007: The Fractured Pieces

Elodie’s body trembled as Williams pulled away from her, her weight pressing into him like a burden he wasn’t sure he could bear. Her skin was clammy, her breaths shallow. He hesitated, his jaw clenched, his heart waging war with itself. She murmured his name softly, her voice a frail thread that pulled at the edges of his resolve.

“Don’t,” he whispered under his breath, his tone both pleading and commanding.

But when her fingers weakly touched the skin of his shirt, something inside him broke. Against his better judgment, he leaned closer. His lips brushed her forehead, hesitant, as if testing the limits of his restraint. Then, in a moment of weakness, he gave in. His mouth found hers, and for a fleeting moment, the world dissolved into the warmth of their shared breath.

The kiss deepened as he kissed her passionately before he abruptly pulled away, breathing heavily as though surfacing from deep waters. His hand pressed against her face, cradling it for a moment before he shook himself out of the haze.

“No,” he said firmly, more to himself than to her. “I can't do this.”

Elodie whimpered softly, her body sagging against his chest. He gathered her up and carried her out of the bar, through the back door, to his car, his movements urgent yet deliberate. The drive to the hospital was a blur of flashing streetlights and pounding thoughts.

At the hospital, Williams stood stiffly by the hospital bed as the doctor adjusted the IV in Elodie’s arm. He barely heard the man’s reassurances that she was stable now. All he could focus on was her pale face, her chest rising and falling rhythmically as she slept.

For a moment, he allowed himself to soften. He moved closer, brushed a strand of hair from her face, his fingers lingering longer than they should have.

Memories clawed their way back to the surface—the sound of her laughter, the warmth of her smile, and then... the shattering moment when she had hurled his engagement ring to the floor.

The words she had said to him still burned like acid in his soul. His jaw tightened as he pulled back his hand.

He turned abruptly, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it onto a nearby table before walking out. The sterile hospital hallway stretched ahead of him, its fluorescent lights too bright, too harsh. He stopped at the front desk, his tone curt as he inquired about the bill.

The receptionist’s polite smile only annoyed him further. He reached into his wallet, threw a few bills onto the counter, and left without waiting for change. As he stepped into the cool night air, his hands clenched into fists. The memory of her rejection played on repeat in his mind, a cruel taunt he couldn’t escape.

“Damn it,” he muttered, his voice raw. Without looking back, he strode to his car and drove away.

~~~~~~

Williams' house was quiet when he arrived home, the silence broken only by the ticking of a clock. He tossed his keys onto the counter, his mind still tangled in the events of the night. He barely noticed the figure lurking in the shadows until two arms wrapped around him from behind.

Williams froze, and his muscles tensed, the unwelcome touch sending a jolt of irritation down his spine. He pulled away sharply, spinning around to face the intruder.

Standing there was Mandy, her face a mask of seduction.

“How the hell did you get in here?” He demanded, his voice sharp, each word edged with annoyance.

She pouted, tilting her head as though his anger was nothing but a minor inconvenience. “I made a copy of your keys. I couldn't help myself, Williams. I missed you too much.”

The nonchalance in her voice only stoked the fire in his chest. His expression darkened, his gaze narrowing as she took a step closer.

“Mandy,” he growled, his tone low and threatening.

But she ignored the warning. Her voice dropped to a seductive whisper, her fingers lightly brushing against his chest. “Just touch me once,” she pleaded, her desperation seeping through the cracks of her feigned confidence. “Every inch of my body yearns for your touch. I’ll do anything for you, Williams.”

His jaw clenched, his patience snapping like a brittle thread. He grabbed her wrists and pushed her away, the coldness in his touch unmistakable.

“Have you forgotten your place?” he hissed, his eyes hard and unyielding. “I paid you to play the role of my girlfriend. That’s all you ever were— nothing more.”

Her facade crumbled. The pout vanished, replaced by desperation. “I’ve done everything you asked,” she argued, her voice trembling. “I dressed the way you wanted. I dyed my hair, wore the makeup you liked, smiled whenever you needed me to, and a lot more. I’ve done it all... because I love you.”

Her confession hung in the air, but it did nothing to soften him.

His lips curled into a bitter sneer. “Love?” he repeated mockingly. “You don't love me. You love the money I paid you, that's why you did your job.”

Mandy’s eyes glistened, tears pooling as she took a shaky step forward. “That’s not true! I did it all for you. I’ve always loved you.”

“Enough,” he snapped, his voice cutting through her words like a blade. He took a step back, creating a chasm between them that no amount of pleading could bridge. “The deal is off.”

Her lips trembled. “Williams, please....”

“Don’t beg,” he barked, his tone final. “I’ll send you the rest of your money tomorrow. But you’re done here. Don’t ever come back and don’t ever show your face to me again.”

The finality of his words seemed to hit her like a physical blow. She opened her mouth to protest, but the unrelenting glare in his eyes silenced her.

His arm shot out, pointing to the door. “Out. Now.”

Mandy hesitated, her shoulders slumping in defeat as she gathered her bag. Her movements were slow, almost reluctant, but she didn’t dare say another word. As she reached the door, she paused, glancing back at him with tear-filled eyes.

She stared at him until her tears began to fall uncontrollably.

However, Williams didn’t flinch. He stood there like a marble statue, cold and unmoving, watching until she stepped out and slammed the door behind her.

Once the door slammed shut, Williams was left alone in the suffocating silence of his house. For a moment, he stood there, unmoving. Then, as if a weight settled on his chest, he exhaled deeply, his shoulders slumping. His thoughts drifted back to the hospital, to Elodie’s fragile form lying in that bed.

He sank onto the couch, his head in his hands. The fractured pieces of his life seemed to mock him, each one sharper than the last.

"Who cares if Elodie lives or dies?" He asked himself. He balled his fists as he muttered, "You can go to hell for all I care, Elodie! I'm done crossing paths with you!"