Kiss of Deception.

That evening, Dexter was nowhere to be found. Jacob, however, made an appearance and spent some time with the girls. Before leaving for work, he instructed his employees to ensure they received extra attention.

Natalie, Eliza, and four of their friends remained, enjoying the evening's festivities.

The next morning, Damon arrived to pick them up and dropped each of them off at their respective destinations. Eliza began her work as usual, fortunately, with Natalie's car, her daily commute became much easier.

Eliza spent the entire evening engrossed in her work. Nevertheless, she took a brief moment to quickly type out a message to Natalie, wishing her a safe journey.

As soon as Eliza arrived home, her phone rang, displaying an unfamiliar number. She hesitated, unsure whether to answer. But then she remembered - it was Dexter's number.

The phone continued to ring, its persistent tone wearing her down. With a sense of trepidation, Eliza finally answered. "Yes, Sir?"

"Come down," Dexter's low voice commanded.

Eliza's brow furrowed in confusion. "What?" Had she misheard?

"Come down. I'm waiting for you outside your apartment." The line went dead.

Eliza's face contorted in bewilderment. She stood frozen for a moment before collecting herself. Quickly changing into something suitable, she headed out of her apartment, wondering what Dexter wanted.

Dexter watched Eliza approach through the car window. She wore a simple yet charming outfit - a white t-shirt paired with an oversized jumpsuit. Her minimalist makeup accentuated her youthful features.

Eliza had intended to keep the conversation brief outside the car, but the driver foiled her plan by opening the door for her to get in. The cool air inside was a welcome respite, but it did little to calm her racing mind.

As Dexter sat beside her, his intense stare made her increasingly anxious. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, nervously stroking her hair in a futile attempt to block his gaze.

"Sir, where are we going?" Eliza asked, trying to break the silence.

"To eat," Dexter replied curtly.

"But I've eaten just now. I..." Eliza's protest trailed off, unsure how to continue.

"Just keep me company," Dexter said, his deep voice laced with a serious tone. However, his words carried an undertone of ambiguity, leaving Eliza with the unsettling feeling that his request was somehow more intimate than it should be.

-----

Eliza's brow furrowed in mild annoyance as she watched Dexter savor his food with apparent relish, still refusing to offer her any explanation for their mysterious outing.

Dexter's eyes crinkled at the corners as he chuckled, clearly amused by Eliza's annoyance. "What's wrong?" Eliza asked, her tone polite but laced with a hint of irritation.

"Miss, are you going to take responsibility?" Dexter asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"What responsibility?" Eliza's brow furrowed in confusion.

Dexter's gaze intensified as he asked, "Don't you like it when I kissed you?"

Eliza's expression transformed from shock to confusion, her eyes widening in bewilderment. Dexter's piercing stare seemed to bore into her soul, as if searching for a truth she couldn't quite recall.

Eliza's expression turned defiant, and she asked with a boldness that belied her inner turmoil, "What kiss are you talking about?" Her voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of uncertainty.

"Admit it, Eli, you remember... you and I kissed..." Dexter's voice trailed off, his eyes locked intensely on Eliza.

"No way!" Eliza interrupted, her voice rising in protest. "I... I apologize, okay? I was drunk and had no control over my behavior. I must have mistakenly entered your place," she explained hastily.

Dexter's expression darkened, his jaw clenched in annoyance. "So, you think I'm lying to you? Or that I took advantage of you?" His tone was low and even, but the undertone of hurt and anger was unmistakable.

"No, it's not like that... We're both adults. I was drunk, let's just forget about it. I'm very sorry," Eliza said, her voice laced with shocked.

She fell silent for a moment before quickly exiting his private lounge. Dexter was instantly filled with regret, wondering if he had chosen the wrong approach to bring up the kiss.

Eliza's reaction had been one of revulsion, not the tender response he had hoped for. The memory of her expression now taunted him, making him question his own judgment.

Eliza paced back and forth in her home, her mind racing. "She doesn't believe it... She and Dexter kissed?" She struggled to recall the events of that night, her memories hazy.

"Why did you go to his room?" Eliza scolded herself, frustration and self-doubt etched on her face. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had done something reckless, something she couldn't take back.

Two days passed, and Dexter's silence was deafening. Eliza hadn't heard from him, and their usual paths hadn't crossed. She had made a conscious effort to avoid attending meetings with the Next B group, knowing that Elsie would likely be there, and she couldn't risk running into Dexter again.

The deliberate distance she put between herself and Dexter's social circle was a fragile attempt to regain control over her emotions and thoughts, which still lingered on their unsettling conversation.