Twelve Vanessa
During the initial hours of the day, I sat on the uncomfortably firm police station chairs, speaking to officers and other professionals who asked countless obvious and seemingly irrelevant questions. At last, they advised me to get a restraining order, which I’d already resolved to do.
It became apparent I would not get any work done that day, as I spent the rest of the afternoon finalizing my restraining order against Mia in district court. If it were not for the wealth and visibility gained by being the CMO of a top media company in America, this process could have taken weeks.
While under the influence of drugs, Mia had attempted to break into my home to steal money, but failed due to my strong security. As a result, she ended up egging the place and throwing rocks instead. She had proven to be rather insane, so my lack of surprise was a natural response.
Luckily, my cars were secure in their garages, and my security alarm had woke me before Mia could cause more damage she couldn’t pay for and would surely regret when she sobered up.
She wasn’t always like this. When I’d chosen to date her, she’d been much more career orientated. But when she gained visibility on social media, she befriended the wrong people who were into the wrong things.
I’d offered to pay for top-of-the-line rehab for her, which she never accepted, and had given her money to pay off the loans she’d carelessly acquired even after ending things between us.
However, I had reached my limit. Mia never wanted to change, only exploit my presence to fuel her problems. In my mind, while these reckless decisions didn’t align with the true essence of Mia, her choice to consume the drugs did.
Mia bore full responsibility for her own idiocy and the chaos she had brought into my life.
So, as I languished within the somber confines of the courtroom, missing an important workday and suffering from one of my sporadic migraines, I was not in the mood to talk to anyone.
I was far too curt with Evelyn, but had no intention of burdening her with my problems, or making up excuses.
I didn’t want her to think less of me for my lack of discernment in choosing my previous girlfriend, despite ending things with Mia months ago.
I was lying to myself, pretending each one of Evelyn’s endearing texts attempting to get closer to me was not lightening my mood. Though now was not the time, no matter how cute she was.
Putting away my phone, assuming Evelyn wasn’t writing back, I twisted the dainty golden rings on my fingers. Speaking with Evelyn, even briefly, felt like a respite from my exhausting day.
I wanted nothing more than for this ordeal to end so I could return to my place, where home inspectors were still assessing the extent of the damage.
I tended to avoid hiring unnecessary workers, preferring my space and work to remain solely my own.
The majority of individuals irked me effortlessly.
Even with them there, I would at least be in my own space.
Perhaps I would pour myself a glass of the exceptional Italian red wine Evelyn had gifted me—or settle for tea and a nap if my migraine didn’t ease up.
As was so often the case, I was choosing to be the bigger person. I had no intention of pressing charges, but that didn’t mean I was condoning Mia’s actions. I never hesitated to stand my ground, so by no means was this about weakness or a lack of assertiveness.
My home insurance would cover the thousands in damage—money which I could pay effortlessly—but would only further Mia’s debt.
Mia was amidst a disastrous cycle, and having a disaster of a life waiting for her outside of it would only diminish her motivation to get out of it.
Therefore, as long as my peace was no longer disturbed by Mia, I would be content.
Lillian was supportive as always when I’d messaged her regarding what was going on.
While we teased each other relentlessly, we were there for one another when it mattered.
We had a long history, having been close since college.
She’d even taken me to Japan to meet her family several times.
Lillian knew to keep this incident private, able to keep secrets when of a serious matter.
She knew being overbearing and pitying me would only make matters worse, which for whatever reason was impossible for most people to comprehend.
Lillian’s voice had seemed a bit out of it during our call, but I didn’t deem it worth any thought; everyone seemed to have seasonal allergies.
Tomorrow, it would be like none of this ever happened, and I would make sure of it.
Tomorrow, I would go into work and focus on what really mattered to me: Vector Line.
As unusual as it was, I loved my job. It gave me power, influence, and a surprising amount of freedom.
With great power came great responsibility, but I could handle it. I craved to.
A job without my every decision being vital would bore me to an early death.
I was intimidating and knew how to get things done.
That was why I’d landed such a high position in my thirties.
While I always made work a priority in my life, it wasn’t to the point of not living.
There was far more to me than what my employees would assume of their reserved CMO.
Though it was past 4 p.m., Evelyn hadn’t attempted to reach out to me yet today. Her obvious excuses for us to communicate had become so frequent that today was unusual, especially after exchanging only a few texts yesterday.
Lillian had also alerted me that she wasn’t in the office today, home sick.
Hopefully Lillian would feel better by tomorrow, as I’d managed to get us reservations at a new restaurant, which we’d both been looking forward to.
Doing so was incredibly difficult, these types of restaurants needing to be booked months in advance.
I hadn’t talked to anyone much today, other than a few meetings that consisted of strictly work-related conversations.
Lillian was the only one I was close to at Vector Line.
Separating professional and friendly interactions was usually of utmost importance to me, but Evelyn had managed to take down that barrier quickly.
