The Calling

FOUR

ELARA

As I dried off and applied a bit of makeup, my thoughts returned to the night before with Penelope—her wild behavior, Dexter’s threats, and the way his eyes had glowed. It all seemed like a blur. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something off about Dexter. I also thought about the strange confusion on his face, as if he’d been trying to do something that wasn’t working, and I wasn’t responding the way I should have.

I didn’t dare think about Silus. The way his eyes had gleamed like a golden sun, the way his voice had wrapped around me—it was all too dangerous to dwell on. I needed answers, not distractions.

After getting dressed for work, I picked up my phone and noticed several unread messages. Three were from Penelope:

“Good morning, love!”

“Let’s go shopping after work!”

“I love you!”

They were the kind of messages I used to get from her before Dexter came into her life. A mix of relief and frustration swelled inside me. I rubbed my temples, unsure of what to do. I wanted to go back to normal so badly, but after last night, I knew that wasn’t possible. Was she really okay, or was this just another way of keeping me off Dexter's radar?

I replied anyway, desperate to reconnect with my friend.

“Would love to go shopping and get dinner! I miss you so much and I love you, too!”

Maybe this would be an opportunity for Penelope to open up about Dexter. I needed answers—about him, about her behavior, and about the strange “mineral water” that her so-called friend Silus had brought by. The thought of Silus drifted into my mind again, his toned muscles visible even in the dark, the way his voice sent shivers down my spine. I quickly shook it off. That man was trouble if he could consume my thoughts like this after just one encounter. For my own sanity, I hoped I wouldn’t see him again.

I grabbed my coffee and headed to work. The office building was ten stories high, with each floor dedicated to a different department, except for the top two floors, which served as a penthouse apartment and then a floor below the penthouse that included separate apartments. Vorra Industries had its hands in nearly everything—construction, entertainment, food, and countless other ventures. Their name and logo were stamped on half the products in the city and surrounding areas.

The main lobby was sleek and modern, with a round fountain that you could see through the large windows. A receptionist sat at the desk to help direct employees. I had access to the third floor, where my department handled product distribution. As I nodded a quick hello to the receptionist and climbed into the elevator, I hit the button for the third floor and leaned back against the wall.

It occurred to me that in the seven years I’d worked at Vorra Industries, I had never been to another floor or even seen the other brothers who ran the departments above. I knew of Morris Vorra, Dexter’s father and the owner of the company, but I had never met any of the other brothers. I’d only ever interacted with Dexter and, on rare occasions, Morris himself.

I had gotten this job because Morris had been my father’s best friend. For the most part, it had been a good position—decent pay, good benefits, and work that kept me busy. The only reason I stayed as long as I did was due to a contract between my father and Morris that tied me to the company for a set number of years. I had been content enough until everything changed with Penelope.

I had a lot to figure out now. I sighed as the elevator reached the third floor, and I stepped out toward my desk. A fresh stack of papers was waiting for me to sign off on product distributions and inspections. For now, I was looking forward to losing myself in the mindless routine of work.

Before I could start, I checked my phone again to see if Penelope had responded. She hadn’t, but I noticed a message I’d missed earlier that morning. It was from an unknown number:

“Do not break our deal.”

–D

My stomach tightened. I stared at the message, my mind racing. How had Dexter gotten my number? The message wasn’t exactly threatening, but it felt like a warning. I wanted to scream or throw something, anything to vent my frustration. Instead, I shoved the phone back into my bag and focused on my work, signing documents with more force than necessary.

The hours ticked by, and my irritation gave way to a simmering determination. I wouldn’t let Dexter scare me off. He might think he could control Penelope, but he wouldn’t control me.

When the workday finally ended, I grabbed my bag and headed to the elevator. My heart was pounding with a mix of anticipation and anxiety as I thought about seeing Penelope later. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was determined to get some answers.

As I stepped outside, the cool evening air hit my face, calming me a little. I walked to my car and drove to the shopping center where Penelope and I had planned to meet. I arrived early, so I parked and waited, drumming my fingers on the steering wheel. I kept glancing at my phone, half-expecting another cryptic message from Dexter or, worse, a sudden cancellation from Penelope.

But then I saw her: Penelope was walking toward me with that familiar, radiant smile on her face, as if nothing at all had changed. Her long rose gold hair flowed in the breeze, and she waved cheerfully. It felt like old times—almost.

I got out of the car and hugged her tightly.

“You have no idea how worried I’ve been,” I said, pulling back to look at her.

“I’m fine, really,” Penelope replied with a bright smile.

“Come on, let’s go shop and have some fun.”

She seemed so normal, like her usual vibrant self. But as we walked through the rows of stores, I couldn’t help but notice the occasional flicker in her eyes—a shadow that seemed to pass over her smile when she thought I wasn’t looking. It was as if she were putting on a show, and I wasn’t sure whether it was for me or herself.

We spent the next couple of hours trying on clothes, laughing, and talking about anything except Dexter. I kept waiting for the right moment to ask her what was really going on, but she gave me no opening. The cheerful facade never cracked.

Finally, as we sat down for dinner in a small café, I decided I couldn’t wait any longer.

“Penelope,” I said, my voice lower than usual.

“Last night... What happened? I’m worried about you. You seemed... different.”

She took a sip of her coffee, her gaze dropping to the cup.

“Different how?” she asked, a guarded tone creeping into her voice.

“Like you weren’t yourself,” I replied. “And then Dexter—”

She immediately tensed, her smile fading.

“Elara, I told you I’m fine. Dexter and I are fine. Please, can we not talk about this?”

Her sudden shift in mood made my chest tighten. I knew she was hiding something, but I couldn’t push too hard, not yet. I forced a smile and nodded.

“Okay, we don’t have to talk about it now.” But I wouldn’t let it go. Not until I knew what was really happening.

After dinner, we parted ways, and I watched as Penelope walked to her car. She turned back and waved, her smile as bright as ever, but there was an emptiness behind it that unsettled me. I got into my car and sat there for a few moments, staring at my phone. I had a feeling that I was going to need help to figure out what was really going on with her—and Dexter.

As I drove home, I replayed the night’s events in my mind. It didn’t make sense. Penelope had always been so open with me before. But now, it was like she was a different person entirely. It was as though Dexter had somehow gotten inside her head.

When I reached my apartment, I tossed my bag onto the couch and collapsed beside it. I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my texts until I found the one from Dexter. I read the message he’d sent a few times and worked to get my nerves under control. I needed to be in control of myself. I took a few deep breaths and clicked on the numbers.

Before I could overthink it, I pressed the call button.