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He wrapped a towel around me with a tenderness that almost made me cry for the thousandth time in these two days. I let him carry me out of the shower. His strong arms supporting me like I was made of glass. Once in the bedroom, he seated me on the bed, the same bed where I had seen him with my sister. Swallowing back the bile that was rising in my throat, I forced a smile and pretended like everything was okay.
He reached for panties and a sweater dress, dressing me as if I were a child. His touch was gentle, but the room was charged from the unease. He brushed my hair away from my face, his fingers working on untangling the locks.
As he worked, I couldn't bear his intense stare anymore. "Are you not going to leave?" I blurted out, frantic for a moment of respite from his all-consuming presence.
The walls seemed to close in as I waited for his response. I heard his teeth clench so hard it felt like they might break. He opened his mouth, as if ready to say something, but then closed it again, nodding angrily in agreement.
He mentioned he might be late as he put on the wrinkled suit jacket from last night again. I concealed a sigh of relief—because that meant he'd be attending everything he had planned. But he picked up on it, as he always did. Hurt flashed across his features, making my chest squeeze without my permission.
As he prepared to leave, I moved closer, aiming for a peck on the lips. Something in me needed to soothe him, and I swore at the soft spot I still had for him despite everything.
He closed his eyes, savoring the moment. To him, it may have tasted sweet, but for me, it felt like swallowing poison—a bitter reminder of the fractures in our relationship.
I moved away from him before he deepened it, and he kissed my forehead before leaving. I was able to breathe easier after his retreat.
The hours could not pass by slower; I filled the time with playing with Peanut. He now had a proper litter box, toys, and the cutest cat tower. I truly believed in my heart that he was sent to me by someone from above; I would have self-combusted without him.
Once the clock finally hit eight o’clock, I started getting ready. Opening the closet, an array of expensive dresses Adrik gifted me came into view. My hand ran over a simple black one; it was very elegant and something I would have usually picked up. But my eyes constantly gravitated to a red dress I bought a long time ago.
I never wore it because it was a tad bit too revealing, but it was gorgeous. Red, short, and sparkly. I needed all the confidence Icould get. So, I chose to go with it, even though it was not the safest option. Adrik would have a seizure if someone other than him saw me in this dress. Oh well.
I stood in front of the mirror after putting the dress on; it clung to my figure like a second skin, its daring V-cut adding a touch of boldness. It showcased my small curves, accentuating them.
The vibrant red made my fair skin tone pop, and for a moment, I felt undeniably sexy. I applied makeup to the best of my capabilities, and softly curled my hair, letting the waves frame my face. The eyeliner I had put on really suited my hooded eyes. My hair also looked very voluminous and healthy. I was impressed with my work.
But the truth was that this wasn't a typical preparation for a glamorous night out. Instead, it was a charade to uncover evidence that could shatter the very foundation of the life I had always believed in.
As I knelt down to fasten my heels, a sudden ping from my phone jolted me. The text from my sister simply read, "He is there. Go down." Adrenaline surged in me as I hastily spritzed on some perfume, grabbed my purse, and coat before running downstairs.
Opening the door, I was met by a familiar face—the man who often drove both Adrik and me to different places. He wasn't a stranger; he worked for Adrik. Confusion furrowed my eyebrows as I grappled with conflicting thoughts. My sister's cryptic message lingered, planting seeds of doubt that made my stomach churn. I put on a brave face as I faced the man at the door.
The man before me seemed unusually nervous, shifting anxiously from foot to foot. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and his eyes nearly bulged out of his head when hecaught sight of me. I could tell he forced himself to look away, his breaths ragged.
"Come on, Madam," he stammered, "The car is outside." I nodded in acknowledgment, stepping behind him, the click of my heels echoing in the uneasy silence. My mind raced with thoughts of what I might find.
As we neared the car, a stern-faced guard intercepted our path. He eyed me critically before turning his disapproving gaze to the man beside me. A surge of anger ran through me, realizing that Adrik had employed guards for me in his absence.
The guard had a no-nonsense demeanor. He sharply questioned the man about where he thought he was taking me, especially given my current attire. They clearly knew each other though; he called the driver by his first name, Nathan. Nathan stammered incoherently, but before he could finish his sentence, I intervened.
"Surprising my husband," I declared. I needed him to believe me. The guard scowled, ready to interject. I raised my hand, signaling for silence.
"Are you going to ruin the surprise I've planned for my husband?" I asked, infusing a hint of feigned sadness into my voice. "Do you realize how disappointed that will make me? And once Adrik learns how sad I am that my surprise was ruined, I'm certain he won't be pleased either." I continued through a fake pout in my lips.
He reached for his phone to call Adrik. Acting on instinct, I lunged forward, gripping his hand tightly to stop him.
"Wait, please!" I pleaded. But the guard reacted as if my touch burned him, ripping his hand away from my grasp as if repelled by an invisible force.
"It's a surprise, I'm telling you. You can't spoil it," I urged, my words rushed and urgent as I fought to suppress the rising tide of anxiety in her chest. I had to convince him, there was no other option.
"Nathan will be with me the whole time, I promise," I reassured the guard, my eyes pleading with him to understand. With a muttered curse, the guard relented, nodding at Nathan and giving him reluctant permission to escort me.
.I fought back my sinister smile at the fact that he believed my lie. However, just before the car started moving, he leaned in and whispered something to him. Nathan trembled as the vehicle set off. His hands holding the steering wheel were shaking uncontrollably.
The car ride dragged on in silence, a solid two hours of overthinking and restlessness. My thoughts ate away at me, almost making me lose my sanity. There was something in my mind that was nagging at me, making me feel stupid.
I was in a car with a man I barely knew heading to God knows where. This definitely was not the smartest decision on my part, but my need to find out the truth was overshadowing my common sense. The surroundings passed by, and the car finally came to a stop in front of what looked like some random club in the middle of nowhere.
Reality hit hard, and my nerves spiked. Nathan turned around and handed me an expensive-looking mask. It felt heavy, matching the unease settling in my gut.