Planning to finish the rest of my work in the comfort of my home, if I wanted to see Evelyn today, now was my last chance.
After giving the door two firm knocks, Evelyn called out softly. Without hesitating, I entered the office, sauntering up to Evelyn’s desk. Evelyn didn’t give me her usual bashful smile, instead offering a quick, insincere one before looking back at her computer.
“Good afternoon, you seem so eager to see me,” I began, my searing gaze forcing Evelyn to meet it. I cocked my head, seeing straight through Evelyn’s quiet. I stared into her eyes, able to communicate with her while still mirroring her silence.
You’re not fooling me, sweetheart.
“Is there some work you wanted to bring up?” Evelyn asked coolly, tucking a curl back in place. She kept her eyes on her screen, trying to make a point without being outright disrespectful.
“What is it you’re playing at right now?” I crossed my arms, waiting patiently for a reply.
“Excuse me?” she questioned innocently.
I was entertained by Evelyn’s uncharacteristic behavior, which predictably bothered her even more. She clearly wanted to get under my skin, not obey me like she patently craved to.
“What’s gotten into you today?” My eyes narrowed ever so slightly, easily making her squirm in her seat.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she answered, mostly collected, but now playing with her hair. I smirked at her unease. She could play coy, but she was so easy to read and mess with regardless.
“I find it immensely difficult to believe you remain unaware of the insolent way you have chosen to speak to me.” There was a callous layer to my tone.
“I’m just being professional. I’m sorry if you’re taking offense to it,” she said with a minimalistic shrug.
I glared. “Professional and terse are not the same.” My voice grew softer, patronizing. “But I have things to attend to, and it’s rather obvious you need space to get over whatever immature, discourteous phase this is.”
“Don’t call me immature,” Evelyn shot back, causing me to stop and turn around, my menacing expression dripping with curiosity.
“I’m sorry?” I spoke slowly, composed as ever. It wasn’t an apology; it was a dare for her to keep going. She knew she shouldn’t give in, but I also knew she couldn’t help herself. I was trying to get a reaction from her, and here she was giving me exactly that.
“You heard me. You are in no position to be calling me immature,” Evelyn glared back at me.
“Oh, am I not?” I pursed my lips, watching as her frustration grew.
“Yeah, not when you act so hot and cold,” Evelyn muttered, loud enough for me to hear. Her claim was fair—letting my own mixed emotions affect how I treated her was anything but just.
“Don’t stop now. Elaborate.” Brattiness never bothered me; in the end, it made it all the more rewarding when one complied. “I’m rather curious what you’re getting at.”
“Please drop this,” Evelyn groaned.
“This is because of my texts yesterday, isn’t it?” I ran a hand through my hair with a sigh. Evelyn’s silence confirmed everything. She simply wanted me to come to her first, to prove I cared. I held the deepest regard for her, but could never be the one to seek her out first.
“You know not everything is about you?” I teased, a grin playing on my lips.
“I know that. I was just confused by them, that’s all.”
“Confusion sets you off this much?” I had to hold back a laugh at Evelyn’s sweet, rosy cheeks.
“Why were your messages so short with me?”
“Why are you so desperate to know?”
“Curiosity. It makes me do crazy things, remember?” Recalling her previous stalking and its relevance, I let Evelyn win this back-and-forth we had going.
“I won’t deny it—I was a bit brusque with you. I’m sorry for that. It was a busy day; I had to take care of something pressing.”
“Wow, you must have been really busy if you couldn’t even spare a friendlier text.”
“I was.” I shrugged, as if missing the sarcasm.
“Care to elaborate?” Evelyn questioned, well aware her indirect probing wasn’t getting anything out of me.
“Stop pushing your luck,” I warned, leaning closer to her.
“Do you really not feel comfortable around me after everything?” She pouted dramatically.
"Oh? So because you've been vulnerable, it's automatically my turn?" I rolled my eyes at her disappointed expression.
“Yes, actually. I’d feel better if it wasn’t always me,” she admitted earnestly.
“How touching. Should I pass out in your arms, and then you can take good care of me instead?”
Evelyn’s eyes widened at the mere idea.
"I haven't done that," she protested, as though she'd been nowhere near crossing that line.
“But it needs to be demeaning enough to even the playing field.”
It was becoming rather apparent I was not ready to reveal anything related to yesterday, so she stopped trying. Not that I would ever hesitate to tell Evelyn she was out of place and put her right back in line. But she didn’t need a reminder. She took the hint, dropping the topic.
“I wouldn’t complain, but it would take a lot to ruin my faultless image of you.” She lay a hand on her chest in a pitiful attempt at sarcasm.
“I wouldn’t want to demolish that for you, sweetheart, now would I?” I mused, making her giggle with a dramatic nod. “Anyway, I’ve bothered you enough, and I want to get home. In the future, I’ll give you much more attention.”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I’m not that desperate.”
“Well, you sure had me convinced.” Sending Evelyn a smug look, I left her office, well aware her eyes were watching my every move.