Something changed in Adrian after that night.
Nothing major.
Nothing clear enough to be called a change.
But I knew him too well.
He began checking his phone more often whenever Vivian sent him a message. He no longer replied right away. Sometimes he read the message twice, then set his phone on the table without answering.
I never asked.
That was exactly what made him even more uneasy.
On Monday morning, I was going over the financial reports when Adrian entered my office.
“Are you busy?”
“Not too busy.”
He stood in front of my desk.
“I want to talk about Vivian.”
My hand stopped turning the page.
I looked up.
“What about her?”
“She said you’ve changed.”
I almost smiled.
“How have I changed?”
“She feels like you’re deliberately avoiding her.”
“Am I?”
Adrian didn’t answer.
I closed the report.
“If Vivian feels like I’m avoiding her, maybe she has a reason.”
“She said you don’t like her.”
“Since when do you believe everything Vivian says?”
Adrian’s face hardened.
“I never said I believed her.”
“Good.”
I opened the report again.
“Then why are you bringing this to me?”
“Because I don’t understand.”
I stared at him.
“Don’t understand what?”
“Why everything feels different.”
This time, I really smiled.
“Because you’re finally starting to pay attention.”
He looked uncomfortable.
I didn’t continue.
That day, for the first time, Adrian defended neither me nor Vivian.
He simply stood between us.
And for someone like Adrian, that position was the beginning of his downfall.
Two days later, I received a dinner invitation from Vivian.
I almost laughed when I saw her name on the screen.
In the past, I would have accepted immediately.
Now I waited almost three hours before replying.
Okay. What time?
She chose the restaurant we used to visit together, the three of us.
A place filled with memories.
I arrived five minutes early.
Vivian was already waiting.
She wore a simple white dress. Her face looked as gentle as ever.
“Thanks for coming.”
“What is it?”
She smiled.
“I want us to talk.”
“Go ahead.”
Vivian took a breath.
“I feel like you’re angry with me.”
“I’m not angry.”
“Then why have you changed?”
I stared at her for a long moment.
“Everyone changes, Vivian.”
“Not like this.”
I picked up my glass of water.
“What do you mean?”
“You act like you know something.”
My heart began to beat faster.
But my expression remained calm.
“What am I supposed to know?”
She fell silent.
Her first mistake.
Vivian lowered her head.
“I just feel like Adrian is pulling away.”
“Isn’t that a problem between the two of you?”
Her eyes immediately snapped up to me.
“The two of us?”
I smiled.
“You’re the one who said Adrian was pulling away.”
Vivian bit her lip.
“You used to always defend me.”
“I used to think everyone had good intentions.”
“Not anymore?”
“Now I’m learning to look at people’s actions.”
Her expression changed.
I knew my words had hit their mark.
Vivian tried to smile.
“I never meant to hurt you.”
“I know.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
I stood up.
“That’s why I haven’t done anything yet.”
She froze.
I left the restaurant without explaining what I meant.
Outside, I stopped for a moment.
I knew Vivian would tell Adrian about our conversation.
And that was exactly what I wanted.
Because every word she repeated would make Adrian wonder:
What does Evelyn really know?
-------- Next ....
I began going through the company’s old reports.
Not because I suspected Adrian.
I suspected something much bigger.