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Gabrielle couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong with Evelyn. She watched the woman carefully as she sat across from Matthew in his office, her posture impeccable, and her gaze never leaving him.

There was something in the way Evelyn carried herself, something too polished, too controlled. It was as if she had anticipated every moment, every word, every movement, like she was playing a part.

The air in the room felt heavier, and Gabrielle instinctively stepped back as she watched the two of them interact. Matthew, usually so composed, had an unreadable expression on his face as he listened to Evelyn’s carefully crafted answers to his questions. He didn’t seem convinced, but he also didn’t seem alarmed.

Gabrielle's gut twisted with unease.

After a few minutes, the interview concluded, and Evelyn stood up, extending her hand to Matthew. Gabrielle noticed the slight smirk on her face, something too subtle to be overt, but it was there—like Evelyn knew she had already won.

“Thank you for your time, Mr. Gorvell. I look forward to hearing from you soon,” Evelyn said, her voice smooth and confident. “I know I can be an asset to your company.”

Matthew nodded curtly, but Gabrielle saw the flash of doubt in his eyes. As the door closed behind Evelyn, Gabrielle couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.

“Matthew, is it just me, or is there something off about her?” Gabrielle asked softly, her voice laced with concern.

Matthew frowned, his eyes narrowing. “I don’t know… It’s like there’s this strange energy around her, like she’s hiding something. But I can’t quite place it.”

Gabrielle’s heart skipped a beat. She wasn’t imagining it. She’d felt it too—the tension in the air, the subtle aura of manipulation. Something about Evelyn felt wrong, but Gabrielle couldn’t figure out exactly what it was.

Matthew sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I should talk to Julian about it. He knows more about the people we hire than anyone else in the office.”

But as soon as Matthew tried to reach for his phone, Gabrielle noticed the way he hesitated, like he didn’t want to pursue it further. She watched him closely, her curiosity piqued. “Matthew, are you sure? I don’t want to make a big deal out of it, but...”

Matthew paused, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. “I’ll ask Julian, but I’m not sure it’s worth overthinking. Maybe I’m just being paranoid.” He didn’t sound convinced, and neither did Gabrielle.

Matthew dialed Julian’s number and waited for him to pick up. After a few rings, Julian’s familiar voice came through.

“Hey, Matthew! What’s up?”

“I just wanted to check in with you,” Matthew said, his tone slightly distracted. “We had an applicant today—Evelyn, the woman who came in for the interview.”

“Oh yeah, the one Julian mentioned,” Gabrielle heard Julian reply. “What about her?”

Matthew hesitated. “Something about her feels... strange. Like she’s not entirely what she seems.”

Gabrielle could hear Julian chuckling on the other end. “Come on, Matthew. You’re always so paranoid. She’s just an applicant. You’re overthinking it. Trust me, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Matthew’s jaw tightened. “I don’t know, Julian. There’s something about her energy... it doesn’t sit right with me.”

Gabrielle could hear the dismissal in Julian’s voice as he replied, “You’re just overthinking it. She’s not dangerous. She’s just a girl looking for a job.”

Matthew let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “Maybe you’re right. I’m probably reading too much into it.”

Gabrielle glanced at Matthew, her own unease growing. She wanted to say something, to tell him that it wasn’t just his imagination, that Evelyn wasn’t as innocent as she appeared, but she wasn’t sure how to approach it without sounding paranoid herself.

Matthew hung up the phone, his brow furrowed in thought. He didn’t look convinced by Julian’s reassurances. He glanced at Gabrielle, his eyes filled with uncertainty. “I don’t know, Gabrielle. Something’s off.”

Gabrielle nodded, biting her lip. “I feel it too. I don’t know what it is, but it’s like she’s hiding something. Like she’s not just here for the job.”

Matthew stood up, walking over to the window, his expression distant. “I don’t like it. I don’t like the feeling she gives off. It’s like she’s manipulating everything around her.”

Gabrielle’s mind raced. Evelyn’s calm exterior was deceiving. There was something about her that didn’t add up, something too perfect. She felt like a puzzle that didn’t quite fit.

“I’ll keep an eye on her,” Matthew said finally, turning to face her. “If anything feels off, I’ll deal with it.”

Gabrielle wanted to protest, to say that it was more than just a feeling, but she didn’t want to overstep. So, she simply nodded, her mind still whirling with doubts about Evelyn.

As the day dragged on, Gabrielle couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to happen.

She felt like she was being drawn into something she didn’t understand, and Evelyn was at the center of it.

It wasn’t just the way she looked at Matthew, or the way she spoke so confidently—there was something more beneath the surface, something Gabrielle couldn’t quite grasp.

Later that evening, as they sat in their office, Matthew turned to her. “I’ll handle this, Gabrielle. But if she crosses the line, I’ll make sure she knows she’s not welcome here.”

Gabrielle wasn’t so sure. There was something more to Evelyn than anyone realized, and as much as she tried to shake the feeling, it lingered.

What was Evelyn really after? And what role would she play in the strange web of danger and intrigue that seemed to surround Matthew?

The answers were still out of reach, but Gabrielle couldn’t help but feel that Evelyn was the key to unraveling everything. The question was, how long could they afford to ignore her before the truth came crashing down?