Chapter 4:A shift in the Air.
530 Words
The rest of the morning felt like walking a tightrope. Diana sipped her coffee, scrolling through her phone while Karen cleaned up the kitchen. Mike sat at the table, pretending to read the newspaper, but his focus kept slipping back to the two women in the room.
Diana finally set her phone down, looking at Karen. "I appreciate you making breakfast, Karen. But you don’t have to go out of your way. We hired you to take care of Liam, not the house."
Karen gave a small, polite smile. "I don’t mind. Cooking is something I enjoy. And Liam loves pancakes."
Diana hummed, her expression unreadable. "That’s nice of you."
Mike noticed the way his wife’s gaze lingered on Karen—curious, assessing. He couldn't tell if it was appreciation or something else entirely. The moment stretched on before Diana stood and grabbed her bag. "I should get to the office. Mike, we still on for dinner tonight?"
Mike blinked, caught off guard. "Dinner?"
"Yes, dinner. I told you about it last week. The fundraiser?"
He exhaled, nodding. "Right. Of course. I’ll be ready."
Diana gave him a tight smile, then turned to Karen. "You’ll be okay watching Liam for a few more hours tonight?"
Karen nodded. "Of course, Mrs. Adams."
Diana studied her again for a beat before nodding. "Alright. See you both later."
The door closed behind her, and silence settled in the kitchen. Karen let out a small breath, shaking her head with a smirk. "She doesn’t like me very much, does she?"
Mike chuckled. "She’s just... cautious."
"About what? Me?" Karen tilted her head, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Or you?"
Mike met her gaze, something unreadable passing between them. "Both."
Karen let that sit for a moment before turning back to the dishes. "Well, I guess I’ll just have to prove her wrong."
Mike wasn’t sure why, but the thought of that made his pulse quicken.
That evening, after Liam had been put to bed and the house had quieted down, Mike stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his tie. His reflection stared back at him, tired but restless. There was something about tonight that felt... different.
A knock at the bedroom door made him turn. Karen stood there, leaning against the frame. "Looking sharp. Big night?"
Mike smirked. "Something like that."
Karen stepped inside, hesitating only briefly before closing the door behind her. "You don’t seem too excited."
"It’s just another event. Same people, same small talk."
Karen watched him, her expression softening. "Then why go?"
He sighed, adjusting his cufflinks. "Because that’s what Diana expects. And it’s what I’m supposed to do."
Karen took a step closer, her voice quieter now. "And what do you want to do, Mr. Adams?"
Mike turned toward her, their eyes locking. The air between them felt heavy, charged. But before he could answer, the sound of Diana’s car pulling into the driveway broke the moment.
Karen gave him a knowing smile, stepping back. "Have fun at your event."
Then, just like that, she slipped out of the room, leaving Mike standing there, his pulse racing.
This was getting dangerous.
And he wasn’t sure he wanted to stop.
- Writer
