Phoebe could not deny the tension between Darryl and Vanessa. Aware of Darryl’s lifestyle, she knew Vanessa was another game to him, just like she was. She was not like Vanessa, she told herself. She was the one who played her game with Darryl, not the other way.
Avoiding the memories of what had happened between her and Darryl, she inhaled deeply, pulling her thoughts together.
“Lunch time” she said after watching Darryl and Vanessa staring contest. Her high-pitched voice sounded weird in her ears.
Vanessa jolted at Phoebe’s voice, she felt like a child caught stealing. Managing the tiny space between her and Darryl, she squeezed herself out of his sight.
“I will be out in a few seconds.” She mouthed to Phoebe before leaving to get her bag.
Darryl glared at Phoebe for interrupting him and she matched his energy by fixing her unwavering gaze on him.
“This was the reason you told me to stay away from her.” She accused him, her voice came out low not to call Vanessa’s attention.
“Everything I do is none of your business.” Darryl said in a dismissive way before he took his eyes away from her.
Phoebe fumed as he watched him at nonchalant about her accusation. “I’m not jealous, I’m just mad at the way he acts with women.” she told herself as she tried to calm herself down.
A fake smile appeared on her face as she heard Vanessa’s footsteps approach her. Glaring at Darryl for the last time, a sign that she was ready to destroy his plans he had for Vanessa.
Darryl, who understood her gesture, also sent a sign by shaking his head sideways, telling her not to do anything stupid.
“Carolyn is waiting in her car, we can leave now.” Vanessa, who was oblivious of the invisible daggers shot in the office, said to Phoebe.
Carolyn? Phoebe asked in her mind. If she had known Carolyn was the best friend Vanessa was referring to, she wouldn’t have agreed to the lunch. This is too much drama for one day, she thought as she forced a smile on her face.
“I have to get my bag, but you can go down without me. I will catch up in no time.” Phoebe told Vanessa as she tried to buy herself more time to think.
“Don’t take too long,” Vanessa said before turning on her heels, exiting the office. She wanted to say goodbye to Darryl, but she didn’t want to give Phoebe the wrong idea.
It was already weird enough that Phoebe had caught them standing so close to each other, she didn’t want to add to the speculation.
Excitement bubbled in Vanessa as she got to Carolyn’s car, which was parked at the curb in front of the building.
“I’m starving already, get in quickly.” Carolyn said, causing Vanessa to smile.
“I’m waiting for someone who is joining us for lunch today?”
Confusion etched on Carolyn’s face as she heard what Vanessa said. But the confusion on her face morphed into irritation as she saw Phoebe’s frame exiting the building.
“Why is she coming with us?” Carolyn asked, careful about raising her voice.
“That’s Phoebe, and she asked to join us.” Vanessa replied innocently.
“I thought this was for the two of us.” Carolyn couldn’t hide her irritation with Phoebe.
“Having another person around won’t hurt.” Vanessa replied, causing Carolyn to roll her eyes. “Be nice,” Vanessa warned, as she heard Phoebe’s footsteps behind her.
Phoebe’s face hurt by forcing a fake smile on her face as she approached Carolyn’s car. With a silent prayer on her lips, she hoped this lunch wouldn’t turn into a disaster.
Masking her irritation, she waved at Carolyn. “Hi Carolyn.” She forced the words through her teeth.
“Hi Phoebe, it is nice to meet you again.” Carolyn mirrored Phoebe’s gesture.
Vanessa could feel the weird energy around them, but she was not willing to cancel their lunch.
Vanessa waited for Phoebe to sit at the back of the car before getting into the passenger seat of the car. Fumbling with the seatbelt, “have you guys met before now?” She asked, directing her question to no one in particular.
Vanessa watched the intense glaring through the rearview mirror of the car. It was so obvious that she could not ignore the side eyes Carolyn and Phoebe exchanged as the car ride started.
The torturing car ride ended as Carolyn pulled up in the parking lot of the restaurant she had previously booked a reservation. Offering Phoebe a sympathetic smile, Vanessa got out of the car, waiting for the others to do the same.
The restaurant was nearly empty as Vanessa, Carolyn and Phoebe settled at the table beside the large glass window. Instead of waiting for the waiter, Vanessa went to the counter, trying to give Phoebe and Carolyn a chance to settle their differences which she didn’t even know about.
“I hope your arranged marriage has blossomed into a love story?” Phoebe said as she watched Vanessa leave the table. She had been waiting for a chance to voice out her thoughts and she took the chance Vanessa gave them.
“I should start trusting my instincts.” Carolyn’s eyes flickered up and down Phoebe’s face, causing her to be conscious of herself. “Now I get where all the dark energy came from.” She added.
“Dark energy?” Phoebe scoffed. “That’s weird hearing it from someone who stole another person’s man all in the name of an arranged marriage.” Phoebe couldn’t control her distaste as she spoke.
“I didn’t steal anyone, and you should move on already. It had been years.” Carolyn said, trying to make Phoebe know she had the upper hand.
“Just so you know dear, I have already moved on a long time ago, but I don’t think your husband has.” satisfaction washed over Phoebe as she watched blood drain out of Carolyn’s face. With Carolyn’s furrowed eyebrows, Phoebe knew she had hit the right spot, and she was pleased by the reaction Carolyn gave.
“What do you mean by that?” Carolyn said, fighting back the negative thought rising in her mind. She didn’t want to believe what she had heard, but she couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.
Phoebe’s mouth snapped open, but Vanessa’s footsteps interrupted Phoebe’s reply.
“What the hell is going on here?” Vanessa, who couldn’t tolerate the tension between them, voiced out her worries.
“You should ask the bitch you brought with you” Carolyn wanted to say, but she didn’t say it because she didn’t want to involve Vanessa in her drama.
“Let’s enjoy our lunch.” She said, forcing a smile on her face.