While Adrian was having dinner with Sarah in the quiet corner of the restaurant—a place only the two of them knew—Olivea was on the other side of the city, enjoying her night with Zoe and Emma. She had no idea Adrian was meeting his old friend; in her heart, she believed he was still caught up with office work.
The club was alive with flashing lights and pounding music. Zoe leaned close, shouting over the noise, "It's my first time in a New York club!"
Olivea laughed and replied, "Same here! Do you think just because I'm married to a New York man, I can go everywhere? No way!" Her words made Zoe and Emma burst into laughter. They teased one another as only close friends could, enjoying the rare reunion.
After hours of dancing, the three friends collapsed onto empty seats near the corner of the club, ordering drinks. The cool alcohol burned down their throats, easing the exhaustion from the dance floor.
But the atmosphere shifted when a group of men approached their table.
"Hello, pretty ladies," one of them greeted, sliding into a chair uninvited.
Zoe and Emma giggled, clearly entertained by the sudden attention, while Olivea stiffened. She folded her arms and glanced away, uncomfortable.
Oh God… I really hope Adrian doesn't find out about this, she whispered in her heart, biting her lip nervously.
Her friends, however, were too busy flirting. Emma twirled her hair while Zoe leaned closer to one of the men. Olivea sighed, deciding to keep quiet, but then one of the strangers turned his gaze toward her.
"Hey, blonde girl," he said with a sly grin, moving to sit beside her.
Caught off guard, Olivea forced a small smile. "H-hey."
"What's your name?" he asked, his eyes scanning her from head to toe.
"Uh… Olivea. And you?" she replied politely, trying to keep the conversation neutral.
"Tyler," he introduced himself smoothly. His sharp eyes and curly brown hair made him look confident, perhaps even too confident. "Nice to meet you, Olivea."
Olivea gave a nervous chuckle. "Nice to meet you too, Tyler."
As she turned away, she whispered faintly, "He's… actually quite good-looking."
---
Meanwhile, across town, Adrian checked his phone. The clock read 9:00 p.m. He groaned under his breath.
"Oh shoot… I'm late. Very late."
Sarah was still speaking, her words flowing effortlessly, but Adrian's mind was elsewhere. He had listened to her explanations for the past hour, yet the meaning behind her visit still felt hidden.
Finally, Sarah leaned forward, placing her hand gently on his. "Adrian, I hope you won't be upset about what I've told you tonight."
Adrian withdrew his hand subtly and sighed. "No, no… I'll think about it. Don't worry."
She smiled knowingly, though Adrian avoided her eyes. Their dinner concluded shortly afterward, and together they stepped out of the restaurant.
"Let's meet again next time, okay? Byeee," Sarah said, waving playfully before heading to her car.
Adrian forced a polite smile before turning away. The unease in his chest only grew heavier. He quickly pulled out his phone, dialing Olivea's number.
No signal. Offline.
"What? Why is her phone off?" Adrian muttered, panic rising. Without hesitation, he rushed to his car ,Tires screeched against the pavement as he sped toward home, his pulse racing faster than the engine, terror gnawing at every heartbeat.
---
Back at the club, Zoe and Emma were still enjoying themselves. As the night grew late, they decided to leave.
"Hey Olivea," Zoe said with a mischievous grin, "Emma and I are going back to the hotel. And the guys want to join us, right Emma?"
Emma laughed, nodding eagerly. "Yes, it'll be fun! Wanna come with us, Olivea?"
Olivea smiled weakly, shaking her head. "Hmm… maybe not. I can't. Sorry."
"Of course not!" Zoe teased, laughing loudly. "I almost forgot—you've got a husband waiting for you. Well then, see you, Olivea!"
They waved as they left with the group of men, their voices fading into the night. Olivea exhaled in relief, grateful she had refused, though a part of her felt guilty leaving them.
She pulled out her phone to order an Uber. Just as she confirmed the ride, however, she froze.
From behind her, a low voice called her name.
"…Olivea."
Her heart stopped. She turned slowly, her mind racing. The club doors had already closed behind Zoe and Emma, leaving her alone in the dim street. The hairs on her arms stood up as the sound repeated.
"…Olivea."
This time, it was closer.