13|red

NADIA

The look in his eyes that reminded me of his humanity, the glimmer of vulnerability, was extinguished in an instant. It was as if he preferred to keep it hidden, to conceal the cracks in his armor. He carried emotional baggage, and it showed in the way he interacted with others, especially women.

As I pondered this, the sound of the doorbell broke the silence, drawing my attention to the living and dining area. The spacious room was adorned with elegant chairs and decor, exuding a feminine touch. I wondered if Elijah's mother was responsible for the refined taste.

Just then, a voice pierced the air. "Mama?" Vicky called out, her eyes fixed on a woman who bore no resemblance to her. The woman's stunning beauty belied her age, her poise and confidence commanding attention. Not a single hair was out of place, and her head held high, she smiled down at her daughter as the maid removed her coat.

With a deep breath, she closed her eyes, savoring the moment. "It feels good to be back," she said, her voice dripping with relief. Her brown eyes then landed on me, and Elijah was already on his feet, standing tall, as she approached us.

"My beautiful children, how are you?" she exclaimed, embracing them warmly and showering them with kisses. "Good," Elijah replied, but his tone sounded forced, like he had been repeating the same response his entire life.

As she turned her attention to me, I quickly stood up. "And who might you be?" she asked, her eyes scrutinizing me.

Before Vicky could introduce me, their mother's gaze fell upon my bandaged hand. "What happened to your hand? Has my son already stabbed you?" she asked, her words dripping with a strange familiarity, as if such a scenario was commonplace. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I wondered what she meant by "already."

Elijah's jaw clenched, but his mother continued, oblivious to the tension. "Mom," he started to say, but she interrupted, her eyes fixed on me. "She's Nadia, a friend of Vicky's."

"A beautiful name for a beautiful girl, don't you agree, my boy?" she said, turning to Elijah. But before he could respond, a deep voice boomed from the doorway.

"Maria?" The older man's gaze was fixed on his wife, his expression stern. He was dressed in a suit, a whiskey glass and cigar in hand, and I assumed he was Vicky and Elijah's father. His eyes narrowed as he turned to me. "What the hell are you doing in my house?" he growled, his tone leaving no doubt that Maria was an unwelcome guest.

I noticed he wasn't wearing a wedding ring, which suggested that he and Maria might not be together. Suddenly, I felt like an intruder, and my presence here seemed like a mistake.

"And you? Who are you?" Mr. Grey asked gruffly, his eyes narrowing as he gazed at me.

Maria intervened, her voice laced with a hint of reprimand. "Don't be so rude in front of our guest, Vincent, " She settled into the house with an air of familiarity, as if she still considered it her home.

Mr. Grey snorted, his expression disdainful. "Our guest?" He spat the words, his gaze flashing with animosity towards Maria. "I think you're forgetting that we're divorced, and this house no longer belongs to you."

Maria shrugged nonchalantly. "But it belongs to our children. And whoever my kids invite into their home is my guest. Isn't that right, kids?" She glanced at Vicky, who looked embarrassed and exhausted, and Elijah, who seemed like he'd rather be anywhere else.

Vicky intervened, her voice laced with exasperation. "Can you guys stop? You're acting like kids."

Mr. Grey turned to me, his eyes cold. "I suppose you're leaving now, right?"

Elijah stepped forward, his eyes blazing with a fierce intensity as he gazed at his father. "Uhm, yes, of course—" he began, but Maria cut him off.

"Of course she isn't," Maria said, her smile warm and inviting. "Nadia's going to stay with us for dinner, right?"

I hesitated, feeling like an unwelcome intruder. "That's very nice of you, ma'am, but I've finished studying with Vicky, and I don't want to be a bother." I half lie.

I was nowhere close to being done with the study session with Vicky but it was clear that their father didn't want me to be here.

Maria chuckled, her eyes sparkling. "Of course not! And don't call me ma'am. I'm still young, you know?" She turned to Elijah, her gaze approving. "She's perfect, isn't she? I like her."

Just then, a maid in a crisp uniform appeared, her hair tied back in a neat bun. "Rosa, is the food ready?" Maria asked, and Rosa nodded efficiently. "Of course, madam. I'll prepare the plates."

Maria smiled, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "And that, is why you shouldn't take no for an answer." She took my hand in hers, leading me to the dining area, pausing only to pat Mr. Grey's shoulder in a condescending gesture who looked absolutely devastated

I took a bite of the roasted chicken, savoring the flavors while Ms. Maria engaged Vicky in conversation. Vicky responded with a simple "Of course," but my attention was elsewhere. Elijah's mom's words still lingered in my mind, leaving me with a sense of unease. There was something I didn't know, something that seemed to be hidden beneath the surface.

Just then, Mr. Thompson's question snapped me out of my thoughts. "So, where are your parents?" His eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing through me like a cold wind. I blinked twice, my heart racing as I looked up at him. Elijah's father hadn't taken his eyes off me since I arrived, his disdain evident in every glance.

Elijah intervened, his voice laced with a hint of warning. "Vincent," he said, but Mr. Thompson didn't budge. Instead, he shrugged, his eyes still fixed on me.

I placed my fork down, my appetite suddenly gone. "They're currently out of the city but should be back soon," I replied with a forced smile.

Mr. Thompson's eyes lit up with interest. "What do they do?" he asked, his tone a little too eager.

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "They're both business owners," I said vaguely.

Mr. Thompson leaned in, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "What kind of business?" he pressed.

Vicky sighed, exasperated. "Dad, seriously?"

But Mr. Thompson wouldn't back down. "What, I don't think there's anything wrong with asking. I'm a businessman myself, so of course, it piques my interest. You understand, don't you?" He looked at me, his gaze intense, and I nodded reluctantly, feeling trapped.

Just then, Ms. Maria intervened, her voice kind but firm. "Alright, you don't have to answer any of his questions, okay? This is not a business meeting, nor is it an interrogation."

"Okay then, let's change the subject," he said, digging into his chicken. "So, what are your plans for the future?" He asked, catching me off guard. He seemed to have had a whole list of questions for me, but for the first time tonight, it was the only one he asked that brought a real smile to my face.

"I don't really have a solid plan," I replied, "but probably something side by side with my brother, handling the family business once they've retired. But I have a deep love for dancing and art, so I'm still trying to figure that out."

He nodded, a look of approval on his face. "Ambitious girl with a lot of ideas, I like it." He paused, taking a sip of his drink before continuing. "So, do you have a boyfriend? A someone special?"

Vicky chimed in, her voice laced with mischief. "Mom, what if she was lesbian?"

Maria's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Oh well, are you?" she asked, her gaze fixed on me.

I smiled, shaking my head. "No," I replied, my eyes flickering towards Elijah, who was looking directly at me, his gaze intense. He didn't look away, like he was daring me to say yes.

"No," I continued, my voice steady. "That's not where my head is at, at the moment." The last thing I was thinking about was having a boyfriend. I didn't think I had it in me to love someone else - at least, not as much as I did him.

Sometimes I thought it was stupid, attaching and comparing everything or any love interest to a love I only experienced once when I was just a kid. I knew it was crazy, but that's the thing - it was the kind of love that never left you, the one you'd never be able to walk away from, no matter how much you wanted to let it go.

And sometimes I thought it was inhumanely impossible to erase him or that love.

But it was time to move on, because he left. Like they always do.

So when Vicky said she had a couple of suitors for me, and her mom loved the idea, I didn't fight it. It was time to let go.