I glanced at the message again, watching the words blur as a cold sweat trickled down my spine, my hand tightening around the phone until my knuckles turned white.
My first instinct was to delete it, pretend I never saw it, but my finger hovered above the screen, paralyzed by a mix of fear and uncertainty.
Who would send this? And why me?
My mind raced, replaying the last few days, searching for anything.. anyone.. that might have led to this. Caleb’s office, Monica.. Nelly’s sudden curiosity about Tyler… everything twisted together in my head like a web I couldn’t untangle.
The office buzzed around me, people moving about their day, oblivious to the panic setting in.
I forced myself to breathe, but the air felt thick, heavy, like it was choking me. I glanced around, half expecting to see someone watching me, their eyes boring into the back of my head, but all I saw were colleagues, focused on their screens or chatting in hushed tones.
Am I going crazy?
I quickly locked my phone and slid it into my bag, hoping to keep it out of sight, out of mind.
But the message was seared into my brain. I needed to focus, get back to work, and push this down, I had a design to complete but my hands trembled as they hovered over the keyboard.
“Hey, Sam, you okay?” Nelly’s voice broke through the fog in my mind.
I looked up, meeting her gaze. Her eyes were wide with concern, but there was something else there too.. something that made my heart skip a beat. Had she seen the message?
“I’m fine,” I said quickly, the lie bitter on my tongue.
My eyes flicked to her phone, now out of sight in her drawer, and that uneasy feeling returned. She couldn't have sent it, could she?
I knew it was weird to have such a thought but at this point, I'm not sure who to trust anymore.
Nelly’s gaze lingered on me for a moment too long, her lips pressed into a thin line. “You sure? You seem a little… off.”
“Just tired,” I muttered, turning back to my computer, desperate to end the conversation.
Nelly didn’t push further, thank God, but she didn’t leave either. Her presence felt like a weight on my shoulders, heavy and oppressive. I could feel her eyes on me, studying, analyzing, and it took everything in me not to snap at her.
As I turned back to my computer, the clatter of heels against the floor echoed in my ears.
Glancing up, I caught Caleb’s gaze for a moment before quickly looking away, my face flushing with embarrassment and anxiety.
For a brief second, I thought I saw a flash of concern in Caleb’s eyes, but I knew it was probably just my imagination.
Monica’s voice rang out through the office, her tone sweet and pleasant as she bid farewell to my colleagues.
Caleb, on the other hand, seemed to exhale a breath he’d been holding, his shoulders visibly relaxing as he turned to follow Monica out of the office.
Watching the door close behind them, I ran my hands through my hair in frustration.
I badly needed a cold shower and a lot of rest. I was probably hallucinating because why would someone be watching me?? In London??
The rest of the day passed in a haze, somehow I was able to gather myself to at least work on my design to a certain level. The presentation would be here in three days, I couldn't afford to slack on it, it could ruin my life and career if I did.
As the last rays of daylight filtered through the office windows, I took a quick glance at my phone's screen.
It was closing time. The clock on my screen flashed 8:00 PM.
With a sigh, I leaned back in my chair, stretching my tired limbs and rubbing my eyes. The presentation was in three days, and though I wasn’t completely satisfied with my design, I knew I had pushed myself as far as I could for one day. I couldn’t afford to burn out now.. not when so much was at stake.
Nelly had left hours ago, her departure rushed with some excuse about an urgent matter. I didn’t pay much attention at the time, too engrossed in my work, but now the emptiness of the space around me felt suffocating.
As I powered down my computer and began packing up, I couldn’t help but glance toward Caleb’s office.
The door was still closed, a faint light seeping out from under the door. I hesitated, hoping.. stupidly, perhaps.. that he might step out, offer me a ride home, or at least some small acknowledgment that he’d noticed I’d stayed late.
He’s probably busy, I told myself, trying to push down the disappointment that gnawed at me.
But even as I told myself that, a part of me couldn’t help but feel a little hurt. Maybe it was just the stress of everything piling up, or maybe it was the lingering effects of that strange message, but all I wanted was a bit of reassurance, something to make me feel less alone.
But Caleb didn’t come out. The door stayed firmly shut, the light unwavering, and I finally gave up hope. With a resigned sigh, I swung my bag over my shoulder and headed for the exit, the sound of my heels echoing in the empty office.
The night air hit me like a cold slap as I stepped outside, making me shiver.
I glanced back at the building, half-expecting to see someone lurking in the shadows, but the windows were dark, Athe office as lifeless as it had
Then my phone rang, the sharp sound nearly made me jump out of my skin. I grabbed it, half-expecting another threatening message, but instead, Tyler’s name flashed on the screen.
My heart skipped, confusion mingling with the dread already gnawing at me.
Tyler?
I hesitated before answering, my voice shaky. “Hello”
“Hey, Sam,” he said, his voice too calm, too collected. “Just checking in. How’ve you been?”
There was an edge to his tone, something that sent a shiver down my spine. “I’m… fine. Why are you calling?”
“I just wanted to see how you were doing. It’s been a while since we talked.”
Since we talked, or since I left?
“I’m doing fine,” I repeated, my voice flat. “But I’m at work, so…”
“I won’t keep you,” he said smoothly, but his words felt like a trap. “Just take care of yourself, okay? You never know who’s watching.”
My breath caught, the words slamming into me like a freight train.
You never know who’s watching. The same phrase, almost word for word.
Coincidence? My stomach twisted as the line went dead, leaving me with only the steady hum of streets to fill the silence.
I stood frozen, the phone still pressed to my ear, trying to make sense of it.
Tyler had always been cryptic, but this… this felt like a warning. But what was he warning me about? The message? The sender? Or was it something else entirely?
I forced myself to move, to act like everything was normal, but my mind was spinning.
I walked quickly, my heels clicking against the ground, but no matter how fast I moved, the feeling of being watched clung to me like a second skin.
When I finally reached my apartment, relief washed over me, but it was short-lived.
There, on my doorstep, was a small, plain envelope. No address, no name.. just sitting there, waiting.
I glanced around, my heart hammering in my chest, but the hallway was empty.
With shaking hands, I picked up the envelope, the paper cool against my skin. I tore it open, my breath hitching as I pulled out a single photograph.
It was me.
A picture of me taken from a distance, standing outside the office. The angle, the timing.. It was today.
Someone had been following me, watching me, just like the message said.
I stared at the photo, a wave of nausea rising in my throat. My fingers trembled as I held it, the image burning itself into my memory.
Whoever sent this was close. Too close..