Stuck with the enemy

Chapter 63: Irony Strikes Back

Derek's Story

I wasn't the type to be easily fooled, but something about the situation started to feel off. Adeline, for one, was acting differently. She'd always been sharp with people, a little distant, even cold at times. But today, she seemed almost... softer. I noticed her being more patient with others, offering help where I'd expect her to brush people off. It didn't add up. She wasn't like this, at least not around me.

And then there was Deniz.

I couldn't shake the feeling that she was always nearby. She wasn't just around—she was hovering. Every time I turned a corner, there she was, talking with Adeline, exchanging looks, or offering suggestions. It wasn't just her presence that unsettled me; it was how deliberate it seemed. As if she was orchestrating something behind the scenes, and I wasn't supposed to notice.

Adeline, too, had started behaving in a way that I wasn't used to. She wasn't the type to let her guard down easily, especially not with me. But lately, it felt like she was trying to impress me, in ways I couldn't quite explain. Her usual sharp, calculated demeanour was replaced with something warmer, something more... approachable. It didn't feel natural. And I had no doubt that Deniz had something to do with it.

Why now? Why was Adeline suddenly so eager to change, to connect? Was it her idea? Or had Deniz been feeding her this notion, advising her on how to behave? I couldn't help but wonder if this whole thing was some sort of scheme—some ploy to get me to see Adeline in a different light.

I needed to get answers, and I needed them now.

I found them in the hallway, just as I had expected. Adeline and Deniz were talking quietly, and for the first time, I realized that they had become... friends. I wasn't sure when that had happened, but it didn't sit well with me. Since when had they gotten so close? I didn't like it. Not one bit.

"Deniz Brown," I called out, my voice firm, without a moment's hesitation.

Adeline looked back at me, but I waved her off. "I need to speak with you, bodyguard, alone," I said, hoping she wouldn't ask questions.

Her brow furrowed slightly, but she nodded, turning to leave without another word.

I turned to face Deniz. My heart was pounding, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. I didn't know exactly what I was expecting, but I could feel the weight of the tension in the air.

"What's going on?" I asked, keeping my voice low, but the anger was barely contained.

Deniz raised an eyebrow. "What?" She feigned ignorance, but I could see the flicker of something in her eyes. She was trying to play it off, but I wasn't buying it.

I didn't waste time with pleasantries. "What's going on between you and Adeline?" I asked, keeping my tone even but firm, my eyes locked onto hers.

Deniz's eyes widened just a fraction, and her lips pressed into a thin line. She didn't respond immediately, which only made me more certain that something was off. She was hiding something.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice light, almost too light like the question didn't matter.

I wasn't interested in dancing around the subject. "Don't play dumb, Deniz. You've been spending a lot of time with Adeline lately. And now she's... different. Acting more thoughtful, more patient. That's not her. I don't know what game you're playing, but I want to know what's going on."

Deniz hesitated. I could see the wheels turning in her mind. She wasn't expecting this direct confrontation. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke, though her words seemed rehearsed.