Chapter 4 Deception Deepens

Chapter 4: "The Deception Deepens"

Benjamin and Olivia's interactions had become more frequent and intense, leaving Juli to wonder if her suspicions were warranted. She tried to brush it off as paranoia, but the seed of doubt had been planted. One evening, as she was putting away Benjamin's phone, she stumbled upon a mysterious text message that made her heart skip a beat."Can't wait to see you tonight. -O"Juli's mind raced as she tried to think of an innocent explanation. She didn't recognize the number, and the initial "O" seemed to scream Olivia. She felt a surge of adrenaline as she tried to confront Benjamin, but he was already in the shower, and she didn't want to ambush him.

The next morning, Juli approached Benjamin with a calm demeanor, trying not to reveal her anxiety. "Hey, who's the text from last night? The one from...O?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.Benjamin's eyes narrowed slightly his heart raced as he read the text message on his phone. It was from an unknown number, but the words sent a chill down his spine. "Meet me at the old warehouse at midnight. Come alone." He tried to brush it off as a prank, but the words lingered in his mind.Just then, Juli walked into the room, her eyes scanning the space before settling on Benjamin. "Hey, what's up?" she asked, noticing the look of concern on his face.Benjamin quickly hid the screen and forced a smile. "Just a weird message from a wrong number," he said, trying to sound nonchalant. Juli raised an eyebrow. "What did it say?"Benjamin hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Just some stupid joke," he said, trying to downplay it.But Juli's eyes narrowed. "Show me," she demanded, her voice firm but gentle.Benjamin hesitated, feeling a surge of guilt. He didn't want to lie to Juli, but he couldn't reveal the truth either. Not yet. Just then, Olivia walked into the room, her presence a welcome distraction. "Hey, guys! What's going on?" Benjamin breathed a sigh of relief. "Just discussing a weird text message," he said, trying to sound casual.Olivia's eyes lit up with interest. "Oh, really? What did it say?"Benjamin hesitated again, unsure how much to reveal. But before he could respond, Juli spoke up."It's nothing, Liv. Just a wrong number," she said, her eyes never leaving Benjamin's face.The tension in the room was palpable, and Olivia picked up on it. "Everything okay, guys? You seem a bit...tense."Benjamin forced a laugh. "We're fine, Liv. Just a bit of a weird day, that's all."But as they continued to chat, Benjamin couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. The text message lingered in his mind, and he couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead.

As the night wore on, Benjamin found himself glancing at his phone, his mind racing with possibilities. Who could have sent that message? And what did they want from him?He tried to push the thoughts aside, but they lingered, refusing to be ignored. And as he lay in bed that night, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was waiting for him in the shadows, something that would change his life forever, before he responded, "Oh, that's just a wrong number. Some telemarketer or something." Juli raised an eyebrow. "A telemarketer who uses initials and says 'can't wait to see you tonight'?"

Benjamin chuckled, but it sounded forced. "I think you're reading too much into it, babe. It's nothing."Juli wanted to believe him, but the doubt lingered. She decided to keep a closer eye on their interactions, noticing how Olivia seemed to find excuses to touch Benjamin's arm or shoulder during meetings. The way they exchanged glances made Juli's skin crawl.

One evening, Benjamin claimed he had to work late, but Juli saw him leaving the office building with Olivia. They were laughing and walking close together, their bodies almost touching. Juli's heart sank as she realized she was being deceived.She confronted Benjamin that night, but he had an alibi ready. "We were just discussing a project, and then Olivia offered to grab me a coffee. That's all."Juli felt like she was living in a nightmare, her trust shattered. She began to notice other things - the way Benjamin

In at about an hour. Benjamin's phone buzzed again, and he knew he had to be careful. Olivia's messages were becoming more frequent and intense, and he didn't want Juli to suspect anything."Hey, I need to see you tonight," Olivia's message read. "Meet me at the old warehouse at midnight. Come alone."Benjamin's heart raced as he read the message. He knew he shouldn't go, but he couldn't resist Olivia's charm. Just then, Juli walked into the room, her eyes scanning the space before settling on Benjamin. "Hey, what's up?" she asked, noticing the look of concern on his face. Benjamin quickly hid the screen and forced a smile. "Just work stuff," he said, trying to sound nonchalant. Juli raised an eyebrow. "You've been working a lot lately," she said, her voice laced with concern. "Is everything okay?" Benjamin hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Just a big project," he said, trying to downplay it. But Juli's eyes narrowed. "You're not lying to me, are you?" she asked, her voice firm but gentle. Benjamin's heart skipped a beat. He wasn't lying, not exactly. But he wasn't telling the truth either.Just then, his phone buzzed again. Olivia's message was simple: "Midnight. Don't be late." Benjamin's heart raced as he read the message. He knew he had to make a choice. He could either continue down the path of deception or come clean with Juli. But as he looked at Juli, he knew he couldn't tell her the truth. Not yet."I'm going out for a bit," he said, trying to sound casual. "I'll be back later."Juli raised an eyebrow. "Where are you going?"Benjamin hesitated. "Just out," he said, trying to sound nonchalant.But Juli's eyes narrowed. "Benjamin, what's going on?" she asked, her voice firm but gentle.Benjamin's heart skipped a beat. He knew he had to come up with something, fast. "I'll be back later," he said, trying to sound reassuring. "I promise." Benjamin's steps out of his duplex mantion calls the gate man to open the gate. He drives out of the gate on the most current model of Rogerover saloo car. As Benjamin drove away from the mansion, the weight of his secrets threatened to suffocate him. He knew he had to keep his lies intact, at least for now. The truth would destroy everything, and he wasn't ready for that. Not yet. As he sped down the highway, the sleek Rover saloon car eating up the miles, Benjamin's mind raced with thoughts of Olivia and the mess he had created. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he was living on borrowed time, that eventually, his deceptions would catch up with him. The city lights blurred together as he drove, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew he had to see Olivia, had to keep up the charade, no matter how dangerous it was.

As he pulled up to the hotel, Benjamin's phone buzzed with a text from Juli. "Where are you?" she asked, her tone laced with suspicion. Benjamin's heart skipped a beat. He knew he had to think fast, come up with a convincing lie. "I'm at a business meeting," he replied, trying to sound calm. But as he stepped out of the car and into the hotel lobby, Benjamin knew he was playing with fire. One wrong move, and everything would come crashing down. The elevator doors slid open, and Benjamin stepped inside, his heart racing with anticipation. He knew what awaited him on the other side, and he was ready to embrace it, no matter the cost. As the doors closed, Benjamin felt a sense of trepidation wash over him. He knew he was walking a tightrope, balancing his lies and secrets with the truth that threatened to destroy him. And then, just as the elevator lurched to life, Benjamin's phone buzzed again. This time, it was a text from an unknown number. "We know what you're doing, Benjamin," the message read. "And we're not going to let you get away with it."

Benjamin's heart stopped. Who was this? How did they know? And what did they want? The questions swirled in his mind as the elevator doors opened, revealing a future that was