Cracks in the Armor

Lina’s POV

The atmosphere between Zara and me was starting to change, and not in a way that I liked. She’d been busier than ever with her meetings, late-night calls, and endless discussions about the business merger. Normally, I’d admire her dedication, but recently, there was a new name that kept cropping up in her conversations—Camille.

Camille this. Camille that.

At first, I told myself it was nothing. Zara was a professional; she’d never let anything jeopardize her work or our relationship. But then there were the lingering glances she exchanged with her phone, the brief smiles at messages she didn’t share, and the way she’d grown quieter around me, like she had something to hide.

I wasn’t proud of the jealousy that crept into my chest. I hated the way it made me feel—weak, uncertain, and a little petty. But I couldn’t shake it.

---

Today, I’d decided to meet Nadia for coffee, hoping a little vent session would help me clear my head.

“You look like you haven’t slept,” Nadia said, eyeing me over her mug.

“Thanks for the compliment,” I said dryly, taking a sip of my latte.

She leaned forward, her brow furrowed. “Is this about Zara again?”

I sighed, sinking deeper into my chair. “It’s this woman, Camille. She’s part of Zara’s new deal, and I don’t know… I just feel like there’s something off about her.”

“Have you talked to Zara about it?”

“Not exactly,” I admitted, stirring my drink. “I don’t want to sound paranoid. But Nadia, you should see the way Camille looks at her. It’s like she’s planning her next move.”

Nadia’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

“Maybe I’m overreacting,” I said, shaking my head. “But I don’t know… Zara’s been acting different lately.”

“Lina, listen to me,” Nadia said, her tone firm. “You have every right to feel the way you do. But if you keep this bottled up, it’s only going to eat away at you.”

I nodded, though the thought of confronting Zara made my stomach churn.

---

Zara’s POV

The last thing I wanted was for Lina to feel neglected, but work had been relentless. The deal with Camille’s company was crucial, and as much as I tried to keep things professional, Camille had a way of making things... complicated.

She was charming and sharp, but there was an underlying flirtation in her tone that I couldn’t entirely ignore. I shut it down whenever it surfaced, of course, but it was becoming more frequent.

Tonight was another late meeting, and I knew Lina wasn’t happy about it. She’d tried to hide it, but her forced smiles and clipped tones spoke volumes.

“Don’t stay up,” I told her as I grabbed my bag. “This might go late.”

She nodded without looking at me. “Sure.”

Her response stung more than I cared to admit.

---

Lina’s POV

I told myself not to let it get to me, but by the time Zara left, I was pacing the living room, replaying every interaction I’d seen between her and Camille in my head. My thoughts spiraled. What if Camille was more than just a business associate? What if Zara was keeping something from me?

When Nadia called to check in, I confessed everything.

“Lina, you’re going to drive yourself crazy like this,” she said. “You need to talk to her.”

“I know,” I said. “But what if…”

“What if what?”

“What if she really is hiding something?”

Nadia was quiet for a moment. “Then you deserve to know. But don’t jump to conclusions, okay? Zara loves you, Lina. That much is obvious.”

---

Later that night, Zara came home smelling faintly of wine and exhaustion. I was curled up on the couch, pretending to be engrossed in a book.

“You’re still up,” she said, surprised.

“Couldn’t sleep,” I replied, my tone neutral.

She hesitated, then sat down beside me. “Are you okay?”

I shrugged, keeping my eyes on the pages in front of me. “Fine. How was your meeting?”

“It went well,” she said. “Camille thinks we’re close to finalizing the deal.”

There it was again—her name. I snapped my book shut, unable to hold it in any longer.

“Do you think about anything other than Camille these days?”

Zara’s eyes widened in shock. “What?”

“You heard me,” I said, my voice trembling. “It’s like she’s all you care about.”

“That’s not true,” she said, her tone defensive. “She’s just a colleague, Lina.”

“Then why do I feel like I’m losing you to her?”

The words hung in the air, heavy and raw. Zara stared at me, her expression unreadable, and for the first time, I wasn’t sure what her response would be.

---

Once Shakespeare write - O beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.”