Page 22 of His Dark Pull
I walk into my office, the day already pressing down on me like a heavy cloak. Pulling out my phone, I check for messages. I see another blinking notification from Alexander. His cryptic message from that morning remains unanswered. “Well?” it reads, a single word that holds a universe of unspoken questions and desires.
Yes, I type back. This is insane. What am I doing? But I need to see him.Maybe this time he’ll give me the answers. Maybe this time, it will be different.
At my desk, I try to focus on my emails, the mundane tasks a temporary distraction. A knock on my door startles me, and I look up to see Dexter standing in the doorway. His tall frame seems to shrink under his serious expression, his usual gentle smile replaced by a frown that creases his forehead.
He cuts right to the chase. “Ava, we need to talk.” There’s no stutter, no hesitation. His voice is different, sharper than usual.
“What’s up?”I ask, a knot forming in my stomach. My head is still spinning from the messages I’ve received that morning, from Alexander’s cryptic summons to the realization of the Veles Network’s connection to past crimes.
“H-how are you?”he asks, his kind eyes searching mine. His stutter is back.
I force a smile, hoping to mask my real feelings. “I’m alright, just a bit tired.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Tired from what?”
I hesitate, unsure of how much to reveal. “Just some personal stuff,”I mumble, hoping he’ll let it go.
“W-well, if you need someone to talk to, I’m here for you,”he offers, his gaze lingering on me a beat too long. “Or if you need help with the project, you know, anything. We could work late, just the two of us.”
“Thanks, Dexter,”I say, a genuine smile tugging at the corners of my lips, “but I’ll manage.”
That’s very sweet of him.
He takes a deep breath, his expression turning serious once more. “Listen, Ava, I know we’re not close, but—”
I tense, wondering what he could want to say. “What is it?”
“It’s about T-tyler,”he says, his voice low. “He’s a great guy, and he cares about you a lot. And I don’t want to see him g-get hurt.”
A lump forms in my throat, guilt twisting like a knife in my gut. “What do you mean?”I ask.
“Ava, I d-don’t know what’s going on between you and Tyler, but I can see that you’re not being honest with him,”he says, his words hitting their mark.
My mind reels. One part of me, the part still yearning for Alexander, wants to be with him. But another part, a voice I’d tried to ignore for years, whispers warnings. What am I doing? I have Tyler now.Tyler is good, kind— safe. Tyler won’t leave me. Not like my parents did—
I look away, unable to meet his gaze. “I’m sorry, Dexter,”I mumble, tears pricking my eyes. “I don’t think it’s any of your business.”
He shakes his head, his expression firm but kind. “He’s a good guy, Tyler. Too good for his own good, maybe. People like that— they’re easy to break.”
His words echo the doubts that have been plaguing me for days. He’s right. Tears prickle behind my eyes, threatening to let go. My stomach coils, a reminder that I’m not being fair to Tyler. I can’t keep stringing him along, offering him a version of myself that doesn’t exist while my heart remains entangled with Alexander and his darkness. The truth is, I’m no longer the person I thought I was – the good girl, my parents’ perfect daughter, the graphic designer with a tidy apartment and predictable life. There’s a darkness within me now, a shadow that both terrifies and intrigues me. It’s a realization that leaves me trembling, questioning everything I thought I knew about myself.
Warm, salty tears make their way down my cheeks, and I nod, accepting the painful truth of his words. “Yes, he does,”I whisper.
Dexter takes a step closer, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You need to let him go, Ava,”he says. “For b-both of your sakes.”
“I know,”I say, wiping away the tears.
As he leaves my office, closing the door behind him, a sense of clarity overcomes me. It’s time to face the truth, however painful it might be.I have to break up with Tyler.
Chapter 6
The Harbor
I step out of Spectrum Design Studio, the setting sun painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, a fiery farewell to averyfiery day. It’s a short walk to the water from the office, and I walk fast. The cool breeze off the harbor ruffles my hair, carrying the salty tang of the sea and the faint scent of fish and chips from a nearby vendor. It’s a welcome contrast to the stuffy confines of the office, where the air hung heavy with the smell of printer ink.
I feel free.
As I make my way down Bayside Avenue, the energy of Port Haven hits me. A few street musicians are playing a melody of jazz and blues, their tunes weaving through the noise of car horns and the chatter of passersby. The colorful storefronts are adorned with twinkling lights and whimsical displays. The aroma of freshly baked bread wafts from ‘The Daily Rise’ bakery, mingling with the sweet scent of blooming roses from Ms. Pennyfeather’s flower shop. I’m surprised to see them open at this hour, but I enjoy it.