On The Edge

Thea had just slipped into the women’s restroom between classes, grateful for a moment of quiet.

The echo of running water muffled the campus noise outside. She stood at the mirror, brushing a stray lock of hair back into place. The tabloids were still buzzing, the whispers following her down every hallway. Even the way professors looked at her had changed. It was exhausting.

To make matters worse, she had an army of bodyguards following her everywhere and it was slightly annoying! Even if she tried to be discreet, she had suited someone watching her every move, following her!

She had to warm Ethan off following her to the bathroom. It was just too much.

Thea exhaled as the door creaked open.

Soft heels clicked across the tiled floor, trailing perfume. Thea glanced at the mirror and saw Yumi glide in, as flawless as ever: glossy black hair, designer blouse under the Zean uniform jacket, lips curved in a polite smile that never reached her eyes.

“Thea Balmero,” Yumi said brightly. “Or should I say Mrs. Blackwood.”

Thea’s shoulders stiffened but she kept her eyes on the mirror. “Yumi.”

Yumi came closer, leaning against the counter. “You’ve certainly shaken things up. Everyone’s talking.”

“People talk.” Thea turned off the tap and reached for a paper towel.

“They do,” Yumi agreed. “Especially when Seth Blackwood suddenly announces his secret wife to the world. Names get dragged through the mud. Sterling, Blackwood… Posy must be having a time.”

Thea dabbed her hands dry, still not looking directly at her. “If you have something to say, say it.”

Yumi laughed softly. “Always so blunt. I like that about you. But no, I’m not here to gossip like Chloe and Sarah. I just…” she let her words trail off, tilting her head as if weighing something. “I wanted to see how you’re holding up. All these rumors about you and Runes… it must be hard.”

Thea finally turned. “Rumors about me and Runes?” Her tone was flat.

Yumi’s smile tightened a fraction. “Oh, you know how people talk. About who was supposed to marry whom. About who might have known what.”

Thea studied her for a long moment. She’d seen Yumi before, hell, met her more times than she could count. They all belonged to the same social circle and somehow, she had missed a few details about her.

How she's always hovering around Runes, laughing at his jokes, brushing invisible lint off his sleeve.

Thea didn't need to be told that Yumi had been sleeping with Runes even when she was engaged to him. Posy came into the outturn and nothing seemed to change. When he’d been officially engaged to Posy. And now here she was, circling Thea like a cat, trying to sniff out a secret.

“I know people talk,” Thea said softly. “But I don’t believe everything I hear.”

Yumi’s fingers tightened on the counter but her voice stayed light. “Neither do I. But sometimes it’s… enlightening… to ask directly.”

“What is it you’re trying to ask?” Thea asked.

“Oh, nothing.” Yumi’s lashes swept down, then up. “Just wondering if you and I were ever on the same page.”

Thea tilted her head. “Same page?”

“About Runes.” Yumi’s voice dropped just a shade. “About… what he was doing while everyone thought he was Posy’s perfect fiancé.”

There it was, wrapped in sugar but unmistakable. Yumi wasn’t interested in Seth at all; she wanted to know if Thea had known about her affair with Runes.

Thea tried to hide a smirk, she must have been living rent free in Yumi’s head for her to make the effort to try to find out what she knew.

Thea let the silence stretch. She could see the tension under Yumi’s smooth surface, the tiny flick of her pulse at her throat. This was no idle curiosity. Yumi was scared.

Thea’s mouth curved, just slightly. “Why would I have been on any page with you?”

Yumi blinked, caught off guard. “Because…” She stopped and smiled again. “Because you were close to him. You were his ex fiancée. Everyone knows that.”

Thea leaned back against the counter, arms loosely folded. “ Oh.” She muttered. “I suppose it was way too close to see the kind of man he was,” she said evenly. “Now I know what I want.”

“And what is that?” Yumi asked, her voice quick now, sharp under the sweetness.

“Not him,” Thea said simply.

For a heartbeat the only sound was the slow drip of a faucet. Then Yumi laughed again, but it was thinner now, brittle. “So you didn’t..?”

“I’m not interested in Runes Sterling,” Thea cut her off. “Not anymore. Whatever you’re worried about, you can stop dragging me into it.”

Yumi stared at her, mask slipping for the first time. “I’m not worried.”

Thea picked up her bag. “Good. Then we’re done.”

She started for the door. Yumi’s voice followed her, softer now, almost a whisper. “You’re smarter than you look, Thea.”

Thea paused at the door, hand on the handle. She looked back over her shoulder, eyes cool. “So are you, Yumi. Use it.”

Then she opened the door and stepped out, the click of it closing behind her echoing.

Inside, Yumi stood still, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her fingers dug into the marble countertop. She had come to find out whether Thea was a threat, whether the Blackwood wife knew about her secret life with Runes.

She still didn’t have a clear answer but the way Thea had looked at her, the tone of her voice, unsettled her more than any direct accusation would have.

She smoothed her hair, reapplied a coat of lip gloss, and forced her smile back into place. She would have to be careful. Very careful.

****

Outside, Thea walked down the corridor, her pulse steady. She hadn’t gone into that bathroom expecting a confrontation, but when Yumi walked in, she’d known exactly what was coming. Thea wasn’t naïve. She’d seen enough to understand what Yumi was to Runes.

And she wasn’t going to give her a weapon.

She didn’t care about Runes Sterling’s affairs. But she wasn’t going to be used, either. If Yumi wanted reassurance, she could look somewhere else.

The most important thing was, her plan was going on smoothly and better than she could possibly imagine or hope.

As she stepped into the courtyard, the chatter of students washed over her.

Ethan pulled the car door open as her bodyguards stood around in strategic places, keeping their eyes out for danger.

Her bag strapped on one shoulder, she heads towards the car, her chin up with no hint of shame.

They can talk as much as they want but one thing is certain, none of them could say anything to her face.

None of them had the gall to.