my jaw clenching. "That's not your concern." I can decide what is good for me. I responded immediately.
He let out a chuckle, a quiet, derisive noise. "Oh, indeed it is." Look, when a person like Sam begins a relationship with someone like you, conversations arise.
"And when individuals speak, I pay attention."
"Cut to the chase, David," I retorted, my patience running low.
He moved nearer, his voice becoming softer. "What's your perspective, Lisa?" Are you looking for his wealth? He asked.
What is his name? "Or is this merely another of your cunning plans?"
A wave of anger washed over me, but I pushed it away, not allowing him to notice how deeply his words affected me.
"I don't have to explain myself to you," I stated icily.
"Not at all," he replied, his grin diminishing, "yet you are obligated to tell me the truth."
"I have no debt to you," I replied. "Now leave my office."
David looked at me for a prolonged instant, his face difficult to interpret.
At last, he nodded his head while chuckling gently.
"You're engaging in a risky game, this is what I must tell you Lisa." "And when it explodes in your face, don't claim I didn't caution you."
He turned and left, leaving the door slightly open behind him. I reclined in my chair, my hands shaking as I took hold of my coffee.
The warmth offered no comfort to ease me.
Later that night, Sam arrived at my office unexpectedly. He rested against the doorframe, observing me with an inscrutable look.
"Do I need to worry about David?" he inquired.
I paused, uncertain about how much to reveal to him. "No," I replied at last. "He's simply... inquisitive."
Sam entered, shutting the door after him. "Curious enough to create issues?"
I shook my head, although uncertainty ate away at me. "I can manage him."
Sam observed me for a brief moment before nodding. "I trust you."
There was a quality in his tone, something nearly… respectful. He looked around the room, observing the orderly disorder of my workspace.
"You're quite skilled at this, you realize," he remarked, catching me off guard.
"At which?" I asked.
"Everything," he replied straightforwardly. "Your job, how you interact with others, how you manage yourself." You depend on no one. It's… remarkable." He added.
I was unsure how to reply to that, so I chose not to.
But, I remained silent. Instead, I returned to my laptop, wishing he couldn't notice how his words had impacted me.
Sam lingered for a bit, propping himself against my desk while he inquired about my projects.
For the first time, he appeared truly engaged, rather than merely going through the motions.
However, just as I began to unwind, my phone vibrated with a new notification.
The message came from an unidentified number, yet its content chilled me to the bone.
"You think you've succeeded, but you're not." "I am aware of everything."
I looked at the screen, my heart racing in my chest. Sam quickly observed my shift in attitude.
"What's the matter?" he inquired, his tone acute.
I paused, contemplating whether to reveal the message to him.
Yet, when I gazed up at him, I noticed something in his eyes—a glimmer of protectiveness I hadn't anticipated.
"Not a thing," I fibbed, shutting the phone and placing it back in my pocket. "Only work-related matters."
Yet, while I forced a smile and attempted to keep the conversation going, it became evident that someone was observing me.
And they were aware.