The hall seemed to close in around them, the tension thickening with every passing second. Just as Alec decided to leave, a sudden noise from the hallway made them all turn sharply, their breaths held in anticipation.
The tension between them was palpable, and for a moment, it seemed like the argument might escalate further even after I made my presence known. But Margaret, sensing the danger, took a step back and I sighed in relief. "Fine, Alec. But remember, I'm watching you. If anything happens to Evelyn, you..."
Alec chuckled darkly, his eyes narrowing at me as he turned to look at Margaret. "You think you know Evelyn? You know nothing about her past. So, stay out of it and don't get too involved. You're better off not knowing too much about."
Margaret's face flushed with anger, but Alec continued, his voice low and menacing. "Don't even try to dig deeper. You're just her secretary, nothing more. You have no idea what she's been through or the people she's had to deal with. So, for your own good, back off."
Margaret's hands clenched into fists at her sides. "I may not know everything about her, but I care about her, and I won't let you intimidate me. If you think you can scare me into silence, you're wrong."
Alec's expression hardened. "This is your last warning, Margaret. Stay out of our business, or you'll regret it."
As the tension between Alec and Margaret reached its peak, I stepped in between them, my voice firm but concerned. "Shut up guys!"
Margaret glared at Alec before turning to me. "Evelyn, why was he warning me to back off and not intervene. He doesn't want me to get involved with you. Do you not consider me your friend, Evelyn?"
I looked between the two of them, feeling the weight of the situation. "Of course, I consider you my friend, Margaret. You've been by my side through everything, and you're the reason my hard work is paying off. If it wasn't for you working as a manager, I wasn't able to get the job as an Art Director and pursue my dream. You didn't think twice and left your job when the boss accused me of something I didn't commit. You've even helped me up to this day. I haven't forgotten any of your sacrifices."
I reassured Margaret and then turned toward Alec. "Alec, what's this about?" I raised my eyebrows, warning him not to reveal more than he already had. Margaret is everything one could ask for in a friend. She shares an emotional bond with me and treated me like family when I needed her the most.
Alec's expression darkened; his voice filled with anger as he turned to me. "Evelyn, you need to tell her to stay away. I don't want to protect someone who isn't part of my circle. A normal girl like her is just going to get in the way if she's not protected, and I really don't want to involve her."
Margaret's eyes widened in shock and hurt. "Alec, how can you say that? I've been here for Evelyn through everything. Just because I'm not part of your 'circle' doesn't mean I don't care about her."
Alec's gaze hardened. "That's exactly the point, Margaret. You don't understand the dangers we're dealing with. You're out of your depth, and I won't risk Evelyn's safety because of you."
I stepped between them again, as my heart pounding. "Alec, that's enough. Margaret is my friend, and she's been by my side through thick and thin. We face things together. If there's a danger, we need to handle it as a team."
Alec's jaw clenched, but he didn't back down. "Evelyn, you don't understand. This isn't just about friendship. It's about keeping other safe. Margaret is a liability in this situation."
I was about to let him know that she is in just as much danger as I am when…
Alec's eyes sharpened as he turned to me, his voice low and intense. "Why are you involving her in this mess? She could live a normal life. Why are you being so selfish? She might end up on the killer's radar because of you."
I felt a sharp pain in my heart, and for the first time, I thought Alec had crossed the line.
Margaret stepped forward, her voice steady despite the tension. "Alec, Evelyn isn't dragging me into anything. I was there too when we both encountered the masked man at Ravenwood Manor. That unexpected encounter has haunted us both at night. The killer wasn't just threatening Evelyn; I might already be in danger as well."
Alec's gaze flickered with a mix of frustration and concern. " What the fuck....