Eight Vanessa #2
She gulped; she was going to play dumb regardless of how utterly useless it would be.
"Know what?"
"You know what. Answer the question."
"When I was trying to find your age, I kinda went down a rabbit hole," she admitted gingerly, avoiding my eyes.
I softened my expression, hoping to convey that she could go on without judgment.
"I'm a private person; that's not a suitable answer. Use your words," I cooed, knowing those words would get her flustered, yet choosing them anyway.
"Your photos with Mia," she spoke tentatively, as if asking a question.
"Elaborate. What about them? They show nothing."
"I went on her Instagram. The comments with her new girl—they mentioned a red-headed ex. I put the pieces together."
Of course, her friends hated me, never understanding the importance of privacy to me.
Being a secret was a fixed condition those I was involved with needed to accept.
In the end, her instability took a toll on me, causing me to end things.
But she never enjoyed being hidden from the press, and I was never satisfied.
"Jesus, you stalked my ex? Why, Evelyn?" I sighed, a mix of exasperation and relief.
I didn't care that she knew; however, her attraction for me growing was knotty and not exactly appropriate. Regardless, I couldn’t deny its appeal.
She was gorgeous and exactly my type—impish yet undeniably endearing—so I was flattered to have her attention.
It was cute watching her fight the tendencies I brought out in her.
"You're mysterious; do you blame me for being curious?" she giggled.
"No, sweetheart, I don't. Wonderful detective work. You truly are something else." She looked away, flushed at my words. She couldn't take a compliment—specifically praise from me. It had already been noted in my mind.
"But now, can you please just tell me what happened Friday so I can sleep at night?"
"What do you remember?" I wasn't going to mention the extent of her breakdown if I didn't have to. It was the alcohol; it wasn't fair to hold her accountable for her uncharacteristic and harmless behavior.
"Drinking too much, then running into you in the bathroom, then you dropping me off. The rest is a blur." She fidgeted, awaiting my answer.
Oh, poor thing. No wonder she was so terrified.
"Well, you were clearly upset by my unfairly placed disappointment. But once I understood what happened, you calmed down. At one point you got sick, and I drove you home. That's all.” I arched my brow. “Better?"
"I threw up? That's embarrassing," she nearly whimpered, her face contorting in disgust as she averted her eyes.
I had to stop myself from reaching toward her to cup her cheek and bring it up to face me. But unlike her, I revealed none of my unsuitable thoughts.
"It's normal. I tied back your hair, and you felt better afterward," I assured.
She smiled softly, though visibly still unsettled.
"Thank you, for everything." Her sincerity was evident.
"I meant it when I said I'm here for you, sweetheart."
She nodded, still playing with her hair.
This was one of her many habits I picked up on. If she wasn't my employee, I would have reached toward her, pulled her hand away, and taken it in my own.
She was always either flustered from fear or attraction in my presence. I felt incapable of calming her down. I was never incapable of getting the reaction I sought from people—except with Evelyn. And that made me want to handle her all that much more.
The knock on my door pulled me out of my contemplations, causing me to look over.
Evelyn eyed me, asking for permission to call out before I did so myself.
Lillian walked in, a dangerous smirk spreading across her sharp features as she gave me a knowing look.
It hit me as I glanced at my thin gold watch. I was supposed to meet her ten minutes ago. I was the most orderly and timely person around; she'd know something was up.
"Dr. Sorelle, a pleasure," she greeted, handing a surprised Evelyn her hand, which she took with the wide smile I knew was fake.
"I'm Ms. Kimura, the CFO here," she showed her perfect teeth, clearly trying to make a good impression on Evelyn, eliciting a palpable sense of vexation within me.
"Oh, it's nice to meet you." Evelyn was clearly caught off guard, probably concerned as to why the CFO came here.
"I was actually looking for Ms. Walton, and I accurately assumed she might have been in here with you." Her sweet tone revealed nothing to Evelyn, but that didn't make me any less frustrated with her implication.
I caught her eye and mouthed a threat across the room, but she didn't so much as flinch.
"If you don't mind, I have to steal her from you for our meeting." She gave Evelyn another warm smile before meeting my glare meant only for her.
"Oh, of course, we were just finishing up anyway," Evelyn answered, politely returning the smile.
"Thank you, dear. Have a lovely day." She tossed her sleek black hair as she fully faced me.
I caught Evelyn's eye as she looked between the two of us, probably terrified for Lillian's life. She should be. Lillian was confident like me, and the two of us were fire on fire in the best way.
"Actually, Lillian, I need a few more moments. You could wait outside if you need to speak to me so desperately," I vexed sourly, admiring the way Lillian had to deal with not getting her way. People did not get to put me in my place. I put them in theirs.
Evelyn's eyes went wide as Lillian gave a curt nod and a polite smile before leaving.
I had nothing else to say but wasted a few minutes parting ways with Evelyn, not minding an excuse to talk to her and needing to get back at Lillian.
Although afterward I'd have to answer a million questions from Lillian, hers would be nothing compared to the growing agglomeration I had to answer for myself.