Dark Innocence

Chapter Three

Phobe’s pov

I groggily reached for my phone, my eyes half-open as I tried to shake off the sleep. "H-hello?" I mumbled, my voice husky from disuse.

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, I wondered if I'd answered a wrong call. But then, a deep, familiar voice spoke up, sending shivers down my spine.

"Phoebe Wellesley, I see you're still as lovely as ever," the voice said, low and smooth.

My heart skipped a beat as I sat up in bed, my mind racing. It had been six years since I'd last heard that voice, six years since I'd last spoken to him. Ethan Blackwood.

"Ethan?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.

"Ah, you still remember me," he said, his tone laced with amusement. "I knew I'd pass with flying colors, Phoebe."

I felt a surge of emotions as I processed the sound of his voice. It was like no time had passed at all, and yet, everything was different. I hadn't expected to hear from him, especially not in the middle of the night.

"What do you want, Ethan?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.

"I just wanted to catch up," he said, his voice dripping with sincerity. "It's been a long time, Phoebe. How have you been?"

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. A part of me wanted to hang up, to pretend I hadn't heard from him. But another part of me was curious, wanted to know what he wanted after all these years.

"I've been fine," I said finally, trying to keep my tone light. "Just busy with life."

As we chatted, Ethan's tone remained smooth and charming, putting me at ease despite the initial shock of hearing from him. But beneath the surface, I could sense a hint of familiarity, a sense of knowing exactly which buttons to press.

"So, Phoebe, I'd love to catch up in person," Ethan said, his voice taking on a more intimate tone. "Would you like to grab dinner with me sometime this week?"

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. It had been a long time since we'd last spoken, and I wasn't sure if I was ready to revisit the past. But a part of me was curious, wanted to know what had changed, what had brought him back into my life.

"I don't know, Ethan," I said finally, trying to sound noncommittal. "I've been pretty busy lately."

Ethan chuckled, his laughter low and husky. "I'm sure you have," he said. "But I promise I'll make it worth your while. How about tomorrow night?"

I hesitated again, weighing my options. It was just dinner, after all. What harm could it do?

"Okay," I said finally, trying to sound casual. "Tomorrow night works." I will send you my address.

Ethan's voice was triumphant. "Great. I'll pick you up at 7?"

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "Sounds good."

After hanging up with Ethan, I tried to settle back into bed, but my mind was racing. I couldn't shake off the feeling that my life was about to take a dramatic turn. But as I lay there, my thoughts began to drift away from Ethan and back to the problems I was facing with my bakery.

The mysterious complaint, the inspection, and the ominous note were still weighing heavily on my mind. I tossed and turned, unable to shake off the feeling of unease. My bakery was more than just a business to me - it was my passion, my dream. The thought of someone trying to sabotage it was unbearable.

I threw off the covers and got out of bed, deciding to do some work on the bakery's problem. Maybe if I could figure out who was behind the complaint, I could finally get some peace of mind. I sat down at my desk and began to review the security footage and the inspection report, looking for any clues that might lead me to the culprit.

As I worked, my mind was a whirlwind of possibilities and theories. Who could be behind the complaint? Was it a disgruntled former employee, a rival baker, or someone else entirely? I was determined to get to the bottom of it, no matter what it took.

The hours ticked by, and the sun began to rise outside my window. I was so caught up in my work that I barely noticed the time passing. But despite my best efforts, I still couldn't shake off the feeling that I was missing something important.

As the morning light crept in, I needed to get ready for the day ahead. I headed to the bathroom to start my morning routine.

washing my face, brushing my teeth, and styling my hair into a messy bun. Then, I slipped into a pair of comfortable jeans, a plain white T-shirt, and a pair of sneakers. The casual outfit was perfect for a day spent working at the bakery.

I added a light jacket to ward off the morning chill and grabbed my bag, which contained my laptop and notes from the previous night's research. With everything I needed in hand, I headed out the door and made my way to the bakery.

As I walked, the morning air filled with the sweet scent of freshly baked bread wafting from nearby cafes. My stomach growled in response, reminding me that I hadn't eaten breakfast yet. I made a mental note to grab something to eat as soon as I arrived at the bakery.

As I walked into the bakery, I noticed that it was eerily quiet. Normally, the shop would be bustling with customers, the sound of chatter and the aroma of freshly baked goods filling the air. But today, the silence was deafening.

I glanced at my staff, who were all standing around, looking a bit lost. "No customers today?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

One of my staff members, a young woman named Emma, shook her head. "No, boss. Since the inspection, we've had a few cancellations and no new orders. People are hesitant to come in, I guess."

I nodded, feeling a pang of frustration. This was exactly what I had been worried about. The complaint and subsequent inspection had damaged my bakery's reputation, and now we were paying the price.

"Okay, let's focus on getting to the bottom of this," I said, determination in my voice. "We need to figure out who made the complaint and clear our name. Let's review the security footage and see if we can find any clues."

My staff nodded in agreement, and we got to work, determined to restore our bakery's reputation and bring back the customers.

The hours ticked by at a glacial pace, and despite our best efforts, not a single customer walked through the door. We waited and waited, but the bakery remained eerily quiet. The staff and I exchanged worried glances, our spirits sinking with each passing minute.

As the clock struck 4 pm, I let out a disappointed sigh. It had been a long and fruitless day, with no customers to speak of. The staff began to pack up their things, their faces somber.

"I guess it's just going to take some time," Emma said, trying to sound optimistic. "We'll get through this, boss."

I forced a smile, trying to reassure her. "You're right. We'll figure this out and get back to normal. Let's just focus on finding out who made that complaint and clearing our name."

As the staff filed out of the bakery, I stayed behind, lost in thought. The silence was oppressive, and the empty shop seemed to echo with the weight of my worries. I knew I had to do something, but what? The answer eluded me, and for now, I was left with nothing but uncertainty and doubt.

I stood there, lost in thought, my phone suddenly buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, and my eyes widened as I saw Ethan's name on the screen. He was calling to remind me about our date tonight.

"Hey, Phoebe," he said, his voice smooth and charming. "Just wanted to confirm our plans for tonight. I'll pick you up at 7, right?"

I hesitated, momentarily forgetting about our plans. The stress of the bakery's problems had consumed me, and I hadn't even thought about our date in hours.

"Oh, yeah," I said, trying to sound more enthusiastic than I felt. "7 pm. I'll be ready."

Ethan chuckled on the other end of the line. "Great. I'll see you then. Try to relax and enjoy the evening, okay?"

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "Yeah, okay. Thanks."

As we hung up, I couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. I had agreed to go on this date, but now I wasn't so sure. The bakery's problems were weighing heavily on my mind, and I wasn't sure if I was ready to put on a happy face and pretend everything was fine. But for now, I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on getting through the rest of the day. Tonight, I would deal with Ethan and whatever came next.