Estelle sat at the café table with Mia, her thoughts still swirling from the strange interaction with Celeste and Victoria earlier. Mia, of course, was practically buzzing with excitement, clearly eager to dissect every detail of what had just happened.
“Tell me you caught that look on Thorne’s face when she told Victoria to leave,” Mia said with a wicked grin. “I thought for a second she was going to explode.”
Estelle sipped her coffee, trying to calm her nerves. “I don’t know what that was about, but it was… intense.”
“Intense?” Mia scoffed, leaning closer. “It was a full-on territorial moment. I mean, the way Thorne stared down Victoria was like she was marking her territory or something.”
Estelle shook her head, not sure what to make of it all. The whole situation had been bizarre—from Victoria’s odd, probing questions to Celeste’s sudden appearance and the silent standoff between the two women. It was like she had stumbled into the middle of some strange, unspoken battle, and she wasn’t sure why she was at the center of it.
“I think they were just… working things out,” Estelle said lamely, but even as the words left her mouth, she knew how hollow they sounded. There was something else going on between those two, something she didn’t quite understand yet.
Mia grinned. “Yeah, working things out by glaring at each other like they were about to fight. And you, my dear Estelle, are the prize.”
“Stop,” Estelle muttered, her cheeks flushing. “I’m not a prize. This is ridiculous.”
Mia opened her mouth to say more, but just as she was about to speak, something caught her eye. She glanced down at the table, frowning. “Hey, did you leave this here?”
Estelle blinked, confused, and followed Mia’s gaze. Sitting near her half-empty coffee cup was a folded napkin that hadn’t been there before. Her heart immediately skipped a beat, because she knew neither she nor Mia had placed it there.
“No,” Estelle said, her brow furrowing. She reached for the napkin, unfolding it slowly.
Inside, written in elegant, looping handwriting, was a simple message:
“Call me.”
Beneath the words was a phone number.
Estelle’s stomach twisted, a rush of confusion and curiosity surging through her. She immediately knew who it was from, and her suspicions were confirmed when Mia leaned over, her eyes going wide.
“Wait a second… Is that Victoria’s handwriting?” Mia asked, incredulous.
Estelle’s heart pounded. It had to be from Victoria. She had been the only one close enough to leave something behind before she’d left with that knowing smile, right before Celeste’s stormy arrival. Estelle hadn’t even noticed the napkin until now, but it was clear—Victoria had left her a message, and she had done it quietly, slipping it onto the table when no one was looking.
“Looks like someone’s interested,” Mia said with a sly smile. “What are you going to do about it?”
Estelle stared at the napkin, her mind racing. “I have no idea,” she admitted, her voice quieter than she intended. What did Victoria want from her? And why had she left her number so mysteriously, like it was all part of some elaborate game?
“Well,” Mia said, leaning back with a smirk, “you could always call her. See what happens. What’s the worst that could go down? She flirts with you some more?”
Estelle’s stomach tightened. There was no doubt Victoria had a strange, almost predatory interest in her, but calling her? That felt dangerous. Victoria wasn’t like anyone Estelle had ever dealt with before, and there was a layer of manipulation in every word she’d said. Celeste’s protective reaction at the café had made that even clearer—Victoria was trouble.
“I don’t think calling her is a good idea,” Estelle muttered, folding the napkin back up. “I’m not getting involved in whatever game she’s playing.”
Mia, however, didn’t seem convinced. “Oh, come on, Estelle. This is way too juicy to ignore. What if there’s more to this? Maybe she knows something about Thorne and wants to use you to get to her.”
Estelle blinked. “What do you mean?”
Mia shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m just saying, Victoria and Thorne obviously have some weird history, and now Victoria is suddenly interested in you. It could be more than just flirting.”
Estelle frowned, feeling even more unsettled. “You think she’s trying to… mess with Celeste?”
Mia tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Maybe. Or maybe she’s just curious about you because Celeste seems so protective. Either way, you’re caught in the middle.”
Estelle let out a long sigh, feeling the weight of Mia’s words. She didn’t want to be in the middle of anything, but it seemed like she didn’t have much choice. Victoria had left her number, and Celeste had made her possessiveness clear. Whatever was happening between them, Estelle couldn’t deny that it was starting to feel like something much bigger than she originally thought.
“Fine,” Estelle muttered, stuffing the napkin into her pocket. “I’ll think about it. But I’m not calling her right now.”
Mia grinned. “That’s all I ask.”
That night, back in her small apartment, Estelle couldn’t stop thinking about the napkin, now sitting on her nightstand like a haunting reminder of the evening’s events. She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling as her thoughts raced.
Why had Victoria left her number? What did she want? Was this just some strange flirtation, or was Mia right? Was Victoria using her to get under Celeste’s skin?
Estelle grabbed her phone from beside her and pulled out the napkin once more, her fingers brushing over the elegant script.
Call me.
She didn’t want to be drawn into whatever game Victoria and Celeste were playing, but her curiosity was gnawing at her. There was something more going on here, and if she didn’t get answers soon, the tension would eat her alive.
She stared at the number, her thumb hovering over her phone’s dial pad.
Should she call? What would Victoria even say?
Her pulse quickened as she entered the number, her heart racing with anticipation. Before she could stop herself, Estelle hit Call, the ringing in her ear sending a jolt of nerves through her body.
The phone rang once, twice, and on the third ring, there was a click.
“Estelle,” Victoria’s smooth, unmistakable voice purred through the line. “I didn’t think you’d actually call.”
Estelle swallowed hard, her pulse racing. “Yeah, well… I did.”
Victoria’s laugh was soft but filled with amusement. “I’m glad. I was hoping we could have a… more private conversation.”
Estelle’s breath caught in her throat, unsure of what to say next.
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