EPHEMERAL CHAINS

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Nora's high-pitched scream echoed through the walls of the women's restroom, startling the two employees who had just stepped in. Their eyes widened as they took in the bizarre sight before them—Nora, alone, twirling in an elegant pirouette, her arms gracefully lifted as if an invisible partner guided her across the tiled floor.

The two women exchanged puzzled glances.

"What… is going on?" one of them whispered to the other, blinking in disbelief.

Realizing she had been caught mid-dance, Nora froze, her face burning with embarrassment. She cleared her throat, straightened her blouse, and gave them an awkward smile.

"Um… just stretching," she mumbled before quickly composing herself.

The women, still suspicious, exchanged one last glance before deciding to mind their business, walking toward the stalls.

Nora exhaled in relief and hurriedly pulled out her phone. She typed a message to her boss, her fingers shaking slightly as she crafted her excuse.

Nora: I'm feeling unwell today. I won't be coming to work. Sorry for the late notice.

She hit send and barely a second later, the response came.

Boss: Lazy girl.

Nora scoffed, rolling her eyes at the predictable reply. She didn't have time to care about that right now. Her heart raced with anticipation as she left the restroom, heading toward the underground parking lot where she knew he would be.

Her steps were quick yet controlled, the excitement bubbling inside her like an untamed storm. But she wasn't alone. A shadow lurked behind her—a reporter, discreetly following her every move. His camera was ready, his instincts sharp.

Unaware of her unwanted company, Nora reached the dimly lit underground parking lot and scanned the area until her eyes landed on a sleek, black van parked at the far end. She knew Dave was nearby, but instead of going to him directly, a mischievous thought entered her mind.

Let's see how much it takes to make him jealous.

A playful smirk crossed her lips as she changed course, heading toward the van where Francis Walter—the renowned artist and her idol—was stationed.

She knocked gently on the door.

A few moments later, the van's door slid open, revealing Francis, who had clearly not expected her. His brows lifted in surprise, his lips curving into a warm smile.

"Nora? What a pleasant surprise."

She blushed under his gaze, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "I… I came to meet someone here. But since I saw your van, I thought I'd greet you first. I hope that's okay?"

Francis chuckled. "Of course, it is. Do you have a moment to chat?"

Nora hesitated for a brief second. She knew Dave wouldn't like this—not one bit. But wasn't that the point? The thought of teasing him just a little longer excited her.

"Sure," she said with a smile.

Francis stepped aside, allowing her to enter. The moment she did, her eyes widened.

Inside the van sat four men—Dave's friends.

They looked at her, then at Francis, and then exchanged knowing glances. A few of them smirked, though they wisely kept their mouths shut.

They knew better than to interfere in what was about to unfold.

Francis is in trouble, they silently concluded. This is Dave's woman.

But if Francis felt threatened, he didn't show it. He remained calm, offering her a seat as if nothing was unusual.

Nora, trying to ignore the tension, took a seat and turned to Francis. "I've always admired your work. Your art carries so much emotion. How do you even come up with such ideas?"

Francis smiled, pleased by her enthusiasm. "Art is just emotion captured in color. When you feel deeply, the canvas listens."

Time passed as they spoke, Nora eagerly asking about different painting techniques, and Francis answering with the same passion that made him an icon. The conversation was smooth, filled with laughter and curiosity.

Then—

BANG!

The van door swung open with force, slamming against the side.

Everyone turned at once.

There, standing at the entrance, was Dave.

His eyes blazed with fury, his jaw clenched so tightly it looked like it might shatter. His fists curled at his sides, his entire body radiating rage.

The temperature in the van seemed to drop. The air became thick, suffocating.

Nora grinned. Gotcha.

Francis, on the other hand, stiffened slightly, his easy-going demeanor darkening. He had expected Dave to be possessive—but this? This was pure, unfiltered anger.

Dave's friends, who had been silently observing until now, nearly chuckled. They had been waiting for this moment. Let the drama begin.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Then, Francis leaned back against his seat, crossing his arms. "Well, well. Look who decided to join us."

Dave's glare sharpened. He took a slow step forward.

"I suggest," Dave said, his voice dangerously low, "that you step away from her."

Nora tilted her head, amused by his reaction. "Oh, Dave. No need to be so dramatic."

Dave's gaze snapped to her. "Get out of the van, Nora."

She pouted playfully. "Why? We were just talking about art."

His nostrils flared. He wasn't in the mood for games.

Francis, sensing the tension escalating, smirked. "Relax, Dave. She came here on her own. We were just having a nice chat."

Dave's fists twitched. "I don't care what you were doing. She doesn't belong here."

Francis raised an eyebrow. "She's not yours to control."

That was the last straw.

Before anyone could blink, Dave lunged forward, grabbing Francis by the collar. The sudden movement startled Nora, but she wasn't afraid—she was thrilled.

Francis tensed but didn't retaliate. He merely stared into Dave's furious eyes with quiet defiance.

The van remained silent. No one dared to interfere.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, Dave released him with a rough shove, stepping back. His hands trembled—whether from rage or something deeper, even he wasn't sure.

He turned to Nora, his voice tight. "We're leaving."

And for once, she didn't argue.

As Nora stepped out of the van, the reporter who had been watching from the shadows snapped photo after photo, capturing the tension, the fury, the unspoken war between two men.

He grinned to himself.

This… was going to be headline news.