Jealous

Susan

The ride home was a silent, frustrating ordeal. The driver, arranged by Meera, focused on the road, giving me plenty of time to stew in my thoughts.

Elliot Prescott was infuriating.

All night, his piercing green eyes followed me like a storm cloud threatening to ruin my carefully planned evening. At first, I thought I was imagining it, but then I caught the slight narrowing of his gaze every time another man approached me.

And Vanessa.

What annoyed me more...her exaggerated laugh or the way she clung to Elliot’s arm as if she were staking a claim? Every time she leaned closer, I felt a strange pang in my chest. It was ridiculous. I shouldn’t care what he did, who he flirted with, or how many times her laugh sounded fake enough to echo.

But I did care.

I had tried to ignore him, throwing my attention to casual conversations with a young investment banker named Liam who had approached me with a drink. He had been kind and polite, complimenting my dress and asking about my work.

It was harmless, yet Elliot’s glare turned every second into a game of high-stakes chess. I wasn’t trying to make him jealous...but when Liam’s laugh got louder and Elliot’s expression got darker, it felt like I’d accidentally stumbled into a battlefield.

The dress Meera had picked out gave me confidence earlier in the night, but now it felt like armor that had taken too many dents. By the time I walked through my door, I was bristling with irritation.

“What is his problem?” I muttered, kicking off my heels. My voice echoed in the quiet room as I threw my clutch onto the couch. “It’s not like we’re anything anymore.”

But no matter how many times I told myself I didn’t care, the twist in my stomach said otherwise.

***

Elliot

Adrian hadn’t stopped talking about the gala since we left, but I only half-listened. My mind was stuck on Susan and the way she looked in that dress.

How had I not known Meera arranged it? She looked breathtaking, so poised and confident, like she belonged at every gala in the world. She had always been beautiful, but tonight she was untouchable.

And then there was Liam.

That guy couldn’t take a hint. Laughing too much, leaning in too close, his hand lingering just a second too long when he offered her a drink. Did Susan notice? Did she care? Because it looked like she did, and it drove me insane.

I tried to focus on Vanessa, but her laugh grated on my nerves. Every time she placed her hand on my arm or whispered some vapid comment about the event, my thoughts drifted back to Susan and the way she smiled at Liam.

“Do you think the Castello investors were impressed?” Adrian asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Sure,” I muttered, not even sure what I was agreeing to.

By the time I got home, frustration had clawed its way to the surface. I tore off my tie, tossing it onto the nearest chair.

“What the hell was that, Susan?” I muttered to the empty room, the image of her laughing with Liam seared into my mind.

And then the more painful thought struck me...why did it bother me so much?

***

Susan

The morning after the gala, I sat at my desk, nursing a cup of coffee and silently cursing Elliot Prescott for existing. Sleep had evaded me all night, thanks to the whirlwind of emotions from the previous evening. Anger, jealousy, confusion...everything I had no business feeling about a man I wasn’t even supposed to care about anymore.

I was so engrossed in my own thoughts that I nearly spilled my coffee when my phone buzzed with Meera’s name flashing on the screen.

"Good morning, sunshine!" she chirped, her voice way too cheerful for 8 a.m.

"Morning," I muttered, trying to sound like a functioning human.

"So," she said, dragging out the word. "How was it?"

"How was what?" I asked, feigning ignorance as I sipped my coffee.

"The gala, of course! Don’t act like you forgot. I need details...what you wore, who you saw, and most importantly, how Mr. Brooding Billionaire behaved."

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "It was…fine. The dress you arranged was stunning, by the way. Thank you."

"I know it was stunning; it’s couture. But you’re dodging the question. How was Elliot?"

I hesitated, debating how much to share. "He was…Elliot."

Meera groaned. "Susan, you’re killing me here. Did he look at you like he wanted to eat you alive or like he wanted to strangle you?"

"Both," I admitted, unable to stop the small laugh that escaped me.

"Ah, classic Prescott," she said knowingly. "What happened? start talking."

I sighed, swirling my coffee. "It started fine. He was polite, charming, his usual self. But then…I don’t know. He got weird. He seemed irritated when I was talking to someone else, and then he spent half the night chatting up some family friend. By the time the night ended, we were both silently fuming at each other for reasons neither of us would admit."

Meera let out a low whistle. "Ooooh, the jealousy game. Classic."

"It’s not a game," I argued. "We’re not…whatever it is you’re imagining. He’s a client, Meera. That’s all."

"Right," she said, drawing out the word like she didn’t believe a single syllable. "And I’m little mermaid."

I rolled my eyes. "It’s complicated."

"Of course it is. That’s why it’s fun to watch from the sidelines."

"Glad you’re entertained," I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Seriously, though," she said, her tone softening. "Are you okay? You sound…off."

I hesitated, the weight of the night settling on me again. "I’m fine. It’s just…being around him brings back memories I thought I’d buried. And it’s frustrating because I don’t know what’s going on in his head. One minute he’s distant, and the next, he’s looking at me like I’m the only person in the room. It’s exhausting."

Meera was silent for a moment before she spoke again. "Susan, life’s too short for second-guessing. If there’s something there, you’ll figure it out. Just don’t let fear hold you back, okay?"

I swallowed hard, her words hitting closer to home than I wanted to admit.

"Thanks, Meera," I said quietly.

"Anytime. Now, go kick some ass at work and let me know if Mr. Prescott decides to grow a pair and actually talk about his feelings."

I laughed despite myself. "I’ll keep you posted."

After we hung up, I stared at my phone for a long moment, Meera’s words echoing in my mind. Life’s too short for second-guessing.

If only it were that simple.