The Taste of Seduction

Her trembling fingers as she dialed Tania's number, her voice carrying a mix of vulnerability and desperation as she spoke. "Hey, Tania... Can we talk? I... I need to clear my mind and sort through all these emotions. I feel like I'm caught in a whirlwind, and I can't see a way out."

Tania's voice on the other end of the line was filled with concern. "Diana, of course. You know I'm always here for you. What happened? Are you okay?"

Diana let out a shaky breath, the weight of her emotions threatening to pull her under. "It's just... I saw Marcus come in with a rich young lady today, and suddenly I feel he has all he needs and wants, they look so compatible and good together that I feel stupid for wishing for him in the first place. I feel like I'm destined for misfortune, that I'll never measure up."

"Hey, hey,.... Hold up there girl," Tania interrupted as she discovered her friend spiraling down the path of negative emotions, "A lot have happened to you in the last month till now, why don't you take some time off and come here and then we find some way out of all this shithole" she continued empathetically as she tried to lift her friend's spirit.

"Tania, I can't thank you enough for being here for me," Diana said, her voice filled with gratitude. Tania's voice booming warmly over. "That's what friends are for, Diana. I'm here to support you, no matter what."

A glimmer of hope flickered in Diana's heart as she absorbed Tania's words of comfort. That night, as Diana settled into bed, she reached for her journal, the pages awaiting her confessions and reflections. With pen in hand, she poured her raw emotions onto the blank canvas, capturing the whirlwind of thoughts and doubts that had consumed her.

"I feel so lost," Diana wrote, tears blurring her vision. "I question whether I can ever offer Marcus the life he deserves. He deserves someone who can give him the world, and I'm afraid I'm not enough."

Through tear-stained words, she explored her fears of inadequacy and the weight of comparison that had burdened her heart as she cried herself to sleep.

The next morning, while trying her best to look normal, Diana reached out to her supervisor, seeking permission for a temporary break. The call was met with understanding and compassion, as her supervisor recognized the importance of prioritizing mental well-being.

"Thank you for understanding," Diana said gratefully. "I just need some time to gather myself and come back stronger."

Leaving with an approved leave application, Diana drove towards Tania's place on the same Monday morning.

********

Marcus, having solved most of his workload, walked toward Diana's place only to discover it locked early in the morning. With some anxiety and fear creeping on his mind, "Locked?" palming his hands on his face, "she must have gone to work. How did I not even think of that?" he questioned himself as he gave an assurance as he began to have a sinking feeling of something had gone wrong.

He gingerly put a call through only to hear it going straight to the answering machine.

Feeling disturbed, Marcus eagerly made his way to the workplace, as he entered the office, Marcus scanned the familiar surroundings, searching for a glimpse of Diana. However, his heart sank when he realized that she wasn't there. Doubt crept into his mind, wondering if she was intentionally avoiding him or if something else had happened.

With a heavy heart, he approached a colleague whose table was adjacent to Diana's, Lisa, hoping for some answers. "Lisa," Marcus began, his voice filled with a mix of apprehension and longing, "have you seen Diana today? I was hoping to ask something of her real quick, but it seems she has not been here today. Any idea where she might be, I tried calling already."

Lisa looked up from her work, her expression filled with incredulous looks. "Marcus, she took a two weeks leave, she said she needed to go for treatment, therapy or something this morning," she said gently. "I think she needed some time away, to clear her head and figure things out," she continued with a look of understanding about her situation.

A pang of disappointment coursed through Marcus, but he understood Diana's need for space. He knew he had to respect her boundaries, even if it meant waiting anxiously for her return.

Feeling out of tune, he sat down to work with the very few clients he was following up on. As Marcus sat down at his desk, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease lingering in the air. The weight of recent events still tugged at his thoughts, making it difficult to focus on his work. He sighed as tried to adjust his thoughts and get himself numbed with work for a while.

Glancing at his work calendar, he noticed an upcoming lunch appointment with Sofia, "not a time like this," he groaned as he rubbed his head at the thoughts of dealing with this slightly obsessive admirer. The reminder of their meeting in just an hour caught him off guard, considering the emotional whirlwind he had been experiencing.

With a determined exhale, Marcus gathered his belongings and made his way to the designated restaurant. As he entered, he caught a glimpse of Sofia, seated near the window with a warm smile on her face. She waved him over, her presence offering a brief distraction from the chaos within.

"Darling, you made it," Sofia greeted, her voice filled with genuine enthusiasm and affection. "I hope you are not too stressed from working everyday." she continued with a coy smile as she moved to welcome with a hug which he stylishly avoided by just bumping shoulders with like buddies instead.

Sofia pouted as she realized his intention and continuous alienation, she grew anxious at whether the man before was indeed indifferent to women or rather liked men.

As the thoughts popped into her mind, it stuck and remained likely as she felt it looked more plausible as which man didn't like a beautiful woman especially one with money and the connections that constantly threw themselves at him even if he wasn't serious and he wouldn't be indifferent.