The night dragged on after Sarah ended the call with John, but sleep never came. She lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, her mind spinning. The sound of that woman's laughter echoed in her head, refusing to fade. She kept replaying the conversation over and over, searching for reassurance, for something that would make her feel like John's words had been the truth. But each time she replayed it, her doubts only grew.
Was Oliver right? Could John be unfaithful?
She hated herself for even entertaining the thought. John had always been good to her, loyal, and kind, but Oliver's words had burrowed deep into her thoughts. And now, that haunting laughter had made it impossible to ignore.
Morning came, bringing no relief. Sarah got out of bed, her body heavy with fatigue, her heart weighed down by uncertainty. She knew she had to keep moving forward, though. The job at Oliver's company was now her lifeline, whether she liked it or not. But as she prepared to go to work, the nagging thoughts about John lingered.
I need to know the truth, she thought, her resolve hardening. I can't let this eat me alive.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
When Sarah arrived at the company that morning, she forced herself to push her personal worries aside and focus on the task at hand. The position Oliver had offered her wasn't some low-level job,it was a management role, overseeing one of his many companies. It was more responsibility than she'd had in years, and she knew that she couldn't afford to make any mistakes.
As she stepped out of the elevator onto the executive floor, her mind was already working on the list of tasks she needed to tackle. But as she walked toward her office, she couldn't help but feel the weight of Oliver's presence looming behind every corner.
The events of the previous day still made her stomach twist,the image of Stella, the young woman she had seen with Oliver, was burned into her memory. There had been something so unsettling about the look on Stella's face, the way she had seemed almost trapped. Sarah wanted to reach out to her, to ask her if she was okay, but she knew she couldn't get involved. Not now. Not when she needed this job so badly.
Sarah took a deep breath as she approached her office, but before she could step inside, she heard a familiar voice behind her.
"Well, good morning, Sarah."
She turned to see Oliver standing a few feet away, a smug smile on his face as usual. He was impeccably dressed, as always, his eyes gleaming with that same predatory look that made Sarah's skin crawl.
"Good morning," Sarah replied, forcing a polite smile. She wasn't in the mood for any of his games today.
Oliver stepped closer, his hands casually in his pockets. "I just wanted to check in on how you're settling into the new role. I trust everything's going smoothly?"
Sarah nodded, keeping her expression neutral. "Everything's fine. I'm just getting started."
Oliver smiled, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Good. I knew you'd be perfect for the job." He paused, then added, "And remember, Sarah, if you need anything,and I mean anything,you know where to find me."
Sarah felt the weight of his words, the underlying tone that made her stomach twist. She forced a tight smile. "I'll keep that in mind."
She was about to turn and head into her office when Oliver's voice stopped her again.
"Oh, and Sarah," he said, his voice lower, almost conspiratorial. "Have you thought any more about what I told you last night? About John?"
Her heart skipped a beat, the doubt surging back to the surface. She turned to face Oliver, her expression guarded. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Oliver's smile widened, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Come on, Sarah. You're a smart woman. You know there's more to this story. John's been gone for a while now. Don't you ever wonder what he's been up to?"
Sarah's pulse quickened, her mind flashing back to the woman's laughter she had heard over the phone. "John's doing what he needs to do," she said, her voice firmer than she felt. "I trust him."
Oliver raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Trust. That's a tricky thing, isn't it?"
Sarah's heart thudded in her chest, her hands trembling slightly as she clenched them at her sides. She didn't want to let Oliver get to her, but the seed of doubt he had planted was growing with every word.
"What are you saying?" she asked quietly, her voice barely a whisper.
Oliver's smile turned cold. "I'm saying that John might not be the man you think he is. I've heard things. Seen things. You might want to think about where his loyalties really lie."
Sarah felt like the floor was shifting beneath her. She wanted to tell him to stop, to walk away and never speak to her again. But part of her,the part filled with doubt,couldn't help but wonder if Oliver was right.
"Why are you telling me this?" she demanded, her voice trembling.
Oliver leaned in slightly, his eyes locking onto hers. "Because I care about you, Sarah. You deserve better than to be lied to. I've always thought you were too good for John."
The words made Sarah's stomach churn. She took a step back, her mind racing. Was this just another one of Oliver's manipulations, another way to control her? Or was there some truth to what he was saying?
Before she could respond, Oliver stepped back, his smile softening into something almost sympathetic. "Think about it, Sarah. You deserve to know the truth."
He turned and walked away, leaving Sarah standing there, her mind swirling with doubt and anger. She didn't want to believe anything Oliver said, but that woman's laughter kept playing in her mind. And now, the question she had been trying to avoid was impossible to ignore.
What if John wasn't being faithful?