First Impression II: At Second Glance

Chapter Thirteen - Day by Day

Chapter Thirteen – Day by Day

Irene was sulking the day after the party. The scene where Adrian offered to send Eleanore home kept replaying in her head.

Weeks earlier, she had been driving to her grandmother’s house which was in the neighbourhood of Avery’s holiday house. She went by the shortcut between the orchards but halfway through, the road was obstructed by a large hole. Apparently, the men working there told her they were repairing a burst water pipe and it wouldn’t be done for at least a month. She looked at the hole. It had been raining more frequently this whole month and the hole seemed to be filled with a disgusting mixture of mud, clay and small rocks. She had to backtrack to the gas station and go by the main road. It took twice as long.

She passed by Avery’s holiday house and was reminded that his birthday was at the end of the month. They used to celebrate it at the holiday house every year. She wondered if they were doing it this year too.

A few days later, she met the Quartet. Avery passed her a pile of invitation cards. “Here’s yours,” he said, pointing to the top one. “Take your friends’ too.”

Irene flipped through the cards, picking out her friends’ names. Eleanore’s name was there too. On an impulse, Irene plucked it out and stared at it, some hazy idea forming in her head. She didn’t know what she had in mind but she spoke up anyway, “Hey, every, I’ll pass this to Eleanore too.”

Avery nodded. “Thanks.”

Irene pocketed the cards, thinking it over. Knowing Eleanore and her stubbornness, Eleanore would never accept any favour from her. She made up her mind.

She met Eleanore at the park and handed her the invitation and offered her a ride. As expected, Eleanore refused. Irene watched Eleanore’s expressions carefully, adjusting her own replies to goad Eleanore. Then, she gave Eleanore directions to the place. Enough details not to get lost.

Irene sighed. Pitiful really. Ella was still so naïve to have fallen for Irene’s trap perfectly but somehow, Irene wasn’t satisfied.

*Adrian*

“Adrian! Come over here!” Sophia yelled as she rushed into the dining room, nearly knocking over a particularly cumbersome vase on the way.

Adrian just yawned, slouching in his chair. Sophia shoved her laptop in his face and he regretfully put down his coffee.

“I think my inbox’s hacked,” Sophia said.

Adrian sat up. “What?”

“You heard me,” Sophia said, sitting down beside him. “This morning, I saw a new email but didn’t have time to read. But when I checked my mail just now, I couldn’t find it again.”

Adrian pulled the laptop closer and began typing. “Is this the email you use for work?”

“Yeah,” Sophia nodded. “I have some confidential information about the bank in this account so I’m worried.”