Threat{76}

I sat at the table, my eyes fixed on Vasili as he got up and excused himself to go wash the sprite off his face. Maryann had accidentally spit it on him, but I could tell from the look in his eyes that he wasn't upset about it. He was always so forgiving, always eager to brush off any transgressions against him. But not me.

As soon as Vasili disappeared from sight, I turned my icy glare towards Maryann and Michaela. An unwelcoming aura emanated from me, and I could feel the tension in the air grow thicker. They both shifted uncomfortably in their seats, their eyes avoiding mine.

"Seems like the two of you have something to say to him," I said, my voice low and cold.

"We...we don't know what you mean, Ashley," Maryann stuttered, her voice trembling ever so slightly.

I leaned in closer, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Don't play ignorant with me," I spat, my eyes narrowing. "I can see right through your facade. If anything happens to Vasili because of you two, I promise you, you won't live to see another day. And I won't just stop at you, I'll make sure I kill everyone you hold dear while you watch, helpless and unable to do a damn thing."

A heavy silence hung in the air as the gravity of my words settled between us. Maryann and Michaela's faces grew pale, their eyes wide with shock and terror. They glanced anxiously towards the restroom, desperate for Vasili's return.

"I will always be watching your every move."

Maryann opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off with a sharp gesture. "Don't even bother. I don't trust either of you. And if any harm befalls Vasili, just know that I'll make good on my words."

Michaela, always the understanding one, reached out a hand towards me. "Ashley, please, we only want genuine friendship with him. We never meant to cause any harm to Vasili. Can't we work this out?"

I pulled my hand away, wiping it like I had touched dirt and turned my gaze back to the entrance of the restroom, watching for any sign of Vasili's return. "I don't know, Michaela," I said, my voice dripping with venom. "Actions speak louder than words. And your actions have given me reason to doubt your sincerity."

Just as the suffocating atmosphere threatened to swallow us whole, Vasili appeared, oblivious to the tension that had filled the room during his absence. His face beamed with a smile as he joined us at the table once again.

The waiter approached, interrupting the heavy silence with the sound of clinking plates. He placed our food before us, but even the delicious aromas couldn't lift the oppressive mood.

I turned my attention back to Vasili, playing up our closeness and ignoring Maryann and Michaela as much as possible. My sentences with them became curt and short, my answers clipped. If I couldn't trust them, I would make sure they knew just how little I valued their presence.

We ate in silence, the tension lingering in the air like an unwanted guest. The food tasted bland to me, lacking the usual joy and flavor that filled our shared meals. Each bite felt forced, mechanical, an empty gesture of normalcy.

Just as we were nearing the end of our meal, the noise of the restaurant was interrupted by the sound of the door swinging open. A rush of air swept in, and all eyes turned towards the commotion. Maria, the last of the pair, rushed into the restaurant, her face flushed and a panting breath escaping her lips.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry!" she exclaimed, making her way towards us. "I got caught up in chasing a puppy, and I completely lost track of time. I hope I didn't miss much!"

Relief washed over me as Maria's infectious energy filled the room, banishing the heavy atmosphere that had consumed us. I couldn't help but crack a small smile at her zealous entrance. Out of the trio, Maria was the only one that hadn't broken my trust and I knew for a fact that she would never betray me.

"Better late than never, Maria," I said, my voice softening as I greeted her. "You didn't miss much. Just a little mishap with a sprite and some interesting conversation." Vasili turned towards me, raising a questioning brow.

'You're sure you don't know them?' He asked through the mind link suspiciously.

'Yes'

Maria slid into the empty seat next to Maryann, oblivious to the tension that still lingered in the air. She chattered away, regaling us with stories of the chase, her animated gestures and contagious laughter lightening the mood once again.

As the afternoon continued, I couldn't help but feel a weight lifted from my shoulders. With Maria's presence, the coldness that had enveloped our little group dissipated, replaced by warmth and camaraderie. I found myself slipping back into my usual playful self with Vasili, letting go of the tension with each passing minute.

But deep down, in the recesses of my mind, I knew the threat still lingered. Maryann and Michaela may have tried to reassure me, to convince me of their innocence, but my guard remained up. I would continue to watch them closely, always wary of their true intentions. And if they ever caused Vasili harm, well, they would realize just how far I would go to protect him.

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The tension between Ashley, Maryann, and Michaela hung heavy in the air as they left the restaurant and made their way to the nearby mall to shop for office clothes. Vasili and Maria, on the other hand, were completely oblivious to the underlying tension, chatting happily as they strolled through the bustling mall. Well, it was basically Maria chirping away and Vasili nodding occasionally or giving input here and there but chatting nonetheless

Ashley, determined to make Vasili happy, cheerfully offered to pick out outfits for both himself and Vasili. He led the way to a trendy clothing store, his eyes scanning the racks of clothes eagerly. Maria followed closely behind, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Maryann and Michaela, however, kept their distance, their discomfort and slight panic still lingering from Ashley's earlier threat.

Ashley grabbed an assortment of outfits off the racks, holding them up to Vasili and eagerly explaining why each piece would be perfect for him, with his usual hints of how much he fancied Vasili included here and there. Vasili, appreciative of Ashley's effort, gave him a small nod of approval or disapproval for each selection. Maria joined in as well, offering her opinion on the different outfits.

Maryann and Michaela, still feeling uneasy, stood on the sidelines, not fully engaging in the shopping experience. They exchanged subtle nods of approval or disapproval for the selected outfits, but their minds were preoccupied with Ashley's earlier threat. It was hard for them to fully relax and enjoy the shopping trip.

In the end, they settled on a few suits for Vasili and a couple of casual outfits for Ashley. Ashley quickly hurried to the counter to pay before Vasili could even bring out his card, an extra small bag in his hand. When he had gotten the items inside, no one knew.

As they left the mall, Vasili offered to drive the girls home, But the sisters kindly refused, citing that they had somewhere else to be.

They exchanged polite goodbyes, Ashley throwing them an indifferent glance and they parted ways.