Burning In His Obsession

""Oh my gosh!" Isla's scream echoed through the apartment. Tahlia came rushing out of her room so fast she nearly slipped. "What's wrong, Issy?" she asked, panic flashing across her face. Instead of answering, Isla shoved her phone into her hands and began jumping around the living room. Tahlia frowned as she scanned the email. A second later, her eyes widened. "Huh?" She looked up at her sister. Then back at the phone. Then back at Isla. "Issy!" "What?" Isla laughed breathlessly. "You got the job!" The phone nearly fell from Tahlia's hands as she lunged forward and grabbed her sister. The two women screamed at the same time. For the next few minutes, the apartment dissolved into complete chaos. They jumped, laughed and spun around in circles. At some point, neither of them could breathe properly anymore. Eventually they collapsed onto the floor, exhausted and giggling like children. Every time one of them looked at the other, they started laughing all over again. Tahlia wiped tears from the corner of her eyes. "Congratulations, Issy." This time her voice was softer. "You really deserve it." The laughter slowly faded. Isla stared at the email still open on her phone. For a moment she didn't say anything. Then she laughed again. A shaky laugh. "I genuinely thought I'd never get one." Tahlia's smile disappeared. She knew exactly how many rejection emails had arrived over the past year. She knew how many interviews had ended with promises that never became phone calls. She knew about the nights Isla had locked herself in her room because she was tired of hearing people ask when she would finally get a job. "I almost gave up, Tahlia." Her voice came out quieter than she intended. The admission hung between them. Tahlia reached over and squeezed her hand. "But you didn't." A smile slowly spread across Isla's face. "No." She looked back at the screen. "The funny thing is this was the company I thought would reject me the fastest." That made Tahlia laugh. "Life has a weird sense of humour." "Maybe disappointment really is a blessing sometimes." For a moment they simply sat there. Relief settled over Isla's shoulders like a weight she hadn't realised she'd been carrying. Then Tahlia's expression changed slightly. "When was the last time you heard from Maximus?" The smile on Isla's face faded. "He hasn't reached out." Tahlia released a slow breath. "Good." There was no hesitation in her answer. "I'm happy." Isla looked down at her hands. "So am I." The words surprised her. Not because they weren't true but because for the first time, they felt true. She leaned her head back against the couch. "Ever since I left him, I've been getting pieces of myself back." Tahlia listened quietly. "The scars are still there," Isla admitted. "Some days more than others." "But you're healing." A small smile appeared on Isla's lips. "Yeah." She looked around the apartment. At the sister sitting beside her. At the email glowing on her phone. At the future she had almost convinced herself would never come. "Yeah, I think I am." Tahlia immediately clapped her hands together. "Enough!" Isla blinked. "What?" "Today is not about Maximus." Tahlia pointed dramatically toward the phone. "Today is about you." That earned a laugh. "Fair enough." "So," Tahlia said, sitting upright, "when do you start?" "Monday." Tahlia froze. "MONDAY?" "Monday." "That's three days away!" "I know." "You need clothes." "I know." "Shoes." "I know." "A work bag." "I know." Tahlia jumped to her feet. "We need to go shopping." Isla burst out laughing. "You sound more stressed than I am." "Because somebody in this house has to be responsible." "That's rich coming from you." Tahlia ignored her. "We're buying corporate outfits tomorrow." Isla smiled. "Actually, I was thinking I'd go to the mall for groceries too." "Fine." Tahlia nodded thoughtfully. "I'll help with the work outfits while you're there." Isla frowned. "How?" Tahlia suddenly looked suspiciously pleased with herself. Then she walked over to her room and returned with an envelope. "What is that?" "Open it." Isla did. Her eyes widened. "Tahlia..." "I've been saving it." "What?" "For your first work outfits." For a second, Isla couldn't speak. "You saved money for me?" Tahlia shrugged as though it wasn't a big deal. "I knew you'd get a job eventually." The simplicity of the statement nearly broke her. Not because of the money. Because of the faith behind it. While Isla had been doubting herself, someone else had been preparing for her success. Tears suddenly burned behind her eyes. "Aww." She laughed, blinking rapidly. "That's so sweet." Tahlia gave an exaggerated bow. "Merci beaucoup." The dramatic gesture made Isla laugh again. "You're ridiculous." "I know." Tahlia grinned. Then she pointed toward the door. "And after shopping?" "What?" "We celebrate." A smile spread across Isla's face. "A club?" Tahlia screamed. "YES!" Their laughter filled the apartment once more. As Tahlia disappeared into her room to start planning an entire shopping trip that didn't need planning, Isla looked down at the envelope. For years, she had thought success would feel like winning. But sitting there, surrounded by love, it felt more like coming home. And somehow, that felt even better. ************************************************ The mall was busier than usual. People moved in every direction, weaving between stores and kiosks, their voices blending into a steady hum. Isla walked through the crowd with a small smile on her face, a shopping bag hanging from one arm while her phone rested in her hand. Every few seconds, her eyes drifted back to the email. Congratulations. The word still didn't feel real. After months of rejection, disappointment, and endless waiting, she finally had something she could call her own. A fresh start. The thought warmed her chest. Distracted by her phone, Isla turned the corner and walked straight into someone. The impact nearly sent her shopping bag tumbling from her hand. "Oh!" The man reached out immediately, steadying the bag before it could hit the floor. "I'm sorry," he said. His voice was calm. Unexpectedly calm. "It's okay," Isla replied. They both bent to pick up the few items that had slipped out. For a brief moment, their hands reached for the same item. His fingers brushed hers. A simple accident. Nothing more. Yet Isla found herself pausing. The stranger stood and handed the item back to her. "Here." "Thank you." "You're welcome." She finally looked up properly. And for a second, the noise around her seemed distant. Not because he was impossibly handsome. She had seen handsome men before. There was simply something different about him. Something quiet. The kind of quiet that didn't demand attention yet somehow received it anyway. His eyes met hers briefly before he looked away. No flirtation. No unnecessary smile. No attempt to continue the conversation. Just a polite stranger helping another stranger. Oddly enough, that caught her attention more. Most men always seemed eager to impress. This one didn't appear interested in impressing anyone. "Have a nice day," he said. "You too." And then he walked away. Just like that. Isla remained where she was for a moment. Watching. The crowd swallowed him almost immediately. A strange feeling settled inside her. Not disappointment. Not attraction. At least not yet. Curiosity. She didn't even know why. The encounter had lasted less than a minute. No names. No introductions. Nothing memorable should have happened. Yet she found herself glancing in the direction he had disappeared. Weird. Shaking her head, Isla adjusted her bag and continued walking. It was probably nothing. Just another face in a city filled with strangers. Still... For the rest of her shopping, she caught herself replaying the encounter. The calm voice. The unreadable expression. The effortless way he had walked away. And what annoyed her most was that she couldn't explain why. By the time she reached the checkout counter, she was still thinking about him. Not because she believed in love at first sight. She didn't. Life had taught her better than that. But something about the stranger felt unfinished. Like a conversation that had ended before it truly began.