Breaking Through Her Wall

CHAPTER TEN

Tea with a Twist

Saturday afternoon. A small art café near the river.

Mandy hadls just wrapped up a studio session and agreed to meet Yvette, who reached out ‘ curious to get to know Berly's people.’

Mandy hadn't expected Yvette to be so... pleasant.

Perfect makeup. Relaxed charm. Honey-smooth voice.

Too smooth.

They sat across from each other in a quiet corner, mugs in hand, sunlight streaking through the vines of the window.

Yvette seeing that Mandy wasn't going to initiate a topic smiled.

“I have to say, I was surprised when Berly said she lived with a friend. She doesn't talk much about her personal life.”

“ She's private. But she's solid loyal.” Mandy said shrugging totally guarded.

“ I can see that. She holds her own at the company. That's rare.”

Mandy nodded, letting Yvette talk.

“ Its just... working under someone like Liam isn't very easy. And now Ryan's hovering too? I wonder how she deals with all that pressure.” Yvette said casually.

“ She's not the type to get thrown off.” Mandy replied carefully

Yvette laughed and continued.

“ Maybe. But charm is a weapon too, you know? Ryan's got plenty and Liam... well, let's say I've seen that man cut through people like paper.”

Mandy's smile was polite, but her eyes didn't blink.

“ You sound worried for her.”

“ Just concerned. Berly seems...untouched. Naive, maybe. I'd hate to see her get caught up in something she can't control.”

A pause

Then came Mandy's voice, soft but sharp

“ She's stronger than she looks. And definitely smarter than she lets on.”

Yvette's smile didn't waver. But Mandy saw it: that subtle flash of challenge behind her eyes. It was rather positioning.

They finished their tea with pleasant conversation - surface stuff. But as Yvette stood to leave, she touched Mandy's shoulder gently.

“ It was really nice talking to you. I can see why Berly keeps you close.”

Mandy just nodded.

“ I could say the same.”

She watched as Yvette walked away with the grace of someone who thought she'd made an impression. Mandy mummered,

“ You're not worried about her. You're worried about your place.”

Mandy was a little disappointed, her little fan was rather meeting with her to tarnish her best friend's reputation.

Yvette had been very interested in art work precisely Mandy's, she followed her on social media. Then she finds out that Berly and Mandy were best friends through Mandy's moment. She reaches out under the pretense of admiring her work and suggests meeting up to ' support a fellow creative.'

Mandy warned Berly when she got home to beware of Yvette without explaining any other thing to her.