**Chapter 7: Growing Unease**
Peter watched Laila leave for the office, a sense of unease settling in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Laila's behavior had been different lately, and he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.
He had decided to brush it off before as the aftermath of the accident but now he couldn't help but wonder if she knew something.
But on getting to the office and meeting Laila in her office his suspicion grew with her questions on the financial reports. Thank God he was able to divert her mind and focus from there, he thought. Quickly leaving her office to avoid more questions from her.
As he went about his day, Peter found himself replaying their conversation in his head. Laila's questions about the financial reports had seemed innocent enough, but he couldn't help but wonder if she was starting to suspect something.
Peter tried to push the thought aside, telling himself that Laila was just being her usual curious self. But the seed of doubt had been planted, and he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease.
He wondered if he had been too careless, if he had left too many loose ends. Peter knew that Laila was smart, but he had always assumed that she trusted him completely. Which she did but he wasn't so sure about that anymore.
As the day went on, Peter found himself glancing at his phone, checking for any messages from Nina. He knew he had to be careful, that he couldn't let his affair with Nina jeopardize his marriage to Laila. Besides even if she found out about his wrong doings, she should never find out about him cheating because he knew there was more to him and Nina than it met the eye.
But as he thought about Laila's questions and her increasingly distant behavior, Peter couldn't help but feel a sense of panic. Was he losing control of the situation? Was Laila starting to piece together the truth?
Peter tried to reassure himself that everything was fine, that Laila was just going through a phase. But the doubt lingered, and he couldn't shake off the feeling that his world was about to come crashing down.
As the day went on, Peter's anxiety grew. He couldn't concentrate on his work, and his usual charm and confidence seemed to be slipping away, trying to keep a straight face through all his meetings and dealings. He knew he had to get a grip on the situation, to reassure himself that everything was still under control.
Peter decided to pay a visit to Nina, to discuss the situation and get some reassurance. He knew that Nina was invested in their affair, and he was sure she would be able to provide some perspective.
As he arrived at Nina's office, Peter felt a sense of relief wash over him. Nina's smile and warm greeting were just what he needed to calm his nerves, besides if something was going on with Laila she would have known or Laila would have confided in Nina.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Nina asked, noticing the look on Peter's face. "You seem a bit distracted."
Peter sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's Laila," he said. "I think she might be starting to suspect something. She's been asking questions about the financial reports, and she seems distant. I'm getting a bit worried."
Nina's expression turned serious. "We need to be careful," she said. "We can't let her find out about us. Not yet, at least."
Peter nodded in agreement, not ever, he thought. But he didn't say it out, knowing Nina wanted them to steal enough from Laila then leave but Peter didn't want to, he knew he had stolen enough but he still wanted to stay. The money kept him there, he just wasn't satisfied. Not until he drains Laila dry at least. "I know. I'll try to keep her distracted, to keep her from digging any deeper. But I need your help. Can you keep an eye on things from your end?" He asked "just in case she tells you something."
Nina nodded, a determined look on her face. "Of course. I'll make sure everything is covered. We'll get through this, Peter. Together."
As Peter left Nina's office, he felt a sense of reassurance. He knew that with Nina's help, he could keep Laila in the dark for a little while longer. But he also knew that he couldn't keep this up forever. Eventually, Laila would discover the truth, and Peter wasn't sure if he was ready for that.
But for now he felt more confident, knowing that he had a plan in place to keep Laila from discovering the truth. He decided to head out to a meeting with one of his clients, a potential deal that could bring in a significant amount of money. But not to the company. To him.
As he drove to the meeting location, Peter's mind wandered back to Laila. He couldn't shake off the feeling that she was getting closer to the truth. He decided to push the thought aside, focusing on the meeting ahead.
The meeting was with a representative from GreenTech Inc., the company he had been working with on a potential deal. Peter had been negotiating with them for weeks, and he was hopeful that they would finalize the agreement today.
As he arrived at the meeting location, a luxurious hotel in the city, Peter was greeted by the representative, a suave-looking man-Marcus. Marcus was the head of the department on this deal.
"Peter, good to see you," Marcus said, extending his hand.
"Marcus, likewise," Peter replied, shaking his hand.
The two men sat down in the hotel lobby, and Peter pulled out his briefcase, filled with documents and proposals. They spent the next hour discussing the deal, going over the terms and conditions.
As they negotiated, Peter felt a sense of excitement. This deal could be huge, and he stood to gain a significant amount of money. He was determined to make it happen.
After another hour of negotiation, they finally reached an agreement. Peter left the meeting feeling elated, knowing that he had secured a major deal. He couldn't wait to celebrate with Nina.
But as he walked out of the hotel, Peter's phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number. "I know your secret."
Peter's heart skipped a beat as he read the message. Who was sending him this? Did they know about Laila? Or was it Laila? But then he shook his head slightly as if to rid off the last question. It couldn't be Laila, he was sure of that, knowing Laila she would confront him if she found out something immediately not messaging secretly.
He quickly deleted the message, his mind racing with questions. He knew he had to be more careful, that he couldn't let his guard down for a moment.
Peter's excitement about the deal was tempered by the message. He knew he had to stay focused, to keep his priorities straight. He couldn't let anything jeopardize his plans.
As he drove away from the hotel, Peter's anxiety began to creep back in. He knew he was playing with fire, and he couldn't shake off the feeling that he was running out of time.