Ruins Of The Glory

Verena slipped through the window, the warm breeze of the night embracing her like a silent accomplice. 

She turned to face Louis one last time, "Thanks for the dinner," she whispered. 

As he watched Verena disappear into the darkness, doubts began to seed in his mind.

Louis turned away from the window and asked himself, "I will meet her again, right?"

With a resolute nod, he affirmed to himself, "I will."

With long strides, he pushed open the door, his eyes locking onto Ariana, who stood up from the floor, offering him a smile that was more of a facade than a genuine expression.

The sight was an odd juxtaposition—her posture evoking the image of a beggar seeking a coveted treat, while her gaze held a calculated intent.

Louis's gaze, sharp as a blade, fixed on her, causing a shiver to ripple through Ariana's facade. She quickly averted her gaze, the facade slipping for a moment to reveal a hint of unease.

"L—Louis," Ariana stuttered, her tone feigning innocence. "We had a date planned for tonight, and I thought—"

Louis's voice sliced through her words, his impatience palpable. "Firstly, it's not a date; it's a dinner. And secondly, as I've already informed you, the meeting is unnecessary. So why are you here?"

Her next words bore a mixture of curiosity and veiled jealousy, "...is this about the woman who was inside? The one you were with?"

"Yes, that was her."

"Did you get engaged to her?" she asked, her voice carrying an edge.

"No, Ariana, I did not get engaged to her." Cause she was just his girlfriend… girlfriend? Was Verena really his girlfriend? Ofcourse, they went on a date so they should start dating too.

He thought but he will not say it out loud for her to know his thoughts. He will just go and take her with him to their house.

Ariana however, felt relieved but still hesitated. "I just wanted to see who she was."

Louis's patience had worn thin, his gaze unyielding. "I've told you before that I am not interested in you. It's time you respected that."

Her eyes widened disbelief. He did rejected her before he left the country three years ago. Now that he was back she still wanted to persuade him once she was his wife she would live happily ever after but this Louis was determined to not listen to her at all. 

Before she could say or ask any more questions. Louis's back was already turned as he walked out of the restaurant. 

As he disappeared from view, Ariana's trembling voice echoed in the corridor, her wounded pride and lingering affections colliding in a storm of emotions.

She didn't stand there but ran inside the room to see that the window was half open. "That bitch must have fled from here!" Ariana cursed and dialled a number.

"I need CCTV footage from 9 to 10 PM," she said to the security guard on the other line. "There's been a breach. Someone entered the room and may have escaped through the window. Hurry!"

…

Verena hopped into a taxi and told the driver her home address. She leaned back in the seat, tired from the dinner, and she had to get ready for the night shift later.

The taxi pulled up to her apartment building, and Verena stepped out, her steps laden with weariness.

She made her way up the dimly lit stairwell, the sounds of distant chatter and footsteps echoing around her.

Upon entering her apartment, the dim glow of a single bulb cast an amber hue over the small space.

Her eyes were drawn to the modest layout—an open area with a sofa lounge, a compact kitchen, and a single room with an attached bath.

It wasn't lavish, but it was hers—a sanctuary from the demands of her daily routine.

The anticipation of a warm shower cocooned her as she entered the bathroom, the soothing rush of water providing respite from the rigours of the day.

However, her frustration heightened as the stream dwindled into a trickle before finally ceasing altogether.

A sigh of exasperation escaped her lips, and without a second thought, Verena grabbed a bucket, filled it with water, and brought it back to the bathroom. She poured the water into the bathtub and managed to finish her shower.

She filled the tub with water, the gentle splash having a calming cadence as she allowed herself a moment of reprieve. The warm water enveloped her once again, massaging away the tension that had built throughout the dinner.

After drying off, Verena put on a comfortable bathrobe, gave the fabric a gentle caress against her skin, and walked out to lounge. Feeling thirsty, she decided to pour herself a glass of water.

As she turned around with the glass in hand, she was startled to see a man standing right behind her.

She was so surprised that some of the water in her mouth spilled out, and the glass slipped from her fingers, shattering as it met the floor.

Amidst the shattered glass and the weight of the unexpected intrusion, there stood Louis. His gaze swept over Verena, a calculated scrutiny that seemed to linger a moment too long on her body.

Then, his attention shifted to the still-open door, his contemplative gaze tracing a path to the point of entry.

With an air of casual inquiry, he voiced his question, "Is this how you usually stay at home when the door is left wide open?"

Verena's mind whirled and eyes widened, still reeling from the shock of his sudden appearance. Her lips parted in an attempt to reply, but the words seemed to escape her grasp, lost in the tangled web of her emotions.

Had I forgot to lock the door on my way? No that can't be. I never this before or might he knew how to enter from a locked door.

Her astonishment only deepened as she managed to sputter out a single query, "Wh— What are you doing in my house?"