SEVEN

Talking about being restless, I wasn't sure what to do so I decided to head for Victoria's apartment. As I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor, my mind was buzzing with a whirlwind of thoughts. The tension from the encounter with Wade still lingered, weighing heavily on my shoulders like an invisible burden. I needed to talk to someone, to vent out the frustration and confusion that churned inside me.

When the elevator dinged and the doors slid open, I practically bolted out, my feet carrying me down the hallway to Victoria's apartment. Ringing her bell hastily, I waited anxiously until it swung open, revealing Victoria's concerned expression.

"Wendy, what's wrong?" she asked, ushering me inside and closing the door behind me.

I sighed, letting myself in. I wasn't sure where to start "I'm not sure what's wrong with Wade". I confessed.

"Right, I figured something was wrong when he snapped at me right after the table read". I remembered that, how he yelled at her to hitch a ride with Spencer.

I began telling her about Wade's inexplicable attitude, recounting the icy silence and seething anger that had radiated off him when we walked in together. Victoria listened attentively, her brow furrowed in concern as she absorbed every word.

"And then he just slammed the door in my face without even telling me what I did wrong," I finished, frustration lacing my voice.

Victoria nodded sympathetically, her lips pursed in thought. "That's strange. Do you think something happened between him and Osse earlier today?"

The mention of Osse's name sent a shiver down my spine as I recalled the accusatory tone in his voice, the insinuation that I was somehow involved with Mr. Milton. "I... I'm not sure," I told her. "They never had an encounter, I mean Osse left angrily during the table read"

"How about when he followed you two out? You know when Ossen stormed off and you went after him, then Wade went after you two…" She asked me, I had absolutely no idea he did that.

"What? Wade followed us?" I asked her, shocked. Now that she mentions it, if he did follow me out after Osse, did he probably hear Osse accuse me of... of sleeping with Ivan? The pieces of the puzzle are beginning to fall into place. Could it be that Wade did overhear our conversation and jump to conclusions?

"Yes he did and came back with a very angry look on his face". She explained.

"Listen, Osse accused me of sleeping with Mr. Milton, could that have been what he heard?" I wasn't sure if that should annoy him but that was probably the only thing that happened all day. Victoria's eyes widened in surprise with her expression mirroring the dawning realization that washed over me.

"Well, are you sleeping with Mr. Milton?" she asked.

"No way!"

"If that's what he heard, then Wendy….." She paused. "Do you think Wade likes you?"

The question caught me off guard, and I shook my head vehemently in response. "No, that's ridiculous. Wade and I are just friends, colleagues. There's no way he could have feelings for me."

But even as the words left my mouth, doubt lingered in the back of my mind, whispering tantalizingly of possibilities and what-ifs. Could it be that Victoria was right? And if so, what did that mean for our relationship moving forward?

As Victoria and I continued to dissect the events of the evening, I couldn't shake the nagging sense of unease that settled in the pit of my stomach. Whatever was going on with Wade, one thing was certain: things were about to get a whole lot more complicated.

As I made my way back to my apartment, my eyes caught Wade's apartment as well considering it was right beside mine. I couldn't just leave everything that way, instead of entering my apartment I headed for him and began ringing the bell continuously.

As I stood outside Wade's apartment, my heart pounding in my chest, I couldn't shake the feeling of apprehension that gripped me. But I had to confront him, to set things straight once and for all. As I rang the bell repeatedly, my impatience mounting with each passing second, until finally, Wade appeared at the door, his expression dark and brooding. Without a word, he stepped aside, allowing me to enter, his silence speaking volumes.

"You're so stubborn, Wendy," he muttered under his breath, his tone laced with frustration as he closed the door behind me.

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry as I struggled to find the right words. "Wade, did you possibly hear Osse accuse me of sleeping with Milton?" I asked, my voice trembling with uncertainty.

He hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering with doubt before he shook his head adamantly. "It doesn't matter, Wendy. I don't want to hear about it," he declared, his tone final as he turned away from me once again.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the confrontation that was sure to follow. "Wade, please, just listen to me," I pleaded, my voice tinged with urgency.

But he cut me off before I could continue, his words dripping with disdain. "I heard enough already. It's none of my business," he spat, his eyes flashing with anger.

I shook my head vehemently, my resolve hardening with each passing moment. "But it's not true, Wade. You have to believe me," I insisted, desperation creeping into my voice.

He scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping his lips as he turned away from me. "I don't care, Wendy, it's not a business of mine who you sleep with. Just leave," he muttered dismissively, his tone final as he made his way towards the door.

Before I could protest, he slammed the door in my face, leaving me standing alone in the hallway, my heart heavy with disappointment and frustration.

As I turned to leave, my phone buzzed in my pocket, signaling an incoming call. I pulled it out, my hands trembling slightly as I answered, only to be greeted by the smooth voice of Mr. Milton on the other end.

"Wendy, how are you?" he inquired, his concern evident in his tone.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I responded. "I'm... I'm okay," I replied, my voice betraying my inner turmoil.

"We should meet tomorrow with the director to put an end to this rift between you two," he continued, his words a welcome distraction from the chaos that seemed to be consuming my life.

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "Yes, of course," I agreed, my mind already racing ahead to the meeting that awaited us.

"Goodnight, Wendy," he said softly, his words echoing in the silence of the hallway.

"Goodnight, Ivan," I replied, testing out the informality that he had insisted upon earlier.

But before I could end the call, the door to Wade's apartment swung open once again, revealing his looming figure in the doorway.

His eyes narrowed at the sound of my words, his expression darkening with anger as he realized what I had said. "You're calling him Ivan now?" he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.