Lost Me Gained Regret



Christine was in the throes of a vibrant dance floor, lost in the beats and lights, when her wristwatch buzzed with an incoming call. As she reached to check it, an unseen force whisked her away from the dance and into the privacy of a lounge.

Stumbling through the doorway, she regained her footing only to lock eyes with a face both familiar and icily distant.

Before she could utter a word, her wristwatch vibrated once more. It was Jane on the line. "Have you been able to reach Dailey? I can't seem to get a hold of Gregory."

What a coincidence, Dailey was right there in front of her.

Christine extended her watch towards him. "Hear that, Mr. Clarkson?"

Dailey, catching the urgency, immediately dialed out on his phone.

Christine, still on the line with Jane, asked, "Did you try reaching Lucius?"

"No luck there."

This sobered Christine up. Lucius was always reachable, his phone a 24/7 lifeline. The possibility of not being able to contact him hinted at trouble, yet she couldn't voice her concerns to Jane, especially with her being pregnant. Instead, she offered reassurance, "Maybe he's on a flight back? A guy like Gregory? He's more likely to be the bully than the bullied. Pregnancy can make you overthink, Jane. Let's focus on the positives, alright?" Mid-conversation, Christine's high heels betrayed her on the plush carpet, sending her tumbling towards Dailey. He caught her with reflexes sharp as his gaze, steadying her with a look that commanded silence as he continued his call.

Once the call ended, Dailey spoke, "There's been a situation with Gregory. Can't get through to Jane right now. Just pacify her, tell her everything's connected and Gregory will call as soon as he's free."

Christine, regaining her composure, wondered aloud about Gregory's situation only to find Dailey had already left the scene.

Shortly after, Jane's call came through again. Christine reassured her, "Dailey got through to them Gregory's just tied up, but he'll call you back soon." Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Despite Christine's words, Jane's worry was palpable, "Is it something serious? Is Gregory okay?"

"Trust me, he's fine. I'll check in with Dailey again if we don't hear back soon. Just stay calm," Christine advised.

Ending the call, Jane was left to wait, her concern only slightly eased by her friend's assurance.

Across the sea, Gregory finally settled on a couch, eyeing his shattered phone with a cold detachment that matched the icy silence in the room.

Lucius, having secured the intruders,

handed over his own phone, urging,

egory, your wife's been trying to

reach you. Better call now, or she won't sleep a wink."

Dialing the familiar number, Gregory's façade of calm betrayed him as he flinched at an unseen pain.

The ring of the phone jolted Jane from a fitful sleep, her heart racing with dread from a nightmare where Gregory was hurt. "Gregory!" Her voice was frantic, laced with fear.

His tone was calm, typical, yet she caught the sharp intake of breath on his end. "Are you hurt?"

He tried to brush it off, joking about her pregnancy-induced worries, but Jane was not convinced. "Why does it feet like you're keeping things from me now?"

Their conversation, a mix of concern, reassurance, and unspoken fears, was a testament to the complexities of love and the shadows cast by distance and danger.