Found Obsession

Chapter 33: Dark Rose I

When Rose woke up, she was surprised by how well the drinks had worked-until she remembered Raven had ruined the peace.

She glanced at the bottle of sleeping pills on her nightstand, then tossed them into the trash without a second thought.

"Useless," she muttered, feeling oddly empowered by the small act of defiance.

After tidying up her room and preparing a simple breakfast, she took a long, hot bath, trying hard to clear her mind of everything.

Once dressed in her usual casual outfit-jeans, flats, and another belly button shirt-she tied her hair into a neat ponytail and decided to go out, hoping a day of exploration might distract her.

She wandered the busy streets, stopping at a few museums. The art and history were momentary distractions, but the lingering emptiness she felt couldn't be shaken off so easily. It gnawed at her, even in front of the grandest exhibits.

As she continued walking, she stumbled upon a library. Something about it pulled her in. She wandered the aisles until she found a book-the same one she'd seen in Raven's house. For a moment, she hesitated, the memory of that night creeping back. But eventually, she bought it, as if completing some unspoken connection.

On the way home, she stopped at a liquor store, picking up two bottles and a pack of cigarettes. By the time she returned to her apartment, Rose felt a strange sense of satisfaction, as though she had gathered everything necessary to get through the night.

She changed into her pajamas-an oversized shirt and shorts-and settled onto the couch. Uncapping one of the bottles, she took a long swig, feeling the alcohol burn its way down, numbing her nerves. With the book in hand, she started reading, losing herself in the story. But after a while, the alcohol caught up to her. Her vision blurred, and the words on the page swam before her eyes.

Dizzy, Rose marked her place by folding the corner of the page and set the book aside.

June 28, 2004

Monday arrived faster than Rose anticipated.

She was running late, thanks to the drinks and staying up too late reading. By the time she got to the office, everyone was already settled in on the floor below where her previous division had been. She wore dark sunglasses to shield her eyes from the harsh light, which aggravated her hangover.

The new division was a sleek upgrade. Seven offices now bore the names of the team: Rose, Mira, Javier, Will, Paula, and two new members she hadn't met yet. At the far end of the corridor was a large office, much grander than the others, belonging to Riley. His space clearly marked him as the leader.

In the middle of the division was a high-tech meeting room. The walls were lined with advanced whiteboards and state-of-the-art touchscreens, along with other smart technology that Rose knew would take some getting used to. Everything about the place felt polished and efficient, almost too perfect.

Rose knew she still needed to gather her things from her old office, but she decided to put it off for later. As she made her way toward the meeting room, she noticed the others were already inside.

Riley was deep in discussion, explaining a new case, and she quietly slipped into the room, hoping not to draw attention. Her head throbbed painfully from the remnants of her hangover, and she instinctively adjusted her dark sunglasses.

But then she spotted Will.

The sight of him ignited her anger in an instant. That familiar surge of frustration tightened her chest. It wasn't just about the recent events-there was something deeper, something about Will's actions that unsettled her. She clenched her jaw, her headache growing worse as her emotions flared. Rose took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, knowing that she couldn't afford to let her temper take over in front of everyone.