Things were not unfolding as Blake had expected. Suspicious events seemed to be piling up, from Elena's confrontation with a local leader to Drake's mysterious behavior and the blood on his clothes. It was all becoming too much to ignore.
Lost in his thoughts, Blake stared blankly at the television screen, his mind elsewhere.
He was so absorbed in his contemplations that he didn't even notice when Elena descended the stairs and approached him in the sitting room. Her silent footsteps betrayed her presence as she drew closer.
"Lost in thought?" Elena's voice broke through Blake's reverie, snapping him back to reality.
Startled by her sudden appearance, Blake attempted to compose himself before responding, "Just wondering why a team with talented players like Manchester United would suddenly draw with Manchester City."
His words were tinged with a hint of frustration, a guise to conceal his deeper concerns.
Elena, unaware of the intricacies of the game, simply nodded in response before retreating to fetch another drink.
Her routine of downing the first cup followed by leisurely sips of the subsequent ones was a familiar sight to Blake, a small detail in the midst of the swirling mysteries that surrounded him.
As Elena retrieved the drink from the dining room, the silence in the room seemed to amplify, punctuated only by the sound emanating from the television.
Pouring herself a drink, she let out a heavy sigh before filling up another cup.
"What was her name? The lady you met." her voice floated from the dining room, breaking the silence.
Blake was taken aback by the unexpected question, hesitating for a moment before responding. "We didn't chat for long, so I didn't quite catch her name," he replied, keeping his tone neutral as he avoided looking towards her direction.
Noticing Blake's reticence, Elena emerged from the dining room with the wine bottle in one hand and the glass cup in the other, pressing him for more information.
'Or did she miss it?' He wondered.
"I understand," Blake replied, offering a reassuring smile before turning his attention back to the television screen, only to realize that the match was already over for a while now.
The atmosphere in the room had become stifling, suffocating him with its tension.
"I think I'll head to my room," he announced, eager to escape the oppressive atmosphere.
Elena's concern was evident as she questioned him, "You're not upset about what I said, are you?"
"No, not at all," Blake reassured her with a smile before making his exit.
As he walked away, Elena couldn't help but notice a slight limp in his step, prompting a pang of concern to stir within her. She knew something was amiss, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she needed to find out what was troubling him.
"You're limping. What seems to be the problem?" Elena inquired, concern etched in her voice as she approached Blake to assess the situation.
"It's nothing serious, just a small swell I picked up at the beach while we were out on that walk," Blake explained, downplaying the injury.
"I knew it. These small shoes can't protect your legs. That's why boots are necessary," Elena remarked, bending over to examine the minor scratch on his foot.
"Fortuitously, today marks our designated massage day. It is customary for us to indulge in a rejuvenating massage session once per week, and serendipitously, today presents an opportune moment for such indulgence.
I find myself in need of stress relief as well," she continued, her tone mellifluous as she rose from her seat to meet his gaze, her fingertips tenderly caressing his chest as a smile graced her lips.
"We do?" Blake asked, not sure about yet another thing. For someone who had just turned into a red angrying swelling monster a second ago, she was being all too nice suddenly. He couldn't help but wonder if she was bipolar.
"Yes, now go get yourself ready while I prepare the space," she instructed, offering Blake a reassuring smile before heading off to make the necessary arrangements.