Betrayal by love-Chapter 7 - : The hidden person

Nate exited the bar, unaware of the figure hoodie man melting into the shadows by the elevator.

They waited for the lift. The illuminated arrow remained stubbornly pointed downwards. Nate shifted his weight, a flicker of impatience crossing his face. Then, finally, a soft beep announced the elevator's arrival.

The silence stretched, making Nate uneasy. Then, a distorted, almost metallic clang echoed from the elevator shaft. The doors creaked open.

They stepped inside, the silence amplifying the gentle hum of the machinery. Kim pressed the button for the parking level.

Hiding in the shadows by the stairwell, the hooded figure scrolled through the photos on their phone. Each picture showed Nate in some moment, and after a quick look, they hit the "send" button and he added, "My Job has been done, and my payment has also been received". he texted.

The photos quietly vanished into cyberspace.

A phone, its screen a dim beacon in a darkened room, chirped with a notification. The message was received.

Back in the parking garage, Nate glanced around as he adjusted his coat, a faint prickle at the back of his neck. He shrugged it off and got into the car.

He loosened his tie, a sigh escaping his lips. "I'm exhausted today," he murmured, more to himself than Kim.

Kim nodded, watching the rearview mirror as he pulled out of their parking spot. "Fancy a good restaurant?" he asked.

"Yeah," Nate replied, sinking into the back seat.

Kim, already behind the wheel, pulled out of the parking lot.

As the car left the parking lot, the hooded figure, now maskless, slid into their own vehicle nearby.

In the dark room, their muscular build was manifest even beneath the dark fabric of their clothes. The dim light from a nearby lamp briefly illuminated a thick hand gripping the phone lightly. Inked on the skin, a dragon covered his whole hand. A glimpse of their profile revealed a close-cropped haircut, a severe crew cut that emphasized the strong lines of their jaw.

The figure picked up their phone; the screen reflected in their eyes, a predatory glint in their depths. A smirk played on their lips. "Interesting," he murmured, the word laced with a hint of danger after the screen went dark.

The room, with its grey walls and white trim bathed in the soft glow of dim white lights, felt calm and ordered. Aaron sat on the edge of his bed, his school photo, a reminder of simpler times, resting face up on his hand. He watched the picture, a faint smile touching his face, after he picked up his incoming call, "Hi Eve," he said.

"Hello," Evangeline answered.

"How was your day? You seemed a little confused," he asked over the phone.

Evangeline, wrapped in a towel after her bath, dried her hair as she slipped into her night clothes. She placed her phone on the cupboard. "My day was good," she replied, a slight hesitation in her voice.

As she spoke, she suddenly glanced towards the window. A figure in a black hoodie stood motionless in the shadows outside, their face obscured by the hood. She froze, glancing back at the person.

"Hey, Eve...?" Aaron's voice, now muffled, called from the phone on the cupboard.

The night outside was completely black, with a thick veil of blackness pressing against her window. Evangeline remained still, her breath stopping in her throat as she looked out the window. A figure stood vertically below, totally still, wearing a black hoodie with the hood pulled down, covering their face. They didn't move or flinch; they simply stared directly at her room

Her chest felt tight, and she remembered her past trauma. Her cold hands trembled as she grabbed the curtain. A cold went up her spine, causing goosebumps. She wanted to look away, but she was frozen in fear.

The figure stayed motionless, its shadow stretching until eternity. When they finally turned and walked away, it felt like a drowning person finally breathing again. Relief washed over her, but the fear remains. She stepped back from the window, her thoughts racing. Who was that? What did they want? why again?

The sharp ringing sound of her phone pulled her back to reality. She pulled back, and with shaky hands, she picked it up and answered.

"Eve? Are you there? Is everything okay?" Aaron's voice came through, steady and familiar.

"Y... yes, Aaron," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I couldn't hear you earlier, so I called back. You sound... weird. What happened?"

She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the phone. The words felt heavy on her tongue. "I... I saw someone. Outside my window. just standing there, staring at my room. For like three minutes. Maybe more."

"Hey, hey...., relax, okay," Aaron said, his tone soft but firm. "Your room is locked, right?

"Mm."

"Don't worry about it. If you're still scared, just call your brother, okay?"

"No...., Aaron. No way," she said quickly, trying to sound braver than she felt. "I don't want to make a scene. You know how it is if I tell them..."

"Alright," he said after a pause. "Is everything okay, or do you want me to come over?" he asked with concern for her.

"It's okay. I can manage," she replied.

"Just make sure to lock your room tightly. You'll be fine. Everything's going to be alright." His reassurance gave her a glimmer of hope and helped her relax a little.

"Okay," she whispered, forcing a laugh that sounded hollow even to her. But deep down, she knew those words felt like lies.

After the call ended, Evangeline crawled into bed, hugging her pillow tightly. Despite the blankets, she felt cold. She glanced at the window from her bed, the figure's stare lingering in her mind. Suddenly, she got up and covered the window with a screen.

"Not... again," she whispered to herself. She tried to convince herself that it was over, but the suffocating feeling of being watched remained. After a few minutes, she slept like a baby, hugging her teddy.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting golden patterns on the ceiling. But the warmth did little to ease the weight pressing on Evangeline's chest.

Evangeline sat up groggily, rubbing her eyes. Sleep had been restless—filled with fragmented dreams and the lingering sensation of unseen eyes watching her from the darkness.

With a sigh, she pushed the covers off and shuffled to the bathroom. After brushing, the cold shower sent a sharp chill through her body, but it didn't wash away the exhaustion clinging to her. No matter how much she tried to shake it off, the image of the hooded figure remained burned in her mind.

After drying off, she slipped into her favorite lined skirt and white top, the familiar comfort of the outfit grounding her. Sitting at her vanity, she applied a touch of natural makeup—just enough to bring some life back into her tired face.

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Once ready, she made her way downstairs to the dining hall, where breakfast had already been placed. Her bodyguard was seated across from her, eating in silence.

Without hesitation, she took her seat and started eating. She never saw the point in keeping a distance from them. "They're human, just like me," she had told her family once, much to their dismay. Titles didn't matter to her.

The meal passed quietly, but the unease in her chest never fully faded. No matter how much she tried to focus on the day ahead, one thought refused to leave her mind.

Evangeline managed to mask her inner thoughts with a smile because she couldn't reveal it.

After an hour, The Business Communication class was filled with murmurs of excitement. The class was eager to find out what the professor, Mrs. Anabella, had in store for them.

"Alright, students! You have one month to submit your project. But before you start panicking, I have a fun little game for you," she announced keeping a glass jar in her hand.

The class fell silent, curiosity filling the air, glancing at each other.

Mrs. Anabella continued, "You're going to choose your partner from your stream."