Elara Quinn POV
Elara almost dropped her phone as she rushed into the café.
She was late.
That alone made her stomach twist. Elara hated being late. It made her feel like she was already failing before the day even started.
She pushed the door open and spotted Vanessa waving from a corner table.
"Elara. Over here," Vanessa called, already holding her phone up.
Elara slowed. Her smile felt tight.
"Are you filming already?" Elara asked as she reached the table.
"Just a quick clip," Vanessa said brightly. "Morning vibes. Christmas energy."
Elara sat down anyway. Saying no always felt harder than it should.
Vanessa stopped recording and leaned forward. "You look tired."
"I didn't sleep much," Elara said. That was true. Marcus's voice had followed her into her dreams.
Vanessa frowned. "You work too much. People love that, though. Real struggle. Real heart."
Elara wrapped her hands around her cup. "I don't want people loving my struggle."
Vanessa laughed softly. "You always say that."
The phone buzzed on the table.
Vanessa grabbed it fast, checked the screen, then flipped it face down.
Elara noticed.
"So," Vanessa said, too quickly. "I have an idea."
Elara sighed inside. "What kind of idea?"
"Content," Vanessa replied. "You. The charity. Behind the scenes."
Elara shook her head. "I already told Marcus. I don't like cameras in people's faces."
"This wouldn't be like that," Vanessa said. "Just you talking. About why you care. About Christmas."
Elara stared into her cup. Steam curled up like soft clouds.
"Christmas is personal to me," she said quietly.
"That's why it works," Vanessa replied. "People connect to pain."
Elara looked up. "That's exactly why I don't want to share it."
Vanessa's smile faltered, just a little.
"You're too guarded," she said. "This is how change happens now."
Elara felt that familiar pull. The need to agree. To keep the peace.
The phone buzzed again.
Vanessa did not look at it this time. She slid it closer to her bag instead.
Elara's chest tightened.
"Are you okay?" Elara asked.
Vanessa blinked. "What?"
"You keep checking your phone."
Vanessa laughed. "I'm always on my phone. You know that."
Elara nodded, but the feeling stayed.
Vanessa leaned in. "Listen. Marcus thinks you're special."
Elara stiffened. "He does?"
"He talks about you a lot," Vanessa said. "Says you're the heart of everything."
That did not make Elara feel warm. It made her cold.
"I just do my job," Elara said.
"Exactly," Vanessa replied. "And people should see that."
Elara opened her mouth to answer, but Vanessa was already holding up her phone again.
"Just one short video," Vanessa said. "Say why Christmas matters to you."
Elara's heart started to race.
"No," she said firmly. "I'm sorry. No."
Vanessa froze. The phone lowered.
"You're serious," she said.
"Yes."
For a moment, the air between them felt thick.
Then Vanessa smiled again, wider this time. "Okay. Okay. I won't push."
Elara let out a breath she did not know she was holding.
The phone buzzed.
Vanessa glanced down before she could stop herself.
Elara saw the screen light up.
A name flashed across it.
Marcus.
Elara's pulse spiked.
Vanessa turned the phone face down fast.
"Everything okay?" Elara asked, keeping her voice calm.
"Yes," Vanessa said. Too fast. "Just work."
Elara studied her friend's face. Vanessa looked tense. Her smile did not reach her eyes.
"You've been different lately," Elara said.
Vanessa shrugged. "Busy. Ambition will do that to you."
Elara nodded slowly.
They talked about small things after that. Decorations going up around the city. The weather getting colder. How fast December always moved.
Still, Elara's mind stayed stuck on that name.
Marcus.
The phone buzzed again.
This time, Vanessa's hand shook as she picked it up.
She read the message. Her face drained of color.
"Vanessa?" Elara said softly.
Vanessa looked up, startled. "What?"
"You look pale."
Vanessa forced a laugh. "I'm fine. Really."
She slid the phone closer to herself, but not before Elara caught a glimpse of the screen.
It was just one line.
Short. Clear.
Did you get the account information?
Elara's breath left her body.
"What did that say?" Elara asked.
Vanessa froze.
"I didn't mean to look," Elara added quickly. "It just popped up."
Vanessa's eyes darted around the café. Then back to Elara.
"It's nothing," Vanessa said. "Just Marcus being Marcus."
Elara's heart pounded. "Why would he ask you about account information?"
Vanessa swallowed. "He didn't mean it like that."
"Like what?" Elara pressed.
Vanessa leaned back, crossing her arms. "You're being paranoid."
Elara shook her head. "No. Something is wrong."
Vanessa's voice sharpened. "You're tired. You've always been sensitive."
The words stung more than Elara expected.
"I trust you," Elara said. "That's why I'm asking."
Vanessa looked away.
The silence stretched.
Finally, Vanessa spoke. "Marcus just wants to help. He's trying to protect the charity."
"From what?" Elara asked.
Vanessa did not answer.
Elara stood up slowly. Her legs felt weak.
"I need some air," she said.
Vanessa reached for her arm. "Elara, wait."
Elara pulled back. "Please don't lie to me."
Vanessa's hand dropped.
Elara grabbed her bag and walked toward the door. Every step felt heavy.
Outside, Christmas lights blinked across the street. Red. Green. Gold.
Normally, they made her smile.
Today, they blurred.
Her phone buzzed.
A new message.
Unknown number.
We need to talk.
Elara stopped walking.
Her chest felt tight. Too tight.
She looked back through the café window.
Vanessa sat frozen at the table, staring down at her phone.
Elara's heart sank.
Something had started moving. Quietly. Carefully.
And she was standing right in the middle of it.
She did not know who to trust anymore.
And somewhere behind all the lights and music, Christmas was watching, waiting to see if her kindness would cost her everything.