The test
1142 Words
The room seemed to shrink around Elena.
Every conversation faded into the background as attention slowly shifted toward her and Victoria. The soft music still played, glasses still clinked, but none of it mattered anymore.
All eyes were on her.
Waiting.
Watching.
Judging.
Elena’s heart pounded so hard it felt like it might betray her.
Victoria stood confidently in front of her, completely in control of the situation. The small smile on her lips carried no warmth—only quiet challenge.
“A small test.”
Elena swallowed.
“What kind of test?” she asked again, her voice steady despite the storm inside her.
Victoria clasped her hands lightly in front of her.
“Nothing too difficult,” she said smoothly. “Just something appropriate for someone about to join this family.”
Elena didn’t like the sound of that.
Not at all.
She glanced briefly at Adrian.
His expression had hardened.
“Victoria,” he said calmly, “this isn’t necessary.”
Victoria didn’t even look at him.
“I think it is.”
Her eyes remained locked on Elena.
“If she’s going to stand beside you, shouldn’t we know who she really is?”
Elena felt the pressure tighten around her chest.
This wasn’t about curiosity.
This was a trap.
And she could feel it clearly now.
Victoria took another step closer.
“Let’s begin with something simple,” she said.
Elena forced herself to nod.
“Okay.”
Victoria’s smile sharpened slightly.
“What fork do you use first at a formal dinner?”
Elena blinked.
The question hit her completely off guard.
“What?”
Victoria tilted her head.
“Formal dining etiquette,” she clarified.
“You are going to attend many events like this. Surely you know the basics?”
A few people nearby exchanged quiet looks.
Some amused.
Some curious.
Elena’s mind raced.
She had never attended a formal dinner in her life.
Forks?
She barely paid attention to that kind of thing.
But now…
It mattered.
Everything mattered.
She could feel the silence stretching.
Victoria’s eyes gleamed slightly.
Waiting.
Enjoying this.
Elena’s fingers tightened at her sides.
Think.
She had to think.
Left… right… outside… inside…
She had seen something like this in a movie once.
Or maybe online.
Her heart pounded harder.
“You start from the outside,” she said finally.
Victoria’s brow lifted slightly.
“Go on.”
Elena steadied herself.
“And work your way in with each course.”
A pause.
Then—
A few quiet murmurs of approval.
Victoria’s smile faltered for just a second.
But only just.
“Correct,” she said.
But her tone made it clear she wasn’t impressed.
Elena felt a small flicker of relief.
But it didn’t last.
Victoria wasn’t done.
“Next question,” she continued smoothly.
Elena’s stomach tightened again.
“You said you met Adrian at a private event,” Victoria said.
“Yes.”
“What kind of event was it?”
Elena froze.
The same question again.
But this time…
In front of everyone.
Her mind raced.
She couldn’t hesitate.
She couldn’t contradict herself.
“It was a charity event,” she said.
The answer came quickly this time.
More confident.
Victoria watched her closely.
“What kind of charity?”
Elena’s heart skipped.
She hadn’t thought that far.
But she couldn’t stop now.
“For education,” she said.
“A fundraiser.”
Victoria’s gaze didn’t leave her.
“And what role did you play there?”
Elena forced a calm expression.
“I volunteered.”
A long pause followed.
The tension stretched thin.
Then—
Victoria smiled again.
“Interesting.”
But Elena could tell.
She wasn’t convinced.
Not fully.
Victoria turned slightly, addressing the small group that had gathered.
“She’s doing well,” she said lightly.
“Don’t you think?”
A few polite nods followed.
But Elena could feel it.
The doubt.
The skepticism.
She was being evaluated.
Not just by Victoria…
But by everyone.
Victoria turned back to her.
“But let’s make this a little more interesting.”
Elena’s heart dropped.
That didn’t sound good.
“How about something more… personal?”
Elena stiffened.
“What do you mean?”
Victoria’s smile widened.
“You claim to be in love with Adrian,” she said.
“Yes.”
“Then you must know him well.”
Elena’s pulse quickened.
“Yes…”
Victoria stepped even closer now.
Close enough that only Elena could clearly see the challenge in her eyes.
“Then tell me,” she said softly,
“What’s Adrian’s biggest weakness?”
The question hit like a shock.
Elena froze.
Her mind went completely blank.
Weakness?
She barely knew him.
She didn’t know his favorite color, let alone his deepest flaw.
And that was exactly the point.
Victoria knew it.
This wasn’t a test of knowledge.
It was a trap to expose her.
The room grew quieter again.
Even Adrian didn’t speak this time.
He was watching her.
Waiting.
Elena’s heart pounded painfully in her chest.
Think.
She couldn’t say “I don’t know.”
That would destroy everything.
But what could she say?
Her thoughts raced wildly.
Then—
She remembered something.
The way Adrian always stayed calm.
Controlled.
Distant.
Elena looked up.
Her eyes met his.
And for a brief second…
Something passed between them.
Understanding.
Then she turned back to Victoria.
A small, calm smile touched her lips.
“His biggest weakness?” she repeated.
Victoria nodded slightly.
“Yes.”
Elena took a slow breath.
Then she said quietly—
“He pretends he doesn’t need anyone.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
Victoria’s expression froze.
Just for a moment.
Adrian’s gaze sharpened instantly.
Elena continued, her voice steady now.
“He acts like he’s in control all the time,” she said.
“Like nothing affects him.”
She glanced at him briefly.
Then back at Victoria.
“But that’s not true.”
The words hung in the air.
Heavy.
Real.
Dangerous.
Because somehow…
They didn’t feel like a lie anymore.
Victoria’s smile slowly faded.
Her eyes darkened.
And for the first time since this started…
She didn’t have an immediate response.
But then—
She let out a soft laugh.
“Well,” she said slowly.
“That was… unexpected.”
Elena’s heart was still racing.
She didn’t know if she had just saved herself…
Or made things worse.
Victoria stepped back slightly.
Her gaze flickered between Elena and Adrian.
Then—
She smiled again.
But this time…
It was different.
Colder.
Sharper.
More dangerous.
“You’re interesting,” she said.
A pause.
Then her voice dropped just enough to send a chill through Elena’s spine.
“But let’s see how long you can keep this up.”
Elena’s stomach tightened.
Because that didn’t sound like a challenge…
It sounded like a warning.
- Writer
