Tainted Desires | 18+

20 - Reality

Mirabelle Morrison

As the night wore on, the party took on a more relaxed tone. Some of us moved to the dance floor, swaying to the music and letting loose after a long day of work. Diane and Gary, always graceful, couldn't resist the urge to dance, and I couldn't help but join them when they hurled me out of my seat. We laughed and twirled, revelling in the joy of the moment. It was in those fleeting moments that I forgot about the lingering thoughts of Terrence and Eloise's marriage.

In the midst of the celebration, I noticed an older looking man approach the stage. The room fell silent, and all eyes turned toward him. "Good evening, everyone. We've all been having so much fun dancing and chatting amongst ourselves, but I'm sorry to cut it short. Next on our agenda is the recognition of interns amongst us who would be getting permanent positions."

Diane's eyes widened with anticipation as the older man spoke, her thoughtful expression turning into a mix of excitement and nervousness. She moved closer to me and linked her arm with mine. "Oh, this is it." She whispered, barely containing her enthusiasm.

I leaned in closer to Diane, mirroring her excitement. "You've worked so hard, Diane. I have no doubt that this is your moment to shine."

As the older man continued, listing off the names of interns who were being offered permanent positions, Diane held her breath. The room seemed to hold its collective breath along with her, the atmosphere tense with anticipation. Each name called was met with applause and cheers, accompanied by congratulatory smiles and pats on the back as the interns called upon went to the stage to collect their acceptance award.

Then, finally, to moment we were waiting for. "And last but certainly not least, Helen Holloway."

I turned to look at Diane as her face fell at the announcement. She blinked rapidly as if trying to process what had just been said. The room erupted in applause, but her expression remained frozen, a mixture of disbelief and disappointment.

Her grip on my arm tightened, but her smile faltered slightly. She glanced at me, her eyes betraying a mix of disappointment and hurt. "Oh," she said softly, her voice barely audible above the applause.

I felt a sinking feeling in my own chest, realizing the impact this news had on Diane. I turned to face her, concern etched on my face. "Diane, I'm so sorry," I murmured, my voice filled with genuine empathy.

I felt a pang of guilt. While I had hoped for Diane's success, I couldn't help but feel maybe she had been omitted from the list because of my negligence at work that made us lose some data of big shot project. There was no way Terrence could have punished my team for that.

Diane's hurt expression lingered for a moment, and then she slowly released her grip on my arm. Without saying a word, she turned away and began to walk towards the exit, her steps heavy with disappointment and self-doubt. I hurriedly followed, my heart aching with regret and the need to make things right.

"Diane, please wait," I called out, my voice filled with urgency. But she didn't slow down or acknowledge my plea. She continued walking, her shoulders slumped, as if carrying the weight of the world on her back.

Before I could reach out to her, someone from the crowd grabbed my arm, causing me to halt. As I turned to face the person who had grabbed my arm, I saw Jane looking at me with concern in her eyes.

"Give her some space, Mirabelle," she said gently, her voice filled with understanding.

I hesitated for a moment, torn between chasing after Diane and respecting her need for solitude. But Jane's words made sense. Diane needed time to process her disappointment and gather her thoughts. Reluctantly, I let go of the impulse to chase after her.