Chapter 4: A Night to Remember

Dana stood in front of her mirror, adjusting the strap of her dress for the tenth time. “Do I look okay?” she called out to Riley, who lounged on the couch scrolling through her phone.

Riley glanced up, smirking. “You look amazing. Stop fidgeting.”

“I’m not fidgeting,” Dana protested, smoothing her hair one last time. “I just… want everything to be perfect.”

“Relax,” Riley said, tossing her phone aside and walking over to give Dana a reassuring hug. “It’s just a date. With a guy who clearly adores you. What could go wrong?”

Dana shot her a look. “Don’t say that. Now I’ll spend the whole night worrying about what could go wrong.”

Riley laughed. “You’re impossible. Just have fun, okay? And don’t forget to tell me every detail later.”

As Dana headed downstairs, her nerves bubbled inside. Was she ready for this? Between the mysterious texts, the unsettling man in the leather coat, and Corey’s sudden departure the other day, her mind was swirling with questions. But tonight wasn’t about any of that. Tonight was about letting herself enjoy the moment—for once.

Corey waited outside the apartment, leaning casually against his car. When Dana stepped out, he was mesmerized. She wore a simple navy-blue dress that hugged her figure perfectly, paired with delicate silver earrings that caught the light. Her smile lit up the evening. She was simply perfect in his eyes.

“You look beautiful,” he said softly, offering her a single red rose.

Dana blushed, accepting the flower. “Thank you. You clean up pretty well yourself.”

He grinned, opening the car door for her. “Shall we?”

They drove to a quiet Italian restaurant tucked away in the heart of downtown. Soft jazz played in the background as they were seated by the window, the city lights twinkling beyond the glass. The ambiance was warm and inviting, the kind of place where time seemed to slow down.

Corey leaned forward slightly, his eyes reflecting the candlelight as he studied her. “So,” he began, his tone was light but curious, “what made you decide to open a bakery? It’s not exactly the most conventional career choice.”

Dana smiled, “It wasn’t planned, honestly. My mom used to bake all the time when I was a kid. She’d let me help sometimes—measuring flour, cracking eggs, licking the spoon.” Her voice softened at the memory. “When she passed away, baking became… I don’t know, my way of staying connected to her. Like every cake or pastry I make carries a piece of her with it.”

Corey smiled warmly. “That’s beautiful, Dana. You’ve turned something personal into something that brings joy to so many people.”

She shrugged modestly, though her cheeks flushed under his praise. “What about you? Are you into baking or cooking, or anything along that line?"

His shook his head. His smile faded slightly, and for a second, he looked down at his hands. When he spoke again, his voice carried a weight she hadn’t heard before. “I'm not but Sophie’s always been the creative one. She loves art, music, baking and all that stuff. After a recent accident…” He paused, swallowing hard. “Things changed. She hasn't been herself anymore. I think the trauma hit her hard."

They were silent for a moment. Then he continued, "I always bring her treats from your bakery, though. Just to bring back that light bit by bit. I think she'd really like you."

Dana’s heart swelled at the thought. “I’d love to meet her someday,” she said sincerely.

Corey smiled, his eyes softening. “I think she’d like that too.”

Dana couldn't ask any further questions. She wanted details about the accident. Perhaps it was too early to dig into something so hurtful.

As dessert arrived—a decadent chocolate torte—they found themselves laughing over silly childhood memories. For a moment, all their worries faded away. It was just the two of them, sharing something real and beautiful.

When the check came, Corey insisted on paying, despite Dana’s protests. Outside, the cool night air wrapped around them as they strolled towards the sidewalk. They stopped beneath a streetlamp and Corey held Dana's hands softly.

“This was perfect,” Dana murmured, looking up at him. “Thank you.”

Corey hesitated for a second. “Dana… there’s something I need to say.”

Her pulse quickened. “What is it?”

He took a deep breath, his voice steady but filled with emotion. “I know things haven’t been easy lately for either of us. But being with you… it makes everything feel lighter. You’ve brought so much joy into my life, and I don’t want to lose that. I… I think I’m falling in love with you.”

Dana held her breath. Before she could respond, Corey leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a soft, tentative kiss. It was gentle at first, then deepened as she responded, her hands resting lightly on his chest. The world around them melted away, leaving only the warmth of the moment.

When they finally pulled apart, Dana’s cheeks were flushed, her heart racing. “Wow,” she whispered.

Corey chuckled nervously. “Was that okay?”

“It was more than okay,” she said, smiling brightly. “I think I’m falling for you too.”

But the magic of the evening came to an abrupt end the moment they returned to Corey’s car. Tucked beneath the windshield wiper was a folded note. Dana froze, dread pooling in her stomach.

“What is it?” Corey asked, stepping closer.

She unfolded it with trembling hands. YOUR BAKERY WILL BURN!

Corey took the note off her hand and read it. "Who put this here? What's going on, Dana?" He scanned the areas for a second.

Before she could process his questions or give a response, blue and red lights flashed in the distance. A police car pulled up beside them. An officer stepped out, wearing a grim expression.

“Ms. Patson?” he asked. “We need to talk about an incident at your bakery this afternoon."

Dana’s heart sank. “What incident?”

“A customer claims they suffered severe food poisoning after eating one of your pastries. We’re investigating possible negligence.”

Dana turned to Corey, panic rising in her chest. “I swear, I didn’t—”

“I know,” Corey interrupted, gripping her hand tightly. “We’ll figure this out together.”

But as the officer led her toward the patrol car, Dana couldn’t shake the feeling that the stalker had struck again. This this time, they weren’t playing games anymore.

After hours of questioning and investigation, Dana was finally released from the police station. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her as Corey drove her back to her apartment.

“Try to get some rest,” Corey said gently as they stood outside her door. “I’ll check in on you tomorrow.”

She nodded, forcing a weak smile. “Thanks for staying with me tonight. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”

He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “You’re stronger than you think, Dana. Don’t let whoever is behind this to win.”

With that, he left, leaving her alone in the silence of her apartment. She locked the door behind her, double-checking it twice before leaning against it, her body sagging with relief and a little fear.

The events of the night replayed in her mind as she changed into pajamas and crawled into bed. Despite her exhaustion, sleep felt impossible. Every creak of the building, every distant car engine, made her jump. Finally, she closed her eyes, hoping the darkness would bring some peace. This just had to be the night that Riley wasn't home.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Her heart lurched as she reached for it. The screen lit up with another unknown number.

She swallowed hard as she opened the message. It was short, cruel, and mocking: 'Did you have fun in jail? This is just the beginning".

Dana stared at the words, her pulse pounding in her ears. Her hands trembled as anger surged through her. It was hot, raw, and overwhelming. With a cry of frustration, she hurled the phone across the room. It hit the wall with a dull thud and clattered to the floor, the screen still glowing faintly.

She buried her face in her hands, tears pricking her eyes. How could someone do this to her? And most importantly, who were they, exactly?

The apartment suddenly felt suffocating, the walls closing in around her. She glanced toward the window, half-expecting to see the man in the leather coat standing there, watching her. But the street below was empty. Or at least, it seemed that way.

Whoever made that call, clearly weren’t going to stop until they destroyed her life.

She pulled the blanket tightly around herself, curling into a ball on the bed. Sleep was out of the question now. All she could do was lie there, staring at the ceiling, wondering how much worse things would get before they got better.

And somewhere deep inside, a voice whispered that maybe… just maybe… the worst was yet to come.