Chapter 4%
“Lyka! My girl!” Nickel beamed the moment Ralph and I stepped into the room.
He strode over and pulled me into one of his overly enthusiastic hugs. “What took you two so long? I was about to die of starvation–oof!”
Ralph promptly shoved Nickel away, pushing him back by the head. “We’re here now. Just tell the waiter to bring out the food.“N
Without waiting for a response, Ralph walked over and settled himself beside Tina, leaving two empty seats next to them. Nickel pouted, muttering something under his breath before signaling to the waiter to bring the dishes.
“Congratulations on the Michelars award, Nickel,” I said, forcing a friendly tone. “If you’d told me sooner, I could’ve prepared something for you.”
We walked side by side as we made our way to our seats–his next to Tina, mine beside Ralph.”
Nickel grinned mischievously. “Well, if you’re serious about doing something for me, how about writing an article to promote my steakhouse?”
My heart skipped a beat, and I had to swallow the surge of anger that threatened to rise.
In the past, I had never recklessly promised to write favorable coverage for anyone–Ralph, Tina, or even Nickel. The few times I did feature them in my articles were purely coincidental, only when my office assigned me pieces that happened to align with their interests..
But now? Knowing Nickel was part of the deception? There was no way.”
I
“You know I can’t do that,” I replied, keeping my voice steady. “My editor would have my head if I wrote anything without the proper supporting material.“}
“Oh, but my restaurant’s reputation speaks for itself!” Nickel boasted as the waitstaff began serving the dishes. The conversation naturally shifted to the food–the reason his steakhouse had earned the Michelars award.
As the lively discussion carried on, I noticed something odd: Tina had been unusually quiet.
Normally, she’d be right there with Nickel, hyping everything up and making a scene. But today, she sat in silence, her pale complexion standing out against her typically energetic presence. Her short brown hair, now tucked under a cap, and the oversized sunglasses hiding her eyes made it clear–the recent scandals surrounding her were taking their toll.”
For a brief moment, I felt a twinge of sympathy. I knew how high–spirited she usually was, and seeing her like this was… unsettling.
But then again: serves her right.”
What really caused my discomfort was Ralph’s behavior.”
He was sitting far too close to Tina, their hands openly intertwined, without even a hint of discretion. Watching him lean in, slicing her steak and feeding her bite by bite, sent waves of jealousy crashing through me.
Why? What made her so special? He had never treated me like that. Not even during his grand gestures, when he pretended to woo me with sweet words.
And to make matters worse, it was Nickel who picked up on my discomfort. He nudged Tina, drawing both her and Ralph’s attention to me. Their eyes met mine, and for a second, the weight of the situation hung heavy in the air.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Lyka, Tina finally spoke, her voice soft but laced with insincerity. “I’m feeling… a bit unwell. You don’t mind lending Ralph for a while, do you? You know he’s been like a brother I can confide in all these years.“”
The audacity. To ask that so casually, with not a hint of remorse. Had I really let this go on for so long–allowing them to cling to each other *this* closely, right under my nose?}
“Yeah, it’s been tough for Tina,” Nickel chimed in, his voice rising with exaggerated concern. “If I ever find out who’s behind SigmaLeak, I swear I’ll tear them to pieces for doing this to her!”
I paused mid–bite, carefully setting down my fork and dabbing my lips with a napkin.”
Then, as if on cue, Ralph spoke up, his plea directed straight at me. “Hey, Lyka, can’t you make an exception this time? Couldn’t you write something to help ease Tina’s situation?”
I took a measured sip of water, the tension in the air thickening with every second.
“Guys, I’m not in charge of the topics to write,” I replied, keeping my tone steady but firm. “That’s my chief editor’s call. I’ve said it before–I can’t write anything without solid sources, whether it’s good news or bad. Please understand my position.””
The atmosphere grew heavier, more uncomfortable. I could feel the pressure mounting, the expectation that I would somehow bend to their demands.”
다
I needed to get out, even just for a moment. But leaving abruptly would raise too many suspicions.”
5
“I’m just going to step out for a minute, use the restroom,” I said, standing up calmly.”
9:09 AM
I wasn’t sure what the three of them thought about my sudden exit, but it didn’t matter. If this was the beginning of my mask slipping in front of them, so be it.
I sat in the restroom for a solid five minutes, regaining my composure and rehearsing an excuse to leave. Once I was sure of what to say, I headed back to the VIP room. But just as I approached the door, I froze, hearing Nickel’s voice booming from inside.
“That Lyka is useless! Does she really think she can just sit here and eat without being useful to us?” His words were punctuated by the sound of a fist slamming on the table.
“Keep your voice down, Nickel,” Tina responded, her voice quieter but no less sharp. “As clueless as Lyka can be, she’s loyal to her work–just like she was loyal to us.“”
“Exactly,” Ralph added, his tone smug: “She didn’t even dare confront me about Tina. That’s the only reason I got away with being with her every time.”
“But didn’t Tina say she’s starting to get suspicious?” Nickel pressed. “You need to hold up your end of the bargain, Ralph. Lyka’s a reporter for Wolfheim Times now. She’s survived in that industry for a reason–she’s damn good at what she does.}
“We can’t afford to lose an asset like her,” Tina chimed in. “That’s why we’ve kept her around since graduation–did you forget?”
I couldn’t take it anymore. I pushed the door open with a loud slam, the force of it reverberating through the room!”
9:09 AM
The shock on their faces was undeniable.
