Page 42 of Petals and Fangs

“What a pity you had to miss it. It is just too bad that you left.”

My stomach suddenly feels sick. It all makes sense now, doesn't it? Ethan is the one behind the messages. He is the one who sent them.

“It is a pity I had to leave, indeed,” I respond.

“I could have made you a delicious fruit smoothie. You know, you look like you would enjoy that. I hear you like your coffee black, sugarless too.”

“I also hear you enjoy surfing the internet a lot, don't you, Ethan?”

“You do too.”

“I would be lying if I said no.”

“I guess we are two people that enjoy a lot of the same things.”

“And a few other things.”

“Like?”

“A few other things we can both enjoy,” I look him up and down. He is speaking slowly, making me utterly curious to hear the next few words coming out of his mouth.

“Like what?”

“Like having to play mind games with each other. I can see you are quite good at it, Ethan.”

“Me? Playing mind games with you?”

“Of course. I can tell when someone is doing it. I don't get tricked so easily.”

“Well, aren't you the little detective? Unfortunately, it won't last for too long. You can't keep your little secret for too long now, Lily.”

“But I heard you are quite a fan of secrets. I can tell you a little secret too. Secrets, to be honest.”

“What would you do to uncover them, Lily?”

I look at him, his eyes are piercing into mine. He is standing right in front of me, trying to intimidate me, and it is working. He is so good at it.

“Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. There is nothing here, Ethan,” I say.

“Oh, that's what you think. But we are only getting started, Lily. I will see you in a bit,” he says and walks out of the office.

I am left standing there alone, trying to get a hold of myself. This is not how I imagined the day at the building would start.

I take a deep breath. It's a good thing we had a little time to talk, but the mysterious talk and the innuendos are making it impossible for me to concentrate.

“Does he know? Of course, he can't know,” I say to myself. Ethan can't know that I am the one behind the anonymous dating advice.

My mind is so chaotic right now, but isn't this what I wanted to make sure of? I wanted to make sure it was Ethan behind those messages. But he can't know it is me that he is contacting.

“Hello again, Ms. Snow,” I hear his advisor's voice, Alfred's, coming from behind me.

“Oh. Hello again. How are you?” I turn around to look at him.

“Good, good. Just taking a little break before I go back to the meeting room. I couldn't wait to see the results.”

“Well, here you go,” I awkwardly say, and gesture to the room.

“You have been here for less than two hours and have already done more work than anyone else here has.”

---