Anonymous POV:
Ashantii sat in the dimly lit living room, a glass of red wine in her hand as Tiana's phone buzzed on the coffee table. She picked it up effortlessly, unlocking it. Her lips curled into a knowing smile as she saw the sender-*Evelyn*.
*Evelyn: Whenever you're free, just let me know. I'd love to catch up.*
Ashantii let out a low chuckle, her grip tightening on the phone. The audacity of that woman made her blood simmer. Did Evelyn think she could just waltz back into their lives? After all, they shared one night-a night that Evelyn had clearly blown out of proportion.
Setting her glass down, she scrolled through the conversation history, noting how sparse it was. Evelyn's desperation seeped through the screen, but it was Tiana's innocent replies that made her smirk. Tiana had no idea how to recognize someone obsessed with her, but Ashantii did.
The thought of Evelyn fantasizing about *her* wife made her stomach twist with rage. *Tiana is mine. Always has been, always will be.* The memory of the night Evelyn had been part of their lives flickered briefly in her mind, but it held no emotional weight. Evelyn was a momentary amusement, nothing more.
"Sleeping with us doesn't mean you're part of us, Evelyn," Ashantii muttered to herself, a dark glint in her eyes. "You don't get to dream about what's mine."
She typed a quick reply:
*Tiana: Hi, Evelyn. I'm surprised you're in town. Things are... a bit hectic right now, but maybe we can meet up soon.*
Hitting send, she leaned back and waited. If Evelyn thought she was playing some sort of game, she was mistaken. Ashantii was always several steps ahead.
Moments later, the reply came through:
*Evelyn: Take your time. I just couldn't stop thinking about you.*
Ashantii's fingers tightened around the phone. She took a deep breath, calming the possessive fire burning in her chest. She couldn't let her emotions get the best of her-this was an opportunity, not a setback.
She typed again, her tone deliberately casual:
*Tiana: That's sweet of you. It's been a lot lately, especially with what happened back at the resort. Have you heard anything more about it?*
Her smirk returned. Evelyn's obsession might just work in her favor. She needed to know if the investigation into that *incident* had made any progress. After all, Ashantii had taken great care to ensure her tracks were covered.
Evelyn's response came quickly:
*Evelyn: Not really, just that the police are still investigating. It's awful, though. I can't stop thinking about how cruel it was. You must've been so shaken to hear about it.*
Ashantii's smirk deepened. *Shaken? Tiana, maybe. Me? Never.* She took another sip of wine, enjoying the irony. Evelyn thought she was comforting Tiana, completely oblivious to who she was really talking to.
But this wasn't just about digging for information. It was about control. Evelyn thought she had a chance, but she'd learn soon enough that Ashantii didn't share.
She typed another response:
*Tiana: I appreciate your concern. It's been overwhelming to process, honestly. Maybe catching up with you will help. Where are you staying?*
As she set the phone down, she glanced toward the hallway. Tiana was probably lying in bed, staring at the ceiling and plotting her next move. Ashantii wasn't worried. Her wife could try to outsmart her all she wanted-every friend's number, every lifeline had already been rerouted to Ashantii's private system.
The phone buzzed again.
*Evelyn: The Grand Royal. Room 213. I'm here until the end of the week. Let me know when you're free.*
Ashantii smiled coldly. "Good girl." She set the phone aside and picked up her wine glass again.
Tiana might not have been at the resort when the murder happened, but Evelyn's obsession with her had unknowingly made her part of the story. Now, Ashantii would ensure Evelyn remained exactly where she belonged-under her control, just like everyone else.
"Keep dreaming, Evelyn," Ashantii muttered to herself. "Because that's all you'll ever have."