Chapter 145: A Ladies Bathroom Adventure

"Ladies and gentlemen, we will be taking a break. Use this time to attend to personal matters such as using the restroom. Please do not visit the performers yet. Everyone will have an equal chance when the program is over. Thank you."

Andie was among the first people who stood up. She interlocked her fingers and stretched her hands overhead. Her back muscles tightened from the movement. She arched it for more taut. 

A yawn escaped her lips.

Eve propped her chin on the edge of her palm. "Gee, can you be any more obviously bored?"

Jarrett dusted his shoulder, checking for stains. "I think she almost drooled on me."

"Hey!" Andie exclaimed. She turned around and placed her hands on her hips. Her stormy blue eyes glared at her companions while they exchanged amused looks. She scoffed. "Typical. The only time you get along is when you team up against me."

Her posture relaxed. Then, she held a hand out to Eve. "Come on, I want to use the bathroom. A bit of walking might do me some good. I wouldn't want to miss the twins' turn."

Jarrett waved goodbye as the two girls climbed down the stairs. The ladies' room should be just right around the corner but Andie insisted on looking for a different one. She was confident that the line would be long and she didn't want to wait that much.

True enough, her prediction came true.

Eve stared at the line. The women had already lined up towards the end of the wall. Their break time might not be long enough for them to finally get their turn. Her head darted around the room, looking for another hallway.

"Where would we even begin to look?" She asked after spotting several of them. They had to choose carefully or they might get lost.

"I don't know," Andie whispered. Her eyebrows knitted together as she scanned their surroundings. Then, she found a possible lead at one of the corners. "Maybe the security guard knows one."

Eve followed her line of sight. 

The security guard stood near the main entrance. He had a bit of paperwork laid out before him. He looked up occasionally to watch the courtyard outside. The noise from the guests didn't bother him in the slightest.

Minutes later, Andie and Eve found themselves in an empty corridor.

The wall lamps provided subtle lighting. Most of the ceiling and floor remained in the shadows. Compared to the lobby, silence dominated this part of the building. There didn't seem to be an end to this tunnel-like path either.

"Are you sure we're in the right one?" Eve couldn't help but question. They hadn't walked for long but it was already getting to her. She reached out to grip her best friend's arm. Goosebumps crawled over her skin.

Just how much further should they keep going? 

Wasn't this enough yet?

"I'm sure." Andie nodded. The security guard told them that the other nearest restroom was at the end of this hallway. There was no reason for him to lie to them. They weren't wearing anything high in value.

"O-Okay."

Eve gulped.

Her legs began to shake. So, her grip on Andie's arm tightened. Several scenarios played in her head. For one, the carpet barely made a sound. If they start running, no one would even hear them approach. If someone was stalking them, they couldn't hear that person either.

She glanced over her shoulder, her breath hitching.

No one was there.

Maybe they should have asked Jarrett to join them… 

Andie patted her hand. "Look."

"Ah!" Eve jumped in fright. Her knees had almost given in. Their state forced the two women to completely stop walking. She became too heavy for Andie to pull up. Her lungs hyperventilated. She should have stayed behind.

Then again, she'd feel beyond guilty if something happened to her best friend and she wasn't there.

"Stop overthinking," Andie scolded her. She pointed towards the empty hallway ahead. "Just look over there. The restroom signs are visible." 

Eve immediately searched for them. True enough, they glowed like lightsticks in the dark. The sight of them relieved most of her anxiety. She moved her hand to Andie's wrist. "Then, let's walk faster so we can go back faster."

She picked up the pace, forcing Andie to do the same. Although they were near their destination, being away from the crowd made her uncomfortable. Anything could happen at any moment. The dimness of the corridor added to that fear.

Then, the door opened.

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.

.

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"Hm?" The woman hummed, wiping her hands together. Her eyebrows shot up when her eyes spotted the two other women. She blinked. "Eve?"

"Mrs. Hathaway!" Eve responded. She had lost a few years in her life when that door opened. The same amount of years were added back upon recognizing the madam. The latter's familiar face brought her comfort. 

