Bittersweet Obsession

Tamara found herself in an awkward situation as she stood there, feeling unsure and out of place. The sudden appearance of Judson Beauregard, along with the mysterious circumstances surrounding her, left her feeling uneasy and on edge. She shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what to say or do next, as the tension in the room grew intense.

Cautious, she finally broke the silence. "Um, hi, Mr. Beauregard. I wasn't expecting to see anyone else here."

Judson offered a faint smile. "Yeah, it's quite a surprise running into each other like this, isn't it? It's like fate had other plans for us, Ms. Sinclair. And it seems they're always jinxed encounters."

His response came off as calm but slightly mysterious, and Tamara couldn't help but feel a jolt of surprise at his use of her real name.

Her thoughts raced as she mused to herself, Dammit! He knew my real name. How could he?

Breaking the silence, Judson motioned for her to come closer and have a seat with a welcoming gesture. "Why don't you come a little closer and take a seat? We have much to discuss."

For a little while, she was somewhat stunned by the realization that Judson was aware of her true identity. But her insatiable curiosity and thirst for answers forced her to accept his offer. She nodded, stepping forward and taking a seat, but underneath her composed surface was a tempest of inner feelings.

She managed a strained smile as she responded, "Well, this is all a bit weird. So, Mr. Beauregard, can you tell me where I am now?"

Internally, however, her thoughts raced as she struggled to make sense of the situation and to conceal her growing unease.

"You're in my house, Ms. Sinclair. Welcome back to the Beauregard Mansion."

Tamara's surprised eyes grew wide. She found it difficult to remain composed as her thoughts were filled with concerns and questions over how she got inside this mansion.

"Your house? Why am I in this place?"

His expression remained composed, but his gaze pierced through her as he responded with a measured tone. "That's exactly what we're trying to piece together. Do you remember anything from the events of last night?"

Tamara shifted uneasily under his penetrating gaze before responding with a knitted brow. "I... I'm not sure. Everything's a bit fuzzy. I remember bits and pieces, but it's all jumbled."

His expression softened slightly, but the intensity in his eyes remained.

"I see. It's a lot to wrap your head around. Well, don't worry. We'll figure things out and piece together what happened."

She jolted in surprise at his poise, her mind racing with questions. "But... how did you find me? Why do you know about what happened last night?"

"Let's just say, some things have a way of finding their way to me, Ms. Sinclair."All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

Confused and desperate for answers, Tamara blurted out her question, feeling completely in the dark about what happened last night.

"Mr. Beauregard, can you please enlighten me? I'm completely clueless."

His expression shifted, a mix of emotions crossing his features. He leaned forward as he began to recount the version he made up.

"Well, it's a bit of a wild story, but here it goes," he began. "I happened to be passing through the area when I saw you. There was this shady-looking guy trailing behind you, and something didn't sit right with me. Before I knew it, he tried to drug and kidnap you right in front of my eyes. Luckily, I intervened just in time to top him and bring you here for safety."

Tamara's eyes widened in shock as his words sank in, a wave of disbelief washing over her.

"Wait, what? So, you're saying I was being followed? And someone actually tried to kidnap me?" Her voice trembled with both fear and curiosity as she bombarded Judson with a flurry of questions, desperate for answers. "Oh my god, that's terrifying! But who was that man, Mr. Beauregard? Why would he want to kidnap me? And how did you manage to stop him?"

His expression softened with empathy as he listened to her flurry of questions. He leaned back, running a hand through his hair as he replied, "I wish I could give you all the answers, but I lost track of him. Honestly, I was more concerned about making sure you were safe. I couldn't risk letting him get away with you."

Tamara's shoulders slumped as she sank back into her seat.

"I... I don't even know what to say. This is all just... a lot to take in." Her words stumbled out as she looked at him with newfound gratitude. "Thank you, Mr. Beauregard. Thank you for saving me."

"No worries. It's what anyone would do in that situation." His expression remained unreadable as he responded nonchalantly. "Now, let's focus on getting you back on your feet and get to the bottom of it."

Grappling with the whirlwind of emotions, she gathered her thoughts before posing a question to him. "So, what is it that you wanted to know?"

His expression shifted into solemn one. "I want to understand why someone would target you. Do you have any enemies or anyone who might want to harm you?"

She shrugged, considering his question carefully before responding with a sigh. "Honestly, I don't think so. I mean, I'm just a regular person trying to get by. I don't have any enemies that I know of. This whole situation is just so surreal. I can't imagine why anyone would want to hurt me."

His brows furrowed slightly, finding the situation more puzzling. "Yeah, it's strange. Doesn't make much sense why someone would want to harm you."

An unsettling silence settled over the room, thick and heavy. The only sound that could be heard was the soft rustle of their own breaths, as if the room had become isolated from the outside world, devoid of any noise. It was as though time stood still within those walls.