Lisa
It seems as if we're facing trouble. The property was an expansive embodiment of excellence, the type of location that shouted long-standing wealth.
A lengthy driveway, bordered by neatly trimmed hedges, approached a house so enormous it made you feel tiny.
White columns, lofty windows, and a lawn that appeared as if it had never encountered anything as ordinary as dirt.
I tightened the strap of my overnight bag and gave Sam a fierce look.
"I don't fit in here," I whispered, my tone soft so the driver emptying the trunk wouldn't notice.
"You'll be okay," Sam remarked, avoiding eye contact with me. His jaw was clenched, and he wasn't sporting that relaxed smirk he normally wore like a shield.
"What's the matter?" I inquired, but he merely shook his head and began walking toward the house, forcing me to follow.
Evelyn, the older sister of Sam, greeted us at the entrance. She embodied all the qualities one would anticipate from someone raised in an environment like this: refined, composed, and astonishingly flawless.
Her golden hair was styled into a smooth bun, and her gown appeared to be pricier than my monthly rent.
"Lisa," she remarked, her grin so tense it could have been mistaken for a grimace. "We've learned a lot about you." She said, with a steady look at me. Her face frowned.
I compelled a grin. "I trust all is well."
She remained silent and simply moved aside to allow us to enter.
The interior of the house was even more frightening. Tall ceilings, costly artwork, and a sense of subtle scrutiny.
I sensed it already. Evelyn's gaze, the silent inquiry of whether I measured up for Sam.
Except I wasn't really with Sam, which somehow made it even worse.
We were led into the living room, where the remaining members of Sam's family were present.
His mother, a keen-eyed woman with a straightforward haircut, sat on a spotless white couch drinking tea.
His father was by the fireplace, casually flipping through a leather-bound book as if he didn't even notice we had come in.
And then there was Richard, Evelyn's husband. He glanced away from his phone briefly to assess me before returning to the business transaction he was certainly managing.
"Welcome," Sam's mother stated, although her tone indicated that the welcome had conditions. "Lisa, right?"
"Sure," I replied, attempting to remain still under her stare.
"Go ahead and get cozy," she remarked, her grin just as insincere as Evelyn's.
Sam positioned himself beside me on the couch, his knee lightly touching mine.
I couldn't tell if it was deliberate or simply due to the cramped space, but the encounter shook me.
"Lisa works as a photographer," Evelyn remarked, her voice infused with an emotion I couldn't fully identify. "How fascinating."
I started to speak, but Sam interrupted me. "She is among the top in the industry," he stated, his tone cutting like a knife.
Evelyn lifted an eyebrow but chose not to pursue it. I sensed the tension between them, dense and weighty. As if it weren't their first conflict.
We got through dinner without major issues, although Evelyn was able to include a couple of subtle jabs regarding my "artistic lifestyle," and Richard inquired if I had a contingency plan "just in case."
I bit my tongue, reminding myself that this was just part of the act. However, by the moment dessert arrived, I felt like escaping.
Sam must have felt it because he bent closer and murmured, "Nearly finished."
I nodded, appreciative, but just as we got up to depart the table, the doorbell sounded.
"I'll take care of it," Evelyn replied, standing up elegantly.
A moment later, she came back with a visitor in tow, and my stomach sank.
David.
He appeared improper in his wrinkled jacket and worn shoes, yet his expression was as smug as always.
I was uncertain how he had located us, but the expression on his face directed at Sam indicated he wasn't there for a friendly reunion.
"David," Sam remarked, his voice cold. "What brings you here?" He asked, staring at him.
David raised his shoulders. "I believed it was the right moment for us to have a small conversation." "Do you mind if I ask?" He said.
Evelyn's gaze shifted between them, showing evident curiosity, yet she remained silent.
"Let's step outside," Sam replied, his tone tense.
David grinned, the sort of grin that sent shivers down my spine. "Oh, I believe this place is good." "Don't you agree, Lisa?"
Why are you inviting me? I asked myself and turned my eyes as if I were not the one he referred to.
Everyone's gaze was directed at me. My heart pounded, yet I compelled myself to remain composed.
"I'm not sure what you mean, David." I responded.
He laughed softly, shaking his head as if I were a naive child. "Oh, really now."
Don't act clueless. "Who doesn't enjoy a juicy scandal, right?"
Sam moved ahead, his body rigid. "Refrain from doing this."
"Perform what?" David remarked, pretending to be innocent. "Speak the truth?"
"That's enough," said Sam's father, his voice slicing through the tension like a blade. "What is this regarding?"
David dug into his jacket and retrieved a folded sheet of paper. He brandished it in the air as if it were a sort of trophy. "I did some probing." It appears that Sam is more than just the delightful writer that everyone believes him to be.
"David—" Sam began, but David interrupted him.
"Please, allow me to complete." He faced Sam's parents, his smile growing broader. "Are you aware that your golden boy is on the verge of losing it all?"
"Are his so-called business ventures losing money?"
The space fell quiet. Evelyn's complexion turned ashen, and Richard lowered his drink, his curiosity finally awakened.
"That's absurd," Sam's mother remarked, although there was a trace of uncertainty in her tone.
"Is it so?" David remarked, flinging the paper onto the coffee table. "Feel free to have a glance." "Bank statements are truthful."
Sam remained still, yet his hands tightened into fists beside him. I took a look at the paper, but I didn't have to read it to realize it was unfavorable.
"You don't understand what you're saying," Sam replied, his tone soft yet menacing.
David grinned. "Do I not?" Confront it, Sam. Your ideal little universe is crumbling, and it's just a question of time until everyone discovers it."
I could no longer endure it. "Why are you here at all, David?" I lost my temper.
He glanced at me, a smug look on his face. "To demonstrate to you who you are dealing with."
Do you believe this man is a knight in shining armor? He's a fake, Lisa. "Similar to the situation you both are in."
My stomach churned. He wasn't fully aware of the truth, not truly, yet he was near enough to pose a threat. I can't imagine what he wants to do here.
Sam moved in front of me, his form obstructing David's sight. "Leave," he uttered, his tone icy.
David lifted his hands in feigned submission. "Alright." I'll be on my way. "However, don't assume that this has come to an end." I am still coming for you.
With that, he spun around and exited, creating a profound silence behind him.
"Is that you, Sam?" Evelyn's tone was unsure, nearly gentle. "Is that correct?"
Sam failed to respond. He simply gazed at the door, his jaw clenched.
"Lisa," he finally said, looking at me. "Let us proceed." He said, his tone quiet and gentle.
I nodded and exited the room behind him without glancing back.
My heart raced, and thoughts tumbled in my mind, but I understood it was wiser not to press him at this moment.
We returned to the guest room, and Sam shut the door after us, pressing against it as if to keep the world at a distance.
"Sam," I began, but he interrupted.
There was a knock on the door. Sam opens to check whose on the doorway. David appeared again.