Contagious lies

01 | Matching bruises

Ezhil Sirju

I slightly grazed my pinkish bruise. Chewed on the inside of my cheek as I observed the bruise closely. It is definitely going to turn violet in a few hours. At least it's located on my upper arm.

Easier to cover.

"Are you done?" My boyfriend, Samuel, stood in the hallway.  Arms crossed with a frown plastered on his face. His gaze was met with mine yet slowly traveled down. Quickly pulled on my sleeve as I offered him a smile. "I'm done, let's go." I tell him eagerly, hoping he won't comment on my outfit or my hair like he usually does.

My breath hitched inside of my throat when I felt him grab me by my wrist. Automatically reminiscing about what I said or perhaps what I could have done wrong.

"I need you to be on your best behavior, Ezhil." He whispered and I nodded my head in understanding.

I'm always on my best behavior but that's not what I told him. "Yes, of course." I replied, without rolling my eyes.

The car drive to the company dinner was quiet. Constantly touching the hem of my dress as I stare out of the window. Stealing glances at my boyfriend in the driver's seat. Not liking how he hasn't given me a single compliment. Samuel hasn't acknowledged me at all.

"Stay close." He said in a low voice and I simply did as I was told. Ever since we got here I didn't leave his side. While he was busy talking to his coworkers I found myself daydreaming. Bored out of my mind as he was diving into different conversations. It was starting to feel suffocating. Seeing multiple men with their girlfriends or maybe wives filled me with envy. They were clearly being treated right, while my boyfriend acted as if I wasn't there at all.

"Is that your girlfriend?" I hear someone ask and curiously turn my head towards their direction. An older man with a few strands of gray hair stood in front of me. His kind smile threw me off completely.

Samuel chuckled as he placed his arm around my waist. "Yeah, she is." He spoke proudly. I tried my hardest not to scoff at his words.

"She is gorgeous." The man continued speaking as if I wasn't there.

"I know that." Samuel replied with a grin on his face, causing me to raise an eyebrow. Quickly fixed the expression on my face by the time Samuel decided to glance over at me.

His coworker was a bit odd and thankfully went on his way when there was a bit of commotion. Most people were frantic while staring at the front door of the building. Whispering among themselves with huge grins on their faces. Even Samuel seems to be invested. The man that usually doesn't show any interest was curiously glancing at the huge metal door.

"Who are we waiting for?" I questioned Samuel curiously.

"The boss but I doubt he'll show up." He expressed making me want to ask even more questions.

"How so?" I murmur.

Samuel glanced at me with no visible expression on his face. Lately he has become extremely hard to read. Even if I wanted to guess what's going on inside of his mind, I still may be wrong.

"He's very private, doesn't show himself publicly. His assistant is probably going to walk through the door and he won't be anywhere to be spotted." Samuel explains to me and just like he has predicted a tall woman walks through the door. She might not have been the actual CEO yet she surely was beautiful. The woman walked with grace and elegance catching many eyes.

"He must hate being in the spotlight." I said more to myself than to my boyfriend.

"Or he's a coward." Samuel commented and I was taken back by his dislike for a man he barely knew. Perhaps it wasn't Samuel disliking his boss, maybe it was envy.