Julian stared at Yvette's table. As his co-workers talked, he seldom listened as they tried to interact and even direct the topic to him. He kept ignoring them as he couldn't believe his eyes. He was shocked. How did Yvette have connections to Damien de Cervantes and Estelle La Vivianette, two of the most prolific names in the dancing world?

      He remembered meeting them due to the higher-ups hiring them for galas and others employing them as their children's dance instructors. They were exclusive to say the least, and Julian could never get close enough to even be considered an acquaintance. His mind circled, and a burning rage began to spur as he thought, "Was Silas finally able to get the connection I couldn't? Did that bastard leave this with Yvette to rub it in my face?!".

     When Julian first met Silas, he always saw him as honest and good-natured, but when given the opportunity, he could evolve and go beyond what was expected of him. He had the brains and the drive to rise to the top with his work, and soon he was a rising star. Thus, what was once seen as a well-mannered man was now perceived as a facade to lower your guard. 

     Impressed, Julian befriended Silas and thought he could also benefit from this rising star.  However, Julian also bore witness to all of Silas's conquests in the office and outside. Silas never turned down any woman who approached him, yet he never bragged about it. Compared to the other men working this job, Silas was one in a million as he treated the women with respect, yet always dumped them before long.  

     Julian was so shocked by how someone could have it all at such a young age. He had to admit to himself, he felt jealous, but couldn't bear to say it out loud. 

     During a drunken night out, Julian relaxed a bit and remembered asking Silas, "With a face like that, and that talent, I bet you've always had it easy. How the hell do you keep it together? I've already seen many guys like you kill themselves after losing everything. It all went to their head in the end ".  

     Silas just gave a candid smile as he replied, "I guess it's because...I'm loved". 

     Julian laughed, thinking Silas referred to all the sleeping around he was doing recently. Imagine his surprise when he found out Silas was talking about his girlfriend, whom he was cheating on.

      It was Yvette whom Silas meant. He showed Julian pictures of himself and Yvette when they were young and saw that Sials didn't always look like he did. A skinny pale kid whom the wind could easily knock down. It was such a drastic change that Julian couldn't believe it, but the beauty marks matched. Silas then prattled on that because Yvette was always there for him, he was able to properly take care of his body. Silas always spoke well of Yvette, saying he loved her, but his actions would say otherwise.

     Julian remembered the day he met Yvette. It was during a dinner party, and Julian heard that Silas was bringing his girlfriend. Due to how Silas looked, he imagined Yvette would be a beautiful woman now or a rich one that he could not afford to leave, but it was quite a different story. She turned out to be a plain woman with a pleasant personality. 

     She was polite and respectful as she greeted and talked to others. It was quite boring to watch. Julian felt it would be more entertaining if she were at least extremely ugly. But, as Julian saw them alone together, he saw Yvette's expression. She looked at him as if he were the most precious thing in her life.  It was something akin to unconditional love, and Silas was completely taken by the person who gave him all their attention. It was uncomfortable to watch, but also intriguing.

     As Julian talked to Silas, he grew more confused by the entire relationship. Silas continued to look and talk like Yvette was the center of his world, but he had also seen Silas never turn down other women for anything. Granted, he never disclosed to those women had a girlfriend, and they never lasted more than a night's fling to a few months. They would always see him as nice and attentive, but he would always cut their daydreams short when he told them there was someone else. 

     Julian was surprised he never got stabbed, the way he always acted like he was never in the wrong. What was more astonishing to him was that he never knew why he stayed with Yvette. The women he would charm would be beautiful, more successful, and have better connections to further his career, but Yvette was always on the back of his mind.

     Soon, Silas outranked Julian's position in the company. Praise and projects were being passed on to Silas, and Julian began to feel overlooked. The jealousy then turned into envy inside Julian, which he didn't want to admit, but it was there and it was growing. Julian wanted to push that feeling outwards, and he felt there was only one way to even the playing field: telling Yvette about Silas's actions. But what Julian's plan never accounted for was Yvetee's feelings for Silas. 

     She knew everything; she knew about the first, second, third, etc. She knew about the text, she knew about the photos, and she knew about the lies that came with them. Julian became more confused at the entire debacle. Was she stupid? Why would she stay with him after all that? It was too hard to wrap his head around.  But she was grateful Julian told her. Yvette showed him a sincere expression of gratitude; it was quite mesmerizing to see head-on. If he were to describe it, it would be almost angelic.

     He was always surrounded by people whom he felt would stab him in the back, aside from Silas. But the person in front of him was different. Candid expressions, no double meaning in her words, was this the reason Silas spoke about her as he did? Had a sparkle in his eye like he did? He was now understanding why Silas was so attached to her. 

     As Silas' antics went on, Julian couldn't stand it any longer and went to Yvette once more, but she seemed different from before. She still refused to leave him, but her eyes were duller than before. He heard from Silas himself that she was spending more time at home due to sickness, but didn't know how much of that was true. 

     Then his moment came while grocery shopping. He bumped into her by chance and asked her out for coffee. He couldn't believe she agreed.

     As he spoke to her, he found out that he was isolating her as much as he could, according to how she explained his demeanor. She said, "Silas is worried for my safety, and I feel inclined to believe him". Julian felt like he needed to ask, " I know I shouldn't pry, but...do you really believe that? ". Yvette could only look at him with a look one could only describe as defeat, but she still put on her usual smile, "To be honest, I feel like I'm holding on to a memory that has died long ago". 

     Julian felt a strike go through his chest as he saw her in such a pathetic state. It was fascinating to see what was once a woman in love, betrayed by the one she devoted herself to. She began to tear up, and Julian was there to dry those tears. But, he didn't stop there, he held her hand in his and leaned closer, whispering into her ear, "Let's make it even, Yvette, you and me. I can help in any way you want. I never noticed how beautiful you are ". He slipped his hand up her thigh, and she immediately pushed him away. Yvette was horrified and disgusted, pushing away as she clutched her chest. Her eyes were filled with disdain, and Julian felt it burn through him. She left without saying a word, and that was the last time they held a conversation together. 

     Julian seldom thought of her after that, but always kept her in the back of his mind. Whenever he saw Silas, those were the times he thought of her and wanted to take her for himself. He always imagined Silas's face when he saw the person who gave him unconditional love, turn on him. Would he cry, would he throw a tantrum, would he become hysterical? How would it affect his life in its entirety? 

     The idea alone gave him a rush that ran through his body. But now, seeing that he was missing and that Yvette had left him, he felt like this was a cry for attention. But, this could also be his only chance to take everything from him as well. 

     Julian imagined Silas' face as he came back from his tantrum to see Yevette by his side and no longer welcomed at the company. That idea was like something of a dream for Julian. He had never been so grateful to have looked at the news; he felt like this was all a sign the moment he bumped into Yvette at the park. But his plans were placed on hold when he saw another man by her side as she was bleeding out. 

     At first, he thought he was just a good Samaritan, but now that he saw her three different times with the same man, he felt he needed to move quickly to make his dream come to fruition. 

     Julian didn't like the carefree smile she had on her face. He wanted the old Yvette back. That sad, sullen shell of a person that could move his heart with a mere whimper. He really hoped that what she said was true and that he really was just a friend.