Page 32 of Caffeine & Chaos

“Campaign?” Nadia asked, looking at her quizzically.

“You’re a model, right? You know, are you with Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren...?”

Nadia was aware that the dress fit her nicely and that she looked good, but being mistaken for a model? She didn’t consider herself nearly skinny or tall enough for that. “Oh, thank you, but I’m not a model,” she replied politely.

“Oh really? I saw you with Ryan earlier, and I just assumed! Sorry about that.” The woman returned her attention to herself in the mirror.

“You’re right, I’m here with Ryan. I suppose he dates a lot of models, doesn’t he?” Nadia attempted to maintain a casual demeanor as she subtly probed for information.

“I don’t know if dates is the right word,” she chuckled before continuing, “Let’s just say he often arrives alone to these events, but he sure as hell doesn’t leave alone!”

Nadia chuckled nervously, attempting to suppress the surge of insecurity churning in her stomach. “Well, he didn’t just stumble upon me tonight. I’m officially his date,” she remarked, though even she couldn’t help but detect the underlying plea for validation in her own words.

“Well good for you darling. How long have you been dating?” The woman asked, walking towards Nadia as she smiled and made eye contact.

Nadia suddenly felt trapped, scrambling for an appropriate response. What could she say? Just a day ago, she wouldn’t have labeled whatever she had with Ryan as anything close to official. “Oh, just a couple of weeks,” she replied, hoping it sounded convincing enough.

“I see. So, I guess you were around for the big snafu with his former VP then, huh? I was so worried for Ryan when the news broke.”

Something in the woman’s expression made Nadia pause before answering. She was too interested. Too eager.

“Sorry, I don’t think I caught your name, I’m Nadia,” she said, avoiding the question.

“Oh right! Where are my manners? You must think I’m terribly rude.” She reached out to shake Nadia’s hand, dropping her tube of lipstick on the floor by mistake. It rolled underneath the vanity counter.

Nadia instinctively bent down to help her look for it.

“I am such a cluttz sometimes! I hope I can find it, that color line has been discontinued,” she lamented, dropping to the floor alongside Nadia.

“I think I see it towards the back there,” Nadia pointed, “on the right side.”

The woman retrieved her lipstick and they both stood up.

“Thank-you so much! I didn’t wear my glasses tonight, I would have been searching for hours if you hadn’t been here!” She smiled at Nadia and tucked her lipstick into her purse.

“I’m glad I could help.” Nadia returned her smile and turned to do one last check in the mirror.

“So how is Ryan taking it? When I heard about Markus, I was just devastated for him. He has worked so hard to make that company what it is,” the woman persisted.

Nadia cast a wary sidelong glance at the woman. Something felt off. This seemingly casual conversation wasn’t quite as innocent as it appeared. Had she purposefully dropped her lipstick? The tactic had conveniently sidestepped the need to offer her name to Nadia.

“Are you and Ryan close?” Nadia asked, dodging her question again, hoping to distract her with the jealous girlfriend routine.

She shifted her eyes away from Nadia’s. “Oh well you know how it is, you get to know everyone when you run in the same circles.”

“I see,” Nadia replied cooly, walking past the woman towards the exit. “Enjoy your evening.” As she made her way out, she noticed a flash of frustration cross the woman’s face, reflected in the mirror.

Nadia nearly stumbled over Ryan when she turned the corner from the washroom, surprised to find him loitering so close. Moments later, the suspicious woman briskly walked past them.

“Oh god you were in there for a long time. What did you say to her?” Ryan inquired in a low tone, his eyes narrowing with concern.

“What are you doing lurking outside the ladies’ washroom? I told you I would find you,” Nadia exclaimed, her tone tinged with annoyance. She was sharp enough to realize the woman was prying, trying to get her to inadvertently betray Ryan’s privacy.

Without acknowledging her question, Ryan continued, “what did you say to that woman who followed you in there?”

“Do you know her?”

Ryan sneered. “Oh yeah, that’s Madeline Dubois. She’s a reporter for the Miami Sun Newspaper.” Ryan rubbed at his eyes, his patience wearing thin. “Please, just tell me what you talked about.”

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