Eric had been gone for what felt like forever.
After their passionate kiss, she'd been riding high on excitement, but now the giddiness was fading, replaced by a gnawing sense of uncertainty.
She peeked out the window again. Eric was casually chatting with the driver, his easy smile never leaving his lips.
Angela’s stomach twisted in frustration. What could be taking so long? She glanced at the clock. Five minutes. Ten. She'd had enough.
She stepped out of the car and made her way over to Eric . But as she got closer, a sense of familiarity washed over her as she recognized the car.
Mia’s.
Her heart sank.
There, sitting behind the wheel, was her colleague, Mia. The same Mia who’d warned her about Eric . The same Mia who’d said he could be a stalker, a married man, or someone already in a relationship. The same Mia who was far too interested in her life and choices.
Angela’s pulse quickened. This was bad.
“Mia?” she called out, her voice thick with uncertainty.
Mia’s jaw dropped as she caught sight of her. Eric turned to Angela, a questioning look in his eyes.
“You know her?” he asked, his smile fading slightly.
Angela nodded, her stomach tightening. “Yes. She’s a colleague of mine.”
Mia didn’t say a word at first. She just stared at the two of them, eyes narrowed as she processed what she was seeing. Then, with a wicked grin, she leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms.
“So this is Mr. Perfect?” Mia said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Angela glanced nervously at Eric, who just stood there, a smug look on his face.
Angela nodded slowly. “Yes, this is Eric .”
Mia burst out laughing, her laughter sharp and mocking. “Oh, Angela, I told you to be careful. I warned you, didn’t I?”
Angela’s stomach twisted again, but this time, it wasn’t just nerves. Something about the way Mia laughed, the way she seemed so sure of herself—it made her question everything.
Was Mia right? Was Eric hiding something?
Mia didn’t wait for Angela to respond. She started the car’s engine, her eyes on the road ahead, clearly ready to drive away.
“Wait!” Angela called, stepping in front of the car, blocking her from driving off.
Mia slammed on the brakes, the tires screeching as the car came to a sudden halt.
Angela stood her ground, her heart racing. What was she doing? But she had to know. She had to know.
Mia let out a frustrated sigh, rolling down the window. “What now, Angela?”
“I need to know,” Angela’s voice was firm, though her insides were churning. “Who is Eric to you? Why do you act like you know him so well? What is your relationship?”
Mia’s eyes flickered toward Eric. He stood there silently, his expression unreadable, but something about his posture—tense, on edge—told her that he wasn’t comfortable with this conversation. But Angela didn’t care. She needed answers, and she wasn’t leaving until she got them.
“Answer me, Mia,” Angela pressed, her voice louder now, demanding.
Mia glanced back at Eric, then took a deep breath. Her gaze flickered between Angela and Eric , as if debating whether to speak. Finally, she spoke, her voice almost too calm.
“Eric is my ex.”
Angela’s blood ran cold.
It felt like the world stopped spinning for a moment. Her ex? Eric was Mia’s ex?
Eric opened his mouth to speak, but Mia cut him off, her voice sharp. “I guess the perfect image of Eric just shattered, huh?”
Angela didn’t respond. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one more confusing than the last.
Mia smirked, clearly enjoying the chaos she’d caused. “I told you to be careful, Angela. People don’t change that easily. Eric ’s not some perfect guy, no matter what he tells you.”
Eric’s face darkened, and Angela could feel the tension in the air. She didn’t know what to think anymore.
“I left him because he killed someone.” Mia revealed and Angela stumbled backward.