Aubrey leaned back comfortably on the plush couch in Gerald’s living room, her face glowing with excitement as she recounted the events of her day. Gerald stood by the kitchen counter, pouring a couple of drinks, his eyes flicking over to Aubrey now and then, a faint smile played on his lips as he enjoyed her enthusiastic voice.
"It was just so perfect, Gerald," Aubrey went on and on, her eyes shining as she spoke. "He really seemed excited about me being the face of the new campaign. Can you believe it? I mean, I know this is my job, but this—it’s like a dream come true!"
Gerald chuckled as he walked over to her, holding out a glass of iced tea. "I can believe it," he said, his voice warm and encouraging. "You’ve always had that star quality, Aubrey. It’s no surprise that Mason’s company would want you as their model."
Aubrey accepted the drink with a grin, taking a sip before setting the glass down on the coffee table. "Thanks, Gerald," she said, her tone sincere. "I just... I’m really happy about how everything went today. It feels like things are finally starting to fall into place."
Gerald nodded, watching her with a fond expression. He remembered the moment she had burst through his door earlier, her face alight with joy, and had thrown her arms around him in a tight hug. The memory made his heart swell, and he couldn’t help but smile again.
"So, what happened after that?" he asked, settling into the chair across from her, leaning forward slightly with interest.
Aubrey’s face lit up even more as she continued her story, her hands gesturing as she spoke. "Well, after we finished discussing the contract, Mason and I decided to have lunch together. Just to, you know, go over some last-minute details and all that."
Gerald raised an eyebrow, but his smile remained. "Lunch with Mason, huh?" he teased lightly.
Aubrey laughed, waving a hand dismissively. "It was nice. We had a good time. I really hope this is a new start for everything."
As she continued to talk, Gerald found himself watching her closely, taking in the way her eyes sparkled and how her entire face lit up with excitement. He knew Aubrey well enough to understand that moments like these meant everything to her. Her joy made him feel all warm and satisfied, like he was sharing in her joy just by being there with her.
But then, as Aubrey reached a certain part of her story, her expression changed slightly. There was a flicker of something—perhaps annoyance or frustration—before she continued.
"Then, just as we were wrapping things up," Aubrey said, her tone shifting, "that woman showed up. You know, Ellen."
Gerald’s smile faded just a bit, his eyes narrowing with concern as he leaned back in his chair. "Ellen?" he repeated, his voice cautious. He wasn’t sure where this was going, but the way Aubrey said her name made him uneasy.
Aubrey nodded, her lips pursed slightly. "Yeah, but thank God our lunch was already over by the time she came. Otherwise, she would have ruined the whole thing. You should’ve seen her, Gerald—she was with some guy, and they were pretty close. I mean, I didn’t catch all of it, but they seemed... well, more than just friends, if you ask me."
Gerald’s interest was piqued now, his eyebrows raising in curiosity. "Really? Who was it?" he asked, trying to keep his tone neutral. "Did you recognize him?"
Aubrey shook her head, a small frown crossing her features. "No, I didn’t recognize him. Ellen said he was just a friend, but you know how that goes." She paused for a moment, then looked at Gerald with a questioning gaze. "Do you know anyone named Edrick?"
Gerald’s expression remained thoughtful as he took a sip from his drink. "Edrick?" he echoed, his tone thoughtful. "Maybe if you describe him, it’ll ring a bell."
Aubrey nodded, leaning forward slightly as she tried to recall the details. "Well, he was tall, maybe around Mason’s height. Dark hair, kind of scruffy looking but not in a bad way, you know? He had this sort of rugged charm about him. Oh, and he was dressed pretty casually, like he didn’t care too much about appearances, but he still looked good."
Gerald’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully as Aubrey described the man. He leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the armrest as he tried to piece together the details she provided. Something about her description tugged at the back of his mind, but he couldn’t quite place it. His brow furrowed as he stared at the floor, lost in thought.
Aubrey noticed the change in his demeanor and tilted her head slightly, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "What is it, G?" she asked, her voice soft, trying not to disrupt his train of thought.
Gerald didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. His fingers moved swiftly across the screen, typing something with focused intensity. The room fell silent except for the faint sound of his fingers tapping on the glass. Aubrey watched him closely, her own curiosity growing with each passing second.
Finally, Gerald’s fingers stopped moving, and he stared at the screen for a moment before turning the phone toward Aubrey. "Is this the man?" he asked, his voice low, almost cautious.
Aubrey leaned forward, her eyes locking onto the image on the screen. Her expression shifted from curiosity to recognition as she studied the photo. "Yes," she said slowly, a hint of surprise in her voice. "That’s him. That’s the guy Ellen was with."
Gerald’s face hardened slightly as he took the phone back, his gaze lingering on the image for a moment longer. His jaw tightened, and a serious expression settled over his features. Aubrey noticed the change in him immediately, and a small crease of worry formed between her brows.
"What’s with him?" she asked again, this time with more urgency. "Do you know him?"
Gerald let out a slow breath, his eyes still fixed on the phone. "This man," he began, his voice careful and measured, "is not just any ordinary guy, Bree."