"What brings you here?" Avery uttered. Just the person she wanted to see! Who knew they'd be in the same place? Was there someone writing their book of fates? Her eyes flickered towards the fire exit. "Do you know any of the performers?"

"Yes...," Eve gulped. "My sisters are a part of the recital…"

She hadn't told the madam about her invisible friction with Ambryan. She didn't want to cause any alarm when it could just be her overthinking. But, trying to stay calm proved to be more difficult than she thought.

Avery's face lit up. "Really? I'll be looking forward to their performances then."

Her attention shifted towards the other female in the room. 

Eve quickly realized her mistake. She coughed out a laugh and proceeded with the overdue introduction. "Oh! This is my best friend, Andie Summers. Andie, this is my boss's mother, Avery Hathaway."

Andie smiled and held out her hand for a shake. "Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Hathaway." 

"Likewise," Avery replied, accepting the gesture.

"Do you also know any of the performers?"

"No, I don't. I do know Mila though. She's an old friend."

"Well, we won't keep you any longer," Eve interrupted, her pent up anxiety catching up to her. She pulled Andie aside to let Avery pass by. If they don't part ways soon, she might say something she'd regret.

Avery nodded her head at each of them. "Take care, ladies."

Eve had one hand on the door.

"Eve."

Both her and Andie turned towards the madam. "Y-Yes?"

Avery wore a hard expression. The subtle light intensified the look with shadowing. Her violet eyes resembled gemstones—that lustrous rigid exterior. She tilted her head sideways. "How are things with my son?"

Eve's throat constricted. Talking became a tedious task to do. "G-Good. He's been limiting his overtime hours the past few weeks. There hadn't been as many meetings as before so work is a bit more relaxed. He's having his usual afternoon breaks along with black tea—"

"That's not—never mind," Avery said. She sighed and looked at Andie. Then, her gaze landed back on Eve. Her lips had stretched into a grim line. "Will you be at the reception later?"

"I believe the girls want to attend so yes."

"I'll talk to you then."

"Okay."

This time, Eve waited until the madam was out of sight. She might not take a third jumpscare. The restroom turned out to be empty which exhilarated Andie. Even inside a cubicle, she continued to chatter about her brilliance to look for a second restroom.

Then, she emphasized how this one was much cleaner.

Eve also relieved her bladder. It somehow melted the rest of her anxiety away. Looking back, she realized how stupid she must have looked. It made her groan. Avery must have noticed it too. That thought caused her to grumble.

She practically kicked the cubicle door open.

"So that's Ambryan's mother…" Andie brought up, washing her hands under a faucet. She met her best friend's eyes in the mirror. "I can see where he got his aloofness."

Eve joined her at the sink. A snort gushed out of her closed lips. "Mrs. Hathaway? Aloof? Impossible. I think she acted that way because she wasn't sure if you knew about Evangeline."

She couldn't remember telling the madam about it. Since that was the case, she chose to answer Avery's question differently. Why did that matter when she could have told Avery right there and then? 

She didn't know. 

The words she spoke just came out of her mouth. 

Andie frowned. "I thought Cale would have told her."

"Then, it must have slipped his mind."

"Should I have thanked her for asking you to join the dating site?" She teased, nudging her best friend's side. "Maybe I could even send her a few suggestions. I don't think arranging a date for you and your beau would be against the rules."

Eve turned off the faucet. 

The image of a laughing Avery and Andie surfaced in her mind. The sound mimicked the ones made by witches she'd seen in films. Then, they'd have a glowing green cauldron in front of them where they could spy on her and Ambryan.

It gave her the chills. 

"I have a feeling you two will get along really well..." she said, taking a paper towel from the dispenser. "Maybe even too well."

"What took you guys so long?" Jarret said as soon as they came back.

"What did you expect?" Andie shrugged. "The line was really long."

Before the curtains parted open, the sound of a piano filled the room. 

Delicate notes danced in the air and pulled the audience towards the stage.