Disloyalty

- Curiosity kills the cat -

1 day before the ski trip

Tomorrow. One day. Twenty-four hours. That's all I have to mentally prepare myself for whatever awaits in Switzerland.

This week has been nothing short of exhausting.

Everything feels weird. Andrew has been avoiding me since that cryptic conversation in the bar, and the distance has been both a relief and a curse.

 A part of me feels lighter, free of his piercing stares and the tension that crackles between us. But the curiosity—the not knowing what's coming next—is suffocating.

 It gnaws at me, keeping me up at night, running through every possible scenario in my head.

But it's too late now. I told my mom about the trip the day I agreed, and she's been over the moon since. She went straight to the shops to buy new clothes, her excitement was infectious.

 I can't take that away from her, I can't crush her happiness, especially after everything with Dad. She deserves this—we deserve this.

I force the thoughts from my mind and push away from my desk, heading to the bathroom. It's late, and the office is mostly empty, save for a few people working late shifts.

 The dim lights cast long shadows on the floor, and the city skyline outside the windows twinkles with life. 

As I step out of the bathroom, I walk down the empty hall, the sound of my heels clicking against the marble floors the only noise in the quiet office. 

Just as I turn the corner, something sharp cuts through the air, a presence—his presence. Before I can react, Andrew appears from nowhere, his face set in a dark, stormy expression.

"What—" I barely manage to get the words out when his hand shoots out, grabbing my arm. In one swift motion, he pushes me back, slamming me against the wall. The impact knocks the air out of my lungs, and my heart races in panic. 

His body is so close, towering over me, his breath against my skin.

"What the hell are you doing?" I hiss, trying to push him away, but his grip tightens. There's something wild in his eyes, something unhinged that makes my pulse spike with adrenaline.

"You can't go," he growls, his voice low and dangerous. "Don't go to Switzerland."

His words, laced with desperation, catch me off guard. "What? Andrew, let go of me"

But he doesn't move. His face inches closer to mine, the intimate atmosphere between us thick enough to choke on. "You don't understand," he says, almost pleading now. "It's not okay. It's—" He pauses, his voice trembling, like he's fighting something deep inside. "I don't want you there."

what the hell is wrong with him. Andrew is never like this, new Andrew at least.

 But then, the irritation returns. He's being cryptic, controlling, and manipulative again. I pull my arm free from his grip, my voice cold. "I already told you, I don't care. My mom and I are going. End of story."

His jaw clenches, frustration radiating off him like heat. "You have no idea what you're walking into."

"I don't care, Andrew" I snap, standing tall, refusing to back down. "We've already made plans, and I'm not backing out. now let me my shit tons of work to please you  ."

I push past him, my heart hammering in my chest as I move toward the door. But before I can leave, he speaks again, his voice softer this time, almost broken.

"go home now...You have one day, Mia. That's all you have to reconsider."

His words send a shiver down my spine. There's something in his tone—something dark and final—that makes my stomach twist. I glance back at him one last time I spot his silhouette in the shadows of the lights, he looked like he'd surrendered, I could barely make out his haunted expression.

I shake my head, trying to shake off the unease clawing at me. I don't stop to question what he meant, not now. Not when every instinct is screaming at me to get out.

Against my better judgment, I can't help but wonder... should I be scared? Or should I go just to find out what the hell he's hiding?

I have to ask I cant handle the frustration.

"Tell me, why can't I come? give me a good reason" I spit out, my voice sharp.

"it's not just me and my mum."

"What do you mean...?"

"If you're so dead-set on coming, why don't you see for yourself?" He shrugs as if it's the easiest thing in the world, but there's a sharpness to his voice. 

I stand there, speechless, waiting for something more. But he just stares back, expression unreadable. 

"Curiosity kills the cat, you know that, why should I try to help you" he says pushing off the wall and walking away, his hands buried deep in his pockets. I watch as his figure fades down the dimly lit corridor, the shadows swallowing him whole.

Why am I always left with a thousand questions when it comes to him? It's like he thrives on leaving people hanging, dangling at the edge of some cliff while he walks away unbothered.

Pathetic.

Should I be scared of this mystery family member? ...do I need to pack a weapon? a knife..? here I am, trusting his every word like it's a gospel when I know he's a fat liar, I should know better by now, but here I am... being played like a fool.

he's making zero sense in what he's saying, one second he's begging me not to go next he doesn't care. so unnecessarily complicated

well, I have a day to think about it on the weekend which is useless to me, as I know I'm going, I'm going to find out this mystery person, even if it kills me or whatever he thinks is going to happen to me.