The Erotic Artiste

CHAPTER 47

"Are you okay?" Sebastian inquired with genuine concern as he watched Evelyn storm into the room, frantically gathering her belongings in a hurried manner.

"I'm perfectly fine," Evelyn responded, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, and before he could utter another word, she hurriedly exited the room, neglecting to bid farewell to her colleagues.

Without hesitation, Sebastian followed her and managed to catch her arm halfway through the bustling lobby. Evelyn turned around, her expression one of surprise at his sudden intervention.

"You've been crying?" He asked softly, worry etched across his face as he noticed her eyes, which were slightly red and glistening as if they had recently shed tears.

Evelyn let out a small, somewhat hollow laugh and quickly wiped her eyes again, attempting to downplay the situation as if it were trivial.

"No, no, I didn't cry, Seb. My eyes are just really irritated today," she insisted, trying her best to convince him of her fabricated story. However, when she finally met his gaze, the depth of concern in his eyes made her heart ache.

"Did something happen?" he asked calmly, and in that moment, a surge of emotions welled up inside her, almost pushing her to the edge of tears again. She felt an overwhelming urge to confide in him about everything that had been happening in her life, the burdens she had been carrying, and the struggles she was facing so far. But despite the temptation, she found herself unable to open up.

'You're so nice to me...' she thought to herself at that very moment, feeling a mixture of warmth and guilt.

Yet, deep down, Evelyn recognized the harsh reality that she might not be able to reciprocate Sebastian's feelings as long as Akeno remained a significant presence in her life. Indeed, she had a fondness for Sebastian, but that affection was merely a fleeting fancy in comparison to the advantages and stability she gained from her connection with Akeno. At least, that was how she felt at this moment.

"Nothing's wrong, Seb," she finally managed to say, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm just not feeling very well, and I really need to get out of here as quickly as I can," she concluded, her voice cracking with emotion as tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

Sebastian sensed her reluctance to delve deeper into the matter, and he gently released her arm. "Alright," he replied softly. "Please take care of yourself."

Evelyn nodded in response, unable to articulate her thoughts into words for fear of breaking down right there in the opulent lobby. With that, she hurried towards the elevator that would take her down to the underground parking area.

...

As the elevator doors opened to the dimly lit underground parking lot, Evelyn stepped out, her heels clicking against the concrete floor. She walked toward her car, each step heavy with the burden of her thoughts. She could feel the prick of tears threatening to spill again, but she fought them back, reminding herself that she needed to be strong, even when everything felt so fragile.

With Norman, her usual driver, having taken a day off, she found herself driving back to her apartment complex on her own, feeling a mix of emotions swirling within her.

...

The drive back to her apartment complex felt like an eternity. She thought about Akeno and how complicated their relationship would become. He was charismatic and exciting, yes, but now there were shadows lurking behind his allure. Shadows she wished she'd never discovered.

Finally, she arrived at her apartment complex, parking her car with a sigh of relief. As she walked into her apartment, the familiar decor greeted her, but it felt different somehow—more suffocating. She tossed her keys onto the table and sank onto the couch, burying her face in her hands. The silence of her apartment wrapped around her like a blanket, but it was too quiet, amplifying the noise in her head.