Chapter 63 THE SUSPECT PART 2
Priya turned the camera over in her hands, checking the screen. Then she glanced around the room.
Vivienne kept watching her.
Priya slipped the camera back into her bag and zipped it closed, then headed toward the break room.
Vivienne stood frozen. Is Priya a suspect?
She0 had a camera. A small one you could use to take secret photos. Like taking photos inside the studio and sending them to the blackmailer.
"You coming to lunch?"
Vivienne jumped, spinning around to find Kai standing there with an amused look on his face.
"You good?" he asked. "Something bothering you?"
"No. I'm..." She trailed off, looking back at where Priya had been standing. "I'm fine."
"Hmm." Kai stepped closer, lowering his voice. "I don't think you are."
His eyes were dark brown, almost black, and right now they were focused entirely on her.
"Seriously, I'm okay," Vivienne said, moving past him toward the break room. "But famished."
She felt his eyes on her back as she walked away.
In the break room, people were scattered around the small tables. Riley and Priya sat together in the corner, sharing a container of sushi. Eliza was on her phone. Victor had his laptop out, obviously reviewing footage.
Everything looked normal.
But Vivienne couldn't shake what she'd seen.
Priya had a camera. And she seemed to be acting secretive about it.
Was she the blackmailer? Was she working for the blackmailer?
Vivienne grabbed a granola bar from her bag, not trusting herself to eat anything more substantial.
"Mind if I sit?"
She looked up to find Kai holding a protein shake and gesturing to the empty chair across from her.
"It's a free country."
He sat down, long legs stretching out under the small table. "So. New York. You from here originally?"
Small talk. He was making small talk.
"Brooklyn," Vivienne said, keeping her answers short. "You?"
"Los Angeles. But I've been traveling for work the past few years. Tokyo, London, Paris." He took a sip of his shake. "It's good to be back in the States."
"Mm."
"Not much of a talker, huh?"
"Just focused on work." She smiled faintly.
"I can respect that." He leaned back in his chair, studying her again with that intense gaze. "But you know, it's okay to relax sometimes. Have a conversation. Be human."
Vivienne met his eyes. "Is this how you talk to all your students?"
"Only the interesting ones." The corner of his mouth lifted. "And you, Ms. Cross, are definitely interesting."
There it was again. That thing in his voice that felt like more than professional interest.
Across the room, Vivienne noticed Alexander watching them. And he seemed invested.
"I should get ready for the next session," Vivienne said, standing up.
"We still have ten minutes," Kai said.
"I like to be prepared."
She left before Kai could respond again, heading toward the changing room.
In the hallway, she pulled out her phone and stared at the blackmailer's last message.
"Attend the gala and I will show myself."
She hated having to suspect everyone and trying to figure out who was hiding behind those anonymous messages.
But she had a suspect now.
Priya.
Sweet, friendly Priya who always had a smile on her face was her prime suspect. She had a camera hidden in her bag.
Vivienne leaned against the wall, closing her eyes.
She needed proof. She needed to be sure before she did anything.
But how?
"There you are."
Her eyes flew open. It was Kai again. He stood in the hallway, hands in his pockets.
"I wanted to make sure you were okay," he said. "You left pretty quickly."
"I'm fine."
"You say that a lot." He took a step closer. "But I'm not sure I believe you."
"Believe what you want." Vivienne pushed off the wall, intending to walk past him.
He moved, blocking her path. Not in an aggressive way though. Just enough to make her stop.
"Look," he said, his voice softer now. "I don't know what's going on with you. And it's not really my business. But if you need someone to talk to, or if there's something I can do to help..."
He let the offer sit between them. She wasn't going to take it, but she was flattered.
Then she looked up at him. He was close enough that she could see the faint scar above his left eyebrow. He must have some history, just like her. But she wasn't interested. She couldn't afford to give her attention to the new hot guy at work.
"I'm okay," she said again. "Really."
"Alright." He stepped back, giving her space. "But the offer stands. If you change your mind, you know where to find me."
He walked away, leaving Vivienne alone in the hallway with her thoughts and suspicions and the growing certainty that she was running out of time.