Obsession of Ex

PART 2 – THE SHADOW DRAWING CLOSER

NADINE

Nadine walked down the nearly empty campus corridor, her footsteps echoing off the walls. The day was winding down, and the warm golden light from the setting sun filtered through the tall glass windows, casting long shadows across the floor. Her own shadow stretched out in front of her, a reflection of her uneasy pace. But it wasn’t her reflection that made her shiver—it was the overwhelming feeling that she wasn’t alone.

The sensation had intensified over the past few days, as though someone’s gaze was following her everywhere she went. She couldn’t shake the feeling. Each step she took, each turn she made, the hairs on the back of her neck prickled with the certainty that eyes were watching her, even when she couldn't see anyone. She had tried to dismiss it at first, telling herself it was just her overactive imagination, or perhaps some paranoia creeping in. But deep down, she knew. It wasn’t just in her head. Someone was watching her.

Her heart beat faster, and she quickened her pace. Her fingers gripped the strap of her bag tightly as she walked, her mind racing with the thought of who it could be. Maybe it was nothing, just some random person or maybe a passerby, but then why did it feel so intense? Why did it feel like it had been happening for days?

Nadine couldn’t stand it anymore. She needed to get out of this building, needed to see Lucas, or Queen—anyone she could trust. Anyone who could make her feel safe again.

Just as she reached the corner that would lead her to the exit, her phone buzzed in her coat pocket. The sudden sound made her jump, and her breath caught in her throat. She hesitated for a moment, her fingers trembling as she pulled the phone out. A message from an unknown number flashed on the screen.

“Don’t go home alone tonight.”

Her heart dropped. The words sent a cold shiver down her spine. She stared at the screen, her fingers still gripping the phone, but she couldn’t move. What was this? A prank? A sick joke? Her mind scrambled for a logical explanation. But deep inside, she knew. This wasn’t just a coincidence.

Her breath came in shallow bursts, and her pulse pounded in her ears. She wasn’t imagining it. Someone was watching her. Someone knew where she was, and they had made it clear.

Nadine quickly shoved the phone back into her pocket, her heart racing. She looked around, but the corridor was still empty. She needed to leave. Now.

ADRIAN

Adrian Callway sat in the dimly lit room, his eyes fixed on the screen in front of him. The only light came from the glow of multiple monitors, each displaying different feeds from his surveillance network. His fingers drummed lightly on the polished surface of his desk, a rhythm that mirrored his calm demeanor. He watched intently as a young woman walked alone down a campus corridor, her face tense with anxiety.

Nadine.

Adrian’s lips curled into a faint smile. He had been keeping tabs on her for days now, and he could feel her fear from miles away. The way she looked over her shoulder, the way she clenched her bag, the way her pace quickened—he could see it all.

“She’s finally starting to notice,” he murmured to himself. “Good.”

Fear was such a powerful thing. It was the beginning of control, and it was all he needed to bring Nadine under his influence. From the moment he had seen her in that little café, he had known she was different. And now, after all this time, she was finally starting to sense the darkness closing in around her.

Adrian had planned everything perfectly. There was no room for error. He had made sure to surround her, to manipulate the situation so that she would feel vulnerable, isolated, and most importantly—scared. It was only a matter of time before she realized that she had no choice but to turn to him.

The thought of Lucas Alexander, the man who had tried to stand in his way, only made Adrian smirk. Lucas might have money, power, and influence, but Adrian had something far more important: control. He had orchestrated everything. Nadine would be his, and no one—especially not Lucas—would stop him.

Adrian sat back in his chair, his gaze never leaving the screen as Nadine continued her journey down the corridor. He wasn’t done yet. Not by a long shot.

“Soon,” Adrian whispered, his voice dark and filled with anticipation. “Soon, Nadine, you’ll be mine.”

LUCAS

Lucas sat in the backseat of his car, the city lights flickering through the windows as he stared down at his phone. His mind raced as he read the message from Nadine.

“I feel like someone is following me.”

His heart sank, and his grip on the phone tightened. He didn’t want to panic, but something told him that this wasn’t just a case of Nadine’s overactive imagination. She wasn’t the type to make things up. If she felt watched, then someone was definitely following her.

He cursed under his breath. He had been feeling something wasn’t right for days now. Ever since he had first learned that Adrian Callway was still out there, lurking in the shadows, everything had seemed off. Adrian was supposed to be behind bars. He wasn’t supposed to be able to reach Nadine. But Lucas couldn’t shake the feeling that Adrian was involved somehow.

“It has to be him,” Lucas muttered to himself. “It’s the only explanation.”

His fist clenched. Lucas knew Adrian better than anyone, and he knew the man was dangerous. He couldn’t sit by and do nothing while Nadine was in danger. He had to get to her.

He tapped the screen of his phone, pulling up the map of the campus. He needed to act fast.

“I’ll protect you, Nadine,” he said, his voice low and determined. “No matter what.”

QUEEN DIOR

Queen Dior stood on the balcony of her apartment, the cool night air ruffling her long hair. In her hand, she swirled a glass of red wine, the liquid catching the light as it moved. But her mind wasn’t on the wine. It wasn’t on the city lights stretching out before her, or the peaceful quiet of the evening.

Her thoughts were on Nadine. Her best friend had called her just a few minutes ago, and Queen had heard the fear in her voice. It was something she’d never thought to hear from Nadine. She had always been so strong, so confident. But tonight, something was wrong.

Queen took a slow sip of her wine, her fingers trembling slightly as she remembered the way Nadine had spoken. The way she had sounded so… vulnerable. It made something in Queen’s chest tighten.

And then there was Lucas. The moment he had heard about Nadine’s message, he had rushed to her side, no questions asked. Queen couldn’t help the pang of jealousy that surged through her. She had loved Lucas for so long, longer than she cared to admit. But he had never seen her the way she had seen him.

Ever since Nadine had come into their lives, everything had changed. Lucas, who had always been her rock, her confidant, had shifted his focus entirely onto Nadine. And Queen couldn’t help but feel a sting of betrayal, even though she knew she had no right to. Nadine was her best friend. She should want what was best for her. But it was hard, so hard, when the one person you had always loved began to slip through your fingers.

“I love you, Lucas,” Queen whispered to herself, her voice a mixture of longing and sorrow. “But I don’t know how much longer I can pretend that I’m okay with all of this.”

As she stared out at the city, her heart ached. Her love for Lucas had always been something she kept hidden. But now, as the events unfolded around Nadine, Queen realized just how deep her feelings ran—and just how far she would be willing to go to protect her best friend.

“I’ll do whatever it takes,” she murmured, the words barely audible over the city noise. “Even if it means losing myself in the process.”

She had to protect Nadine. But where did that leave her own heart?