Chapter 6 Eyes on Me

The apartment was quiet after Dave left. It felt heavy. Like the air was waiting for something to happen.

I stayed by the door for a long time. My back pressed against it. My side hurt with every heartbeat. I wanted to stay still, but I couldn't. My body kept moving even though my mind didn't.

I kept thinking about the way he looked at me. His eyes stayed on me, calm and focused, like he was trying to understand me. Like he was trying to see something I wasn't ready to show. I leaned back against the door, holding the edge, wishing I could disappear without moving.."

I didn't show him everything."

It didn't matter. He'd seen too much anyway.

I slid down the door slowly until I was sitting on the floor. Knees to my chest. My hand pressed to the wound. The pain wasn't sharp anymore. It just stayed there, steady and heavy, reminding me it hadn't gone away.

A quiet, bitter laugh slipped out. Smart move. Really smart.

I pressed my forehead against my knees,trying to calm down. I tried to breathe. In. Out. In. Out.

It didn't help at first. My mind kept replaying him. The way he paused, how his voice dropped when he told me to go to the hospital. The way he looked at me when my eyes betrayed me.

I shouldn't have let him get that close. I shouldn't have helped that woman. I shouldn't have let him see me bleed.

But I always do. I can't stop. And this time... it might've cost me.

After a long while, I pushed myself up. Locked the door. Checked the windows twice. Just in case.

Then I went to bed. I couldn't sleep. I laid there staring at the ceiling, thinking about everything that could go wrong. Thinking about what he could do if he tried to investigate. What if he talked to someone? What if he ran background checks? What if he tried to follow the trail of people I'd helped?

***

Morning came so fast. I got dressed like nothing happened.

Black pants. Gray blouse. Hair in the perfect chignon. A touch of makeup. Just enough to pass for normal..

But I wasn't normal. I felt tired, sore, and still angry. But no one needed to know that.

I Walked out of the apartment, the city was busy, full of noise. Cars honked, people talked as they moved along. The smells of food and traffic were in the air. I kept my head down and walked, trying to act like everything was normal.

When I got in the car, I just sat. Hands in my lap. Tried to shake off the pain, but it stayed. My mind kept going back to last night. To Dave. To what I could have done differently..

By the time I stepped into Aurora Luxe, I had put on my mask. Face calm. Back straight. Acting like nothing had happened.

"Elena," I said before I even reached my office.

She was there. Standing outside my office, tablet in hand. Always ready and professional.

"Good morning, Ms. Stevens. Nine a.m. moved to nine-fifteen. Traffic?"

"Yes. Thanks."

She followed me inside quietly. Closed the door softly.

"Board lunch at one," she said. "PR wants a statement about Langford rumors. I drafted three options."

I nodded. Sat. Not really thinking about the options. My side still hurts and my mind still caught on Dave.

"And Victor Langford is downstairs," she added.

I looked up. "Already?"

"He asked if you were available. I said you were busy."

"With what?"

"Morning review."

I exhaled softly. "Let him wait."

"Of course," she said.

She hesitated a little. "Do you want me to reschedule anything else today?"

I shook my head. "I'll manage."

She nodded. "Okay. Coffee will be here soon. I'll keep interruptions low."

She closed the door behind her. Everything went quiet.

I sat at my desk, opened a file I had memorized. My eyes moved over the numbers and names, but I wasn't really reading. Dave's face kept cutting in. The way he had paused. The way he looked at me. Like he wanted to understand, like he wanted to help, like he... cared.

I pressed my hand to my forehead. I shouldn't have let him see that. Shouldn't have let him get close. But I always try to help people. Even when it gets me in trouble.

Elena came back a few minutes later.

"Ms. Stevens... Victor Langford is still waiting for you. Eleven o'clock," she said, calm, matter-of-fact.

I blinked. Oh. Right. Of course he did.

"What does he want this time?" I asked, trying to sound casual, but my voice came out sharper than I meant.

"To smile in your face," she said, flat. "And cause trouble later."

"Sounds about right."

"He's been asking questions. Quietly."

"About?"

"You."

I laughed softly. "That's new."

"He's telling people you're... unstable."

"Because I don't need him?"

"Yes," she said.

"Fine. I'll see him."

She frowned, like she didn't like it. Good. Someone should.

Victor showed up right on time. He walked in like he owned the place. Hair perfect, suit sharp, that fake-perfect smile. And of course, he noticed everything. Great. Just what I needed today.

He looked like he stepped out of a fancy magazine. Too bad he didn't come with honesty.

"Meredith," he said. "You look... thinner."

"Oh, thanks for noticing," I said. "Really helpful. Now, what did you come here for?"

He smiled like he thought he was charming. "Still sharp. Shame, really."

"Uh-huh. And the point is?"

"The board worries. Late nights. Strange incidents. Police interest."

I raised an eyebrow. "Worried or gossiping?"

"Observation."

"Right. Observe this," I said. "I'm not scared."

He glanced at my side for a split second. Quick. Too quick. I made a mental note to never let him see the my reaction to pain when I move

"You push too hard," he said quietly. "Even strong women break."

I leaned back, slow and casual. "Careful. Men who think I break? They disappear from relevance. Just saying."

Perfect timing-Elena opened the door. "Ms. Stevens has another meeting."

Victor's smile didn't reach his eyes. "We'll talk soon."

"Nope," I said. "We won't."

He left. Door closed. Silence. Bliss.

I sank back into my chair, hand on my side, thinking: Yep. Just what I needed. A man judging me while I'm bleeding. Fantastic.

Dave was a problem. Victor was a threat. And the city... was watching.

I took a sip of the coffee Elena had left, warm, bitter, and normal, like nothing had happened, but inside everything felt different

I made it through the day. Meetings, calls, decisions... one after the other. I kept everything calm on the outside. Nobody had to know the chaos running through my head.

But I felt it. Every glance. Every whisper. Every step outside my office. I felt the world watching me. Felt it close.

And I couldn't stop thinking about Dave. About what might happen if he tried to dig. If he asked questions. If he connected dots he shouldn't.

I hated that I couldn't stop worrying. Hated that I always tried to help people. Hated that it always brought trouble to my door.

I closed my laptop after the last meeting and just stared out the window. The city was alive-car honking, people rushing, lights flashing everywhere. It felt like it could swallow you whole if you weren't careful.

And I knew it wouldn't end. Not yet. Not ever.