Chapter Forty Three

Chapter Forty Three
Lisa's anxiety was a living, breathing thing, coiling tighter with each passing minute. She had tried calling Jamie again, but his phone was still switched off. 

The encounter with Marcus had left her shaken, and she couldn't shake the feeling that he was watching her, waiting for her to make a move. She thought back to the times she'd brushed off his creepy behavior, convincing herself she was overreacting. But now, with his aggressive messages and sudden appearances, she knew she had to take it seriously.

Rachel was trying to distract her, chatting about everything from fashion trends to their favorite TV shows, "Hey, Lisa, don't worry about Jamie. He's probably just busy, okay?"

Lisa sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and worry. "I just... I don't know, Rach. I feel like I'm losing control here."

Rachel put down the magazine and took Lisa's hand. "You're not losing control, okay? You're just... navigating a crappy situation. We'll figure it out, together."

Lisa nodded, trying to breathe. She knew Rachel was right. She wasn't alone in this.

But as Lisa glanced over at Rachel, she did a double take. Rachel was dressed to the nines, looking stunning in a little black dress and heels. 😍

"Rach, where are you going?" Lisa asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.

Rachel hesitated, looking guilty. "I'm so sorry, Lisa. I forgot to tell you. My friends have been calling me for weeks, and I really need to show up at the club tonight."

Lisa's heart sank, feeling a pang of disappointment. She didn't want to be left alone, not tonight. "It's fine," she said, trying to sound casual. "Go have fun."

Rachel looked torn, but her excitement about the party won out. "Are you sure? I can stay if you need me to."

Lisa shook her head, forcing a smile. "No, go. I'll be fine. Just... be safe, okay?"

Rachel nodded, relief washing over her face. "I will. I'll text you later, and we'll catch up tomorrow."

As Rachel grabbed her purse and headed out the door, Lisa felt a twinge of loneliness. She watched as Rachel's car pulled away, feeling a little abandoned.

She sighed, flopping back onto the couch. 

Just as she was starting to wallow, her phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number. "Hey, Lisa. It's Jamie. Can we talk?"

Lisa's heart skipped a beat. ‘’Jamie! He fine called back.’’



The club's VIP section was throbbing with music and laughter, the scent of expensive champagne hanging in the air. Rachel was perched on a pluxe couch, surrounded by her friends, feeling like queen of the night. 👑

She took a sip of her champagne, the bubbles tickling her nose as she turned to her friend, Tammie, "Where's all this coming from? Are you guys celebrating something special?"

Tammie laughed, holding up his glass. "No special occasion, Rach. Just a generous guy with a good heart decided to treat us tonight."

Rachel raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A generous guy? What's his story?"

Tammie shrugged. "No idea, but I'm not complaining. More champagne, anyone?"

The group cheered, and Rachel joined in, letting the music and laughter wash over her. She was feeling like she was on top of the world... until she saw him.

Marcus.

He walked in like he owned the place, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on her. Rachel felt a shiver run down her spine as he made his way towards their table.

The music seemed to fade into the background as Marcus approached, a smirk on his face. Rachel's friends didn't seem to notice the tension, but she felt it like a cold draft.

"Hey, Rach," Marcus said, his voice dripping with familiarity. "Mind if I join the party?"

Rachel's smile felt frozen on her face. "Marcus, I..."

But before she could finish, Marcus had already slid onto the couch beside her, his arm draped casually over the back. 😬

The air felt thick, and Rachel's instincts were screaming at her to get away. But she didn't want to cause a scene, not here, not now.

She forced a smile, trying to keep things light. "Marcus, this is..."

But Marcus wasn't interested in her friends. His eyes were locked on hers, a message in them that made Rachel's skin crawl.

"Let's dance, Rach," he said, his voice low and suggestive.

Rachel's heart was racing. She didn't want to dance with Marcus. She didn't want to be near him.

But before she could respond, he was pulling her up, leading her onto the dance floor.

And Rachel was trapped, with no escape in sight. 

Rachel's smile began to crack as Marcus's hand brushed against her waist. She could feel his breath on her neck, and it made her skin crawl. She glanced at her friends, but they were too caught up in the music and champagne to notice her discomfort.

She tried to subtly pull away, but Marcus's grip only tightened. Rachel's mind flashed to Lisa, alone at home, worrying about Marcus's next move. She couldn't do this, not when her friend needed her.

With a burst of determination, Rachel snatched her bag, her movements abrupt. "I... I need to go," she mutched, already turning to leave.

Marcus's eyes narrowed, but Rachel didn't look back. She pushed through the crowd, her heels clicking on the floor as she made a beeline for the exit.

Her friends called out, confused, but Rachel just waved a hand, not stopping until she was out in the cool night air. She got into her car and drove away.

As the club's noise faded into the distance, Rachel let out a shaky breath. What was she thinking, staying that long? She pulled out her phone to text Lisa, to make sure she was okay.