Chapter 5
1067 Words
Tricia's POV
He stopped right in front of me and looked down at the folder I was holding.
"That folder is private," he said. His voice was like low thunder.
"I was just cleaning, Mr. Black. I didn't mean to look," I said. My hands were still shaking so much the papers rattled.
He reached out and took the folder from my hands. His fingers brushed mine, and I felt that same heat again. He looked at the photo of the nightclub for a long time. He looked sad and angry at the same time.
"I spent years looking for her," he whispered. He wasn't looking at me; he was looking at the photo. "She disappeared like she never existed. She took something from me that night."
"The note says... she didn't take money," I said quietly.
Tyrone finally looked at me. His eyes were so sharp they felt like they were cutting through my mask. "She took my peace, Ms. Green. She took the only night I ever felt truly alive."
He stepped closer, pinning me against the tall shelves. "Why do you have that look in your eyes right now? Like you know exactly what I’m talking about?"
"I... I have to finish the filing," I said, dodging under his arm. I didn't wait for him to speak. I ran out of the vault as fast as I could.
I left work early. I couldn't breathe in that building anymore. I needed to talk to someone. My best friend.
When I got to my apartment, Pat was already there. She was sitting on the sofa, painting her nails a bright red.
"Trish! You look like you just ran a marathon," Pat said, looking up.
"He knows, Pat. Or he’s close to knowing," I said, throwing my bag on the table. I sat down and put my head in my hands.
"Wait, slow down," Pat said, putting her nail polish away. "Did Tyrone see Maxwell?"
"No. But he’s suspecting me. He told me I look like the girl he'd been searching for. And today... I found a folder. He hired people to find me five years ago. He never stopped looking."
Pat gasped. "He’s obsessed! But Trish, you changed your hair. You have the lenses. Your own mother barely recognized you at first. Just keep your cool."
"It’s hard, Pat! Being near him is like standing too close to a fire. And Caesar Chavez is making things worse. He’s flirting with me, and Tyrone saw us. He was so angry. I’m scared."
Pat stood up and hugged me. "You are strong. You are doing this for Max. Just do your job and keep your eyes on the floor. Don't let him see the 'real' you."
"I'm trying," I whispered. "But the more he looks at me, the more I feel like Tricia Green again, not just an employee."
That night, I couldn’t sleep. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Tyrone’s eyes, his hand on my wrist, and the words about that night kept running through my mind.
I tried thinking about Maxwell, about Pat telling me to stay strong, but the memories of the nightclub and him kept coming back. My heart raced, my body felt tense, and no matter how I turned or closed my eyes, I couldn’t rest.
The next morning, I tried to be invisible. I stayed in my office and worked on my computer. I didn't look at Tyrone’s door once.
Around 4:00 PM, Angela called me.
"Ms. Green, Mr. Black needs the final budget files in his office. He says it’s urgent."
I took a deep breath. Be a professional. Be a robot, I told myself.
I walked into his office. He was standing by the big window, looking out at the city. The sun was setting, making the whole room look orange and gold.
"Here are the files, sir," I said, placing them on his desk.
He didn't look at the files. He turned around and walked toward me. He looked tired. He stopped just a few inches away.
"Tricia," he said. He didn't say 'Ms. Green.' He said my name.
I looked up at him. I couldn't help it. The way the light hit his face made him look so much like Maxwell.
"You're hiding behind these clothes," he said softly. He reached out and touched the edge of my short hair. "You're hiding behind these brown eyes. But I can feel you. Why won't you just tell me the truth?"
I felt a tear start to form in my eye. I wanted to tell him. I wanted to tell him he had a son who loved towers and blocks. I wanted to tell him I was the girl from the club.
We stood there, just staring at each other. His hand moved from my hair to my cheek. The world felt very quiet. He started to lean in, his eyes dropping to my lips. My heart was beating so fast I thought I would faint.
Suddenly, the big mahogany doors swung open with a loud BANG.
"Tyrone, darling! I decided we should go to dinner early…"
Julia Grey stopped in the middle of the room. Her expensive silk dress flowed around her, but her face was twisted in shock.
She looked at Tyrone’s hand on my face. She looked at how close we were standing. Her blue eyes turned cold and full of hate.
"What is the meaning of this?" Julia screamed.
Tyrone didn't pull his hand away slowly. He snapped back, looking guilty. I felt like the floor was going to open up and swallow me.
Julia walked right up to me, her high heels clicking like a warning. She looked me up and down like I was trash.
"You," she hissed, pointing a finger at my chest. "I knew you were trouble the moment I saw you."
She turned to Tyrone, her voice shaking with rage. "Is this why you won't touch me, Tyrone? Because you're busy with this... this little secretary?"
"Julia, it's not what it looks like," Tyrone said, but his voice was strong.
"I'm not stupid!" Julia shouted. She looked back at me, a dangerous smile growing on her face. "If you want to play games with my husband-to-be, little girl, you should know that I
will never lose. And I will make sure you lose everything."
I stood there, frozen.
- Writer
