A Door Between Lies

My eyes widened as I felt my knees weakening and another strange thing happening in my stomach. It was as if I needed to visit the restroom immediately. But I couldn’t afford to let that weakness show. I masked everything with a quick smile that curved slowly over my lips, the kind of smile that hid panic behind my soft eyes.

I smiled at him and said, "One-twenty," forcing the words out like I had just remembered something light. I know, Marcus said about the room number, that was why I called the number out. But inside me, I was screaming. My heart was thudding like it was going to burst out of my chest.

I swallowed an empty lump, clutched my purse so tight that my knuckles turned pale, and silently hoped for a miracle. Just something. Anything. A call. A text. Even a power outage. Anything to get me out of this situation.

Ethan nodded gently, like he had been expecting something dreamy.

"That’s the last floor," he said as he leaned back a little, his voice soft, calm, too calm. He glanced at the closed elevator door and then looked at me again with a smile that stretched lightly across his face. "It must have a nice view, princess."

I nodded,my lips still shaped like a smile but dead inside. "Yeah, I think so," I replied faintly.

Thank God, just as the elevator door opened with a smooth ding sound, two men walked in. They were holding hands and giggling. Before the door even closed again, one of them had already wrapped his arms around the other and pulled him in for a deep kiss. Not even the soft kind, but the kind of kiss that ignored the world, that left nothing to the imagination.

They smooched with passion, right in front of us, like we did not even exist. Gross.

I shifted my face away quickly, feeling my cheeks heat up. I brought my face down and stared at the clean marble floor of the elevator. I cringed a little, not because they were in love, but because it distracted me from the major chaos waiting ahead.

I had no clue what apartment 120 looked like. I had no idea what was inside. If there were boxes or tools or construction dust, Ethan would know I had lied. He would know I was never a resident of Solara Heights.

If that happened, everything I had planned for eleven long years would vanish. My parents' deaths would mean nothing. The pain. The waiting. The late nights. The fake smiles. The plans I made with Marcus and Emily. All of it would be destroyed in just one second. I know Marcus had his own plan from the beginning but I needed this mission to work as we plan.

The company that Norman Malcovich snatched from my parents. The life that was stolen. It would all become a joke, if Ethan suspected a lie.

I snapped back to the present when I felt Ethan’s hand slide around my waist. His touch was warm and confident. He pulled me a little closer and leaned in with a playful voice.

"Aren’t you seeing these love birds, princess?" he whispered.

I looked up unwillingly, my face still twisted from the awkwardness. I followed his pointed finger to the two men, who were still deep in their world of kisses and touches.

I rolled my eyes. "I see them, Ethan. And I wish I didn’t."

He chuckled softly. It was that kind of laugh that shook a man’s chest. The kind that could charm a girl who didn’t know better. But I knew better. I would never fall for him.

"It’s their life, princess," he said, his tone playful, teasing even.

The elevator dinged again. That was our floor.

Finally,

As the door slid open, Ethan took my hand again. His grip was firm, yet gentle. Too gentle.

We stepped out together. I turned around quickly before the elevator door closed, just as one of the men winked at me. I could not hold it anymore.

"Get a room!" I snapped, and my voice was sharp.

One of them laughed loudly. He was tall, slim, with a nose ring and an attitude like a firecracker.

He lifted his hand, flipping his middle finger at me without care and shouted, "Fuck you!"

The elevator doors slid shut before I could say anything else.

I sighed deeply, almost too loud.

Ethan was laughing again, shaking his head slightly. He placed his hand around my shoulder and pulled me close.

"Come on, Norah. It’s their life," he said again. This time with a wink.

My face flushed, not out of embarrassment, but shame. He had caught me being judgmental, and he wasn’t wrong. I shouldn’t have cared. But I was just tense. My nerves were dancing on fire. Not because of those men. But because of the door.

Because of the lie.

Because I had no idea what was behind that door.

And now we were standing right in front of it.

Room 120.

The number was boldly written on a smooth silver plate that sat on a dark wooden surface. The hallway smelled of soft roses and floor polish. The lights on the wall were dim, soft, and calming. Everything about Solara Heights screamed class.

Ethan looked around once, admiring the space like he lived there. Maybe he did. Maybe he owned the building for all I knew, there's nothing the Malcovichs can't do. But I know the building was never the Malcovichs.

I turned to the door, trying to buy time by adjusting the strap of my purse. Ethan stood close, very close. I could feel the weight of his presence like a shadow standing on top of me.

He did not move. He just waited.

I looked up at him. "Thank you, Ethan," I said quickly. "You can go now. I’ll be fine."

He just smiled.

"Open the door, princess.”

Author's Note; Thank you so much for reading up to this point! I really appreciate you for following Aria's journey. Things are just starting to get crazy. What’s behind that door? Will her secret be safe? Or will everything fall apart?

You don’t want to miss the next chapter. I promise it’s going to be intense.

Please keep reading and don’t forget to share your thoughts. Your support means everything.

Love you