LOGINMy mind wouldn’t stop spinning. How could Victoria be seen at the train station days after she was supposedly stabbed? Thoughts sat heavy on my mind, and I leaned my head against the window as the city blurred past behind us.Alex cleared his throat once, softly. I knew what that was, a subtle way of snapping me back to reality. I glanced at him once, a small smile sat on his face.Then his hand lifted from the wheel, hovered, then settled back down. He didn’t speak. I didn’t either. The silence felt heavy, like something we were both carrying but didn’t know how to set down.Finally, the station came into view, bright lights, people hurrying with suitcases, and the sound of trains rumbling low in the distance. Alex parked near the side entrance. We got out, the night air flushed my skin, that feeling of uneasiness slowly crept back in. I tugged at the handle of my bag.An official met us at the door, middle-aged, with graying hair, clipboard in hand. He looked at Alex first, then at
I stared hard in the mirror at my face. Not once did I ever imagine this day would come. All this time I had hoped for a miracle. I had hoped that she would walk in through the door and all of these would be gone. And somehow we would go back to how life was a few weeks ago, clear, sweet, and no distractions.But there, her pictures taunted me on the screen. I could imagine how hard this was for Mr. Richard too. Then I heard footsteps approaching the office door. I walked out of the bathroom and back into the office; voices reached me next.Alex’s voice reached me first, Mr. Richard's voice followed next. The soles of their shoes thudded against the floor. I grabbed the remote control fast, stretched it toward the television, and turned it off. He didn’t have to see it. The news wasn't for him, nor was it for us. It would only worsen the state of his mind. “We have gotten quite a few calls lately concerning the case,” Alex said as he pushed the door to the office open, Mr. Richard
Days swept by fast, blurring into each other. Yet no news of Victoria. No trace of her either. Mr. Richard clearly avoided the mansion, and I could say I know why.The last time he was here, I had seen him grab a dress from Victoria's closet, press it hard against his nose, just enough to perceive her fragrance. That's how much he missed her. I stood there by the door, my heart tore into shreds as I watched him. I had wanted to bring a certain client to his notice, but there I stood, transfixed at the door at the sight of him. Then he tilted his eyes up to the ceiling, I could see him batting his eyelids. I could tell he was fighting tears, but all the same, his hopes came crashing down with each passing day, and no news of her.I wanted to leave, to let him have his moment, I could always come back later. But then the door creaked noisily, startling him. He quickly shoved the dress back into the closet. I cursed myself under my breath. His hands flew to his eyes at once, dabbing th
Alex had dropped me off right in front of the building and held the door for me to walk out. I tried so hard to keep my cheeks from blushing. The rest of our unplanned dinner date had gone well. What surprised me most, was his calmness when I told him I wasn't ready for a relationship. A lot had happened and I needed time. I thought that would scare him. But he had taken my hand up in his.“I don't mind waiting. As long as you ask me to.” His lips had let those words out. His eyes had confirmed how much he meant every bit of it. And the slow thumping of his heart had sealed it.“Just don't act like you don't see me… Don't act like that night didn't mean anything… We made love, Lena.” He gasped.My heart sank into my stomach as the memory of that night wrapped around my brain.And now, I stepped out of the car, walked toward the gate, he leaned against his car, arms folded, feet crossed as he watched me like I was some priceless jewel.“Lena,” he called out. I stopped just by the gat
Before I could say one more word, he had moved again, now heading toward his sedan parked toward the end of the parking lot.“Isn't it your duty to take into consideration every detail concerning Ms. Langford's case?” I yelled, standing by the passenger's side of the car. “Well said, but you don't just show up at people's offices at odd hours and expect to be attended to.” He snapped back.“Did you say odd hours? I was just a few minutes late! If you were competent enough you would still be behind your desk in your office attending to cases of such importance instead of rallying off to God knows where.” I yelled still. Clasping both hands as I watched him, waited for him to say a word. But he merely shook his head, like I wasn't making any sense. Then he lowered himself into the driver's seat.I adjusted the leather bag over my arm. Then I moved two steps away from the car. Somehow, I knew he was right, but then this had come as a second thought. But how was I supposed to sit over a
I flung my phone hard against the desk fearing it might have broken. I've called her endlessly. She hadn't taken any of them.I sat there in my office, thoughts wild, heart thumping. I had lost track of time. The sketchboard stood before me.Lines stood on the board, leading to nowhere. I hadn't been able to complete a single task without stopping to think about what she could be doing at each point. Why the heck was she avoiding my calls? I had gone to see her the other day in the guise of bringing in some good news. There is no more good news left to be hawked. The major suspect had been captured. I bit slowly on my lower lip.Marcus might be right. When I interviewed him earlier today, he had looked straight into my eyes and spat out words like he was too sure of what he was saying.“What's that in your eyes, Bro?” He smirked. “Why do your eyes flicker each time I mention Samantha?” His ugly laughter followed next, tilting his head a little, the nape of his neck resting on the cha
I stepped out of my room, the emerald dress catching the chandelier light as I moved. The silk tight on my skin as I walked through the hallway, hugging my hips and flaring right above my knees. One leg peeked out each time I walked. I’d spent too long in front of the mirror earlier, turning left,
I really do not know how to react to the bouquet even after Sara had left. I managed to convince her it was one of his games to get me back to him.I grabbed my phone, searched for his number, then realised he was still blocked on it. I unblocked him in a few taps, then the call went through. His v
The night wrapped around us like a blanket we hadn’t asked for. Night flies occasionally resting on our bodies, their creaking sounds the only evident sounds apart from our own voices.We’d lost track of time completely, no clocks, no phones, just the slow lap of water against the pool tiles, catch
I tossed and turned. The sheets twisted around my legs like ropes. I stretched, arms high, back arching, toes pointing, until my spine popped softly, gently moving the sheets a bit. My body felt heavy, loose, like it had finally given up fighting sleep. I sat up slowly. My back against the headb







